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Your Home for Fitness, Recovery, and Wellness
At UFitness, we believe fitness should be accessible, supportive, and empowering for every person, no matter where they are on their journey. More than a gym, we are a community dedicated to helping people build confidence, strength, and long-term wellness through movement, education, and recovery.
Ishmael Hicks
Founder & CEO, UFitness
Peoria native Ishmael Hicks is a dedicated entrepreneur with active roots in the community, lifelong commitment to athletic excellence and youth empowerment. His journey began as a two-sport athlete at Manual High School (Class of 2001) before earning a track scholarship to Spoon River College.
In 2010, Hicks began training his daughter, Seven Hicks, under the guidance of One Motion, a grassroots athletic program he co-developed. Seven's eventual success as a sprinter for the University of Nebraska provided the inspiration for One Motion's evolution into a non-profit organization in 2013. To date, One Motion has served over 100 youth each summer and helped dozens of athletes secure college funding through track and field scholarships.
From Trainer to Entrepreneur Hicks formally launched his training, career in 2017 by partnering with the Peoria Dream Center, where he mentored over 50 youth through fitness PowerPoint presentations and group exercises This led to a rapidly expanding personal training business, working with high school athletic teams and a semiprofessional soccer team.
A certified USA Track & Field Coach (2018) and ASFA Fitness/Bootcamp Instructor (2022), Hicks joined Landmark Health & Fitness. During his partnership, he launched Inspirational Fitness, adult class alongside his speed and agility training for athletes, which lead to the development, concept for his first independent venture: the Underground Training Center.
The Birth of Underground training center By 2023, Hicks became the sole owner and operator of the 5,000 sq. ft. Underground facility, focused on athlete development and adult fitness. The success of this venture, transitioned into a major milestone in 2025: the acquisition and transformation of the 65,000 sq. ft. Landmark Health & Fitness space into UFitness.
Under Hicks's leadership, U Fitness has become a hub for independent business, housing:
- Coach Bree Cheer: Youth cheerleading development
- Thomas Hinton: Circadian Health Performance: Holistic performance and recovery services
With deep roots in the Peoria community, Ishmael Hicks remains committed to empowering the next generation of athletes and leaders while driving job growth, fostering independent businesses, and ensuring sustainable revenue through the continued expansion of UFitness.
