I have mixed feelings about my experience here. On one hand, the instruction is top-notch. The head coach, Jean Carrillo, is clearly an expert and the quality of the training sessions is excellent--you really get the authentic Muay Thai experience you're looking for. However, the facility's cleanliness is a major issue. The locker rooms and changing areas are consistently dirty and poorly maintained. To make matters worse, during my last visit, we actually saw a rat running through the gym. It's a shame because the coaching is some of the best in Orange, but the lack of hygiene is a serious health concern that needs to be addressed immediately. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and invests in a deep clean and pest control, as it currently detracts from an otherwise great training environment. read more

This is an excellent Muay Thai gym located in Orange. The head coach, Jean Carrillo, brings a lifetime of Muay Thai experience and a warm, larger-than-life personality. The moment you meet him, you can feel his passion for the art and for his students. He's created an atmosphere where both beginners and advanced practitioners can thrive, learn, and feel at home. Ready to level up and even fight in Thailand? Mr. Carrillo will guide you every step of the way. I've trained here for years on and off, and I hold all of Jean's assistant coaches in equally high regard. Having trained Muay Thai in many places for many years--from coast to coast--I can confidently recommend this gym. If you're serious about improving your technique, conditioning, and overall Muay Thai journey, this is the place to be. read more

I had some time off of work a few weeks ago and decided to do a drop-in at Carillo Muay Thai even though I live in L.A... I've been training Muay Thai for 25+ years, so I know pretty quickly when a gym is legit or not. I only trained there for one day, but I immediately felt "right" when I walked in. Jean greeted me when I walked in, and as is customary for guests when visting a gym, we talked about where I've trained and realized we knew a lot of the same people. My main coaches even had photos on his walls! The class itself was great. I didn't realize I dropped in on their sparring class which always makes me nervous in a new school because you never know what their sparring culture is like. Thankfully, their sparring style is very much like in Thailand. Controlled and respectful. Jean started off every round with some instructions (boxing only for this round, kicks included now, etc) and as the bell rang he'd say, "Be nice, guys" which is always good to hear. The other students were very skilled and very controlled, so even an out of shape older guy like me could survive an hour straight of sparring! Even though I only paid for the day, Jean even offered me to come in for free the next day. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it, but I'll definitely be back another day! read more

Carrillo Muy Thai is such a great gym!! Not only are the classes great, the gym is kept clean, super professional, and very welcoming (which is great for all my ladies wanting to try!) Signing up was super easy, I met some of the coaches that were very nice. Coach Jean is the real deal, I've tried a couple other gyms that are more of a generic workout, but he is teaching real muy Thai, he is from the golden era of muy Thai! He covers the fundamentals and jokes to make everyone feel included. I have a new appreciation for his knowledge. 10/10 would recommend read more

I feel very fortunate to have found Carillo Muay Thai. The coaches are friendly, approachable, and extremely knowledgeable. I learn something new in every class. When I first started, I was concerned because I wasn't in great shape and had no prior combat experience. But I quickly found that I could pick up the techniques and combinations while also getting a great cardio workout. It's the best workout I've ever done--and the added bonus is that I'm learning a valuable skill from the very best. One of my favorite things about Carillo Muay Thai is that it doesn't feel like just a cardio class. I feel as if I'm training for a competition. The other members I've partnered with have been nothing but supportive and willing to help. I've always felt welcomed and have never felt brushed aside for being new. read more

Edit 8/5 You said "it doesn't reflect the truth of how you and your son were treated at my gym" Do you even know who I am and what you're talking about? There is no father and son, my father has nothing to do with this, Im 35 years old, I went in there alone You might actually have me confused with someone else I dont train there You don't remember or recognize me because you've never seen me in 5 months and I've never been back after the first $50 class (yet you've still been charging me $150 per month) You lied to me when we met in person, you said just fill out this form so I can run the $50 on the credit card AND you took the $50 cash. I understand your system, any credit card you get automatically turns into a subscription and you don't even know who I am I hope people see these these texts and see how rude you are and how genuinely nice I was Like I said in text if I end up having to pay for this $750 membership that I've never used then I hope you donate it to someone who really needs it I wish you peace To the students in your school, I wish them well, they were all great training partners that one night back in March read more

