Great environment to work out in. The place is always clean and orderly. The staff are motivating, supportive, and very energetic. I always leave the classes feeling sore, but refreshed, and definitely stronger than I was before. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Tried it on the Groupon - the sale pressure to join was AWFUL -never went back. It shows as open; however, the place has now been cleared out - everything gone - hope the people that bought memberships don't bet screwed. read more

I would not recommend I Love Kickboxing. I experienced a very serious snowboarding accident that resulted in a concussion and neck injury. I promptly advised studio and provided doctors note from the hospital, outlining that I will not be able to attend kickboxing (doctor informed me injury could be apparent for at least 6 weeks). Doctor's note stated date of injury, and no expiry (dependent on my level of pain), and stated no kickboxing. Prior to this accident, I gave my 60 days notice to end my I Love Kickboxing agreement. I currently have about 6 weeks left of said agreement. Their policy (disability and death) essentially makes it impossible to cancel a membership due to injury, even though I was informed by doctor I would be out for at least 6 weeks (which brings me to the end of my agreement). The company argues that after being at the hospital and providing them with a doctors note, that I now have to connect with a doctor again to have them fill out a form stating I will not be able to attend kickboxing for 6 months, despite my contract ending in 6 weeks (this does not even make sense as the timeline of 6 months isn't even relevant in my case). I do not have a family doctor so this in turns means seeing a walk in doctor just to redundantly receive another medical documentation. This is an absolute waste of the medical system's time, and mine while recovering. It is unrealistic to ask of someone who is already providing medical documentation for the remainder of my agreement, and could in fact have lasting effects for a very long time. On top of all of this, it took over a week to get any sort of response. 1 star for Rahul who was in fact a great coach on the mat however upper management is an absolute joke. It is disheartening to know that they let on they care about their client's progress and health, yet this situation proves the exact opposite. They do everything in their power to take your money. read more

I started going to kickboxing right when the studio opened from the very beginning. Peter actually approached me and my gfs in the street and said his studio was opening up and we can try 3 classes for $15 plus get a free pair of boxing gloves. I thought this was an amazing deal bc regardless you get to keep your gloves even if you didn't like it. Well let me tell you... it is an amazing work out and the first 15 min HIIT always kills me but in a good way I'm sweating within minutes. I like that there is a combination of bags and partner work bc you pair up with someone and depending on that partner it can really make your workout even that much better bc they push you and you push them. I have met some of my very good friends from this studio and always enjoy the group get togethers from either tacofino takeovers, whitecaps games, summer BBQs etc etc. Needless to say I was very shocked to see such negative comments written. So I needed to set the record straight. Maybe the people whole wrote those comments have never experienced a workout/gym/studio community that is open, kind, yet at the same time want each individual to strive and surpass their fitness/life goals. Peter has created an environment that makes you feel good to go and kick ass on the mat and not feel intimidated by a feeling like having "big jocks taking over the weight section." The instructors have been pretty amazing people I have gotten to know and love. I don't know what else a person would want to get from a place?!!! As for the so-called "sales pitch" yes you are given the option to save money by the end of the class and they do want you to save in the end. However, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. If saving money isn't your jam then you do you. If you feel like there was pressure to sign up, then tell them you aren't interested in signing up. It's okay to see if you like the class before committing to signing up... just like any other gym/studio they ALL want you to sign up so I don't understand what the problem is?! And YOU did go to the gym to find out if it is for you after all! In the end it's best to find out for yourself but you will NOT regret it! Happy kickboxing read more

Not for people with 9-5's Unfortunately I wasn't able to even try ilovekickboxing and that is 100% due to the parameters of their groupon and class availability. If you're looking to buy the groupon to give this place a try, just beware that you can only book one class at a time and preference goes to members... which is understandable. That said, I work a very busy schedule so booking ahead of time is the most important thing and my schedule doesn't allow for classes before 5 pm or after 7 pm. With that in mind the gentleman on the phone did what he could to help but couldn't find me a spot for three weeks from when I called. I've had to cancel my groupon and even though I'm in the market for a new gym I'm going to have to spend my $$ elsewhere just based on this experience. Sorry ilovekickboxing but although I'll happily drop $250 a month on training I'm not going to with you just based on the fact that we could't find the time to make this work. read more

