AKKA Karate USA
7575 W. Twin Peaks Road, 572-8669 (akkakarateusa.biz):
• When: Noon-1 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays; 6:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m. Saturdays.
• Cost: First class free; $40 a month for unlimited; $50 for a 10-visit card.
Marianne Morrill, a third-degree black belt in Kenpo karate, looks like the quintessential kickboxer: tall, lithe and graceful with short brown hair.
The 50-year-old opened AKKA Karate 3 1/2 years ago.
One recent evening, she and eight students busted out eight jumping jacks, push-ups, squats and crunches while jogging in between.
"I think I push them to try to be better, but I don't make them feel bad for what they can't do," said Morrill, who estimated she works out with her classes and her own Kenpo training six hours a day.
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"One hour, and I'm done," said Denise Calhoun, who has been working out at AKKA for more than two years.
"She has an endless amount of energy," said Tom Calhoun, a liability resource manager for Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Foundation. "You gain a lot of strength and muscles."
Boxing Inc.:
6121 E. Broadway, 829-7969
• When: Coed class at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays; women's classes 6:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 11 a.m. Saturdays.
• Cost: $15 trial class; rates vary.
2524 N. Campbell Ave., 795-3333
• When: Coed classes at 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; women's classes at 6:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m. Saturdays.
• Cost: $15 trial class; rates vary.
4165 W. Ina Road, 744-7333
• When: Coed classes at noon Tuesdays and Thursdays; women's classes at 6:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays.
• Cost: $15 trial class; rates vary.
"I know the majority of the members who come through the door, they come here because they really want to hit something," said Sam Chisholm, general manager at Boxing Inc.
The kickboxing classes, which average 13 people, involve using bags and working with partners.
"Depending on how hard you push yourself, you can burn up to 1,000 calories," said the exercise science graduate from Northern Arizona University. "It's the highest calorie-burning mainstream workout there is."
Focus Fitness
1108 S. Pantano Road, 404-2069 (focusfitnesstucson.com; veraknightfitness.com).
• When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays.
• Cost: $7 per drop-in class; $59 for 10-class pass.
Focus Fitness is an east-side boutique fitness facility with hour-long Turbo Kick workouts taught by two instructors.
The class usually is made up of eight to 15 women who follow a combination of choreographed kickboxing and dance moves.
Owner Vera Knight said participants will burn about 600 calories an hour.
Every Tuesday evening, the facility offers a free workout that features P90X, Insanity and TurboFire workouts.
Suzie Carlson, 34, started kickboxing at Focus Fitness in December.
"I was looking for something to help me lose weight," she said, describing the classes as high-intensity, fun and energetic. "I fell in love with it; I really enjoy the Turbo Kick class. I bought TurboFire, too."
Carlson has lost 34 pounds since December, mainly from kickboxing and watching her diet.
"Before I had been doing other exercise plans, and I hadn't really seen any results," she said. "(Before Turbo Kick) I had really been trying to lose weight for three years."
She likes that the class requires no equipment.
"We just use own bodies," she said. "We're punching air and kicking air and keeping moving every second."
Mixed Martial Studio 3148 E. Fort Lowell Road, 850-5762 (www.mixedmartialstudio.com)
• When: 5-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays.
• Cost: Free introductory class; $15 a class; $99 per month.
"Good boxing begins with the feet," said owner Tom Elias. "We focus on the individual."
During a recent class, three instructors worked with barefoot participants while high-energy music played in the background.
"Keep your hands up," reminded Elias, giving rapid-fire instructions like "forward," "back," "tuck tuck," "slip slip," "roll roll" and "jab jab."
Tamara Mack works out at Mixed Martial at least twice a week.
"I know if I'm alone I can handle myself," said Mack, 43. "I think you present an air of confidence.
"People realize what a nice stress reliever it is - you feel good, and that makes you want to come back.
"For a lot of people, fitness is hard to do."
X1 Sports and Fitness
3904 E. Grant Road, 209-2696 (www.x1sportsandfitnessmma.com)
• When: Classes are at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; and 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturdays. A harder-edged mixed martial arts class is at 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.
• Costs: Vary. There are three free drop-in sessions and one special is $19 for seven drop-in classes.
X1 Sports and Fitness, which calls itself "The Premier Sports and Fitness Center for Champions" is as hard-core of a kickboxing gym as you want it to be.
"Whether you want to fight or just train like a fighter, we've got that ability," said Gabriel Carranza, one of three partners who opened X1 in January.
Frank Mir and Wanderlei Silva, two big names in the mixed martial arts world, stopped by the gym for a special appearance in January.
Mike Whitehead, who was on the MMA reality TV show "The Ultimate Fighter" on Spike TV, is also an X1 partner and kickboxing instructor. Whitehead still holds training seminars and coaches fighters for pay-for-view bouts.
The gym offers kickboxing classes six days a week.
Many classes are more cardio-based, but those who want more techniques and skill go to the mixed martial arts classes at 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.
"You're not punching a bag; you're being punched at," Carranza said.
Undisputed
1240 N. Stone Ave., 882-8788 (www.undisputedusa.com):
• When: About 50 classes are offered each week, ranging from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays-Sundays.
• Cost: $65 a month (includes kickboxing, boxing and jujitsu).
Note: Some gyms offer Muay Thai, a harder-edged form of kickboxing that started in Thailand. Hits may be made using fists, elbows, knees and shins.
