9round fitness is good for those:
- who want to burn a ton of calories in a short time
- looking to learn basic boxing techniques
- who want 1:1 help in a group setting
My experience at 9round fitness
I attended 9round’s Selwyn and Cotswold locations for over 6 months. Since each 9round location is individually owned and operated, workouts and experiences may vary from location to location. Within this review, I focus on trends I noticed across 9round locations.
The first workout
I originally tried 9round after hearing about their free first workout which prompted me to give it a shot. I booked online, got dressed in workout clothes and headed to the location. The first thing that surprised me about 9round is the size of the gym. Because 9round’s workout is 9 individual stations, the gym owners do not need much space to operate. Thus, many 9rounds are wedged in shopping in popular areas for making your workout all the more convenient.
Photo via @9roundofficial on Instagram.
Before the sweat
I tend to show up early for first workouts, but with 9rounds 1:1 aid throughout class and their no class times, the 9round team members were able to get me signed in and working out in a matter of minutes. While patrons get hand wraps and boxing gloves upon signing up for a membership, the team will provide you boxing gloves for your first session and modify workouts away from needing hand wraps.
9round’s 30 minute proprietary workout
During the 30 minutes you are working out with 9round, you will rotate through 9 three minute stations (hence the name!) with 30 second breaks in between. Many classes claim to utilize an “active recovery” between exercises, but 9round is one of the only places that does it effectively. If you commit to the recommended workout you will be working out for the 30 minutes straight. But don’t fret! The trainers will not yell at you if you need to catch your breath between stations rather than doing butt-kickers with the rest of the class.
Due to no set class times in 9round, you can walk in and get started whenever a new station begins. This means that class members are each doing different exercises, which helps for those like me that tend to compare yourself to the fittest in the gym. The 9round manager and employees will be helping you through all 9 stations, and providing feedback on the many exercises that may be new to you.
After the workout: the sales pitch
My least favorite part of my initial free workout with 9round is that employees are incentivized to sign up new members, and thus can trap you in lengthy sales pitches while you’re still lightheaded. Unlike other fitness chains, 9round’s franchise structure allows owners to adjust membership pricing to the customer, so be prepared for an employee to try to give you “the extra exclusive double discount” (I made that up, but you get the point).
My 9round membership
One of the aforementioned sales pitches obviously worked, because I signed on for a 6 month membership with my local 9round. 9round’s workouts push me in a different manner than many other workout classes I have been to, and I love the short class periods. My gym was able to put my account on freeze during part of the COVID-19 pandemic, which I am very grateful for. While I will soon be ending my membership to continue to explore different classes, I have really enjoyed 9rounds flexible schedule and boxing/kickboxing infused workouts.
Photo via @9roundofficial on Instagram.
What to know about 9round fitness
9round fitness is a circuit training workout studio with an emphasis in boxing and kickboxing. They promise results in as little as 30 minutes through 9 workout stations with active recovery’s between.
>>Also see: 9round described by a 9round instructor
Where is 9round located?
While 9round was founded in just 2007 (by world kickboxing champion Shannon Hudson), there are already over 800 locations operating throughout 18 countries and 41 of the 50 US states.
How much is a 9round membership?
Becuase 9round studios are individually owned and operated, membership costs will vary from location to location and even member to member. Expect to pay somewhere between $80 a month to $100 a month for a month to month, 6 month, or 12 month membership plan. But remember, your first workout is always free!
Is 9round good for beginners
Due to the 1:1 personal help and modifiable exercises 9round is great for beginners. Sign up for a free class and experience it for yourself!
