Sports in New York City

While not exactly synonymous, hip-hop and martial arts have been at least nodding acquaintances since GZA released Liquid Swords. But even The Genius never thought to use his rhymes to get into sword-slinging shape. That’s where Hip + Fit comes in. There, a born-and-raised Brooklynite blends her martial arts training and hip-hop background into her cardio kickboxing class. She boasts a black belt in martial arts, performs as a rapper in her spare time, and during her evening classes, she draws on her dual passions to tone muscles and burn fat to the beat of her favorite hip-hop beats. Sessions aim to improve balance and flexibility, with lesson on proper technique in punching, kicking, and demanding a juice box.

At Modern Martial Arts NYC, a team of instructors leads classes in kickboxing and krav maga, helping students of all ages and skill levels increase strength and burn calories. The intensive sessions teach students the formal aspects of each style and utilize strength training with cardio intervals to sculpt muscles and melt away inches. With an emphasis on individualized attention, classes focus on fitness, kickboxing techniques, and self-defense to help pupils fight off the cheeseburgers that try to invade their mouths.

Krav Maga may be a battle-tested art developed for the Israeli Defense Force, but its practical self-defense tactics benefit soldier and civilian alike. This broad appeal is reflected in the teaching staff at the International Krav Maga Foundation–certified Krav Maga Institute NYC, which includes an amateur-boxing champion, an active US Marine, and a PhD in genetics. They introduce the martial art in beginner-friendly classes, demonstrating how it takes advantage of an individual's natural instincts to create devastating counterattacks meant to incapacitate an opponent as quickly as possible. Techniques include many responses to modern attacks, such as assaults involving guns, knives, or Tumblr pages filled with really gross pictures. Women's only classes are on their way; in the meantime, instructors recommend that ladies consider coed classes to practice their moves against beefier opponents. In addition to normal classes, instructors also host special workshops that supplement their curriculum, such as a bar-fighting seminar in which students learn how to fend off unexpected attacks from flagpoles.

Develop the mind, body, and spirit through the art of Kung Fu.

Praised in NBC New York's Hip & Healthy Blog and featured on Better in addition to other publications and media, Kettlebell Kickboxing merges Muay Thai martial-arts maneuvers with Russian kettlebell training for a full-body, female-only workout. Classes are led by creator and lauded fitness expert Dasha Libin, equipped with a master's in sports science and over a decade's experience in martial arts. Dasha, this year's official trainer for the Miss New York USA & Miss Teen USA brands and fitness brand ambassador for lululemon athletica Soho, leads sixty-minute classes that may burn up to 1,000 calories array attendees in a mirror-lined studio as they learn specialized moves, including weighted squats, lunges, and swings that hoist the kettlebells skyward. As the nonimpact regimen tones hard-to-target muscle groups, clients can hone their balance and agility without needlessly squashing their joints or practicing perilous tightrope sprints. Classes strive to strengthen and sleekify distinct body areas: the Swing/Kick session bolsters limb leanness, whereas a Punch & Knee course employs mat exercises to kindle the burn in arms, abs, and glutes. Patrons can also flock to a total body scorcher class for kettlebell-heaving drills that incorporate both cores and appendages.

The organizers of Out-Fit Challenge, the first national LGBT mud run obstacle course, aim to spark new friendships between its runners by creating challenges that require not only personal perseverance, but the occasional helping hand. Obstacles such as barbed wire crawls or mud pits force racers to get dirty, and tandem climbing walls make runners rely on each other to progress.

After making it to the finish line, participants mingle with newfound friends or long-lost parents at the after-party. After showering, racers can change into their event t-shirt and don their finisher’s award with pride. Each participant can pick up their complementary beer from one of the bars, before mingling, dancing to live music, or chowing down on the food vendors’ grub.