Tier One has something for everyone whether youre looking to learn to defend yourself (Krav Maga & Boxing) or get into great shape (TACFIT, Circular Strength Training, Mobility training) or both! Ive attended for 1 year now and can attest to the level of fitness and self defense capabilities Ive attained through Tier Ones classes. The owners are top notch instructors, understanding their students all have differing levels of ability but always seeking to get the best out of them. Theyre talented but humble, and this permeates the culture of the facility. Classes are plentiful to accommodate all schedules (mornings and evenings), with class sizes that allow for direct instruction but also a variety of people to work with. They also bring in specialized guest instructors for seminars that deliver that deliver great supplementary skills & content. The facility is 2 years old, so the equipment is in great shape. Bathrooms, lockers, and changing rooms in the back. Ive been elsewhere and this was the most inviting, authentic, and knowledgable gym I could find for what I was looking for. They offer a free trial class, I would highly Recommend it!

I have been going to Tier One since they opened, and it is a highlight of my day to come train here. I do all of the classes offered, and they are all excellent. The instructors are very gifted, so attentive to proper form, so creative in the workouts they create. I have improved in strength, flexibility, agility, and in fighting skills. These are vital, practical skills for daily life. I value the warm, welcoming community we have at Tier One. There is a wonderful diversity of people, and everyone is very supportive of one another, from the newest beginner to the most advanced student. We have fun together while we focus on personal excellence. I leave feeling accomplished and happy, every time.

Absolutely amazing gym. I trained here while a Northwestern student. I live in NYC now, and havent been able to find anything 1/4 as good. The instructors are amazing professionally and personally. A very warm atmosphere that allows everyone to improve.

Magnetic, family atmosphere that will make you feel like one of them very quickly. The instructors and higher ranking students are brilliant practitioners; they will push you to your maximum potential while supporting you and encouraging you to keep coming class after class.If youre looking to have the most fun of your life and make new friends while studying a beautiful art, look no further!Great teachers, great students. A gym that feels comfortable & clean. Where everybodys friendly & respectful to each other.

I love this place so much. The workouts are extremely intense, yet totally doable for the most novice of beginners, like me. You learn very practical and useful self-defense while also getting a workout that seems to combine weights, resistance training, yoga, and cardio. The owners are extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and completely nonjudgmental. Their attitude creates a very welcoming environment and a strong sense of community. I cannot say enough great things about Tier One and am so happy that I found it!

Great facility, staff, and members. I love learning a skill, but also getting in a workout. Im fairly new (Nov 2016), but I cant imagine going anywhere else. All the veteran class members are so welcoming and helpful, and the Trainers are very knowledgeable, patient, and friendly. There are several different types of classes which complement each other, and the atmosphere is really open and positive.

I started taking Krav Maga classes because Im a smaller woman and wanted to feel like I could defend myself if necessary. I go to the morning class on either Tuesdays or Thursdays, and appreciate the small class size because I feel like I get a lot of individual instruction. The facility is clean, and the instructors and manager are friendly and encouraging. Even though I tend to be the smallest person in the classes, I feel like the other members are welcoming and dont go easy on me, which I appreciate. I definitely recommend this gym for self-defense instruction!

I started here without ever having done any sort of martial arts / self defense, so I was a bit hesitant. I felt immediately welcome however and have been coming there regularly for 6 months now. The trainers are experienced, helpful, supportive and patient - I honestly couldnt think of a better environment for learning Krav Maga. You can learn from some of the more senior trainees as well, as they often attend the entry level classes as well. I cant recommend this place enough.

Best place in Evanston to learn how to fight! Instructors offer perfect balance of encouragement and pushing to make sure first timers and experts learn a lot and get a hard workout every class. Best part of my day!

Tier One is one of my absolute favorite places in Evanston! Every single one of the instructors is highly knowledgeable, nice, and sincerely looking out for your best interests. The classes are easy to fit into ones schedule because of the varying times and types of classes. I’ve never taken a class here that wasn’t interesting and taught me something new! There’s so much to learn whether it’s Krav, Boxing, TacFit, Free to Move, or CST. The long time members at the studio are also always willing to help out and are super friendly! I definitely recommend this place!

The boxing and Krav Maga classes at Tier One have been outstanding and a lot of fun. The instructors are highly skilled and knowledgeable, the atmosphere is friendly and comfortable, and the facilities are very new. I am very glad I was able to find such a great gym!

Great workout to get in shape! Also, awesome knowledgeable staff that really helps you learn the techniques!

