What Makes 9Round Wicker Park Different | Kickboxing Gym Chicago
9Round Wicker Park • 1653 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
What Makes 9Round Wicker Park Different — And Why It Matters for Your Fitness
We do things a little differently here. Here's what that actually looks like when you walk through the door.
If you've ever looked at a gym's website and thought "that sounds great on paper, but what does it actually mean for me?" — you're not alone. We'd rather skip the fluff and show you what our approach looks like in practice, right here in the heart of Wicker Park.
At 9Round Wicker Park, we've built a kickboxing fitness experience around a few core principles that genuinely change how your workout fits into your life. Let's walk through each one and break down what it means when you're actually standing in the studio.
No Class Times Means You Actually Show Up
Most group fitness studios run on a fixed schedule: there's a 6am class, a noon class, a 5:30pm class. Miss it by five minutes and you're out of luck — or worse, you skip the workout entirely because the timing just didn't line up with your day.
At 9Round Wicker Park, there are no class times. A new round starts every three minutes, which means you walk in and start when you're ready. Running late from work on Division Street? No stress. Had a meeting run long? You're not locked out. This is the kind of flexibility that turns "I'll try to work out" into "I worked out."
You never have to rearrange your schedule around a class time. Your workout adapts to your day — not the other way around. That alone removes one of the biggest barriers to staying consistent.
30 Minutes That Actually Deliver Results
A 30-minute workout sounds too short — until you try ours. The 9Round circuit is nine rounds of high-intensity interval training that blends kickboxing techniques, strength training with dumbbells and kettlebells, and core work. Stations one and two focus on strength. Stations three through eight put you on the bags, building power and coordination through real punching and kicking combinations. Station nine finishes you off with dedicated abs and core work.
During each three-minute round, you push through two and a half minutes of exercise, then go all-out for the final 30-second push when the yellow bell sounds. Between rounds, you're doing active rest — ski jumps, lunges, or bodyweight moves — that keep your heart rate elevated. The result? Members typically burn between 300 and 500 calories per session.
You get a complete full-body workout — cardio, strength, and core — in the same amount of time it takes to watch an episode of your favorite show. No filler, no standing around waiting for equipment, no wasted minutes.
A Trainer With You Every Step (Not Just Watching From a Desk)
When we say "trainer-led," we mean there's a real human coaching you through every round. During staffed hours, our trainers are right there with you — and our members regularly call them out by name in their reviews. They correct your form on a hook punch, suggest a heavier kettlebell when you're ready, and scale exercises down if you need it.
This isn't a situation where a trainer stands in front of a room and calls out moves to 40 people. Our studio is small and semi-private on purpose. That means your trainer actually sees you, knows your name, and understands where you are on your fitness journey.
You get the personalized attention of a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. Whether you've never thrown a punch or you've been kickboxing for years, every session is scaled to your level.
24/7 Member Access — Work Out on Your Schedule, Period
Life in Wicker Park doesn't follow a 9-to-5 schedule, and neither does your gym access. As a 9Round Wicker Park member, you have secure 24/7 access to the studio. During off-hours, our interactive screen system guides you through the full workout — virtual trainers on each screen show and tell you exactly what to do and when to rotate.
The studio is equipped with members-only door access, security cameras throughout, and a panic button connected directly to emergency services. So whether you're fitting in a 6am session before heading to work or unwinding at 10pm after dinner at one of Division Street's restaurants, the studio is ready for you.
You're never stuck choosing between your schedule and your health. Early bird, night owl, or somewhere in between — the studio is open and equipped for a guided workout whenever you need it.
Heart Rate Technology That Keeps You Honest
9Round's PULSE heart rate monitoring system tracks your effort in real time during every workout. You wear the monitor, and the system shows your heart rate zone on screen so you know exactly how hard you're working. It's not just data for data's sake — it helps you understand whether you're actually in your fat-burning zone, when to push harder, and when to recover.
After each session, you get a performance report that tracks your progress over time. That means your training isn't based on guesswork — it's informed by real numbers tied to your specific body and effort level.
You walk out knowing your workout was effective — not hoping it was. Over time, you can see exactly how your cardiovascular fitness, calorie burn, and effort capacity are improving.
A New Workout Every Single Day
One of the fastest ways to hit a plateau is doing the same exercises over and over. At 9Round Wicker Park, the circuit changes daily. Every time you walk in, the rounds are different — new combinations, new strength exercises, new challenges. Your body never adapts to a routine because there is no routine.
You never get bored, and your body never stops responding. It also means every session is genuinely fresh, which makes it a lot easier to stay motivated week after week.
Nutrition Support and Goal Setting Built In
Your membership at 9Round Wicker Park includes more than just gym access. Every member gets the 9Round Nutrition Guide, new monthly recipes from a certified nutrition coach through the online Member Portal, individual goal setting, and performance tracking. Fitness results come from what you do in the studio and what you do in the kitchen — and we give you tools for both.
You're not just buying a gym membership — you're getting a fitness system. Training, nutrition, goal setting, and progress tracking are all part of the package.
Ready to See What 30 Minutes Can Do?
Your first workout at 9Round Wicker Park is free. No commitment, no pressure — just come in, try the circuit, and see how it feels.
Claim Your Free Workout