Fitness-conscious locals now have a refreshing new way to knock out those extra calories.

LA Boxing, a gym offering classes in boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts, will open April 16 on Cordell Ave.

LA Boxing is the only place where customers can burn 800 to 1000 calories in one hour, regional director Felix Pagan said. The gym came to Bethesda after a survey done at the LA Boxing Rockville location showed about 26 percent of the store’s clientele currently resides or works in Bethesda, Pagan said.

“For the past eight months, we have seen a lot of interest from the Bethesda community,” he said. “We followed the demand and came here.”

The store has recently generated additional interest from female clientele since the Lululemon incident in Bethesda three weeks ago, Pagan said.

“Now, women really feel like they need to know how to defend themselves,” Pagan said. “We are living in modern times and the truth is that these things can happen even in the best of areas.”