Lotta Yanong

We would love to hear your story. Please share your journey on what inspired you to do the work you are doing and anything you've learned along the way.

Rise Training Academy is a black-owned, AAPI-owned and woman-owned health and wellness small business co-owned by Victor Murrell and Lotta Yanong. Located on the South Side of Chicago, Rise Training Academy is a cultural space providing fitness, wellness, and martial arts instruction for kids, teens, and adults.

Our mission is for Rise Training Academy to be a hub for healthy resources in an inclusive, fun and enriching environment that improves the welfare of our community. Offering free community classes or workshops is also a part of our social enterprise business model.

Being residents of the Southside, we continue to be inspired to do the work we are doing to build the health and wellness of own neighborhood. We cannot do this work alone and have learned how important it is to collaborate with local businesses, neighborhood organizations, and local artists to help realize our vision.

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How has having a physical wellness space impacted your wellbeing and/or your community's wellbeing?

We believe that consistent martial arts training and wellness classes are an excellent way to introduce and immerse arts, culture, and fitness to people of all ages. For example, our Afro-Brazilian Capoeira martial arts classes combine movement, music, self-defense, and language for adults and children.

Exercise is beneficial to combating stress and is known to help improve mood. Martial arts are known to improve self-confidence and discipline. Our classes provide constructive activities for our at-risk youth that would help prevent the rising violence in our communities. Our classes also provide a enriching alternative for those looking to learn a martial art with Afro-Brazilian roots that they can connect to.

Rise Training Academy adds to the continuing revitalization of the area providing services not currently offered within our community and free community wellness classes. We also invest back into the community by providing employment opportunities to local residents.

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How can people best support your work?

We welcome everyone to share our business through Instagram or Facebook (@risetrainingacademy) and word of mouth to help us get the word out about us.

We also welcome everyone in the area to try our martial arts classes! We have an introductory special of $29 for 2 weeks of unlimited classes and no experience is necessary.

If you are interesting in donating funds or services to support our operations and free community offerings, please send us an email at info@risetrainingacademy.com.

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How can people access your space, attend classes or workshops, etc.?

For more information on our classes, please go to our website www.risetrainingacademy.com/get-started and complete the form. We will contact you to schedule your first class and answer any questions.

For community events, we update our community page on our website with our latest offerings https://www.risetrainingacademy.com/community. Our Instagram page is also a great place where people can get updated on our events.