Carrillo Muay Thai - Boxing Near Me - Orange, California

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After reading reviews, website and comments, I visited the gym. Yes I can vouch that coach is very friendly, personable and very funny man. I also observe the people there are all very helpful and nice to each other and even to me as a visitor. Danny is a helper at gym and he remembered my name and greeted me and my wife. Overall, I can see the description of the culture of gym seemed on target with most comments which is a good sign that they back up what they say. read more

Joining Carrillo Muay Thai has honestly helped me a lot. ever since my dad bought me 2 months ago, I walked in with little experience and yea I was nervous but when my first class started something just clicked. The energy, the people, the way coaches talk to you, like they don't just shout but like really explaining it to the whole room, making it feel like you belong here. But Muay Thai has helped me so much in this short period of time because it pushes me for sure every class challenges me In ways I didn't know I needed. And CMT has given me a mentality to work harder, and there is something so powerful about showing up consistently sweating through the doubt and realizing little by little you have become a stronger person. But What makes Carrillo Muay Thai special isn't just the technique or the training it's the heart. The coaches care deeply, and the people train hard but lift each other up. It's not just a gym--it feels like home. If you're even remotely thinking about starting Muay Thai, or just looking for a space where you can be challenged and supported in equal measure, come to Carrillo Muay Thai It might just change your life too. Thank you coach Carrillo. assistant coach Danny and Jacob as well as Steve. read more

Carrillo Muay Thai - Boxing Near Me - Orange, California

This place is great. Carrillo Muay Thai focuses on pad work more than any other Muay Thai gym I've been to. Everyone is really kind and welcoming, especially to beginners and newcomers. If you want to learn real Muay Thai, don't hesitate to try it out. Unfortunately I had to leave because of my work schedule, but would have stayed for years otherwise. Also, I never had an issue with the cancellation or billing. No idea what some of the other reviewers are talking about. read more

Just discovered this treasure, After watching some YouTube videos, exploring their website, and studying other local gyms, I decided to make this place my 10 year old's gym. My drive is about 30/35 min and well worth the gas. The Coaches are all awesome, very friendly, and welcoming, the location has plenty of parking and is very clean. My son really enjoys the ring and looks forward to training. Jean, is very informative and knowledgeable. Training for my son is three times a week, at first I thought my son was going to be overwhelmed with three day a week practice but enjoys the work out. My son has never been exposed to any kind of fight training and today he's a week in and his arm, stance and overall positioning has taken a toll for the positive. Thank you Carillo Muay Thai read more

Carrillo Muay Thai - Boxing Near Me - Orange, California

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Wonderful experience! My teenage daughter is going here and she really loves the energetic and friendly environment. Definitely I recommend this place for anyone who wants to learn Muay Thai. read more

I visited from San Diego since I was vacationing with my family. I heard good things of this place from my local gyms. I figured I stop by for a day to get a sweat in. The gym is great, i can tell a very family oriented gym with all age groups in attendance. The atmosphere is awesome, they even had old school golden era MT fights playing on TV. Coach Jean is very welcoming, charismatic and very knowledgeable. I have been training for a few years now and he taught me a clever technique that ill keep in my tool box. Needless to say i went home drenched. I highly recommended this place if you want to learn muay thai and become fit in a warm welcoming environment. read more

Collecting agency posted debt I owe to Carillo after I paid my previous month in cash. Carillo is a greedy man be aware and keep your senses woke. Doesn't even spar nor hold pads for his students. Negative experience all through out no future if he's the coach brings bad vibes and talks stupidity! Fused neck to spine and in the fighting business what a shame..retire old man do us all a favor! read more

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Rude and mean employee made it impossible for my daughter to try the class. Unacceptable. Maybe a bad day?? If they treat all their potential clients this way, very soon they'll go out of business. Don't waste your time here. read more

