Kickboxing facility debuts this month

The first kickboxing franchise in Alabama, Gauntlet Fitness, is now open in downtown Homewood.

The gym offers fitness-based kickboxing group class training, with a class beginning every hour on the hour according to demand. Classes can accommodate up to 20 participants but always maintain at least a 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Head instructor David Sherman has a black belt in three forms of martial arts, and owner Aaron Crocker co-founded Fitness Together in Alabama. Gauntlet refers to steel gloves that knights wore in medieval times; the theme of the class is to accept the challenge of life, said Crocker.

“Kickboxing gets you in total shape and uses all major muscle groups,” Crocker said.

Gauntlet recommends beginners start with a 30-day Gauntlet Fundamentals class that offers workouts three days a week for four weeks. After that, participants can join the gym for a monthly fee that offers unlimited access to classes.

Gauntlet is located 2610 19th Street South and can be reached at 414-6689. For more information, visit gauntletfit.com or find them on Facebook.