If you’re looking to level-up your workouts and your physique, it may be time to go underground. Located one level below Greenwich Avenue, Punch Fitness is a 2,000-square-foot gym with a full boxing ring, spacious workout room with freestanding and hanging punching bags and state-of-the-art exercise equipment as well as a lounge, his-and-hers locker rooms and more. Though Punch has been in town 15 years, some residents don’t know that this gym is home to exceptional trainers who are the coaches behind some of the fittest people around.
The Studio offers group classes as well as one-on-one training, as most clients plan private sessions as part of their routine. One of the trainers here will take each person through a series of exercises that includes punching, kickboxing, core work, time on the machines, weights and moves tailored to the individual. And, yes, there will be burpees.
“Boxing is not just exercise. It’s also confidence. It’s a lifetime thing,” says trainer and co-owner Ansumana Touray, who’s originally from Guinea-Bissau. Sporting a huge smile and a tan hoodie printed with the words “Burpees are the Way of Life,” he says, “Once you learn it, it stays with you. It’s a full-body workout.”
The five trainers at Punch work not only to help people gain strength and get toned but also to find the balance that they will carry with them. Don’t try to sit down here to tie your shoes—standing is the only way, Touray says. People should be able to balance on one foot for at least 10 seconds, and he makes sure they develop the core strength needed to do so.
While most gyms pair clients with the same trainer every time, at Punch you don’t always know who you’ll get until you’re at the gym. You might do half of your workout with one trainer and half with another. Sometimes five people are working out together at the same time. By mixing things up, it keeps people motivated. “We don’t want you stuck with one trainer the whole time,” Touray says. “We all work on the same goals, but we have different styles. You’ll see the difference when you see two or three different trainers in a week.” Abs and cardio are part of the plan with rowing, climbing (Jacob’s Ladder machine), skiing machines and a curved-incline treadmill that burns 30 percent more calories than an ordinary treadmill. Each workout also involves stretching at the beginning and end of the hour. Touray is always smiling and says that even though his workouts are tough (you may have to “pay” for your water break with burpees), he strives to make them fun. “This is not just a workout,” he says. “It’s also about connection.”
The shared experience promotes bonding among Punch clients, whom Touray calls the Punch Family. Their progress is tracked, and top performers receive accolades on the Wall of Fame at the front of the gym. In November and December, clients participate in competitions and contests (i.e., who can do the most burpees in a month) to stay motivated. They also meet up for Sunday Funday group sessions. Every client is encouraged to “punch through their limits” to get strong.
321 Greenwich Avenue, parking and second entrance are available on Mason Street, 203-992-1916; punchfitnessgreenwich.com
Photography By Venera Alexandrova