Punching up fitness: Visakhapatnam women turn to kickboxing and strength training
Women in Visakhapatnam are increasingly participating in high-intensity fitness sessions like kickboxing hosted in non-traditional venues like bars. The trend, led by community groups, emphasizes social connection and strength-based exercise over conventional gym routines.
Why it matters
The shift reflects changing lifestyle preferences among urban Indian women who prioritize community-based wellness and intense physical activity.
The DJ dropped the beat and 70 women started throwing punches. By the time the first kickboxing combination was called out, Moon Bar, a Visakhapatnam club had shed its weekend persona to turn into a makeshift fitness floor, with women punching, kicking, squatting and burpee-ing their way through an hour of high-energy cardio.
There were no opponents, no rings and no gloves to take a hit. Instead, four trainers led the women through combinations designed to raise the heart rate and work the whole body, while the music kept the tempo going. It was a part workout, part social gathering and a glimpse of how women are increasingly choosing to exercise with more intensity, more variety and with strength in mind.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in