Dude- my size 10s have been fitting tight on me since the middle of last year's pandemic and the…read morehell I want to start inching towards a 12! Gyms are back- but took me a while to nail "the one" because many rely on machine work which I would do- but they're necessarily not my thing. Classes are more up my alley because I love to get my body worked up real good with an instructor and Belmars in the Greenburgh area of White Plains, met me there. Belmars is primarily known for Muay Thai but with one call prior to my Saturday class, Peter mentioned there's Circuit training and Zumba. He texted location details as it's off the Route 119 path and prices for each of those. Because of COVID, Peter mentioned not many folks are hitting the gym and classes have been small. The entire Belmars space is big. It opens with a large exercise room, wall-to-wall mirrors, boxing ring further back and a smaller Circuit Rm- where I and someone else, dripped in sweat with Christine. Don't be fooled by her small frame- my girl will have you hating her...I did- but it was all love and the burn was real even the next day! Plus her playlist was bomb! From Freddie Mercury to old school hip- hop to some pop- she had us going. Listen- I'm a size 10 and felt super comfortable not to be exercising with size 0 Beckies like you see in high-end gyms. By the end of her workout, my muscles shook like never before. Christine's Circuit Training class wasn't an easy ride but made such and an incredible difference even it's just Saturdays for 45 minutes. After a year+ not stepping foot in a gym, coming here gave me adrenaline for more!

If you are reading my review, you are most likely looking for a Martial Arts School or a gym to get…read moreinto shape. You may have joined a commercial gym. But quit because you felt out of place. You may have joined a Martial Arts school and realized that you are going to get hurt and you're not in shape. Or, you are like me looking for something different, I have practiced Shotokan karate for over 30 years. I have jumped from martial art school to martial art school and weight gym to weight gym. I completed Peter's 5 week beginners Muay Thai and fitness class. It's the class everyone has to take to advance to the Muay Thai Kickboxing and Boxing classes. That first class was filled with about 20 + people. I thought I was strong, but I was wrong. I can't jump rope and It was the first time I did a pushup in about 20 years. I also did not know what a Burpee was. (Peter made this exercise look easy). By the end of the 5 week class, I was at 50 Pushups, 3 minutes jumping rope and about 15 Burpees. Maybe Martial Arts are not for you, but you want to get in shape. You want a body of a boxer or you just want to take your shirt off at the beach. Or, if you are like me, you need to shed some pounds. (I was over 270lbs I now weigh in at 230lbs.) My name is Charles White. I hold black belts in Shotokan Karate and Kendo. If I could compress my 30 + years of experience. I would tell everyone to take the 5 week beginners class at Belmars Gym. There are even classes for children over 6 years. I even sent my two nieces and my nephew. The ability to defend oneself is a skill every child should learn. The ability to defend oneself is a skill they will remember for a lifetime

Amazing husband-wife team! I never thought I'd ever work with a trainer -- HERO changed my mind.read more

This is a small but friendly and professional gym. I enjoy working out with my trainer and running…read morecoach, John Hudak. I like the personal, customized workouts and the positive, encouraging environment. Highly recommended!

The classes are a lot of fun, challenging and the instructor is very helpful and supportive. It's a…read moregreat mix of kickboxing classes and circuit. A great and motivating place!

Their classes are fun and hard and there's a great sense of community there. The people are so nice…read moreand give a lot of individual attention.

This place has changed my life. Since I started going to Cardio Kick 2 1/2 years ago, I am stronger…read moreand happier than I have ever been. The workouts and the supportive community of instructors and members are incredible!!!

I've been a part of this kickboxing community since before it opened. Many of the trainers and…read moremembers belonged to a different kickboxing community and transferred here when it opened after ILKB closed due to covid restrictions. I love this community. Everyone is so kind and energetic, and coming in for workouts here is both fun and satisfying (as long as as you like getting your butt kicked during your workout). I never leave this place with regret. It always feels great knowing that I have dedicated time to better myself.

