HomeIllinoisMachesney Park › Northern Illinois Combat Club & Fitness

Northern Illinois Combat Club & Fitness

4.8 ★★★★★ 66 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Machesney Park, Illinois

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fight team

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
  • Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • 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 northernilcombatclub.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 815-708-4945

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 9 am–8 pm
Sunday 10 am–8 pm

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Muay thai classes on the schedule at Northern Illinois Combat Club & Fitness, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 4 mentions

“The classes kick your ass and are great for either beginners or those ready to fight.”

All gyms that run beginner muay thai →

🧒 Kids Muay Thai 3 mentions

“My son has been boxing a little over a year with NICC, and he loves it.”

All gyms that run kids muay thai →

🏆 Fight Team 4 mentions

“Whether you’re looking to get healthier, increase self discipline, learn self defense, or compete competitively, this is where you wanna be.”

All gyms that run fight team →

🛡️ Self-Defense

“Whether you’re looking to get healthier, increase self discipline, learn self defense, or compete competitively, this is where you wanna be.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Northern Illinois Combat Club & Fitness — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Boxing 6 mentions

“My son wants to do boxing classes and I am looking to improve strength flexibility and stamina for Skateboarding.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

“I highly recommend for anyone looking to get into MMA or any of the various disciplines!”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, boxing, or MMA alongside muay thai, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 66 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 8 mentions

“At NICC there's friendly people, a welcoming atmosphere, class variety, and the coaches are very knowledgeable and helpful.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 7 mentions

“At NICC there's friendly people, a welcoming atmosphere, class variety, and the coaches are very knowledgeable and helpful.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 9 mentions

“At NICC there's friendly people, a welcoming atmosphere, class variety, and the coaches are very knowledgeable and helpful.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 2 mentions
🔥 killer workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“The boxing and Muay Thai classes are such an amazing workout, but what really stands out is the environment.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 6 mentions

“Whether you’re looking to get healthier, increase self discipline, learn self defense, or compete competitively, this is where you wanna be.”

From the reviews

NIIC is truly the best in the business. After training at some of the top gyms in the Northeast & moving to the Midwest, NICC is like no other. The classes are incredibly fun and challenging, and the technical instruction is far superior. I’m so excited to continue my training here!

★★★★★ — Davan, Jul 2025

I’ve been training here for almost a year now and I love it! The staff is friendly, the classes are fun and energetic, and I’ve already learned a lot! My stamina has gone up tremendously since I’ve started, and I will continue to support this wonderful gym.

★★★★★ — Trenton, Oct 2025

I have never had a coach or program in my 30 years of life that had the output of knowledge, energy, drive and anything else you can name than this place has. You will leave truly wanting to come back without hesitation. This is THE GYM for EVERYONE. The strength and mobility classes alone will change anyone's life.

★★★★★ — Zachery, Feb 2026

I moved to Machesney Park for the summer this year with my family and found this gem. Not only are the facilities great - between the open mats and weight training, but the coaching staff is phenomenal. Coach Gus (an active fighter) always motivating and focused.

★★★★★ — Daniel, Oct 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 66 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Northern Illinois Combat Club & Fitness

Northern Illinois Combat Club & 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at Northern Illinois Combat Club & 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.

Muay thai is a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Northern Illinois Combat Club & Fitness

7007 N 2nd St, Machesney Park, IL61115

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

More muay thai gyms near Machesney Park

Loris Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 56 reviews

6481 N 2nd St, Loves Park, IL

🥊 Free trial class — check their site

Ages 3+

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Fitness expert, authentic coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly gym

under a mile away

No Joke Mixed Martial Arts

4.8 ★★★★★ 58 reviews

6358 Дейтона Драйв, Loves Park, IL

🥊 Free trial class — check their site

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Fight team expert, authentic coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly gym

3.3 miles away

Team Haanpaa Martial Arts

4.8 ★★★★★ 159 reviews

4911 26th Ave, Rockford, IL

Muay Thai gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Fitness expert, authentic coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly gym

6.7 miles away

All muay thai gyms in Machesney Park, IL →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.