I'm surprised to see this many negative reviews here. On Google Maps people seem to love them. At first, I was really repulsed by their marketing strategy too. They're really pushy to get you to sign up as soon as the first introduction class. If I could suggest the owners smth it to stop that, as I think you're pushing people away. Let people try out a couple of classes before coming up with ultimatum deals and crap like that. It feels really aggressive. If they push you to sign up, don't let them guilt trip you. You can just walk away and think about it. Once you've gone through the initial marketing stunt and you've signed up, I think the classes are worthwhile. It's high intensity, the schedule has classes at any time you want, the staff is motivating and friendly, you get a good workout. The kickboxing aspect isn't meant to teach you how to fight, it's a way to get you stronger and get a good cardio workout. They'll teach you the proper form, correct you, push you til you collapse, which is what I'm after. See this as a HIIT workout, not a martial art class. The pumping music and the excited teachers keep you smiling and happy. Lastly, you can get a 35-classes pass instead of a monthly membership, which I find more convenient to use. So yeah, I like these guys. It allows me to have an intense 1h workout and keep me in shape. read more

Welp that was a waste of money and I will never go back. Bought a groupon for a few classes, but did not come back after the first session. I went with a friend, we were told they HAD to book us together for the first class, and the slots were "limited" so we had to pick a day much later than we wanted for our first class. They did a mandatory questionnaire over the phone and to be frank, it was a little invading. They asked for the home address, phone number, everything, along with fluff (what are your goals for taking this class? and etc). When we arrived, we were given a quick sales pitch and a foreboding "we'll give you an offer you absolutely cannot refuse after class!" I did mention that we had a reservation after and could not stick around for long and they seemed amiable enough. The class was alright, I liked the cardio at the start, but the gloves gave me a nasty burn from the plastic pieces scratching my arms inside the gloves during class. There was a lot of peptalk and chitchat that felt a little forced, I was cringing hard for most of it and just tried to focus on hitting the bag/target as well as I could. The best part was after the class. They. Sat. Us. Down. I got one of the girls, my friend got Peter. They sat us on separate benches and STARTED THE PHONE QUESTIONNAIRE AGAIN. Again they went over "what are your goals??" and the rest of it. Then the hard sale came. "Only today... TODAY ONLY you can get this and that for a 150$ off a yearly commitment" no thanks. I did not buy a groupon to drop a 100s of $$$ on this after only 1 class. This went on for at least HALF AN HOUR. My friend kept making eye contact with me and was starting to get upset. Basically all the answers were not taken with honesty and sales tactics were used to try and make my reason for denying their wonderful offer invalid. This is the same shit telemarketers use to make people ashamed for denying this awesome opportunity. They basically trapped us for 30+ WORLD'S MOST AWKWARD minutes and eventually I had to physically get up in the middle of her repeated pitch and tell them both "No and we are leaving" as we, again, had a reservation. If Peter is reading this - please don't make it so awkward for newcomers. The class is good, the material is good. I was properly sweating, I'd go back if I did not experience the most awkward and pathetic sales pitch while not being able to leave. Please don't make your business look THIS desperate! PS: 40 not recommended reviews with 5 stars? Welp indeed. read more

First of all, please keep in mind that this review reflects a very personal bias and I know that a lot of people are satisfied with this company (from what I've read). I was trying to find a place to learn kickboxing that would be body positive - a place where the emphasis would be on strength and confidence, not weight loss. On their website, it literally says, "body positive." When I went to try a class, I noticed that the entire wall was covered with before and after photos and each and every one of the 15 testimonials was about how much weight they lost and fast they lost it. This, to me, was misrepresentation. When I mentioned it to the instructor, she replied, "Well, this place is for adults..." (I had my teen daughter with me.) After the workout, 2 members mentioned how much weight they lost and raced over to the scale to weigh themselves. If you really want to learn kickboxing as a martial art, go somewhere else. If all you care about is weight loss, try "I Love Kickboxing." I wholeheartedly recommend DCS as a great place to learn kickboxing. It feels much more real and the instructors are all professional martial artists. read more

This is the first time where I have been so overwhelmed I actually decided to not attend. I saw the groupon and I declined. And then I saw it 15 more times and signed up. When I called the voicemail suggests you get a call back faster if you leave a good voicemail. What? I leave 8 voicemails before I get a call back and am able to book an intro visit a few weeks later. I get a solid sales pitch. I get a voicemail the day before. It's a huge sales pitch about the "secret" that if I bring a cheque to my first class I save $100. I get 5 texts and emails after that. I was still planning on coming to my first class until the 1 hour before message and I just lost it. This is the most aggressive and unsuccessful tactics I've ever seen. I've received 3 messages since missing the first class. STOP! read more

