Punk rope is a unique blend of recess and boot camp. Read more about the classes and how you can start punk roping at home in the following interview with Punk Rope founder and exercise innovator, Tim Haft!

Tim Haft is an ACE-certified personal trainer, USA Track & Field coach, and member of USA Jump Rope and the NYC Coalition for Food and Fitness. After years of providing one-on-one training, Tim wanted to reach a larger audience so creating a group class seemed to be the logical next step. In 2024, Punk Rope, a unique blend of recess and boot camp, was born. The class is offered at two New York City YMCAs as well as at community centers around the nation.

Q: Who is your average Punk Roper?

A: We see a wide range of students-some jocks, some musicians, some nerds, and for some reason, lots of teachers. Plus the age range is all over the place. Our youngest student was 3 and the oldest, 83. Our goal was to offer a really fun and accessible class that would hopefully build community. Unfortunately, at many gyms, students feel judged when they take a group class. Even at many yoga classes, which are theoretically non-competitive, people are concerned about wearing the newest, hottest, yoga apparel and being able to touch their nose to their knee. We wanted to create a welcoming environment where fitness level, shape, age, and apparel are completely irrelevant.

Q: All of your Punk Rope classes are themed. How did that start?

A: Very early on we thought it would be really fun if we changed the music from one class to the next and gave each class a theme so that students could focus on something other than the intensity of the workout. The theme approach has been really successful because the theme serves as a positive distraction. The regulars enjoy planning how to dress "in theme" (such as dressing in the style of the 70s or in back-to-school garb) plus the themes allow us to turn people on to a very wide range of music. This past year we held a New Orleans class that featured lots of jazz as well as a heavy metal class, plus several classes with international themes. We looked at the calendar and asked ourselves, "What major holidays should we celebrate?" and then added some obscure ones.

Q: Can you tell us more about your new DVD?

A: It is similar in spirit to a regular Punk Rope class minus the activities that would require partners or a group. As a result, the focus is on rope jumping and calisthenics. If you don't have a rope or enough space to jump in your home, you can still "shadow jump" (i.e., jump rope without the rope). The DVD is roughly 50 minutes long and comes with a 17-track CD featuring some great rock bands from around the world! There is a booklet inside that gives a description of each of the drills.

Q: How often would you recommend working out with the DVD?

A: If you're a beginner, start with once a week for the first month. It's best to start small to build confidence and consistency. Then you can build up to twice a week the next month, and then maybe even more the month after that!

To contact Tim Haft, you can email him at tim@punkrope.com, or visit www.punkrope.com for more information.

Read more from Tim Haft by clicking the links below:

• Punk Rope
• Rope-jumping benefits

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with community health experts written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.