Rumble Boxing Brings The Heat Outdoors In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA — If you want to channel your inner-Rocky, practice your swing and build your strength, then Rumble Boxing might be a good place for you.

Rumble is now located at Santa Monica Place on the 3rd Floor near Nordstrom, bringing its unique, boxing-inspired group fitness classes to the outdoor rooftop deck.

It's perfect for any level. You don't need experience — and you'll leave feeling energized and excited to handle whatever challenges come your way next.

It's a 45-minute, full-body workout designed in 10 rounds that includes half boxing using water-filled, teardrop-style boxing bags, half-strength dumbells. An instructor motivates you over a wireless, silent disco headphone set, paired with jams to keep you sweating to the beat. Each spot in class is distanced at 6-feet apart. Masks are required.

Danielle Burrell started with Rumble as a founding trainer in New York City in 2017 and moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to help manage the West Hollywood studio.

"I think ultimately we love the boxing, we love the authenticity of boxing and the grit of boxing but we wanted it to be approachable to the normal person coming in, not wanting to feel that intimidation of walking into a real boxing gym," Burrell told Patch.

"So we wanted to bring that aspect of it, and the musicality of it so you guys are actually having fun and punching," Burrell said. "We just want to be approachable to anyone who wanted to try this sport out but not feel intimidated to spar or fight or anything like that, just make it fun but keep the authenticity of boxing at the same time."

You don't need any experience to join Rumble — and it's open to everyone, instructor Woody told Patch.

"I think for so long the image of boxing has been this hardened, it's a predominately male-dominated sport but the reality of it is this is open to anybody and everybody who wants to give it a try, beginners and veterans alike come and they enjoy this class, and they reap the benefits of it," Woody told Patch. "And we design it so everyone can come and enjoy it, no matter how long you've been boxing, and you can feel successful when you leave."

Ashley Camerini, CEO of Rumble Boxing, told Patch that people love the outdoor experience and have wanted to workout and move again during the pandemic.

"We have been so grateful for the incredible response by our community to our reopening outdoors in Santa Monica," Camerini said. "This reopening has made it clear that people miss the undeniable and infectious energy of working out with a group of people. The location might be a bit different, but the good vibes, killer music and fun, results-driven workout are all the same."

The class is unlike other workouts, she said.

"There is truly nothing like the physical and mental release you get from hitting one of our Rumble bags," Camerini said. "Because you are learning and practicing a skill, your mind is focused on one thing for 45-minutes and you get into a flow. There’s not a lot of other times - if any - in your day when you are without your cellphone or other distractions and that is part of the magic of a Rumble class."

During this challenging time, the connections are also a positive aspect of the workout.

"Humans are by nature social beings who enjoy being around one another, meeting and connecting with like-minded people," Camerini said. "Rumble has always been and will always be a place for people to connect with one another. Now more than ever after having been physically isolated from each other for almost a year, places, where humans can connect in real life in a safe and socially distanced way, are increasingly important for our mental well-being."

Safety is the top priority during the workout, she added.

"We have strict health & safety protocols in place to ensure that our community can come back together safely and get back to what we all love so much," Camerini said.

Workouts are tough — but also enjoyable, she said.

"We believe working out should be fun," Camerini said. "And that's why we don’t take ourselves too seriously in our workouts. Every class is designed for all fitness levels and experience. Expect a half boxing and half weights workout set to killer, custom playlists that will leave you drenched in sweat but feeling the best you’ve felt in a long time."

People can feel safe and distanced outside, a move the company made to keep swinging and punching in the pandemic.

"We definitely pivoted in the last year," Burrell told Patch. "We also have the weights and the mats. So you can get that indoor experience but outdoor, socially distanced."

Santa Monica Place partnered with Rumble and also SoulOutside in 2020, an outdoor cycling studio from SoulCycle, bringing an outdoor fitness location to the mall in the pandemic.

"There's a great energy in this place," Burrell said. "It's our new fitness hub and it's a lot of fun here."

Rumble Boxing is located at 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica. Join a Rumble Boxing class and see the schedule to sign up.