Great class that I really enjoyed. The trainers are great and really help you get to your goals. I highly recommend this place who wants to get in super shape. read more

I suspect that like me, most people are introduced to this gym via some kind of special offer - either the 3 classes for $19 they advertise themselves, or the 10 classes for $50 Groupon. I purchased the latter since I live close the Gastown location and thought the proximity would encourage me to go here occasionally in addition to the gym membership I have downtown. As others have mentioned, they lay on a really hard sales pitch after only the first class. This made no sense to me at the time - why would I sign up after 1 class when I had 10 to try it out? It was very uncomfortable to be subjected to this kind of pressure, but I managed to stand firm in my commitment to finish the trial before making any decisions. I've since learned why they do this on Day 1 - after 5 classes I've realized that all the classes are exactly the same, regardless of instructor. Same 5 minute warm up running round the gym, same 10 minute HIIT session, same 10 minute pre-boxing stretch, same 25 minutes of kickboxing, same 5 minute cool down. The first 2-3 classes I found sweaty and engaging and then it started to get pretty tedious, to the point that I'm not even going to finish the 10 class trial. I go to classes to learn stretches and exercises I don't already know - if I'm going to do the same moves time and time again I can workout on my own. There is also a really forced "let's all be best friends" vibe at this gym which some might enjoy, but I found really contrived. I don't want to go to social events with people from my gym, I have my own friends. Stop forcing it. The membership fee is very high - about $125/month - you could join a premium gym with a varied class schedule and better facilities for less than they charge here. I don't know why anyone would join ilovekickboxing - its expensive and boring. read more

I don't write many reviews, but I have been wanting to write one for I Love Kickboxing Vancouver for a while now. I have been a member for nearly 4 months now, and signed up with my boyfriend as a new workout - the gym just wasn't cutting it for us anymore. This studio has really impacted my life. I feel more energized after class than I do before working out - isn't that crazy!? My partner and I actually came to visit the studio before we started our first class (with groupon) to see if this was the right choice for us. Doing our research on the company and studio was key to us signing up in the first place. Our first class was amazing! I have never sweated so much before, and it made me feel great! before class you are taken aside by an instructor to get to know you and discuss your goals. At first this may seem intimidating but when you look back on that first day sheet and realize how far you've come, trust me - it feels great. After class the instructors take you aside and explain how you can save over $100 that day by signing up - I see a lot of people on here, saying you have to sign up for a year - WRONG - I'm currently on a 6 month plan, that I want to extend. We choose the 6 month, for security in case we didn't like it and also to motivate ourselves to come. When you're paying a lot to attend the studio it gives you a drive to get your moneys worth out of it - Also committing to a longer time frame gives you less chance of excuses and better results (from personal experience) The instructors - are fantastic! they all teach their own way, but you always walk out with a good workout. I LOVE that they are upbeat and talkative, most times I walk in and I'm tired from work or school and really just don't want to workout - their mood indirectly effects mine. It's quite amazing how a smile or a "happy monnndaayyy" can change your mood. They correct you on your technique and always ask if you need any modifications (so to not injure yourself). NOTE, when the classes are big, it can become extremely difficult for the instructors to keep an eye on every single person, for every single move. They'll catch you if you're doing it incorrectly but if you're unsure... ASK. I've found each and every instructor to be helpful with techniques and prevention for injury questions I have. The workout - let me start by saying just like anything in life, you're not going to get far if you don't put in any effort. The workout is great - we do cardio for the first 15-20 mins then stretch down (they talk about social event to bring the group together and any other messages that the member - or members to be, might like to know). I find this extremely informative and relaxing. They then get your fired up again for the kickboxing round which you alternate with your partner. Now, I usually come with my boyfriend, and that's definitely made this experience easier for me but I've also come alone and been able to meet and work out with other members too. - This is a fantastic way to meet new people and also bring you out of your shell a bit if you're feeling a little nervous being there by yourself. All in all, this is a fantastic studio with kind instructors and member who want to see you achieve your goals. I have a lot of respect for them, and would recommend this studio to anyone wanting a change in their workout routine. if you have previous experience with any sort of martial arts or boxing / kick boxing, make sure you do thorough research to ensure this is the class for you. remember there are A LOT of newbies to the sport that need guidance - so if it isn't your pace, maybe this isn't for you. But go check it out, before signing up and ask questions! Drop the mic. read more

