Haymaker

Strength. Solidarity. Autonomy.

Haymaker is an anti-racist, anti-sexist gym in Chicago. We provide self-defense, martial arts, and fitness classes to anyone in Chicago, regardless of ability and income level. Our gym is completely based on volunteer participation and all of our classes are free.

Most gyms sell their customers on ideals of strength and fitness. But we’re not here to make people fit in with damaging images of desirability and violent masculinity.We strive to organize ourselves and our gym on the basis of strength, solidarity, and autonomy.

Strength, for us, is not being able to resist or overpower forces outside of us. Being strong means grappling with and overcoming our own weaknesses; it means being vulnerable with each other, supporting each other, and changing ourselves, together.

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