Maritza and Hamid Mahmood plan to open a CKO Kickboxing location in September. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Hamid and Martiza Mahmood spend their work days sedating hospital patients. But away from work, they’re getting people’s blood pumping with a new fitness startup.
The husband-and-wife team of nurse anesthetists is launching a CKO Kickboxing franchise, adding to Richmond’s booming niche fitness market.
The Mahmoods plan to open their franchise in September at 9051 W. Broad St. with a 10-year lease on the 6,500-square-foot space at West Broad Commons.
CKO workouts last for an hour and consist of punching and kicking heavy boxing bags, along with calisthenics. The CKO brand is based out of New Jersey and has about 40 locations, mostly on the East Coast. The Mahmoods’ Richmond franchise will be Virginia’s first.
“It’s not really available in Richmond,” Hamid Mahmood said. “Other guys offer kickboxing classes where they punch in the air. We use actual bags.”
CKO Kickboxing will arrive in Virginia in the West Broad Commons shopping center.
Mahmood said he and his wife grew up in New Jersey before coming to Richmond eight years ago to study at Virginia Commonwealth University. They got acquainted with CKO on their trips back home and wanted to bring the workouts to Virginia.
The couple will split the task of running the gym and are in the process of hiring trainers. Mahmood would not say which local hospitals he and his wife work for but did say they plan to keep their day jobs.
Mahmood said the proximity to major roads like Interstate 64, I-295, and state Route 288 made West Broad Commons an attractive place to open a gym. And he said he feels like things will be less crowded there than in other parts of Henrico.
“Short Pump is kind of busy,” Mahmood said. “I didn’t want to be by all that traffic.”
Mahmood, 37, said they are financing the venture with lines of credit, personal savings and loans. Mahmood said he banks with Henrico Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo.
Memberships at CKO will cost $69 a month.
Numerous niche fitness brands are fighting for customers with different takes on CrossFit, yoga and other workouts.
CKO will also find local opponents in the kickboxing market. 9Round, with franchise locations in Midlothian and Petersburg, offers boxing and kickboxing classes that incorporate punching bags. Aim 4Fitness, a Chesterfield startup, also offers kickboxing classes with boxing bags.
Maritza and Hamid Mahmood plan to open a CKO Kickboxing location in September. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Hamid and Martiza Mahmood spend their work days sedating hospital patients. But away from work, they’re getting people’s blood pumping with a new fitness startup.
The husband-and-wife team of nurse anesthetists is launching a CKO Kickboxing franchise, adding to Richmond’s booming niche fitness market.
The Mahmoods plan to open their franchise in September at 9051 W. Broad St. with a 10-year lease on the 6,500-square-foot space at West Broad Commons.
CKO workouts last for an hour and consist of punching and kicking heavy boxing bags, along with calisthenics. The CKO brand is based out of New Jersey and has about 40 locations, mostly on the East Coast. The Mahmoods’ Richmond franchise will be Virginia’s first.
“It’s not really available in Richmond,” Hamid Mahmood said. “Other guys offer kickboxing classes where they punch in the air. We use actual bags.”
CKO Kickboxing will arrive in Virginia in the West Broad Commons shopping center.
Mahmood said he and his wife grew up in New Jersey before coming to Richmond eight years ago to study at Virginia Commonwealth University. They got acquainted with CKO on their trips back home and wanted to bring the workouts to Virginia.
The couple will split the task of running the gym and are in the process of hiring trainers. Mahmood would not say which local hospitals he and his wife work for but did say they plan to keep their day jobs.
Mahmood said the proximity to major roads like Interstate 64, I-295, and state Route 288 made West Broad Commons an attractive place to open a gym. And he said he feels like things will be less crowded there than in other parts of Henrico.
“Short Pump is kind of busy,” Mahmood said. “I didn’t want to be by all that traffic.”
Mahmood, 37, said they are financing the venture with lines of credit, personal savings and loans. Mahmood said he banks with Henrico Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo.
Memberships at CKO will cost $69 a month.
Numerous niche fitness brands are fighting for customers with different takes on CrossFit, yoga and other workouts.
CKO will also find local opponents in the kickboxing market. 9Round, with franchise locations in Midlothian and Petersburg, offers boxing and kickboxing classes that incorporate punching bags. Aim 4Fitness, a Chesterfield startup, also offers kickboxing classes with boxing bags.