DO NOT pay into this scam. I purchased a package of classes in Kanata, Ontario for $899.48 and had used only one class when the studio closed. I have been communicating with iLovekickboxing since then and provided all required documentation on February 8th and they continue to make excuses for not refunding my money. The studio closed on January 31, 2019 and today is April 11th and I still haven't seen a penny. DO NOT join, this is a total money grab and scam. read more

Although the workouts are great and the trainers motivating, I'm really disappointed at how greedy and shady they are. I had signed up for a 21-day trial, after the very first class the trainer was incredibly pushy to sign up immediately, saying there's a special discount only for that first day. He barely mentioned the different membership options, really pushing for the 1-year contract., and now I know why. Although at the time I was committed to finishing the year, I've since decided to go back to university and will be paying hefty tuition fees, which is a massive blow to my budget. I can no longer afford to pay $40/week (which in itself is ridiculous, but I really wanted to do kickboxing), so I reached out to them and they had zero empathy, saying I can only cancel my membership for medical reasons or moving 40km away from any of their gyms, with proof. I actually am moving to Victoria for school but they won't accept the university confirmation, only a rental agreement which will take me time to get as I have to plan my move and find housing. In the meantime, I'll be paying without attending much, if at all, as I'll be going back and forth and have so much on my plate. I'm surprised that not even an early cancellation fee was offered, simply a flat out "No". So, although I'm grossed out by their marketing strategy and attitude, the classes are enjoyable (if you can go at least 3 times a week to make the price worth it), but DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A YEARLY CONTRACT if there is any possibility of life/financial changes (which, let's face it, there always is), because they give zero shits. read more

I have been going to iLoveKickboxing since November 2017, and so far my experience has been great. No two classes are exactly the same, and the staff put in a lot of energy and enthusiasm into each one. I definitely feel more confident in my abilities to both kick and punch people :) It's an excellent place to get out your frustrations (just picture kicking someone you don't like, hehe). I highly recommend adding this to your workout routine if you want to mix things up, want something fun, exciting, and challenging! read more

Don't waste your money. Very pushy sales staff. Very restrictive refund/cancellation policy. Too many rules about what kind of gloves you can use and what bags you can use. Just a huge waste of money. read more

Went to a consultation for their 6 weeks FREE challenge except it's not free and they are not transparent about it before the consultation. The pitch is that you pay 400$ and if no matter whether you come regularly to the gym and follow the challenge, if you don't lose 6% body fat they don't reimburse you. Everyone body is different and this is unhealthy attitude that might push people in obsessing about body fat rather than sticking to healthy habits. But you can sign up for 52 weeks and then it's free. You see the scam here? read more

This is my review after I've had the chance to attend a few classes. I purchased the Groupon for 10 classes to try it out. I've only seen rave reviews about the place, so I thought I would give my 2 cents to balance it out. Maybe I am just really picky, who knows? Here are my 2 cents - overall, the facilities are kept clean, the instructors are energetic, the workouts are tough if you make them (you have to put in the effort for any class to make it worth your while), the class schedule works well for those who work in an office (morning classes, after hour classes, weekend mornings, etc.), and they do attempt to teach individual students some boxing techniques; however, I'd like to point out a couple of things that no one seems to have mentioned: 1) I am not a fan of their sales tactics. They really want you to be a member, because when you become a member, you are committed for a year for $125/month. So, basically you get a sales push immediately after their first class - if you sign up THAT DAY, you will get $150 off the initial membership cost of $200. So you only end up paying $50 to buy the opportunity to commit to a $125/month cost for a year! Yay! 2) The instructors try hard to push social events, to the detriment of the actual stretching portion (warm down) of the class. Stretching is really important for me as it helps me recover quicker for future classes, but the instructor focuses a lot on communicating upcoming social events or selling "limited edition tees" for $40, while doing the same stretch for an overly long period in the same position. 3) The classes use XL Wavemasters rather than hanging bags. Personally I prefer hanging bags as there is more momentum and you have more chances to practice your footwork. Also I find Wavemasters to not be as forgiving as a hanging bag (I also have a Wavemaster at home), and it ends up hurting my joints when I hit harder. Because of this, I can't go more often than twice a week because it takes time for my soreness to go away. But this may be just a problem with me, YMMV. 4) Not enough of an ab workout. I did learn some new exercises to try though. I'll finish my 10 classes because I've already paid for it and it was a good deal, and it is a fairly good workout, but I will probably never be a die-hard member of ilovekickboxing.com. read more

