Punk Rope

It's doubtful that when The Clash first performed "White Riot" they imagined that, years later, dozens of sweaty jump ropers would be rocking out to their punk anthem in a New York City gymnasium.

"I figured I couldn't be the only person who was sick of techno music and aerobics classes."

But that's just what happens during a Punk Rope class, a rock-concert-meets-cardio workout that pairs relay races, calisthenics, and intensive jump roping with rebellious punk rock tunes from groups such as The Ramones, Green Day, and the Dropkick Murphys. After launching at New York University in 2004, the class is now taught at gyms across New York City.

Punk Rope is the brainchild of Tim Haft, a 45-year-old certified personal trainer, licensed USA Track and Field coach, and self-professed "wannabe rock star with no voice and no musical talent." Haft decided to create the class as a fun fitness alternative incorporating all of his passions: sports, jumping rope, athletic drills, and, yes, punk rock. Jump-rope workouts have long been respected as a training method for serious athletes in training, so why not bring it to gyms and set it to music? Says Haft, "I figured I couldn't be the only person who was sick and tired of techno and house music as well as step and aerobics classes."

Instead, Punk Ropers perform conditioning and core training drills, jump rope, do stretches, run relay races, and play the occasional game of tag to the soundtrack of energetic punk tunes such as Rancid's "As Wicked," Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation," and "Suspect Device" by Stiff Little Fingers, which Haft says is great for double jumps. The music changes weekly, with theme nights devoted to a specific band, punk covers of popular songs from every decade, or Irish bands, if your class happens to fall on St. Patrick's Day. Haft, who wears concert T-shirts when he's teaching, sends out a biweekly e-mail newsletter with info about bands that will be featured in upcoming classes.

Haft is quick to point out why punk rock is so appropriate for a cardio workout. In addition to its tempo, short song length, and unbridled energy, punk rock "makes you want to jump up and down," Haft says. "Punk gets a bad rap. It's really just rock and roll stripped down and revved up. It's no coincidence that the original dance of choice for early punk rockers was the pogo."

Now an average of 25 students (everyone from grade schoolers to grandparents) pick up a rope in each of the five classes held every week. The exciting, high-intensity classes even received a thumbs-up from at least one local punk rocker (who probably found it more manageable than she would've found Crunch's early Sunday morning Gospel Aerobics classes in Brooklyn).

Most students, however, aren't punk rockers at all - they're just average gymgoers who, like 30-year-old actuary Ashwini Vaidya, enjoy getting a challenging workout and listening to good music at the same time. Most important, they find it to be just plain fun. According to Vaidya, it's kind of like how you would've played in the playground had you been making an effort to tone your quads.

"And who can resist recess on steroids?" she says.

Posted on August 14, 2006