Muay thai was something I wanted to learn but was lowkey a bit afraid. This gym is very beginner…read morefriendly and everyone here makes you feel welcomed immediately. People here are very respectful and mindful of others, which is really important. There are classes Monday-Saturday. Legit the best workout ever (I've done crossfit, powerlifting, hiit, yoga, etc). It works your core, your overall strength, upper body, lower body, and also your mind. The gym helped me make become better in other things too outside the gym (eating habits, running more, etc!!) They do other activities too - beach trips, conditioning in parks, etc!!

I'm beginning to find, as I get older, that experiences that have the ability to completely…read moretransform your life become more rare. When you are young, you are constantly trying and learning new things, figuring out for yourself what you love to do and eliminating those you don't. You start to find a passion for things like soccer or piano, and stick with them, loving to play. Then you grow up, responsibilities kick in, and time becomes more limited. Most of the time, I find myself trying to recreate the fun I had as a kid by re-experiencing situations with new people or joining an adult sports league with random people, which is not at all the same feeling you get from being on a real, dedicated team. The art of Muay Thai is one of the only sports or activities that has unexpectedly thrilled me in a way that is brand new, and leaves me craving more and more. The only other sport that does it for me is scuba diving. There are some similarities between the two: family, fear facing, fitness, and fun. 1. FAMILY: When you join 8 Venoms Muay Thai, you become a family. You are there to support and help each other. You may find that if you sign up for a free trial that you become addicted in more ways than one, to the class and to the people. Your new teammates will be the ones asking if they'll see you next class, and part of the reason you say yes is because you don't want to disappoint them, and it happens in that split second after they ask the question when their face is bright with pure joy from the class and the suspense for your answer. You can't make new friends like this in a typical gym atmosphere and you sure as hell will never find the strength of a family like 8 Venoms Muay Thai. 2. FEAR FACING: "Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt Muay Thai is a fighting sport. You will hit and get hit. 8 Venoms gets its name because Muay Thai is known as the Art of 8 Limbs: 2 fists, 2 elbows, 2 knees, and 2 shins. You will learn to use all of them. I'm a fear facer and a big believer in it. Do I get nervous? Yes. But that's the only way to get stronger. 3. FITNESS: One aspect of Muay Thai among many that you can't get from a regular gym is that it's both a mental and physical exercise. I consider myself a forever student. If I'm not constantly learning something new, I start to get bored. I never would have dreamed that discovering Muay Thai would have been the absolute best gift I could have given myself for my recent birthday (Thanks Skylar B. who turned me onto it). I have been to many gyms: oldschool average joe's gyms, giant gym chains, boxing gyms, etc. Before this class, I considered myself to be healthy, very active, and pretty athletic, but damn, did I get a wake up call. The class starts with jump roping... Who knew that jump roping could be so hard?! I thought I was going to die the first few times. My legs were sore as hell. I guess lifting just can't get you there. Then there's cardio, core, and flexibility, which is awesome. I'm not too too bad on the cardio and core front, but I def. struggle and need improvement. I honestly thought I was a flexible human until now...wooweee, not so much. I think part of the reason I have trouble doing certain skills sometimes is because my hips are not at all used to turning over in such a way while the balls of my feet do something else and my arm is outstretched at the same time. I swear, at the least, Muay Thai will keep my body from getting old and decrepit. Then there's the lessons on different Muay Thai skills and techniques: boxing, kicks, defense, etc, which is really... 4. FUN: Omg it's so much fun. Instructor Gian is extremely knowledgeable and cares about his students. His analogies and descriptions make everything really easy to understand. I partner with my sister sometimes and we have laughing fits. It's just fun to learn something new, practice it, and eventually get it right. I guess I should say it's funnier when you get it wrong and more rewarding when you get it right. I find myself even daydreaming about it, replaying skills I've learned in my head, and hoping that by thinking about it my body will react how I want it to (so far it doesn't, but I'm trying!). All skill levels are welcome. I am a giant newb right now. I hate it lol, and I'm determined to get better. There was a little kid in the class too and he could really hang with the rest of us. Then, there are also those who are really advanced. 8 Venoms is located in the FMA Center and the storefront is really deceiving. If you enter in the front, you go down the stairs and the place is huge. There's the front desk area, and a large viewing room, for anyone there who needs to wait. If you park in the back lot, you can enter that way and walk past the koi fish tank. The actual training space is very large with ample space to move around, and the 7:30 pm class times are also really convenient for me to make after work w/the option of the 1 class on Sat. Try it!