Do not trust this place with your money. It was such a hassle trying to quit..This place was great, the coach was cool. Everything was fine. My husband got injured and slowly stopped going to the classes. He let the coach know he was not going to be attending classes anymore due to his injury & was putting in his cancellation notice ( keep in mind he had already payed for a whole month and did not attend not one class) let's say the coach basically didn't want him to quit and told him to come back, at first I thought he was caring and told him if his leg hurt he could do upper stuff, turns out he was just trying to get him to stay for the money. Later on my husband followed up to make sure that his cancellation notice was in effect. Well apparently Coach Jean said no because he didn't give him a notice when he had! He said he was still going to charge him one last month. That was so bullshit. My husband stopped going, doesn't even attend oneee class & you thinkkkkkk the coach would of been more sympathetic & just cancelled but noo his hunger for money got the best of him and was a dick about it & TRIEDDDDD to charge him again.. Well heads up people if this happens to you just go to your bank and cancel your card. My husband loved learning Muay Thai but when it came to payment cancellation it was a nightmare. Fyi: if you look at his 1 star reviews you will see this is a constant thing he does. Greedy Coach. read more

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Short version: Coach Jean requires people to deliver a written notice of cancellation 15 days before payment due date. I did that. Got charged anyway. He emails me after being charged to tell me that he changed the notice time to 20 days. Don't sign up. Avoid. Run. For some reason this place requires written notice of quitting the gym half a month ahead of the payment due date in order to not be billed for the next month. Super inconvenient, it's not like I'm working for the gym. However, going in you are informed of this. It's another thing however, if you DO properly comply with these inconvenient terms of cancellation, and are still charged. I did drive to the gym and dropped off my letter, two weeks ago, only to be emailed by Coach Jean AFTER paypal charges me. Smart. He goes on to inform me that the required time for notice is now 20 days (MOST MONTHS ONLY HAVE 30 DAYS IN THEM). He seriously almost wants almost a month's notice to cancel a monthly payment. When I signed on, my contract said 15 days. He verbally told me 15 days. The official gym website says 15 days. Well... I guess in life you can do what you want, including being shady as hell. I hope you enjoy the free $300.00 Coach Jean. Put it toward your holiday bonus. I quit because I got a surgery two months ago that has left me in severe enough pain that I could no longer participate. I didn't cancel last month, despite my not being able to take single class, and that's my fault. You'd think getting THAT payment would be enough, and he's properly cancel my billing this month, but I guess it pays to be greedy. He writes he only got my letter a week ago, and he increased the notice because people want to quit for the holidays, and it's hard to manage files, so the customer has to adjust. It is the customer's fault that the business can't manage the business. Can't beat that logic. Also, why is it that I have to drive down there to hand in a letter to quit, but HE can easily email me to tell me that he is going to charge me anyway? So this is why people aren't allowed to quit by email. Does he require written notice because he knows it makes it harder for people to quit? He knows how to make money. Avoid this place. read more

Carrillos method is Adictive I began my Muay Thai training under the lead of Coban in nyc. It took me about 5 years, three cities and countless trials at different martial arts gyms to find another authentic Muay Thai gym comparable to Coban. Santa Ana is blessed to have coach Carrillo's school. Not only it's one of the few authentic Muay Thai schools outside of Thailand, but it's also a place that houses a community that serves each other. In times of social despair, seeing people from different backgrounds become family, brings hope. Carillo with his assistant Rogelio have crafted a method of teaching that is both accessible to most bodies and challenging to all. Creating a true diverse community that cares and encourages each other to always become better. No ego, no attitude is the rule. Trigger warning : Carillo tells the worst jokes! Lol but he has PASSION for this art pf Muay Thai. he will help you find your own rhythm and at your own pace, you will learn the cleanest technique of moving your body. Great work out! I burned over 1000 calories every class. ***HABLAN ESPAÑOL *** pregunten por Sebastián o Rogelio read more

Gym: clean and neat with good workout equipment. People: welcoming, understanding of new people to the sport and everyone gets along very well due to Coach's no ego rule Money: no contract or sign up fees which was nice compared to other gyms Most importantly "Coach Jean Carillo": a lot can be said but if I had to describe him in short so people don't read these long reviews, I would say he is "TRUE." Dedicated to his students and the sport. Funny and easy to get along with. Patient and thorough with his teaches. Motivates but also understand the student and their capabilities. Most important to me is that he is very involved and pays attention to each student. All in all, you have to come down for a session. You won't be disappointed. read more

