Rockbox Fitness is a kickboxing gym that offers a unique exercise program to its members. Though many locations are scattered throughout the country, the ones in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach are the closest.
Each workout session at Rockbox is unique. Classes are typically fifty minutes long, though there are hour-long sessions on occasion. There are a variety of trainers, each having their own style of leading the class. Each coach leads on different days and at different times, but you can check the schedule for the month on the Rockbox app.
Rockbox also has a monthly calendar with each day assigned a fitness focus. For example, one day can be upper speed, while the next is core strength. Focuses are based on the part of the body and how it is being worked on. For the part of the body, it can be upper, lower, core, or full body. For how it is being worked on, it can be power (longer rounds, harder exercises), strength (normal rounds, heavier weights), or speed (faster, yet more rounds, lighter exercises).
The gym itself has a bag section and a floor section. At the Chesapeake location, there are ten Thai bags and ten tear bags. The floor typically has ten different fitness stations, and the exercises change depending on the day and the focus.
Coaches will call out combos for the bags, one combo for the Thai bags, and one combo for the tear bags depending on how many people are in the class. Most combos include jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, and kicks. Some coaches will even throw in extra moves if they want!
After ten to twenty rounds on the bags (depending on the daily focus), everyone switches over to the floor exercises (or to the bags for the people who started on the floor). There are a total of ninety different floor exercises that can appear for the stations.
Rockbox is very inclusive. The coaches push you to do your best, the classes are very self-paced, and you only have to do what your body is comfortable with. The minimum age for regular classes is fourteen, but there are also kids classes for those under fourteen.
“I started working out at Rockbox in March of 2024, almost a year now. It is definitely helpful in my fitness journey and it fits well with my motivation needs. I really enjoy working out with people who have similar or close to similar goals like me in a setting with no judgment and a safe environment,” said Rockbox member Liza Stone. “I also think that the routines are interesting and challenging, and I feel like it is always something new, which leads to desired muscle confusion so I don’t plateau with my results. I sometimes surprise myself with what I can do after the workout. I love that I am building my confidence and strength each time I go.”
My experience with Rockbox has been very positive, and I have become much stronger since I started. It’s tougher than any other fitness place I’ve been to, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. Overall, I’d rate Rockbox 9.5/10. I’m met with a variety of fun challenges each time I go, and I’ve found exercise to be much more enjoyable here than other places I’ve tried!
