Home › Illinois › Chicago › Bel Air Martial Arts & Fitness
Bel Air Martial Arts & Fitness
4.8 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Chicago, Illinois
Authentic Thai — reviews and the gym's own info point to coaching rooted in Thailand's muay thai tradition. If lineage matters to you, ask where the coaches trained and about their kru.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule teambelair.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (773) 900-8875
Hours
| Monday | 3:30–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 3:30–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 3:30–7 PM |
| Thursday | 3:30–7 PM |
| Friday | 3:30–7 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I am so grateful to have found Bel Air, I have seen my son’s progress from being unable to focus and running all around in the gym to being able to listen and follow directions.”
“The advantage here is that with the smaller class sizes you get a lot more one on one attention than you do at the 20-student big time MT schools.”
“The focus on technique over training under fatigue really helps you understand the proper form for things.”
“The Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and Women's Self-Defense classes are all fantastic!”
“It's a wonderful spot for beginners and more experienced practitioners who want to focus on refining their fundamentals.”
Other martial arts here
“I have been taking the adult Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai classes for a bit over 2 months and here is my honest review: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.”
What members say
“Great coaches that really care and want to be doing what they do .”
“It's helped him focus and I feel so extremely proud of him to progress and accomplish new techniques and skills.”
“We've seen real growth in my son's confidence on and off the mat.”
“Highly recommended for everyone from debutant, kids, women and all the way up to elite competitors!”
“I am so grateful to have found Bel Air, I have seen my son’s progress from being unable to focus and running all around in the gym to being able to listen and follow directions.”
From the reviews
The Bel Air Program has been really fantastic. My son has been doing a weekly class for about 2 months and is really enjoying it. Alex and the other instructors are extremely patient and caring.
I am so grateful to have found Bel Air, I have seen my son’s progress from being unable to focus and running all around in the gym to being able to listen and follow directions. Alex and his team of coaches are extremely helpful and passionate on their job.
Alex and his staff at Bel Air have done an excellent job of working with the students at Lawrence Hall. The pacing of the instruction and the structure of the program have provided our students with a well-rounded experience.
My son enrolled here a few months ago and watching his progress has been incredible. The instructors have a great rapport with the kids, balancing discipline with encouragement. Beyond physical skills, the class emphasizes important values like respect, discipline, and perseverance.
New to muay thai? Start at Bel Air Martial Arts & Fitness
Bel Air Martial Arts & Fitness comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first muay thai class at Bel Air Martial Arts & Fitness
Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
More muay thai gyms near Chicago
Chicago Muay Thai Kickboxing Club
4.7 ★★★★★ 123 reviews
🥊 Free trial class — check their site
Training center offering Muay Thai kickboxing classes for all skill levels in a welcoming environment.
Benjilany striking - Muay Thai - kickboxing & MMA chicago
5 ★★★★★ 196 reviews
🥊 Free trial class — check their site
Clean, welcoming, friendly, no-nonsense gym offering Muay Thai, MMA, and kickboxing classes.
Muay Thai Chicago Aiki Training Hall
4.9 ★★★★★ 77 reviews
🥊 Free trial class — check their site