I've done some sort of martial arts most of my life, but had to scale back due to injury for a while. When I decided to try Muay Thai, I did trials at several gyms in OC. Carrillo was the one that kept me coming back. The first thing I noticed was that the classes never featured cardio or conditioning. In coach's words, we "come to learn Muay Thai, not to do sit ups". I can run and condition on my own time, and I appreciate that aside from a 5 minute rope skip for wamup, every second of class is dedicated to technique and form. This is no cardio kick class; this is real Muay Thai. But make no mistake, you WILL get a hell of a work out. The second big thing was how quick he was to get me into sparring. It was actually my first class. Although I've had some training, I wasn't used to the way fighters move in Muay Thai and made a ton of mistakes that day. Everyone was good natured and sparred at my pace, with no ego or attitude about it. Coach gave a lot of constructive input, and I've advanced significantly since then. Last was how clean the gym was. Coach Jean disinfects the mats, pads, bags, and restroom every morning. It's a huge difference from the other gyms in the area, and it's very noticeable when you spend most of your time being knocked around those mats. A few other quick things to note: - Muay Thai sparring on Mondays and Thursdays - The 7pm Wednesday class includes more in-depth work on specific techniques (i.e. sweeping, catching kicks, etc.) - There are no weekend classes - Open gym 5pm - 6pm - They also offer standard boxing (hands only) and kickboxing (kicks above the belt) read more

When I first stepped foot in this gym 8 months ago, I knew nothing about Muay Thai and had minimal experience with striking. At the time, I was just the average gym goer who was looking to change up my workout regimen. I had no idea what to expect, but after my first class I was hooked. An hour of intensity flew by as if it had been 10 minutes. To this day, I still leave every class with a sweat soaked shirt and a nice buzz of endorphins. It is the favorite part of my day. Each session is a challenging and fun workout that is 100x better than running on a treadmill. Benefits that I have noticed since I first started here are: -Decreased body fat % -Decreased stress -Improved flexibility -Improved cardiovascular conditioning -Improved confidence The biggest draw to this gym for me was the atmosphere. Coach Jean is patient, approachable, passionate about what he teaches, and genuinely cares about your improvement as a student of the art. Everyone that trains here is also incredibly humble, friendly, and always willing to help out with beginners. There are no inflated egos and everyone is there to better themselves as individuals. The small gym size creates a family oriented group of students and allows for Coach Jean to give individual attention and advice on your technique. Overall, CMT is a great learning environment that caters to students of all levels. Coach Jean is always looking to make improvements to the gym wether it be additional classes or new equipment. This gym is also VERY CLEAN and well taken care of. This attention to cleanliness and detail strongly reflects the care for students and their health. Most importantly, this gym fosters an environment where you have endless potential to improve based on how much effort and time you are willing to put in. read more

I talked to the owner before bringing my children to a trial class. He seemed friendly and enthusiastic; however, when I brought my children to the class, it was a completely different story. The employee seemed very upset. He was rude to my children and the other children hoping to try a class. Sad and disappointed. This is not the way to run a business. They lost at least 4 possible new clients. read more

Real Muay Thai, no BS. The atmosphere that coach Carrillo has created makes anyone feel welcome, doesn't matter if you are a beginner (like me), or have been training for a while. This is the first time I have practice any martial art, one month in training and I look forward to go everyday. Great workouts and great results. Not only physical benefits, but also a more positive and confident mindset. If you are in the area, this is the gym you need to go. read more

I came to this gym not knowing what to expect. I have no background in martial arts, let alone Muy Thai. I found this place on Yelp and I love it! What you'll need: Patience, tough skin, and an open mind. Coach Jean is the best! He doesn't sugar coat anything. It's apparent in the way he teaches that he wants his students to succeed. Classes are ROUGH, but valuable. You will sweat in places you never thought you would have sweat come out of before. Patience is key, you are not going to be a Muy Thai star in a week. People in the classes are awesome. When they say NO EGO, they really mean it. Everyone is always willing to help each other out. Just make sure you ask questions! Put the effort in and you will learn a lot. Before joining, my ready for battle actions were just to pull hair and punch haha. Now, I feel more confident to kick and elbow. If you want to equip your self with great techniques, build confidence, get a workout in, and join an awesome fam...CMT is perfect for you! read more

