HIIT & Box at Victus Soul – A New Boxing HIIT Option After Kobox
Since the recent announcement of Kobox Chelsea's closure - the second and final Kobox studio shutting its doors - I've been on the lookout for new boxing HIIT classes in London. Over the years, I've tried 1Rebel, BXR, Doghouse (RIP), Gymbox, and a few others, but Kobox has always been my favourite for a few reasons:
Clear bag work sequences: The screens at Kobox show each combination, which makes a huge difference in staying focused during the workout.
Top-notch instructors: Their coaching has consistently been motivating, technical, and encouraging. My favourite instructor is Jacob Holme, who is fantastic. I believe he also works at Barry’s so I’ll have to seek him out elsewhere.
Technical boxing tips: Unlike some fitness-first studios, Kobox instructors do teach some technique, not just fitness drills. This is obviously limited compared to actual lessons at somewhere like Gymbox, but still appreciated.
More than just a weights bench: Their HIIT section feels properly thought-out, not just a standard weights bench workout. They have medicine balls and TRX for example, and different days have different focuses. The HIIT part always feels fresh and different.
With Kobox's closure looming, I’m determined to find new boxing fitness workouts that live up to the standard. This week, I tried Victus Soul near Aldgate.
First impressions were good - the entrance and changing rooms were stylish, clean, and had plenty of showers, though space was a little tight during busy periods. The workout itself pleasantly surprised me. Victus Soul has screens for combinations, just like Kobox, which is something I really value, especially for staying sharp during bag rounds. They also have nice gel bags similar to those at Kobox and 1Rebel, which feel much better on your hands than the traditional harder bags.
The studio lighting had a club vibe, and the playlist was strong - both details that really help when you’re pushing through a tough round.
As for the HIIT section, it did follow the classic weights bench setup that a lot of studios use, which isn’t my personal favourite. That said, Victus Soul kept things a little more interesting with medicine balls and a more varied structure than the typical bench-only routines you find elsewhere.
My only real criticism? The structure of the strength sets wasn’t as carefully planned as I would have liked. For example, after doing upper-body exercises like chest presses, we moved straight into squats - but most people didn’t adjust their weights. There was a lot of pressure to move quickly and do high reps, meaning the weights often stayed too light for legs and too heavy for arms, which felt like a missed opportunity.
It's also worth noting that Victus Soul offers more than just HIIT & Box classes. They also have Reformer (a Pilates reformer-inspired class) which looks a lot like 1Rebel’s controversial club-style Reformer classses, and HIIT & Run, which I haven't tried yet but imagine is quite similar in style to Barry’s Bootcamp. It's great to see a boxing HIIT studio that also offers other formats under one roof.
Overall, I really enjoyed this class. Victus Soul ticks a lot of boxes: good instruction, clear sequences, proper boxing bags, and a great atmosphere. It doesn't quite match the diversity or spirit of my true boxing love, Kobox - but it's definitely a strong contender for my new go-to boxing HIIT workout.