I Tried Rumble Boxing and Here’s What Happened

I love boutique group fitness classes.

There’s just something about them that makes me work so much harder and really push myself. Plus, it’s a nice way for me to cross train while I’m marathon training and switch up my regular workout routine.

So when I heard about Rumble Boxing opening in the North Loop, I knew I had to give it a try.

It sounded like the perfect combination of boxing and strength training, plus the classes looked like so much fun! It’s a totally unique idea compared to the usual treadmill and strength training classes that have been popping up.

In this post I’ll share with you my experience taking a Rumble Boxing class and what you need to know before you take a class!

Key Takeaways

•Rumble Boxing is a high-intensity boxing and strength training class that combines both body weight exercises and dumbbells with boxing moves.
• During each 45 minute session, participants will alternate between 10 rounds of strength training on one side of the room followed by 10 rounds of boxing on another side
• Rumble Boxing offers an exciting way for beginners to learn basic punches as well as get an intense full body workout; memberships vary depending on your local studios but typically offer a free first visit option so you can try it out before committing!

What is Rumble Boxing?

Rumble Boxing is a high-intensity boxing and strength training class that mixes both strength training (body weight and dumbbells) with boxing moves.

The room is set up with half the room having aqua punching bags hanging from the ceiling, and then the other half the room has benches with weights. In the middle there’s a little raised stage where the instructor will be.

Getting to the Studio

The Minneapolis studio is located in the North Loop. My friend Victoria and I decided to do a lunchtime class during the week, which meant it was a little busier than normal in the area. We were able to snag a parking spot on the street and walk a few blocks over from the studio.

When we entered into the studio, I was impressed with how bright and friendly it was! I hadn’t boxed since I did a kickboxing class back in middle school, so I was walking in feeling a little intimidated. All that instantly went away as I walked in.

We checked into our class and were assigned a starting point. Each punching bag and strength section has numbers so you know exactly where to go.

Since it was our first time, we borrowed wraps and gloves from the studio. When I initially read that we needed wraps I thought they were going to actually wrap our hands in tape or something, but it ended up being slip-on gloves that go underneath the gloves.

The lobby of the studio is has a few walls of lockers so you can store things (and bonus they have the built in locks so you don’t need to remember to bring one!). They also have small bathrooms where you can change too. It’s not a full on locker room like some other boutique studios, but it does the job!

After waiting a few minutes it was time to start the class! Our instructor, Jess, called us into the room and we were ready to go!

Rumble Class

My friend and I were assigned to the strength side first, so we walked into the studio and headed over that way. We were assigned numbers and it was really easy to find our places.

The class began with showing us some basic boxing moves and the punches that we’d need to know. I really appreciated that our instructor Jess made it really easy to understand, and explained that they’d call out numbers in the form of punches. The punches were

• 1 – Jab
• 2 – Cross
• 3 – Lead Hook
• 4- Rear Hook
• 5 – Lead Uppercut
• 6 – Rear Uppercut

I was nervous I’d forget what these punches were, but thankfully there was a guide on the wall (more on that in a bit!) and Jess was there to help us through!

After a quick warmup, the lights dimmed, music turned up and it was time to start our workout!

The Workout

The workout is made up of 10 round – 5 on each side of the class. We started the strength class with a 3 move segment, with each move we’d do 8 times. My memory isn’t the best (#mombrain) so always need a demo and reminder of what we’re doing.

Thankfully, on the top of the wall there’s a screen that displays the moves, and even has a little video of a guy doing them! It also showed how many reps to do too! This was an awesome addition and completely unexpected! Thanks to that I was able to keep up and stay on track.

I also really liked that each bench had their own sets of weights so you didn’t have to worry about not having the weight you wanted like at some other boutique studios. This made the move transitions even faster so I got in more time doing the workout.

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After doing a few rounds of various exercises on the floor, it was time to switch to the boxing side! I was BEYOND excited to do this and a little nervous since I hadn’t boxed since 7th grade kickboxing.

Jess ran through what to do on our side and we were off! Similar to the strength side, we did a routine of different moves. The difference on the boxing side was that it was timed, so we’d go until our instructor told us to stop.

The boxing side also had a virtual instruction to remind us what punches we were doing, and it even demo’d what sides to be punching. This was so incredibly helpful!

The workout continued on with us switching every 5-10 minutes or so and went by SO FAST! Before I knew it it was time for a quick cool down and we were done with the class.

My Experience

I had such a fun time at Rumble and it’s one of my new favorite workouts for cross training! In the 45 minutes I burned over 350 calories, and couldn’t believe how high my heart rate got. I also was SO SORE for days afterwards.

Plus I really loved how unique the workout was. I’ve been to so many workouts that are like Orangetheory and Barry’s where it’s just treadmill and strength training based. I loved the addition of boxing in place of the treadmill because not only did my heart rate increase, I also got an amazing core and strength workout at the same time (plus I felt like a total badass in the process).

The only downside to the workout is that there wasn’t a lot of options for modification. I have diastasis recti and have to avoid a lot of traditional core movements like crunches, and the class didn’t mention any modifications to do if I needed them. I was easily able to sub some in that I learned from PT, but it still would’ve been nice to have it mentioned during class. I’m sure I could’ve also asked the instructor before class but I totally forgot.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a really fun and unique workout, I highly recommend checking out Rumble Boxing. It’s a super fun workout that will both challenge you and give you an awesome full body workout! Plus, it’s really cool to think that you’re learning boxing punches and techniques in the process. It was definitely a great way to switch up my normal routine and I can’t wait to go back again soon!

If you’re new to boxing like me or looking for a fun new workout to add to your routine, I highly recommend checking out Rumble Boxing!

FAQs

Is Rumble Boxing a Good Workout?

Rumble is a really fun workout and you’ll definitely feel it afterwards! I used muscles I hadn’t used in a while and was sore for days after my first class!

How Much Does it Cost?

Rumble Boxing memberships will vary depending on your studio so I’d recommend reaching out to your studio directly. Studios usually offer a free first visit so you can try it out before buying a class package or membership!

Is Rumble Boxing actually good for beginners?

Yes! As a beginner myself, I felt that Rumble was both challenging and fun. The instructors are very helpful and give great demos and cues, so you don’t feel lost or overwhelmed. Plus they also have the screens on the top of the walls that walk you through everything.

Do I need any equipment?

You don’t need any equipment like wraps or boxing gloves for your first class! Once you sign up for a package you’ll need to either buy these or you can rent them in the studio if you prefer.