I didn't meet the owner, but unfortunately, the employee there was rude and angry. Not professional or welcoming at all. Bad way to run a business. Would not recommend this place. Stay away! read more

To give some context to this post, I've trained Muay Thai for about 2 years and have tried a bunch of different gyms. I've trained in gyms in Thailand, in Shanghai, and a handful in California in socal, in central california, and in san francisco. Carillo Muay was probably the best gym I've been to. Instructor is not only great at what he does but is passionate about Muay Thai and in the improvement of his students. I moved for work, but if I were anywhere in Orange County, this would no doubt be my gym. read more

Im starting up my third wk. and so far in two weeks this what Ive experienced. 1. New skills 2. Improved mobility 3. Increased body tone 4. Increased endurance 5. Met some really nice people 5. Been humbled by the strength of their kicks 6. Excitement for another training session 7. Improved sleep (because the work outs kick my butt) 8. Looking forward to a bright future (they are moving to a nicer bigger location with more classes available) 9. Quality of life improved 10. Healthy appetite If you are looking to learn self defense, lose weight, be surrounded by tough people, be a competitive fighter, have fun while working out. I feel this gym has all the above. read more

Been coming to CMT for about 3 weeks now for there boxing class. Instructed by Roy. Been learning alot. Great work outs. Everyone is humble and help out when theres a combo your having issues with. The more experienced guys will give me tips also. They arent cocky or nothing like that. Overall id recommend it for anyone trying to lose weight or learn to box. Be ready to jump rope or learn how to jump rope. Peace read more

No contracts and no hidden fees!!! My daughter and I had a great experience at this gym, friendly people, and an awesome coach with such great patients! Although I wasn't the one taking the classes my 13 year old daughter had a blast! She felt like she was part of the Carrillo family from day one. After only a month of training I notice her self esteem go from 0-100! Another thing she loved about this place was no one judged her she was able to learn at her own pace and was able to have fun at the same time. The place was clean and everyone there was so helpful. I will definitely keep coming back my daughter got a great workout and was able to learn new self defense skills! I will recommend this place to anyone who want to make new friends and have fun while working out! read more

Carrillo Muay Thai - Friendly faces and no judgments! - Boxing Near Me - Orange, California

As someone who wants legit training and results, I can say that I trust in Coach Carrillo to get me there. I recently started training here and already have seen improvements in my technique and form. I am looking forward for more to come. read more

This is a great place to train whether you want to spar/fight or just learn Muay Thai for fitness. I've trained at many different gyms in OC and what separates this gym from the others is: 1. The personal attention Jean gives you and your technique. Regardless of whether you're planning on fighting or are just doing this for fitness, Jean will not neglect you during the class even if there are many people in the class. This really separates this place from other, larger gyms where coaches mainly focus on helping their competing fighters and give you curt, rudimentary coaching when they can. 2. Everyone here is very chill and eager to help you out. Having training partners with the right attitude is extremely important, especially if you're a beginner. Everyone has tried their best to improve my technique. I leave every class learning something useful. Training is pretty affordable and best of all there is no contract. Many other gyms will sucker you in with shady billing practices and contracts. You will stay as a member here because you enjoy it. I train here 3-4 times a week and do not plan on leaving anytime soon. read more

LOLOLOLOL. Okay... let me say this... the classes are not easy. More than not easy... they REALLY work you out. Or maybe I'm just a wuss... I've not figured that out yet but I'll find out this weekend when I bring out my buddy to see if he is as sore as I was after my first week here. Anyways. I REALLY liked my first two classes! On top of being really fun, the owner was really down to earth and I didn't get a hard sell whatsoever. That really made me appreciate this gym. He wants to help you if you want to help yourself and I like that. 5 stars from me. Not sure how long the promotion lasts but I'd call to check to see what they have going on. read more

