Update: It appears this gym has closed and just the MMA portion remains open into 2011. The gym links now point to www.skoggsystem.com, which advertises the Skogg Gym at 312 NW 10TH Avenue in Portland, Oregon.
I attended the grand opening of the Elite Kettlebell Gym in Tigard, the first gym of its kind in Oregon. Think kettlebell culture meets MMA. It's the lovechild of Michael and Sue Skoggs from Wisconsin.
It's small but the space is used well. It's very spiffy, all fresh paint and new floormats. Lots of simple cool stuff for strength and conditioning - thick rope rings, thick ropes to pull, tires to flip and beat with bats, strongman logs, stability balls, and kettlebells galore.
The downstairs is where Next Level Martial Arts lives, with various bags, a few pieces of exercise equipment, and dark open space. They advertise UFC coaching. Although the MMA action is downstairs, the vibe is pervasive throughout - that'll either turn you on or off.
Back upstairs, looks like the kettlebell gym is geared for for classes and personalized training rather than being an open playground (Note: ETA Once you progress through the classes, you are permitted to use the gym freely). The class schedule is intense, running all day M - F. Rates are really high. Guess rent ain't cheap on 99W, but I can't see them surviving like this.
- Day $25
- Week $95
- Ten sessions $200
- Month $149
- Quarterly $400
- Annual $1500
Thanks, guys!
ETA: Michael and Sue treated me and a friend to a free beginners' kettlebell class (my first opportunity to try kettlebells!). Enjoyed my visit. The dynamic swinging of the bells is a full-body work out, and gets the heart racing. I liked that the instruction was kept as the focus, and the music and timer were relatively unintrusive. Michael's manner was welcoming and not intimidating. Also, since I dragged in half-dead at the end of a 12-hour day, I liked that the work out atmosphere wasn't manic - my body was able to slide into it and I left feeling refreshed. We also had the pleasure of trying out some of the other toys afterward.
And here's a bit of gossip - they say they just signed the Portland LumberJax!
6 comments:
Looks like a fun place that has all of my familiar toys (although mirrors always frighten me a bit).
Why not a 'physical culture' gym, or strength and power gym, though, instead of all the attention on a tool rather than what is done WITH the tool?
Yes indeed. Likely just a marketing thing - you can get your message across more instantaneously with image recognition, signaling to your target audience. Also easier to remember.
When I saw the word 'tone' on their website, my guard went up a little. Part of the beauty of physical culture training is that it appeals to the folks who are fed up with the hubris of the corporate gym culture. They are looking for truth and intensity and are turned OFF by the usual copy of infomercials and common fitness marketing. So when a website reads like any other commercial website, even if it is featuring kettlebells, it seems to dilute the concept of the underground fitness movement.
In other words 'kettlebells' don't 'tone.' They just sit there. It's whatever hard work WE'RE willing to put into a workout that produces results. The tool doesn't matter. And many people are starting to understand that. Let's keep that momentum going instead of using the deceptive advertising that made so many of us disgusted with the fitness industry in first place.
Okay.. rant over. Sorry Kat.
Not at all! Excellent thoughts well put.
Thanks Kat, for taking the time to attend our Grand Opening, and to publish your comments. We would like to invite you to attend a Warrior Fitness Class to give you a taste of what we offer. And Chip, perhaps a free Warrior Fitness Class would alleviate some of your skepticism. Stop by at 10:30 or 2:00 Mon, Tues, or Wed to get a whooping.
Thanks, Sue and Michael, for the class experience. Carly and I enjoyed it very much. I've edited the post above with details.
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