Secret time: I hate to sweat. But I love to have sweated. Back when my parents decided our family of four would take tae kwon do classes, I really hated sweating. Can you blame me? Gis (”ghees”), our uniforms, were not exactly breathable. For years, every Thursday meant kicking and punching. Now, I can’t recall any martial art forms, but I do remember the powerful giddiness of snapping a board in two.
Pain is gain. And, when it comes to family fitness, that gain was a brother who encouraged me from white belt up to brown (four short of black) and ran 26.2 miles alongside me. Mom and Dad joined us by bike for long training runs and cheered at mile markers on marathon day.
If those are the kind of sweet times you want in your family’s future, well, welcome to Kansas Sweaty. Check out these prime and unique local fitness outlets to inspire togetherness.
Rock Climbing
Reach your family fitness goals at RoKC (North Kansas City, Olathe and Kansas City, Mo.). New climbers can scale walls up to 50 feet tall by using the auto belay, while others prefer bouldering — aka shorter, harness-free challenges.
Members pay $21 weekly for all access to climbing and unlimited gear rental, plus unlimited yoga and fitness classes. Youth memberships are $9 weekly per child (ages 6-17) and include unlimited gear rental. Bonus: Youth members now receive all access to a new RoKC Kids (Olathe). This space boasts 25-foot climbing walls and a 25-foot indoor jungle gym.
Don’t “belay” the fun or let something new rock your confidence. RoKC’s website eases first-visit jitters by sharing exactly what to expect — check out ClimbKC.com/FirstVisit.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Have a residential climbing prodigy? Outside of open climb, RoKC offers summer camps and climbing club options for ages 4-17 in the fall and spring. There’s even a traveling youth team that practices three times a week.
Skating
Get inline for a heart-pumping good time at local rinks like Skate City (Overland Park, Shawnee and Wyandotte) or Winnwood Skate Center (Kansas City, Mo.). From themed nights to Wednesday family skates, this exercise with disco lights and rink games will be a highlight in your calendar.
Snag two free weekly skate passes for your kiddos by signing up for Winnwood’s Kids Skate Free Program. On the flip side, at Skate City, it’s parents who can roll free on Saturdays from 10:00 to noon with a paid child admission.
Bouncing
Listen, if you want to be unbelievably sore, find muscles you didn’t know you had and make absolutely unforgettable memories, I highly recommend a family membership at a trampoline park.
In all seriousness, a NASA study revealed that 10 minutes of rebounding (a fancy word for trampoline jumping) outperforms 30 minutes of jogging. In other words, bouncing is more effective and efficient than running — without the stress on joints.
Trampoline parks like Urban Air and Sky Zone just started looking a lot more attractive, am I right?
Purchase unlimited play at Urban Air (Lenexa and Overland Park) for $17 per child monthly, and add a parent for an extra $4.99. At Sky Zone (Kansas City, Mo., and Lee’s Summit), the Basic Membership is $19.99 per month, while the more popular Elite Membership costs $24.99 per month due to the extended jump time and extra perks.
Swimming
Dive into another full-body, low-impact activity — swimming!
With many aquatic centers offering indoor as well as outdoor pools, there are no weather restrictions to getting your strokes and splashes in. Gyms like Genesis and rec centers offer family swim time. If your kiddo is learning to swim at Goldfish or SafeSplash, you might already know about the open swim opportunities.
A free family swim pass is included for members at Goldfish Swim School (Lenexa and Overland Park). Meanwhile, SafeSplash Swim School in Zona Rosa opens up their Sunday open swim to non-members at $7 per swimmer.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Want an indoor and outdoor pool membership that’s good every day of the year? The Jewish Community Center (“The J”) is open 365 days a year and always has a lifeguard on duty.
Ninja-ing
If turning your family into a mini army is a resolution, this one’s for you.
Motus Ninjas (Overland Park and Lee’s Summit) puts physical and mental strength as well as problem-solving to the test with unique obstacle courses. Though classes are age-specific, your family can bond and conquer during open gym hours.
Alternatively, Sky Zone, the trampoline park mentioned above, offers a warrior course and warped wall among its many attractions.
Fencing
En garde! Maybe you can relate, but I had a dream of trying fencing since the first time I watched Lindsay Lohan duel herself in The Parent Trap. That dream was realized at the Kansas City Fencing Center (KCFC).
Coach Kelly Williams and her staff are exceptional teachers. Conditioning often includes practice bouts, adding some healthy competition to workouts. Everyone, teachers and classmates alike, wants you to succeed. If you’re a stronger opponent, you can make others stronger, too, as iron sharpens iron.
Since there are three different weapons in fencing, there are three different styles of the sport. At KCFC, try epee and saber classes. At Heartland Fencing Academy, foil classes are available as well as epee. Five Rings Fencing (practices in Kanas City, Mo., and Lawrence) offers classes in all three, and wheelchair fencing lessons are available.
Kicking and Punching
Hi-yah! I’m not going to pull punches. Martial arts are the kick-butt answer to your family fitness quest.
If you are looking for a multigenerational fitness class that engages each family member, this is it. Everyone starts as a white belt, even grandparents. (I knew a granny who started taking karate with her grandson, and it improved her balance.)
Search for the studios nearest you. There are 10 types of martial arts to choose from in the greater Kansas City area: tae kwon do, karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), Krav Maga, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts (MMA), Kenpo, hapkido, kung fu, and jujitsu. Most studios offer a free first class.
Enjoy your sweat! There is so much to be gained — a stronger you and a stronger unit.