Fitness Challenge: Elyssa's Blog
March 2008
Today we did a group workout at Reebok Sports Club with Ilaria Montagnani...she is in incredible shape and from the looks of her I think its best to keep her on my good side!  She taught us a class called Power Strike.  I remember when my sister would have to sign in hours before Ilaria's class just to get a spot (when she worked at a different gym). She is very popular. We punched and kicked our way through the hour long workout.

Best of New York 2008 Health & Self
Published Mar 3, 2008
You Won’t Even Know You’re Sweating
Classes that keep the mind occupied while the heart rate soars.

FORZA Reebok Sports Club 160 Columbus Ave., at 67th St.
212-362-6800
Using a long wooden sword as a prop, Ilaria Montagnani (who looks like a cross between Gabrielle Reese and Arnold Schwarzenegger), teaches traditional samurai-sword-training moves. teaches traditional samurai-sword-training moves. Montagnani (who looks like a cross between Gabrielle Reese and Arnold Schwarzenegger) Class begins with “half cuts” (raise your sword over your head so the “blade” points behind you, then slice down to neck level) and “full cuts” (same thing, except the slice ends at the navel) then proceeds rapidly to combinations. Keeping step with Montagnani without maiming fellow fighters requires intense concentration and core stability.
Arrive early to sign up.

For workout fiends in New York, the hottest invitation around is to Nike's Project Classified. Since October 2006, Project Classified classes have popped up every few months, always held in secret, unorthodox locations. Loyal exercisers (whose names are given to Nike by the city's top instructors) receive their mysterious invitations a mere two or three days before the event, usually with little more info than a date, time and address (the type of class often remains unknown). I snagged an invite to the most recent event—at 583 Ballroom—and decided to go see what the fuss was about. Read all about it on W.

Men's Fitness
THE FORZA WORKOUT
by Brandon Guarneri

You probably think that swinging a blade around like Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is going to leave you missing a limb. But don’t worry—the only thing you’ll lose doing a Forza workout is fat. A core workout based on samurai swordship, Forza doesn’t require actual blades. Rather, you can use a broomstick or wiffleball bat to mimic a katana blade and activate your core and shoulder muscles in a new way, burning calories and increasing endurance. Try the beginner’s routine from Illaria Montagnini, a Forza instructor in TK, to build a Bushido-ready physique. Read on to channel your inner warrior AT MEN'S FITNESS.COM.

New York Times Style Magazine
THE FACE
Diet By the Sword
MARY TANNEN SLASHES HER WAY TO FITNESS
Published: August 26, 2007

I am trying not to think what Freud would say about this roomful of mostly women brandishing big sticks. At Equinox on Broadway and 19th Street, we stand in rows facing a mirror, eyes trained on our wooden swords as well as on our leader, Ilaria Montagnani. Moving to the beat of music that sounds like rhythmic jackhammering, we squat, lunge, slice and slash. The class is called Forza. The footwork is simple, and there are only 13 sword moves. The difficulty comes in making each cut precise, putting the whole body behind the swing and controlling the stick.
Read the entire article at the NY Times

Wall Street Journal, USA
Making the Most of Your 15 Minutes
May 2006

NBC Today Show, USA
Ilaria teaches the FORZA workout routine to Ann Curry
April 2006

Jane magazine, USA
Samurais are Ripped
February 2007

Marie Claire magazine, USA
Kick Butt, Get Buff
April 2004

Men's Health magazine, Italy
Born in the USA
July 2006

Health magazine, USA
Health magazine votes Ilaria's Powerstrike Best DVD
March 2006

Shape magazine, USA
Shape magazine votes Ilaria's Powerstrike Best DVD
February 2007

Fitness magazine, Sweden
Nva Passet Forza ger dig Styrka
April 2006

Fashion magazine, Canada
Fashion: Kick It
January 2005

ABC News

CBS News

Conde Nast Traveler magazine, USA
A Cut Above
May 2005

Sport Week magazine, Italy
Padrona di New York, Ilaria Montagnani
June 2006

Fitness RX magazine, USA
Get Fit with Forza
August 2006

Fitness magazine, Sweden
Ilaria Montagnani - Krutdunk Med Svart Balte
May 2005

Fitness RX magazine, USA
The Kill Bill Workout
February 2004

Firenze Metropoli, Italy
Fiorentina la Star del Fitness USA
July 2006

Il Giornale, Italy
Fitness, pugni e spada; ecco come un'Italiana
tiene in forma l'America
May 2006

Beauty.it Web Site, USA
Staying Fit with Powerstrike
September 2006

Fight Life magazine, Sweden
FORZA Med Kansla av Sann Samuraj
February 2006

Spa magazine, USA
Warrior Workout
August 2006

Fitness magazine, USA
Punch Up your Workout
June 2006

ABC Eyewitness News Boston, USA
ABC Good Morning America
Powerstrike
June 2004
ABC The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Powerstrike
March 2002