In Texas a few years back, Gregg Micochero stripped to his gym trunks to find out the hype behind Kardio Kickboxing. It didn't take long to feel the pain in his abs, stomach, and thighs. "I said, 'Yeah, this kicks butt," recalls Micochero, owner of Martial Arts America. "The next day, you go 'Holy shit!' Your body is screaming the next couple days." The workouts include low, side, and roundhouse kicks. And women swear by the program, since they can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour. "We also get a lot of gay men," says Micochero. "The women are like, 'It's cool he's gay.' But the guys couldn't give a darn. They think they're just one of the girls." Get kickin' at 7 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday, and 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at Martial Arts America, 15615 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Monthly fee is $25; call 216-521-3848. -- Cris Glaser
Get the Puck Out
2/18-2/20
More than 40 junior hockey teams (from South Bend, Indiana, to Buffalo) will gather this weekend for the Winterhurst Youth Hockey Tournament. "It gives various local teams a chance to see how they stack up against regionals," says tourney co-director Terry Comiskey. "Because of geography, these teams would never normally play against each other." The squads, made up of kids ages 9 to 16, contribute to one of the area's biggest youth hockey events. Expect grand performances by the Rocky River Pirates, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Erie Lions, all standout teams vying for the coveted trophy. And with the NHL's no-show season and the Barons' imminent move, this might very well be the most reliable puck action out there. It takes place noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Winterhurst Ice Rink, 14740 Lakewood Heights Boulevard in Lakewood. Admission is free; call 216-529-4400. -- Lucy McKernan
Disc Drives
FRI 2/18
Nate Marino couldn't play Ultimate Frisbee till he hit up Google. "There's a lot of lingo to learn," admits the 19-year-old Kent State sophomore. "It's pretty embarrassing if you don't know what anyone's talking about." First, there's "the stall," in which an opponent counts to 10 before the offense loses possession. Then there's "the huck," a pass that spans one end zone to the other. "That one's tough, since you need a good arm to master it," says Marino. "I'll just stick with my backhand." Games run 10 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Sports Dome, 6060 West Canal Road in Valley View. Entry fee is $10; call 216-447-7878. -- Cris Glaser