Fitness guru Chris Stevenson is taking kickboxing to a whole new level. Using weighted bags to properly execute karate and boxing techniques, his one-hour "Bags" workout, currently instructed at Lacombe Karate in Westlake Village while his studio sees a redesign, promises to burn calories, build muscle, and tone the entire body. 

With a background in martial arts, the Cleveland, Ohio native opened Stevenson Fitness in Oak Park, California in 2003. Determined to help members meet their weight loss goals, improve their sport performance and team exercise, Stevenson launched his challenging "Bags" workout.

Class begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. Today, 16 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed locals arrive at Lacombe with wrapped hands and wrists, ready to endure Stevenson's challenge.

The tone is set with fast-paced, up-tempo music, and the class of eight couples stretched along the soft mat, facing their weighted bags, jump right into Stevenson's 15-minute warm-up.

Stevenson begins with anaerobic punch combinations, right to left and left to right, followed by a dynamic kick variation timed precisely to the rhythm of the music. Heart rates are beginning to rise and the beat is getting faster.

Reaching the halfway point, Stevenson motivates his students to push themselves to their fitness apex with an unrelenting punch and kick variation, designed to increase the heart rate, challenge endurance, and accelerate muscle fatigue. Cores are tight to enhance balance and dexterity. Calorie burn is now between 800 and 1200.

Nearing the end of the workout, Stevenson introduces a final flurry of full-body kickboxing and punching sequences to lean even more muscle. Exhausted and soaked with sweat, the class's caloric burn is further propelled. It is the final stretch—abdominal sequences. Stevenson dedicates the last few minutes of his class to crunches. Grunting and sighing, the 16 students pull through, receiving a well-deserved congratulations from their enthusiastic instructor. 

Utilizing effective and efficient self-defense techniques, Stevenson's "Bags" exercise provides a fun fitness activity with real results. Self defense, kickboxing, and group fitness prove to be a worthy workout for Agoura Hills gym-goers.