Power Club Gym - Training for a Kung Fu Movie

In Panama city, the main gym is the Powerclub. There are locations in most of the major parts of the city.

The first Powerclub I went to was in El Cangrejo. I was not impressed by this location. The place was kind of small and the facilities did not look great and there is no hot tub (yes I was spoiled by the one at the YMCA back in the SF Bay). Plus they wanted $600 for a year membership...not a chance!!! I will keep doing Capoeira and P90X.

My girlfriend bought a membership to the PC through our job for lower rate. I refused based on what I saw at the El Cangrejo location. Fast forward to this past Weds. Needing a different workout, I decide to go with her to the Paitilla location and do the "Combat Fit" class.

We get there and I'm immediately impressed. This location is pretty big and the facilities look very upscale. A lot of the people in here were attractive and in pretty good shape (some weren't). We start the class and it turns out to be a kick boxing type class. We are the only Black people in the class and I'm the only guy. The workout was not very challenging, so my gf decides to leave. Since the class involved punches and kicks, I decide to stay. Now I'm still the only guy in the class (besides the teacher) and I notice a bunch of people staring at me while I do the class (probably thinking, why is that guy in there?). By the way, this is my first aerobic type class.

So I'm working out doing these cheesy moves to the techno, when I start hearing kung-fu sound effects as we throw the punches and kicks. Yes the workout actually included sound effects (the ridiculous kind you hear in those old Kung Fu movies)! Also it was strange that after finishing the different chunks of exercises, the ladies would start clapping (as if they finished some grueling workout. :) The sit-ups were the only part of the work out that was any good.

After the "Combat Fit", I decided to check out the rest of the gym. The weights area was pretty modern and the bathroom looked like a hotel.

I'm still not signing up for the Powerclub, but at least if you are into weights or aerobics classes, go to the Paitilla location.