Xplicit Fitness

Though he could boast years of fitness experience and certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine in personal training, boxing instructor Chad Yarvitz wasn’t satisfied. He had trained and taught boxing extensively, but he’d never felt the sting of a sharp uppercut or heard the roar of the crowd during a professional match. Determined to gain first-hand, authentic experience, Chad put his coaching on hold to pursue a career as a professional boxer.

Today, Chad leads boxing classes at Xplicit Fitness, drawing on a background as a 2008 California Golden Glove champion with a 7-1 fight record. Joining him is fellow fitness aficionado Leah Francis, the 2011 winner of CityVoter's Best Personal Trainer award. The duo leads high-intensity classes beneath the emerald brick walls of a studio built around a full-scale boxing ring. Like stare-down contests between TV news anchors, most group fitness classes focus on a specific part of the body for 60 minutes. In addition to their signature fitness boxing classes, the trainers offer boot camps, personal training, and youth boxing and self-defense day-camps.