Absolutely love the staff here! Monday nights with Jonathan are actually something I look forward…read moreto!!! And that's says a lot coming from a girl who used to hate the gym!!! I love coming to CKO they kick my a#% in the best way possible. Been coming here 1-2x a week and also cycling 1-2x a week and i've lost 16lbs. Definitely can credit these guys and also Wednesday nights with Griselda. Two amazing instructors and classes.

CKO is such a great workout! I don't come here as often as I should...oops. Lol…read more It can be hard to follow the combos sometimes because the instructors move quick, but you can do it at your own pace. If there's a routine you can't do, you can do something similar such as squats instead of jump squats, etc. The new owner Luis is very friendly and welcoming! My fave classes are with trainers Jonathan and Brandie. I actually went to Brandie's class tonight - her playlist is on point!! I love how she always ends her classes with Linkin Park's "one more light" for the cooldown. She kicked my butt tonight - in a good way!

Carlos is an incredible coach with extensive experience fighting and coaching fighters and students…read moreof all levels. I have learned so much from studying under him. No matter what level you start at with Carlos, he makes you feel like you belong and helps you see your potential to become even better. Everybody at the gym is really positive and friendly. It's a beautiful training space too.

I am a woman that has trained under Carlos for about 6 years. I love his gym and the way he trains…read morehis students. He is a talented coach that puts his all into his fighters. I have NEVER felt disrespected as a woman in his gym, I was always treated as an equal. I think what he is trying to do for men's mental health is a must needed. The reason he does not want to coach women fighters is NOT because he is a "misogynist pig", the reason he has chosen not to train female fighters is because the strain that a human body is put under when preparing for a fight is very harsh. The process can affect our ability to carry a child in the future, it effects our periods and the constant hits to our bodies can affect our bones in a very negative way which we would especially feel after going through menopause. Women now days do have a lot of different "outlets", whereas men do not have as many "outlet" opportunities and definitely need them (just look at men's mental health). He has stated in many of his videos that he hates how in other gyms, women have been used solely as a "sale" for the gym by using photos of hot women, instead of just focusing on the fighters (be men or women). Carlos has the kindest sole for humans and has often trained people for free if they have not been able to pay. He has helped countless amounts of men from killing themselves by being there for them. He has given fighters an opportunity to fight and grow. He has done so much for the Muay thai community and has a gift for teaching it. His wording in his videos may be misleading of what he is trying to say and English is not his first language, but if you actually sit down with him and talk to him you may actually understand what he is really trying to say.

What makes a gym great? I've belonged to numerous dojos and fighting gyms over the years so by now…read moreI have a good idea, and I joined almost a year ago so I've had some time to consider this. When the leaders are solid adults, secure in their martial skills and accomplishments and happy to be there every day, and when the culture is friendly and supportive, you have the makings of a great gym. At 914, the classes are fun and challenging and the self-defense instruction is excellent. On offer is Krav Maga, Muay Thai -- both of which are known to be the apex of skill sets, with techniques that really work -- some ground work, and optional sparring. If you want to spar, you'll find your level, and it will be safe. The gym welcomes all ages which as an older guy is a real benefit; there are lots of younger people here too. They also offer full fight camps if you want to fight. Greg and Marty are the best.

Best instructors and best group of gym mates anyone could hope for. To a person, the people at the…read moregym are supportive and encouraging. The instructors know their stuff and push you to be your best while keeping an upbeat, friendly atmosphere. On the mat, gym mates push you hard while keeping it at your level. I am 50 years old and a relative newcomer. I'll roll with a 25 year old with many years of experience, and he'll work me hard without breaking anything. They run a great kids program too. Combat sports are not for everyone. But if you are remotely considering it, 914 Training is a great place to go.