9Round began with Shannon “The Cannon” Hudson, a kickboxing world champion, and his wife Heather. As busy parents, they wanted a workout that didn’t require strict class times or long hours at the gym — just a fast, effective way for anyone to get fit.

Shannon used his real fight training to build a non-intimidating 30-minute kickboxing circuit that gives everyday people the benefits of a fighter’s workout without getting hit. In 2008, they opened the first 9Round in Greenville, SC, personally testing every process and piece of equipment.

The idea took off. Within a year, the first franchise opened, and by 2012, there were 100 locations. Today, 9Round has nearly 700 studios in 17 countries, plus on-demand workouts for anytime fitness.

What started as a simple vision now helps people worldwide build strength, confidence, and resilience — one 30-minute workout at a time.