Chicago Thai Boxing Academy is a true Chicago family owned and operated business, and that shows…read morefrom the moment you walk through the door. Everyone here is friendly, approachable, and welcoming. I honestly thought joining a Muay Thai gym would be intimidating, but it's been the exact opposite. The owners, coaches, staff, and members have created an environment where beginners and experienced athletes alike feel comfortable and supported. The academy emphasizes a respectful, inclusive community and welcomes people of all skill levels. One of my favorite features is the weight room, which is a great bonus alongside the training. The facility is well maintained, and I've heard they are constantly making improvements and upgrades to keep the academy growing. If you've ever been curious about Muay Thai but felt nervous about trying it, don't be. Take advantage of their free trial class and see for yourself. Chances are you'll get hooked just like I did. The combination of authentic training, great people, and a strong community makes this place something special.

My daughter absolutely loves attending her Muay Thai classes every week! The trainers and front…read moredesk staff are so helpful and my daughter feels very comfortable here. She takes pride in all she learns each week

I spent two years at North Side Boxing, first training one-on-one with an absolute pro of a coach…read moreand then moving into the group classes, which I highly recommend. The vibe there is all about unity. When we ran, we ran together. When we partnered up, we hyped each other up. We constantly rotated partners, so you were always learning from different styles and skill levels. Rich, who runs the gym, is always there making sure everything runs smoothly and stepping in with veteran advice when you need it. Some fighters've been boxing for years, some who even compete in the Golden Gloves, and while that can feel intimidating at first, it quickly becomes incredibly inspiring. You can't help but pick up pointers and insider knowledge just by being around them. Whether you're a 20-year veteran or someone who's never thrown a punch, you're treated the same. It's a place built on respect, hard work, and community. I highly recommend to anyone looking to shed pounds, gain confidence and even make some new friends.

Been a member of this gym for almost 2 years now. Boxing, Muay Thai, Powerlifting, Weightlifting,…read moreStrongman, you name it. This gym is a jack of all trades and has it all. It is a unique experience you won't find anywhere else. Rich (owner of the gym) has built a one-of-a-kind community and I can't recommend this place enough.

Amazing coach he really helps me to push through every rep, and the community he's built in his gym…read moreis amazing. He teaches real, no BS, boxing no matter if you're training for self defense, competition, or just for fun fitness. Definitely recommend visiting here.

Steel Fitness Club is a great gym. The equipment is top tier, and the place has everything you need…read morefor a workout. The club is always clean and has a nice atmosphere. The interior is spacious and well organized.

Great gym! The facility is always clean, well-maintained, and organized. The equipment is in…read moreexcellent condition, and there is a wide variety of machines and free weights available for all types of workouts. I never have trouble finding the equipment I need, even during busier hours. Highly recommend this gym to anyone looking for a clean, professional place to work out :)

Great people here and very welcoming/safe atmosphere, I would highly recommend for people who…read moreappreciate the positivity. Great gym

I've been coming to this gym for almost 3 years now, and I've actually known the owner since his…read moreprevious gym -- which says a lot about the kind of place he creates wherever he goes. From day one, everyone here has been incredibly welcoming, supportive, and genuinely kind. It never feels intimidating, no matter your fitness level. The community is what really makes this gym special -- people encourage each other and celebrate progress in a way that feels authentic. Beyond the physical benefits, this gym has helped me so much with stress and anxiety. It's become a place where I can reset mentally as much as physically, and that's something I'm really grateful for. If you're looking for a gym where you feel comfortable, supported, and actually want to show up, this is it. Highly recommend!

Anywhere Fitness is a great boutique fitness center offering classes and individual training as…read morewell as gym merberships at affordable rates. Jeff's trainers will provide an initial fitness evaluation for any new members to help you on your fitness journey. They have really created a fitness and wellness community with friends and neighbors, both young and old. They also specialize in youth fitness and strength and conditioning classes to help young athletes in their athletic pursuits. You can pay the big bucks at the chain fitness centers or get personalized service and attention to detail at Anywhere Fitness-try them out for FREE!

I have been training at Brazil-021 since 2017. Fantastic place to learn and grow on your jiu-jitsu…read morejourney. Friendly environment, terrific instructors, amazing people. Highly recommended!

