HOBOKEN, N.J., Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — People who want to reach their New Year's Resolutions to lose weight might want to try the workout at CKO Kickboxing. The supporting culture and family atmosphere helps people lose chins and belt sizes – and as many as 1,200 calories per hour. Now there are five new CKO Kickboxing gyms in New Jersey and New York to help people get fit.
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"Research shows that people stick to New Year's Resolutions if they have workout partners. CKO Kickboxing has a very strong family culture so people want to come regularly to see their workout buddies," said Joe Andreula, Founder of CKO Kickboxing, headquartered in Hoboken, N.J.
"It's no wonder that so many people who experience our workouts and our community want to own a CKO Kickboxing franchise," he said, as 2 of the 5 new franchises are owned by existing franchisors.
"I quit my full-time job in corporate finance to open CKO Kickboxing Gillette," said Steven Johnson, who also owns CKO Kickboxing Fanwood. "It was always in the plans to expand and make this my full-time profession."
"I'm helping them reach their fitness goals. It's a fun job, quite frankly. And it is rewarding to see people improve their fitness and their overall lives," he said. "I used to weigh 240 pounds. This is my main workout now. I understand what it is like to be completely out of shape and play the dieting yo-yo game. Now I get to give back to people."
A new CKO Kickboxing Sheepshead Bay, N.Y., will open in early January by the owners of CKO Kickboxing Bay Ridge – Ben Bongiorno, Matthew Acquista and Tommy Saleh.
"I started working for my brother in CKO Kickboxing Bay Ridge. I always liked fitness. I fell in love with the workout and the people," said Megan Bongiorno, who is co-owner and manager of the new gym.
Serial entrepreneur Andrew Cameron opened CKO Kickboxing Cherry Hill, N.J. "I thought it was a tremendous business opportunity. The fitness industry is growing. The economics are very strong."
His wife, Annemarie Cameron, a NASM certified fitness instructor and personal trainer will run the business.
"We both enjoy the personal fitness industry," the former Wall Street executive said. "I have gone down two belt notches and one chin since I started working out. I've seen the workout change people's lives."
Steven Cortopassi used his finance background to decide to open CKO Kickboxing Wayne, N.J.
"I started out as a member. I fell in love with the workout. I was looking for a business to work in," he said.
Logan Zanki and Kathleen Zanki started the New Year right by opening CKO Kickboxing Springfield, N.J. She's been a member for five years; he's been a member for two years.
"We are addicted to the workout. We're big gym buffs. I can't see doing anything else," said Logan, who is in the Coast Guard. Kathleen is a cardiac nurse.
The new gyms are:
CKO Kickboxing Gillette
977 Valley Road
Gillette, NJ 07933
908-647-1759
CKO Kickboxing Wayne
771 Hamburg Turnpike
Wayne, NJ 07470
973-832-7444
CKO Kickboxing Cherry Hill
1558 North King Highway
Ellisburg Circle / Whole Foods Shopping Center
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
856-535-1888
CKO Kickboxing Springfield
271 C Route 22 East
Springfield, NJ 07081
973-379-1222
CKO Kickboxing Sheepshead Bay
2615 E 17th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11235
347-587-5715
http://www.ckosheepsheadbay.com
"What makes us different is that we combine our workouts with cross-training and calisthenics so that every muscle group gets a good workout," said Andreula. "Routines never become boring."
About 65 percent of CKO Kickboxing members are women – including those who have just had babies and want to lose their baby weight.
"Everyone can work out at their own pace. And everyone gets their own heavy bag to practice on," he said.
About CKO Kickboxing
CKO Kickboxing was originally formed in Hoboken, NJ as "Take It To The Max" in November 1997 by Joseph Andreula. He designed and created the intense workout, which was the first of its kind. Today, CKO Kickboxing has over 50 locations stretching from New York to California.
CKO has a massive army of devoted followers and has been recognized in countless national fitness magazines and television programs such as NBC's The Today Show.
CKO Kickboxing was listed as one of America's fastest growing franchises according to industry standard Entrepreneur Magazine, in its Franchise 500 list of best franchises in 2011.
G.I. Jobs Magazine ranked CKO Kickboxing in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide and named it a 2012 Military Friendly Franchises.®
For information about franchise opportunities, call 800-489-1964 or go to
http://www.ckokickboxing.com/franchising.html
To find a gym, go to www.ckokickboxing.com.
Contact:
Joseph Andreula
Email
201.963.7774