Literally the worst place I've ever been to. Two friends and I purchased GroupOns for this place, when we called to schedule our intro class, they told us they only allowed 2 people from GroupOn at a time, so the 3 of us would NEVER be allowed to go together. Awesome, nothing like working out alone. Then, I received a phone call at 7am on a Sunday morning to "remind" me of my class the following day. Are you effing kidding? 7am? Some people enjoy working out in the evening, don't assume I want to hear your scratchy high-pitched voice at such an ungodly hour on a Sunday. When we got to the class, we were BOMBARDED with pressure to sign up for 7 months OR 12 months. Are you kidding? I haven't even tried the first class, why would I spend money on a 7-month commitment? There are no month to month options, or even a 3 months option. Once you politely decline and say you're just here for the GroupOn, they turn into hyenas and treat you like garbage. They push you past your limit, don't care about your injuries, and only focus on how to squeeze another dollar out of your pocket. Every time I call to ask to schedule a class, I'm told every single evening class is filled with "members". And "GroupOn" spots are limited to 2 per class. There are over 20 bags in that gym, maybe if you were a bit more welcoming, we'd want to buy a membership. There was ONE instructor who I loved, she ended up being fired for not being "peppy" enough. Who TF would ever want to work at a place that dismisses hard working people for not being PEPPY enough. Pep this i love kickboxing, what a joke of a place. Constantly being judged, treated like garbage, pressured to sign up for an (honestly, mediocre) workout. Thank god I only spent $40 dollars on this joke, and I got to keep the gloves. ILKB needs to realize people just want to workout and have the freedom to make their own choices, not be pressured to join a cult. Managed to choke out 3 out of the 10 classes I paid for. I can't muster the patience to go again. It's just the worst. Looking for a great workout? EASTWOOD CYCLE! Amazing people, amazing workout, freedom to push your OWN limits, and no CONTRACTS. read more

They have been very disorganized and have dissatisfactory customer service. My first time attending the class, I had signed up a couple weeks prior because I can only attend weekend classes and they were very full. One week before my registered class I kept receiving emails and calls saying that my class was in two days. I tried calling and emailing back to say that they are confirming the wrong date because I was signed up for the following week. Nobody replied or even picked up the phone after several attempts. Just so I would not be penalized, I changed my plans and attended the class. The minute I walked in, I was sweating. The doors to the room were steamy and there was not even a fan to circulate the air around the room and this was in winter. The class was mediocre but I was noticing a lot of poor form that was not corrected. I was concerned for the other classmates who seem to have attended a number of sessions but were harming their bodies without proper guidance from the instructors. I did not feel comfortable completing my remaining two sessions alone so I got a friend to sign up as well. Again, trying to call the studio was very difficult, I had to call for two weeks before I could actually speak to someone and get my friend signed up. When we finally went, we were turned away because again, they made an error in our sign up, stating that my friend was not signed up that day. The instructor was very rude and was unapologetic as we explained that we had to travel 45 minutes just to get there and had signed up almost a month prior to get a spot. The studio was almost completely empty and the instructor refused to make any accommodations. I have been very dissatisfied at the customer service and repetitive instances of disorganization demonstrated by this company. I will not be returning for my remaining two sessions. read more

My wife goes here and she has a membership for a while, after my card was supposed to be removed 2 months ago or so from the system, I get charged today and call to see why I have been charged 173$. The manager I believe his name is treyten not sure to spell it, hung up on me. He thought I was being rude and yelling at him and I did not swear at him once, I was just pleading my case asking why my card is being charged and that he should or someone from the company should reach out to me or my wife before charging me. I'm not even at that gym, they have arrangements with her and should tell her to update her card etc. Don't just charge someone else. Even if my card was on there in the past, call, email, text, talk to my wife in person, anything. Now I'm calling and getting hung up on? Called from a different number and he talked to me for a min then hung up on me again, is this how you run your business ? Is this the image you want to portray? These are the employees you hire ? You guys messed up. Own up to it and tell me you'll take care of it don't have me run around and talk to my wife or whatever. YOU call, you charged my card with out my consent, I asked to have my card removed a few months ago in person! If the payment doesn't go through her card call her, you only have her ENTIRE information on site and she's almost there every second day, which means it can be handled very quickly. she's your client, she pays 173 bucks a month for like 8 months now. Absolutely unprofessional and embarrassing to be honest, I heard a few people quit from this location now I know why... it's not run properly! This is my first time talking to him today, I'm being charged nearly 200$ of course I'll be upset... did I swear once ? No, raise my voice ? Not even. Please tell me other wise. I'm going to be getting a hold of your head office and make sure they know what kind of employees they have. Not only that it he's making it seem like I won't grt my money back and there's something my wife signed etc. Yea that's fine, on her card on her terms, don't tell me I'm not getting my money back believe me I am. I have no doubt. read more