I first started doing BJJ in my early twenties but then took a long hiatus (approx. 10 years) until…read morea friend of mine recommended Brazil 021 in the city of Chicago. I trained there for about a year until I moved to the suburbs when I started at the Arlington heights location. The curriculum and quality of training at the Arlington Heights location is fantastic whether you are looking for self defense, self improvement or to compete. There is a great atmosphere, culture and community that has been built by the professors at Brazil 021. Both the staff and the students are all looking to help each other improve, learn and have a good time. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to begin training and I recommend coming in to experience a session to all my friends, family and anyone who has had any interest in learning BJJ.

I get bored easily so I'm always looking for new (not so fun) ways to break a sweat. My most recent…read morediscovery - hit 180, which offers a variety of classes at many different times throughout the day. They are one of the few studios to offer both 5am and 530pm classes. You won't catch me at a 5am, but I'm all about the 530pm to prepare for my real workout of the night (bedtime with 3 children). Hit 180 classes occur in a massive personal training studio located behind Mariano's (or tick tock daycare to be exact). Parking can be challenging during the popular workout times, but they have a valet on staff then. They should really get him a valet shirt because the first time I handed him my keys I feared I was falling for a car theft scam I saw on Oprah several years back. Hit 180 is basically circuit training. It's a great total body workout where you get a bit of cardio in (rower and a few other torture machines). The majority of the class is weight lifting which I like but I wouldn't mind just a few more spurts of cardio throughout the workout. All instructors have been good and spend a lot of time correcting form, but my favorites are Alex and Carl. Surprisingly I've either been alone or with 1 other person in all Hit 180 classes (I hear the early morning classes get pretty busy) so you basically get all the benefit of a personal trainer for a fraction of the price. They also offer some other classes such as boxing, kickboxing and tabata. I tried the boxing with Edward, which consisted of a warm up, circuit training and punching the hell out of a bag. It was a great workout and fun, although I wish he spent a bit more time helping me and my other "new to boxing" friends with our form. I'd definitely go back though and can't wait to try kickboxing and tabata. I love the hit 180 class, but would like to see even more variety on the schedule. If you're looking for a new workout I recommend giving Hit 180 a try. Your first class is free and I highly doubt you'll only go once.

Update and changing my review from 4 to 2 stars:…read more After class yesterday, I noticed that my pinky finger started to feel numb, and something felt weird about my wrist and forearm. And then, my hand was just completely weak--I couldn't type or pick up a glass of water. Went to urgent care and got X-rays, and thankfully it's not broken, but there's inflammation around the nerves. The doctor said it was because I wasn't wearing wraps and may not have been wearing the right size gloves. I now realize that it's not just annoying that the instructor never checked to see if everyone had the proper equipment (it wasn't even the instructor or an employee that showed me where the gloves were--it was another student in class) but it's dangerous. No stretching afterwards, no equipment check... Unacceptable. So yes, fun class, but not worth it for the injury. Don't go unless you have the proper equipment, and you do your own stretching before and after. _________________________ I did the Cardio Boxing class with Nick for the first time this morning, and holy crap--that class will kick your butt. I read the reviews on ClassPass and saw that other people wrote "I thought my arms were going to fall off" and "I thought I was going to die" and then, of course, I was like, "oh yeah? let's see..." This class is one hour of non-stop cardio and strength. The "warm-up" is getting on the treadmill and running...and then doing 60 push-ups, and then doing 50 jumping jacks, and then mountain climbers...and then burpees ... then chest presses... then more pushups, then... (on and on). Then, finally you get into the circuit, which included hitting one-on-one with Nick, hitting the bag, shadow boxing with weights, step-ups on a giant tire, biking, rowing, the climbing machine, etc... And then finally you get into the ring for a last 15 minutes of punch combos on the bag. If you don't have gloves, they've got a bin full of them that you can borrow. I would suggest bringing your own wraps. I don't recommend this class to novices. It's very, very intense, and there's almost no instruction, so know your punches before you go. I had a great time, got a great workout, and would definitely return next time I'm in the area, but docked a star because there wasn't any instruction, nor was there instructor-led stretching before and after.