by josie
Punk Rope classes blend jump-roping, calisthenics and fun fitness games.
Even though I have evolved into quite the fitness fanatic, in fifth-grade gym class I was lucky if I was picked second-to-last for kickball. So when I walked into the gymnasium at the Greenpoint YMCA in Brooklyn, NY, for Punk Rope class, I had flashbacks to my less-than-glorious early adventures in athletics. My moment of trepidation quickly dissipated as I was greeted enthusiastically by Tim Haft and his Punk Rope co-instructor, Shana Brady, and saw a friendly group of about 30 people, ranging in age from early 20s to late 40s, warming up with jump-ropes.
The concept underlying Punk Rope is actually the opposite of my childhood PE class. Haft, a New York City-based personal trainer, created Punk Rope in 2004 as a way to combine his love of play, rock ’n’ roll, jump-roping and community building. The class is not just about developing your jump-rope skills; it’s a fun blend of fitness games and creative calisthenics too.
While Haft teaches two Punk Rope classes per week, there are other classes throughout the New York City area and beyond, in Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
If you’re taking classes led by Haft and Brady, expect a weekly theme. Since it happened to be New York Tartan Week, Haft made it “Tartan Day” with a playlist of all Scottish artists and class activities to match the theme. Haft threw on his kilt and quickly reviewed jump-rope technique and form before starting the first exercise. He told us to keep our wrists light and to relax.
We started the warm-up to the first of the many Scottish artists we’d hear in the next hour, the Proclaimers. As the first notes of “500 Miles” pumped in through the speakers, he led a 10-minute warm-up of squatting, pivoting and marching. Then he turned on some exhilarating bagpipe music as everyone ran in place, did knee raises and lateral jumps. Throughout the warm-up, Haft and Brady made sure that everyone was following proper form. We were then instructed to grab our ropes and stay with the beat of a fast rock song. Then Haft told everyone to throw down the ropes. We were playing our first game: “The Loch Ness Monster.” It was Tartan Day, after all!
This game was a sneak-attack full-body workout as you simulated the moves of the mythical creature: reverse lunges (while screaming like Nessie) and then a series of moves where he had us slide back and forth on the floor. It was fun to see a bunch of adults playing like kids. After this game, Haft got everyone back on the ropes, where some people showed off their crisscross moves. Class switched back and forth between games that incorporated challenging calisthenics and jump-roping for the next 40 minutes or so. At one point, the instructors pulled out a bag of play swords for everyone to partner up and do a simulation of swordplay in a game called “Braveheart.” You had to jump around and pretend to swipe at your partner as she ducked. This was definitely a workout interval that let you tap into your inner child.
There were also a set of relay races across the gym floor, including one based on golfing moves (“drive, dive and run”); the collegial spirit made these races nothing like the ruthless ones in grade-school gym. Another highlight was when Haft pumped up the Jesus & Mary Chain’s “Head On” and dimmed the lights, instructing everyone to try out different rope moves like scissors and cross-front. Then, with some superfast bagpipe music, everyone furiously jump-roped for the finale.
As we cooled down and stretched to “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds, another classic Scottish ’80s band, Haft handed out Punk Rope buttons and slips of paper with the address and drink specials for the post-class happy hour at a neighborhood bar.
For more information about Punk Rope, visit the website, where you can watch videos of classes, buy Punk Ropes, sign up for jump-rope workshops, find out about the annual Punk Rope Games competition on May 19 and get all of the rockin’ playlists from class!