This is the best studio I tried for kick boxing. This is a fun an super friendly place and great instructors, instructions and gorgeous studio. Peter L (the owner) gave me a high five before class started. It was genuine. What sets them apart from the competition is the dojo style of the studio with the high quality mats, stretching, and the technical instructions to improve your kicks. Plus the workouts didn't feel like work and the classes are fun to be in. Also the kick ass music and the Bell. The classes have are a lot of high energy plyometrics so it doesn't matter what fitness level you are at. One last item, the classes are guaranteed not to be cancelled so even if you are the only one there, they won't cancel it. read more

Good workout. It pushes you hard and makes you sweat and it is fun. The reason I am giving this a one is similar to some of the other comments here. The sales push is extremely overbearing. I have never felt so cornered and pressured. They make it sound like this is the only way to get fit and the only exercise that works. I have a pretty active, varied life and was simply looking for one more thing to try out but at over 150 dollars a month, this is just more than I am willing to pay for one type of class. You have to make a decision there and then after only one class and if not are made to feel like you are a couch patato and have given up. They then send you endless peppy emails with weird formatting and typos. There are many other clubs I am sure that are less overbearing and falsely inclusive. The endless self promoting chat of we are a family and a community is a bit offputying. These things generally happen organically and don't need to be forced onto people. read more

I was looking for a workout that not only showed results in only a couple of weeks, but was also fun. THIS IS IT! The trainers are supportive and funny, while pushing you when you can't push yourself. The other members are very welcoming; it's not just a gym, it's a community. Do it! It was one of the best decisions of my life! read more

I haven't even been yet but am considering cancelling my reservation. I bought a Groupon several months ago, it was expiring soon so I called to book an initial 1:1 session and see when I could book classes. Firstly, their voicemail said the more awesome my message was, the quicker I would get a call back (???)... so I tried to leave as good a message I could. I received a call back a couple days later, and when I inquired as to when I could come in, they told me the next available time slot they had was 2 weeks away-- I explained my Groupon was expiring soon and that didn't leave my much time to make use of it, to which the employee told me 'not to stress about it', and that they'll have a promotional offer for me. While that's great, I'm not interested in purchasing an annual membership when I haven't even tried the place. Secondly, while on the phone trying to book a time for an initial class, the employee on the phone was already grilling me-- super invasive questions, some of which included: what is my schedule, where do I work, what is my job, what is my ethnicity(?!), why do I want to try kickboxing, what are my personal and health goals, what is my address, etc. I actually had to cut her off because not only was I uncomfortable answering all of this on the phone with someone I'd never met or spoken to previously, her questionnaire also seemed to take forever. I ended up answering a few questions but since I declined to continue the conversation on the phone, she told me I'd have to come in half an hour before my class to complete the questionnaire. Honestly, some of the questions have merit but others I think are much too personal and I have no intention of disclosing all that info. Moreover, she instructed me to bring a bunch of things to the class, including a void cheque and credit card, which, in my opinion, I shouldn't need because I'm not committing to anything since I've already paid for a set amount of Groupon classes. Thirdly, they have called me a couple times since, during work hours when I'm unable to speak on the phone, presumably to remind me of my upcoming class and things to bring. However, they haven't left a single voicemail, so I don't know why they're calling, and I don't really want to call back because I'm not interested in hearing their sales pitch or being asked any more unnecessarily personal questions. I hope that my in-person experience is better, but judging by the other reviews here, I can't say I'm too optimistic. Disappointed it has to be this way, because I was otherwise excited to try something different. read more

