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Take The Fight Academy
5 ★★★★★ 24 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Galesburg, Illinois
Plan your first class
- 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 (ages 5–14) — 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
- 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 takethefightacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 6–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 6–8 PM |
| Saturday | 1–3 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Come in and give it a try there is guys of all levels that will make your time on the mat safe but challenging when you need it.”
“Any skill set would be comfortable here, beginners to seasoned athletes, learning from professional fighters.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Amazing group to train with, extremely positive, great coaches who want nothing but the best for you I highly recommend!”
“Their class choices are well-rounded and super affordable; teachers are knowledgeable and the community they're building is respectful and welcoming.”
“Very welcoming environment and professional, the coaches are amazing and will work with you at your pace.”
“Any skill set would be comfortable here, beginners to seasoned athletes, learning from professional fighters.”
From the reviews
Eric and Amber run a family-friendly gym; this is the definition of small business with heart. They make it accessible for parents to be able to train as well as singles and teach classes for all ages.
Absolutely amazing experience all around. You are immediately met with welcoming smiles from all. I couldn’t ask for a better group to train with. The coaches are NEXT LEVEL. And so is everyone training under them. So much skill and knowledge is being passed down. It’s a very special thing to be apart of.
Amazing group to train with, extremely positive, great coaches who want nothing but the best for you I highly recommend! This is an amazing thing I’ve been able to be apart of and is a honor!!!
Great environment for young men and women to grow in. Everyone wants nothing but growth for one another. On top of that we get to train and be coached by multi-promotion 125, 135, and future 145 champion and 6x ufc veteran, Eric “Showtime” Shelton!
New to muay thai? Start at Take The Fight Academy
Take The Fight 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 Take The Fight 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. 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.
