Home › Illinois › Chicago › Chicago Thai Boxing Academy
Chicago Thai Boxing Academy
4.7 ★★★★★ 92 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.
Family-run location for Thai boxing, self-defence, fitness training, and martial arts, including classes for children.
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
- Fitness & conditioning muay thai fitness and cardio classes — a serious workout you can do without ever having to spar
- Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule chicagothaiboxingacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 773-295-4851
Hours
| Monday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Thursday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Friday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“As a beginner, the trainers have given me extra help even in a group setting.”
“And without asking i was given individual attention that helped craft me into a proper fighter.”
“Would highly recommend this facility for any parent who wants their child to learn self defence and confidence”
“This academy is great for weight loss, confidence, self defense, or competitive prep.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Everyone is treated with respect, the coaches are great, the gym is clean and most importantly, we learn real technique from day one and always train hard!”
“I was out of shape before coming to CTBA and the crew here is so welcoming and the place is super clean kept!”
“I was out of shape before coming to CTBA and the crew here is so welcoming and the place is super clean kept!”
“Everyone is treated with respect, the coaches are great, the gym is clean and most importantly, we learn real technique from day one and always train hard!”
“Even if fighting isn’t your goal, you’ll still be in an environment where you can COMFORTABLY learn, sweat and have fun.”
“And without asking i was given individual attention that helped craft me into a proper fighter.”
From the reviews
Great trainers, they provide tons of guidance and help if needed. They also create a fantastic environment by setting the right expectations with all members, front desk staff is also great and super helpful.
Chicago Thai Boxing Academy has completely changed my life. I started training here back in 2022 when I weighed around 230 lbs and was in a very different place both mentally and physically. I originally joined just wanting to lose weight and learn Muay Thai, but this gym quickly became so much more than that.
I'm very happy here! As a beginner, the trainers have given me extra help even in a group setting. My experience so far is that, if you let them know about what's going on with you, they'll work with you. I'd wanted to learn about Thai boxing for years, and I was very happy to find CTBA from a simple web search.
If anyone is on the fence about joining, feel free to message me. JJ is about everything he says. When i walked in day one he and everyone else treated me like i had been there for years. And without asking i was given individual attention that helped craft me into a proper fighter.
New to muay thai? Start at Chicago Thai Boxing Academy
Chicago Thai Boxing Academy 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 Chicago Thai Boxing Academy
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
Hybrid Martial Arts and Fitness
4.7 ★★★★★ 75 reviews
Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Headquarters
4.8 ★★★★★ 64 reviews
🥊 Free trial class — check their site
Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts
4.9 ★★★★★ 111 reviews