If you have been searching for 9Round Bend Oregon, you may have noticed that the Bend location is no longer operating.
For people who enjoyed kickboxing-based workouts, the closure may leave a simple question:
Where can I train kickboxing in Bend now?
SBG Bend offers an established Muay Thai and kickboxing program in Bend, Oregon for people who want a challenging workout while also learning the technical skills behind striking.
Beginners are welcome, and sparring is not required.
That said, SBG Bend is not simply another version of 9Round. The training models are different, and understanding that difference will help you decide whether we are what you are looking for.
How is SBG Bend different from 9Round?
9Round was primarily built around a short kickboxing-inspired fitness circuit using bag work, conditioning and high-intensity exercise.
SBG Bend takes a different approach.
Our Muay Thai program is a coach-led martial arts class. You will absolutely get a workout, but the workout comes from learning and practicing a skill.
Students progressively learn:
- stance and movement,
- punching mechanics,
- kicking mechanics,
- defensive movement,
- footwork and balance,
- pad work,
- combinations,
- distance and timing,
- and eventually more advanced striking concepts if they choose to pursue them.
If the thing you loved most about 9Round was the convenience of a short circuit workout without a traditional martial arts class structure, SBG Bend is not identical to that model.
If what you enjoyed was kickboxing, getting a hard workout, learning new movements and training around other motivated people, SBG Bend may be a very natural next step.
You can learn more about our program here: Muay Thai Kickboxing Classes at SBG Bend .
Learn kickboxing from coaches who understand how striking works
There is a difference between performing a punch or kick as part of a workout and learning how that movement functions as a martial arts technique.
At SBG Bend, striking is taught as a skill.
That means learning not only what a movement looks like, but also:
- how to maintain balance,
- how to generate power efficiently,
- how distance changes what is available,
- how to protect yourself while striking,
- how timing affects a technique,
- and how techniques connect together.
Our coaching staff brings extensive experience across Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts: Meet the SBG Bend Coaching Staff .
The goal is not simply to make you tired.
The goal is to help you become more capable while getting a great workout along the way.
A safety-focused approach to kickboxing
Learning martial arts does not mean that every class needs to become a fight.
Good training begins with control.
Students are taught how to perform techniques correctly, manage their intensity and work responsibly with training partners.
Beginners develop the fundamentals before progressing into more complicated exercises. Coaches can correct unsafe habits, adjust drills and help students find an appropriate level of challenge.
Different students also arrive with different goals, ages, athletic backgrounds and levels of experience.
The objective is not to make everybody train at exactly the same intensity.
The objective is productive training.
You do not have to spar
This is probably one of the biggest questions people have when considering a traditional martial arts gym.
No, you do not have to spar to train Muay Thai at SBG Bend.
Some students primarily want:
- a challenging workout,
- stress relief,
- better coordination,
- technical striking skills,
- confidence,
- or simply a fun way to stay active.
They may have absolutely no interest in sparring.
That is fine.
Students can learn techniques, practice combinations, hit pads, work with partners and improve their fitness without participating in sparring.
Other students eventually become curious about controlled sparring after building confidence and experience.
That is fine too.
Sparring should be a learning environment, not an opportunity to prove how tough you are.
Muay Thai: fitness that comes from learning a real skill
Muay Thai is often called the Art of Eight Limbs because the system makes use of punches, kicks, knees and elbows.
Training can provide an extremely demanding full-body workout.
But unlike a workout that exists only to create physical fatigue, martial arts gives you something to develop.
You may begin by learning how to stand correctly.
Then how to move.
Then how to throw a basic combination without losing your balance.
Later you begin noticing distance, timing, defensive reactions and opportunities you could not even see when you started.
The workout remains hard.
You simply become much better at doing it.
A beginner-friendly place to train in Bend
Walking into a martial arts academy for the first time can feel intimidating.
People often imagine that everyone inside will already be extremely fit, experienced and interested in fighting.
That is not what being a beginner at SBG Bend looks like.
Beginners are a normal and important part of our community.
You are not expected to arrive already fit.
You are not expected to know how to kick.
You are not expected to understand martial arts terminology.
That would rather defeat the purpose of taking a class.
Coaches introduce the fundamentals progressively, answer questions and give students opportunities to improve at a sustainable pace.
Experienced students also have a responsibility to help newer students learn safely and constructively.
The point is to help people improve, not demonstrate that the experienced person is more experienced.
Partner training does not automatically mean fighting
One of the major advantages of learning martial arts is eventually understanding how techniques interact with another moving human being.
That does not mean every partner exercise is sparring.
Students can work together through:
- pad work,
- technical repetitions,
- movement exercises,
- controlled partner drills,
- defensive exercises,
- and progressively more realistic training when appropriate.
The level of resistance and complexity can change as the student’s skill develops.
That gives people the opportunity to understand timing, movement and distance without simply throwing them into a fight.
More than a repetitive workout
There is nothing wrong with wanting a hard workout.
A lot of people first walk into martial arts because they want to get in better shape.
What keeps many of them training is that the activity does not stay the same.
There is always another detail to understand:
- better balance,
- cleaner footwork,
- more efficient mechanics,
- better combinations,
- improved defense,
- better timing,
- and better decision-making.
That gives training a progression that can continue for years.
Some students remain focused entirely on fitness, stress relief and enjoyment.
Others eventually become interested in self-defense, sparring, mixed martial arts or competition.
There is no requirement that everyone pursue the same path.
Finding a new kickboxing community after 9Round Bend
For many people, losing a familiar gym is about more than losing access to a workout.
You lose the routine.
You lose familiar coaches and training partners.
You lose the place that helped make showing up a habit.
Community is a major part of SBG Bend as well.
Our students include beginners, recreational athletes, parents, professionals, longtime martial artists and people who simply wanted a more interesting way to exercise.
Training partners help one another improve, experienced students help newer students, and coaches work to build an environment where people can challenge themselves without intimidation becoming the culture.
You do not need to consider yourself a fighter to belong here.
Looking for a 9Round Bend Oregon alternative?
If you previously trained at 9Round Bend, or you found this page while searching for the former Bend location, SBG Bend may be worth trying.
We offer coach-led Muay Thai and kickboxing training where beginners can improve their fitness while learning progressively deeper striking skills.
You do not need prior experience.
You do not need to be in shape before starting.
And you do not have to spar.
The best way to determine whether our training style is right for you is simply to experience it.
SBG Bend is located at 550 NW Franklin Ave, Suite 338, Bend, OR 97703.
Frequently asked questions
Is 9Round Bend Oregon still open?
No. The former 9Round location in Bend is no longer operating.
Is SBG Bend the same type of workout as 9Round?
No. The training models are different. 9Round centered on a short kickboxing-style fitness circuit, while SBG Bend offers scheduled, coach-led Muay Thai and kickboxing classes focused on developing martial arts skills while also providing a demanding workout.
Can complete beginners take Muay Thai at SBG Bend?
Yes. Beginners are welcome, and students are not expected to arrive with previous martial arts experience.
Do I have to spar?
No. Students can train Muay Thai for fitness, skill development and enjoyment without participating in sparring.
Where can I take kickboxing classes in Bend, Oregon?
SBG Bend offers Muay Thai and kickboxing classes at 550 NW Franklin Ave, Suite 338 in Bend, Oregon.
SBG Bend is an independent martial arts academy and is not affiliated with or endorsed by 9Round.
