Conviction Fitness & Martial Arts

I love this gym! The owner John is a real inspiration when it comes to training. The staff is super cool anything you need help with they are there for you. If you want to tighten up your hands trainer Wes is a stud. No nonsense gym, love the wrestling matts and the heavy bags. Seems most of the larger commercial brands gym are steering away from having heavy bags and combat training equipment.

Been going to Conviction Fitness since they were located on Western avenue when they first opened years ago! I LOVED that gym! Huge Open space, great mix of free weights, machines, tires and ropes. Great staff, great members. It wasn’t full of meat heads but had a good mix of everyone just trying to get into shape! Unfortunately the building owners decided to turn it into another used Car Lot so Conviction had to move.
This new location isn’t as big as the previous location but still has just what I need to get a good workout in. They’ve added a few more lifting platforms, updated machines & still have the heavy bags if you want to go whack those around. Same great owners, and the members are courteous, and everyone pretty much minds their own business & just gets their workout in. If you’re looking for a good local gym, come take a look! «May The Power Of Arnie Be With You!»

I started going to Conviction about 3 years ago, and if I wasn’t moving out of Chicago this month, I’d continue being a member indefinitely. With very few exceptions, members at this gym abide by the culture of respect that the staff has created. That is, everyone puts away their weights and people are courteous with each other about equipment and space. I think this is helpful for folks who aren’t always comfortable in a gym atmosphere. I’ve always felt welcomed at Conviction.
The new gym is a little smaller, but they figured out the best setup for the space, and I’ve always had enough room to do what I need. The mix of equipment is excellent, and I’ve very rarely had to wait for anything.
If you’re looking for a gym, give Conviction a try! Guaranteed you’ll have a much better experience than at a bigger gym.

I first went to this gym when it was located on Western and Montrose, and I have to say that although the parking situation was pretty bad, the facility was actually big enough to accommodate all the activities they offer.
I went to their new location a few months ago, and it’s maybe about a third of the size of the old place, but the staff does a really good job keeping it clean and organized.
I don’t think they offer any martial art classes anymore, but they do have a huge variety of equipment that’s new; except for the treadmills, there’s always at least one that’s out of order.
I don’t think the prices are fare. It cost about $ 150 to sign up (first, and last month+ $ 50 sign up fee). If you are just a 2 days late, they charge a late fee, and after 10 days late they cancel your membership; which mean if you want to keep going there, you have to sign up again.

Came for the squat racks, stayed for the women who lift more than me.

I loved working out at this place (but I took a break to make more time to start a business). The environment is the exact opposite of your typical corporate, Globo Gym-​esque facility. It is homely and inviting. No flash, all functionality but with a ton of character. People who exercise with a purpose go here; you don’t see the X-​Sport «Bro» type guys here trying to throw weight around. If you do Oly lifting, go here. If you do MMA, go here. If you like Crossfit-​style workouts but don’t want to pay $ 160+/month, go here. They have ropes, tires, hammers, bags, mats, racks, platforms, bumpers, and you can drop your weights. This gym is a Chicago gem!

This gym is great! They have 4 lifting platforms with racks and an additional power rack and plenty of barbells. They have bumper plates. Plenty of bench variations and a good dumbbell selection and of course cable machines. They also have an MMA area with mats and heavy bags if that’s what you’re into. There’s treadmills and various cardio equipment; or if you like to do your cardio outside before or after lifting, horner park is just a couple blocks away.
This gym also has personal trainers and while i have not used this service, i have been in the gym while others have had their sessions and the trainers are professional and are competent in what they do and are very pleasant to be around.
In terms of transportation, it’s extremely easy to get here. The 78 bus stops right in front of the doors, there’s a free parking lot across the street, and a bike rack out front if you like to ride your bicycle.
All in all, this is a fantastic gym with wonderful people and a friendly owner — i would highly recommend it. I used to go to a big box gym and would find myself making excuses to not go, but i never need additional motivation to work out anymore since i like working out at this gym so much. You got nothing to lose by coming and checking this place out! Summer’s right around the corner ;)

Overall this gym meets my needs. It’s close by (nice to have something right in the neighborhood — it fills a void) and given how no-​frills it is, much cheaper than somewhere like LSAC or LA Fitness. I use it for general cardio and a little weight lifting.
I am growing increasingly frustrated with the treadmill situation though — two treadmills have been broken since I joined (October 2015) and according to the front desk staff, there is no timeline for when they will be fixed or replaced (although I am one of many who have complained). These get a lot of use, and as more people join the gym, it’s getting to the point where the working ones are ALL in use when I want to use one. Also, of the working ones, only one is decent (Matrix brand). The others are crappy StarTracs — the controls are kind of wonky, and some of the machines are in such physical decrepitude that you can feel the track bouncing up and down just walking briskly (at one point, one of them had a sign on it saying not to go faster than 4.5 MPH). As crappy as these are, I’m happy to get even one of these without waiting in line.
There is a sign at the front desk asking people to review on Unilocal,so I hope the owner is reading this and will address the treadmill issue. Sell a StarTrac elliptical or two if you have to — these get much less use than the treadmills! Also I agree with one of the other reviewers — that some patrons leave their personal belongs strewn all over the floor and equipment; that’s not totally in your control, but perhaps some coat/​bag hooks on the wall would help?

Everything is great (staff, gym, equipment, rates)! Except a certain group of people, who I feel bring the gym experience down.
This group acts like it’s their own personal gym, spreading their gear on the floor so you can’t even walk clearly to the bathroom. They will even walk on your platform right behind you while you are squatting and may even put their weights/​equipment on your olympic lifting platform!
Rude, loud, obnoxious, inconsiderate, and sad. I feel it’s a lack of respect for the gym and others when this and other things happen like throwing the weights onto their platform because they are too lazy to bring it over themselves.
Funny, the last gym I went to was big on being welcoming, treating others and the equipment with respect… and it was a crossfit gym!
Anyways, what do I know, I don’t lift enough to have an opinion right?

The energy is back. I have been a member at Conviction for pretty much the first month they opened on Western. When I heard they were moving I was very leery about new space, new routine ect.
My first visit I was very unhappy about the new space. Smaller and very cramped. After dragging myself back several times I felt it was time to move on. I decided to give it one more chance and I’m glad I did. I was surprised with a New layout, some of my favorite new equipment that fit the space.
Either the owner heard all of out bitching or we just jumped the gun. Im so glad I stuck it out with Conviction Fitness. I can find plenty of gyms to «work out» in, but what I wanted was a Gym that I can train along side powerlifters, olympic lifters, and fighters.
Conviction Fitness on Montrose is where champions train.

Best Kept secret in Chicago as far as gyms go. If you’re a powerlifter or even casual gym goer, this is the gym for you. Great equipment and environment to lift and learn in. Big plus is that you can actually speak to and see the owner on a regular basis. Staff is great too! All the trainers there are approachable and easy to talk to if you need pointers! I can’t say enough good things about this gym. Stop thinking and move! Get in and check it out!

I’ve been training in this gym since 2013, for this time I’ve had only good experience, this is an awesome place you can do a real workout, very friendly stuff, very professional trainers. You can do a variety of different things, there is enough equipment for all kinds of workouts, but the best thing are the lifting platforms which you don’t get in the big corporate gyms. I would recommend it to everybody, from athletes to people who just want to do 30 min at the treadmill.