I've been going to more than 20 classes, and liking the workout so far. Just the workout though, not the whole experience. First 15 minutes is HIIT workout which will make you sweat a bucket, but afterwards the instructor will ask you to do 5 different punching/kicking combos - taking turns with your partner. Throughout those combos, I noticed only DEZ and PETER (the owner) that would actually check our pose, technique, movement, position etc and would tell us if we don't do it properly and spend some time to show us how to fix it. Others just walking around, dancing to the songs, screaming "happy monday guyssssss" and other useless stuffs. So if you have boxing/kickboxing/muaythai/MMA experience before joining this gym, it's good as you already know the right positions, techniques, and all that stuffs. However, if you're completely new to the sport, this might not the best place as they DON'T correct your mistakes (unless you have an experienced bag-partner for the day and he/she is willing to help you out). Yeah, whoever's teaching for the class will explain how you're supposed to punch and kick, and where/how you should move your legs/arms before every combos, but like I said, when the time we have to do the combos, the instructors would just walk around, haha hihi, etc. Moving on to the membership: on your very first class, they will tell you that you'd save $100 if you sign up for membership on that very same day. After that you'll be asked to approach one of the instructors and they will talk you out privately and convince you to sign up the monthly ones. At this point, the aggressive sales are just way too aggressive in my opinion, especially that one girl named Shelby. Holy Jesus, she's super duper aggressive. She won't listen to any of your reasons if you prefer to take the punch classes instead of the monthly one, as she claims that she doesn't feel comfortable selling the punch classes cos she thinks people won't get any benefit from it. Huh?? I got three friends bought the Groupon thing and then they all backed out after the first class when they got pushed by her overly aggressive sales. Now they're all waiting for the Burnaby location to open and hoping nobody is as aggressive as Shelby over there. I'm still going to the studio twice or three times a week as I honestly like the HIIT workout, especially when Dez or Heather is teaching. They do really good workout for ladies (especially whenever there's no men in the class). Peter used to also teach or assist the class and he is really good, but I rarely saw him at the studio lately. Gareth teaches the class most of the time I came to the studio. He's funny, he makes the class fun and energetic, his techniques are not bad, but the fact that he NEVER check your techniques, makes me feeling a bit meh towards him. We spend a lot of money (yes, the membership is not cheap at all) to learn and gain knowledge and skills on kickboxing, not to only have a sweating party. My one year membership will be done in few months, so definitely will try out Burnaby location soon! read more

I was totally new to kickboxing and became addicted from the first day! You do have to wait for a start date but it's because they give you a one on one trainer to guide you through the whole class so they don't let classes become full of first-day people on their own and I think that's wise. It allows the staff to track with each person, give them the full information they need to navigate the gym and set them up for success. I've read reviewers who the staff doesn't interact during workouts but I've always found that most trainer are willing to answer questions or interact because I interact with them, take initiative and show them that I want them to be part of my workout. They don't overly bother people who don't seem to want to engage. I declined the signup the first day (that's one business tactic I'd probably do away with, I needed to see if I could keep it up before I dropped that kind of cash!) finished my groupon and still signed up because they didn't treat me any differently just because I didn't take "the deal". It's the kind of gym with lots of promos and social activities going on but that also makes it the kind of gym where you can have fun, get to know people and stay motivated. The social media community is active and motivating, the facility is new, clean and has everything you need including showers, lockers and water if you forget yours. I am motivated to make it to class because I'm seeing results, I feel stronger, I've gotten to know the people and I love the energy I have after a kick ass workout! read more

Super corporate, they could care less about customer satisfaction. They are 70% about making money, 30% providing a workout. Staff are super friendly, especially if you're new. Miscommunication among staff & consumers and they are difficult to get a hold of. Don't stick yourself to any contract. (Got trapped because of a "discount/ deal" if I sign a contract first class.) sales pitch after sales pitch. Many loopholes for them, no outs for you. (Unless you're ok with paying for a service/ class you no longer want to show up for.) DEFINITELY WILL NOT RENEW. read more

I've been going to ILKB Vancouver location for three months now and I love it! I noticed a difference in my body in the first couple of weeks already; I am stronger than before and my cardio is so much better. Each class is 60 minutes long and it starts with a cardio workout, stretching, kickboxing techniques (my favourite!) and the class finishes with another stretching session. All the instructors are all very approachable, friendly, and enthusiastic. They all have strong fitness backgrounds and they're very good at what they're doing. During class/after class, the instructors will take the time to correct your forms and engage with everyone. Aside from the awesome classes, they support the local community with charity events, plan DJ nights (yes, work out in different party themes with a DJ in house) and many other exciting events. If you're looking for a group fitness class, this is the place to start! read more