A new training center focused on movement and the arts has opened in Auburn Gresham, welcoming residents of all ages to participate in its winter session. Rise Training Academy, located at 8300 S. Halsted St., offers a range of classes including Samba, pilates, martial arts, West African dance, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Capoeira.
The academy is a small business co-owned by Black and Filipina entrepreneurs Lotta Yanong and Victor Murrell. The studio opened in summer 2025 with the aim of providing local families with access to activities that support health and wellness.
Rise Training Academy schedules classes for both adults and children at the same time. Parents can attend kickboxing while their children learn Capoeira or other disciplines. Co-founder Lotta Yanong explained the academy’s approach: “Our goal is to be a cultural sanctuary where movement, community and art is a mindset that uplifts people for health and wellness longevity,” Yanong said. “We want to be received as a place where people can learn different things, advance their training and be with a supportive community. There’s something for everyone at Rise.”
Victor Murrell, who grew up in West Pullman and attended school in Hyde Park, recalled challenges he faced traveling across the city as a young athlete seeking enrichment opportunities. “From a young age, I always thought to myself, ‘Why do I have to go so far to get something that’s going to make me better and add to my life?’” Murrell said.
Murrell stated his goal was to bring new opportunities closer to home for South Side residents. One focus is Capoeira—a blend of dance, music, acrobatics, and martial arts rooted in African and Brazilian culture—which both owners have practiced extensively.
Teaching Capoeira has allowed Murrell not only personal growth but also connections within Brazil and across the United States. He described this experience as a “blessing.” As he put it: “I enjoy the arts and want them to help expand people’s worlds and prolong their lives and health,” Murrell said.
All instructors at Rise Training Academy are artists from or raised on Chicago’s South Side. According to Yanong: “It’s a way for us to invest back into the community where we live and serve,” she said. “It’s also a way for us to highlight the expertise from the South Side. There aren’t as many opportunities for those kinds of teaching positions and exposure, and we’re providing it to people our students can resonate with.”
Since launching its winter session earlier this month, pilates has become increasingly popular alongside established offerings such as martial arts classes for kids. Yanong noted that neighbors appreciate having these resources nearby: “It’s been warm in general and the more the community gets to know us, they’re finding that they have found a village close to them that are interested in community, culture and movement,” she said.
Yanong added that pricing at Rise Training Academy aligns with similar programs elsewhere in Chicago neighborhoods. The owners plan future expansions including morning sessions—currently most classes are held during evenings or weekends—and partnerships with other organizations serving older residents.
Reflecting on opening Rise Training Academy in Auburn Gresham, Murrell said: “We picked the right place to build something like this,” he stated. “I feel proud that we’re able to provide movement, martial arts and African diasporic arts.”
