Our Story

Born in the Streets.
Built on the Beat.

FunKick GRD didn't start in a boardroom. It started on a basketball court with a speaker and a need to move differently.

FunKick GRD founders Kai and Renee demonstrating original kickboxing dance fusion moves

How It Started

Two Instructors.
One Vision.

In 2018, Kai Ortega and Renée Williams met at a community fitness jam in the east side. Kai was a kickboxing coach. Renée was a funk and soul choreographer. Neither expected to collaborate. Neither expected to change the fitness industry.

They ran their first class on a Tuesday night in a parking garage. 9 people showed up. By Friday, there were 40. By the end of the month, the waiting list was longer than the parking lot.

What they'd created wasn't just a workout — it was an energy system. A way to move that felt honest, cultural, and deeply human.

FunKick GRD was officially born.

What Drives Us

The GRD Values

Authenticity Over Everything

We don't perform wellness. We live it. Every class, every beat, every move is real — rooted in culture and driven by genuine passion.

Community First

The GRD isn't a facility — it's a family. We invest in our members' lives beyond the workout floor. Always.

Movement as Medicine

We believe sweating to music you love is one of the most powerful things a person can do for their mental and physical health.

Radical Inclusion

All body types. All backgrounds. All skill levels. The GRD floor has room for everyone who shows up ready to move.

The Crew

Meet Your Instructors

Kai Ortega

Co-Founder · Kickboxing Lead

Former amateur boxer turned movement coach. Kai's sequences are brutal in the best way. His energy is contagious, his music taste legendary.

Renée Williams

Co-Founder · Funk Flow Director

Trained in West African dance, funk, and contemporary movement. Renée builds sequences that feel like storytelling. Every class is a performance.

Devin Park

OVERDRIVE Specialist

If Voltage isn't enough for you, Devin's waiting. Certified in HIIT, breakdance foundations, and making people question their life choices.

Layla Diaz, FunKick GRD Ignite beginner class and community instructor

Layla Díaz

IGNITE & Community Lead

The most patient, enthusiastic instructor you'll ever meet. Layla builds beginners into believers, and she celebrates every single milestone.

The Journey

Six Years on the Grid

2018

Parking Garage Drop

First class. 9 people. One speaker. Zero regrets.

2019

First Studio Opens

1,200 sq ft of pure GRD energy in the downtown district.

2021

Digital GRD Launches

Online classes reach members in 14 countries during the pandemic.

2023

2,000 Members Strong

Second location opens. Monthly Battles go live. The GRD keeps growing.

2026

GRD Certified Program

Train to become a certified FunKick GRD instructor. The movement spreads.

Born in the Streets.Built on the Beat.

Two Instructors.One Vision.