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JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 12, 2013

Fitness center offers evening kickboxing class

By Alex Salinas Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Department of Defense cardholders including contractors, retirees and civilians age 16 and older can kick and punch their way through a non-contact kickboxing class Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Rambler Fitness Center.

The class starts at 6 p.m. and lasts for 55 minutes in room 128.

Bobbi Heyward, kickboxing instructor, became certified in 2000 and has taught the class at JBSA-Randolph for four years.

"I average 30 to 40 people a night," Heyward said. "It's fun, energizing, motivating and intense."

Calling the courses "a perfect union between kickboxing and interval training," Heyward said they're challenging enough for her "die-hard regulars," but also enjoyable for newcomers with an interest in getting a cardiovascular workout without the stressors of physical impact.

Rey Salinas, Rambler Fitness Center fitness programs manager, said the class is among the fitness center's most popular offerings because it's inviting and allows people to let loose after the work day.

"The atmosphere is fun, upbeat, and people get to know each other," he said. "It's loud and they have a blast."

Heyward incorporates jabs, hooks, uppercuts, push kicks and roundhouse kicks in different combinations every class. She also puts on up-tempo music - a fusion of jazz, house and funk - to get participants in the right mood.

"When you're doing kickboxing exercises and visualizing your moves, I find it relieves more aggression and frustration than other workouts," Heyward said. "People get involved by learning the repetition of combos with great music. It's a total body workout."

Marcia Bonner, a regular attendee, said she's taken kickboxing classes for 15 years, but enjoys evening ones at the Rambler the best.

"They're different each time because she (Heyward) mixes up every session," Bonner said. "They're tough, but great. I've made a lot of friends here and we all hang out."

Heyward explains what participants can expect for the night during a 10-minute warm-up, and then class intensifies with each bend of the knee.

"People are drenched in sweat once it finishes," she said. "Everybody gives their all to me for an hour."

More than the thrill of leading a group workout, however, a legacy of the course satisfies Heyward the most.

"The class helped some people pass the physical fitness test," she said.

The cost is $3 per class.

For more information, call the Rambler Fitness Center at 652-2955.