JACKSONVILLE, N.C., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CKO Kickboxing, one of the fastest growing health fitness franchises, will celebrate the Grand Opening of its newest cardio kickboxing gym on Saturday, June 2, at 1368 Piney Green Road #9, Willis Plaza in Jacksonville, NC. The gym will serve the military and their families stationed in Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point Air Station, Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson and Marine Corps Air Station New River.

The high-quality cross training gym provides a family-friendly setting to residents of Jacksonville who are looking for an alternative to Pilates, yoga, martial arts, cross-fit and spinning classes.

Grand Opening festivities are in the works for Saturday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to CKO Kickboxing of Jacksonville owner Sarah Bentley, a former Marine Corps Sergeant who had once been stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Plans include a live broadcast from 99.5 the X and a big party atmosphere with refreshments, raffles, venders, balloon clown and demonstrations of kickboxing.

CKO Kickboxing, whose franchisees include many former military members, is offering a 10 percent discount to current and former service personnel as well as police and fire personnel.

For Ms. Bentley opening a CKO Kickboxing franchise was a dream come true.

"Like many other CKO Kickboxing franchise owners, I was a member first. I loved the workout. When my husband was transferred to Camp Lejeune, I found out that they didn't have kickboxing. They do have martial arts, but they don't focus on the exercise portion the way CKO Kickboxing does," she said.

While talking with CKO Franklin and CKO Augusta owner Darlene Palley, she found out how she could move to North Carolina and still do kickboxing the CKO way.

"Iheard about the news report on Fox News about CKO Kickboxing wanting to expand their franchise. I spoke to Joe Andreula, president of CKO Kickboxing, and everything worked out great," she said.

"I was going to go into nursing because I like helping people. Then I realized that I wanted to help people before they got to that point of needing a nurse," she said. "I love the energy in a kickboxing workout. You can definitely see the improvement. You can see their moods change. You can see their bodies change. Cardio kickboxing creates healthier, happier people."

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CKO Kickboxing Health Fitness Franchise Continues Rapid Growth with New Jacksonville, NC Gym Opening on June 2