I have been going to Tier One for the better part of a year. I take Krav Maga, boxing, mobility, and Tac Fit classes. I couldn’t be happier with the results. The three owners/instructors are fantastic. They are very knowledgeable, patient, and they encourage me to push my limits. The class sizes are generally small and the facility is clean. I’ve tried other gyms and systems over the years but one of the main reason I have stuck with Tier One is because they have cultivated a sense of community among the students. Egos are checked at the door. Senior students happily help newer student reach their potential. I am always eager to go there instead of dragging myself to a more traditional workout!

I have been going to Tier One for about a year and it has been an excellent experience. I have taken their Krav Maga, Circular Strength Training, TacFit Training, and Boxing classes and every class will definitely give you an efficient workout. By attending these 1 hour classes at least twice a week, I was able to see improvement in my overall health and strength in a matter of a few months.Their fighting classes provide practical perspective in defending yourself and friends/family from single or multiple attackers. The instructors also teach defenses against knife and gun attacks too. As a smaller-sized person, I was taught how to handle people who are larger than I am.Not only are the instructors excellent at tailoring their pedagogy according to the fighting experience of each person, veteran members of Tier One are also great at mentoring people who are new to fighting (like I was). This aspect is what set Tier One apart from other gyms: the sense of community. This is a great way of meeting others coming from diverse backgrounds, ages, etc.If you are thinking or curious about Tier One, you should take their free trial class!

Great place to learn Krav Maga! Instructors are certified and will push you to learn self defense. People training are friendly.

The instructors here are the best Ive ever met. The facility has one big dividable room with plenty of space for the good-sized classes where the instructors can come around and help everyone. The flow of the classes is great - a bit of warm up that changes from day to day, keeping it interesting, then stretching, then the meat of the class. Everything is broken down clearly and you get plenty of time to practice your form before working a drill. Tier One offers a variety of martial arts - boxing, Krav Maga, and TacFit. All of them have very useful applications and help me improve my skills. Love this place. :D

Tier One Training - I dont even know where to begin. I never thought I would enjoy training as much as I have since I found Tier One. The workouts offered are practical, useful and - oh, yeah, extremely intense! But, no worries! The owners are very approachable, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable in all they offer: Tacfit, CST, Boxing & Krav Maga -always, always encouraging. The atmosphere is a friendly one where all skills levels are welcome! Evanston is very fortunate in having such a great training facility!

Absolutely phenomenal culture for learning, created and maintained by the enthusiastic instructors.

This is far the best place Ive ever been to! The instructors are the best in the business and they know what they are doing. The studio it self is very clean and welcoming. I didnt think I would take a liking to Krav Maga, but I was so wrong, this is high intensity workout and I love it!The instructors are always changing things up so its never the same thing. They are very helpful and they work with you so you have a better understanding on how to throw a punch, kick or a proper fighting stance. It doesnt get any better than this.They offer a free trial and you can take either a boxing class, Krav Maga or Tacfit26. I am so happy that I found a place that I love!:-)

This is a great place to train if you are interested in trying self-defense, martial arts, or even just general conditioning. There are Krav Maga, Boxing, and Tacfit classes for adults and Taekwondo for the kids. I started with the 3 months membership which was a great way to try out all the different classes, figure out what I liked and which times worked best with my schedule. All instructors are knowledgeable, professional, and patient and will push you hard every single workout. Classes are kept small so you will receive lot of individual attention (sometimes too much attention if you are lazy like me :) and learn fast. And you will make new friends from all walks of life.BOXING can seem intimidating but the techniques are explained and broken down and demonstrated clearly and from day one, you are moving around with a partner and punching. Experienced classmates are friendly and helpful and will slow down for you until you catch up. And you will get your turn one-on-one with the instructor few times throughout each class. The workouts are challenging and interesting and I can see myself improving every time I come. As a bonus, there are stories from the boxing world and a few classmates who actually fight!KRAV MAGA. Even if you do just the trial class, it is well worth it (though prepare to like it and do lot of sweaty laundry once you join!). After a few, you will be walking around with a new awareness--of your environment, people around you, their body language, scanning for openings and exits. The classes are high energy fun: punching, kicking, combination drills to start with, learning and practicing self-defense moves, and then putting it together in simulated fights...all the while two instructors are prowling around the room. You might occasionally leave with a bruise or two, but you will also get comfortable seeing punches coming at you, getting out of headlock, and aggressively fighting back. And while you can have fun hanging in Level 1 classes for a while, for the serious students there is testing for Level 2 (and 3) and even more techniques to learn.FREE TO MOVE; CIRCULAR STRENGTH TRAINING; TACFIT. These are great to get you moving in the directions your body forgot how to use; build strength and flexibility, and laugh at yourself as you are flopping around on the mat trying to imitate the incredibly flexible instructor. Everything is demonstrated, explained and then practiced slowly and carefully before you pick up speed and/or weights for the real workout. It always feels great when the class is over :)

Tony is right on the money!

Best gym in Evanston