American rapper Pitbull and life coach guru Tony Robbins are part of the team working on New York boutique Grit Bxng, which opens its first site – a 5,500sq ft flagship near Union Square – this summer.

Venture capitalist and billionaire Tim Draper has invested in the company – Change your Life LLC – while the business will be run by entrepreneur Bill Zanker, founder of training company The Learning Annex, along with his daughter Ediva Zanker and his son Dylan Zanker.

The Grit Bxng offer is based on a 50-minute signature method delivering HIIT group classes, with the “fundamentals of boxing at its core”.

Night club vibe
The 5,000sq ft club’s interior will feature a light and sound system designed to make a workout feel like a night out, with music playlists curated by Pitbull and motivational content – featuring Robbins – beamed on giant video screens.

Classes will take place in a three-module studio with treadmills, punch bags and benches.

Guests can also hang out in a fully licenced bar in the studio lounge – reputedly a first in New York City.

Grit Bxng is currently auditioning trainers from around the world, offering to pay US$1,000 an hour for those with star drawing power.

“Parents often tell their children to become doctors or lawyers,” said Zanker. “But now parents will encourage their children to become fitness pros. At $1,000 an hour, they’ll make more than the best Wall Street lawyers. Trainers are the new superstars of today.”

Guests will also be able to provide a star rating for their instructors and pay them tips through the Grit Bxng app, using the same approach as Uber.

Motivational messages
Robbins revealed his passion is to motivate people beyond the self-help programmes he’s famous for, saying: “My life is about working with people to change their bodies, change their relationships, and change their lives.

Grit Bxng will provide a space and experience unlike any other.”

Pitbull – whose real name is Armando Perez – added: “With each new project I approach, the words ‘you can’t’ and ‘no’ are just motivators that propel me to succeed and fuel my fire.

“That mentality is exactly what Grit Bxng embodies to me.”

Bitcoin pioneer
The operator believes it will be the first to accept Bitcoin. Tim Draper said: “Grit Bxng will be the first studio chain to accept Bitcoin. Within three years, most other chains, like Soulcycle and Barry’s Bootcamp, will be accepting Bitcoin. Grit Bxng will be the first of many.”

The club’s social media message is, ‘Don’t follow us on Instagram, come work out instead’.