Tried out Castillo Muay Thai today as part of the one week free trial. The coach/owner is a really enthusiastic and easy to talk to. $100/month, no contracts, no sign up fee, no fee to leave. Made a point of telling me that he wants students to have the option of leaving if they're not receiving the training they want. Today's training was great. Lots of pad work. I've done a little Muay Thai before but the coach was extremely helpful in improving my technique. The environment is great, the training partners are helpful (no egos to be detected), and overall this was a great experience and I'll definitely be back next week. read more

Carillo Muay Thai is an awesome place to learn Muay Thai! The classes were structured great with excellent technique. The instructor jean is very knowledgeable and has a genuine passion towards teaching and sharing Muay Thai. The environment was also great everyone was really welcoming. I'd definitely recommend coming here to learn the art of 8 limbs ! read more

First Class at CMT and I feel like I am hooked already! I tried looking around at a few gyms and didn't have the same excitement that I did after leaving CMT. I am a total beginner with no background in Muay Thai but everyone there welcomed me with open arms and showed me the ropes. This is not a cardio class by any means! Technique oriented but don't get me wrong, if you go hard from start to finish you will get one hell of a workout. Coach Jean is a great guy and I cant wait to see what I will be able to learn in his class! read more

When I stepped into the gym about 5-6 months ago I wasn't sure if I wanted to join luckily coach Carrillo allowed me to sit and watch how the class was and what was going on i liked what I saw and I came the next morning and signed up!!! I was nervous of being the new kid but I was welcomed by everyone and made me feel less timid. Coach Carrillo has a great sense of humor, he always observes his students during drills and gives plenty of examples of how to do the drills he doesn't just say what to do, he walks around giving tips of how to step, turn etc. Coming to the gym has definitely made me more confident of who I am. CMT is great environment to learn Muay Thai and meet new people. Coach Carrillo keep the gym very clean and shows that he cares for the health of his students. read more

Great place to learn Muay Thai! Coach Jean is patient and knowledgeable. He also knows a lot about self-defense (if that's also something you're looking for). I came in knowing nothing about Muay Thai and I'm still learning with every class I take. Coach Jean and the rest of those who train and attend the gym are all very welcoming and seem to care about making you feel comfortable. It's fun and I would recommend anyone come in and give it a try! read more

This place is where its at if you want to learn Muay Thai from great coaches as well as form bonds with the other fighters. Since day one I have felt welcome not once did I feel unwelcome or question why I was there. Thanks to coach jean & Roy I have more self confidence in my fighting and tech abilities and if worse comes to worse i can rely on my training for self defense. If you want to LEARN and have a good time this is the place. I've been out due to a drunk driving accident but rest assure I'm coming back in two weeks... this is where I belong read more

After having trained in various martial arts (& gyms) over the years, I am happy to say that the past year I've spent training under Coach Jean Carrillo at Carrillo Muay Thai has been one of the best experiences of all. I went in transitioning between gyms and trying out different places trying to find the best fit for me. Coach Jean gave me two free classes and was the only one who never pressured me into a contract or commitment. He insisted that it was important that I find the best fit for myself and after having gone to a few other gyms afterward, I quickly realized this Muay Thai gym was unlike any other. "No attitude and no ego" is a phrase used here often and it's true. CMT has become a family to me. We train together, we support one another at fights/competitions, and we learn from the best! I can honestly say my technique has improved drastically since I started. I highly recommended this gym to anyone who is serious about training in muay thai, wants a solid workout to build strength and endurance, enjoys making new friends and training with down to earth athletes, and doesn't care about all the frills and "extras." Pure Muay Thai at its best. read more

Let's start off by saying that coach Jean Carrillo is the best of best! Let's get the basics down... no ego and no attitude allowed in this gym. The cleanness of this gym is 20 out of 10! Always disinfected and clean before and after any session. Also there isn't a contract or fees. Which makes it so much easier to sign up. Once a month pay and unlimited classes, you can even go twice a day if you like. The pricing is completely affordable !... Now on my personal note, this gym is the most accepting and friendliest place to be. Every single person training is so helpful and kind. Coach Jean Carrilo connects with every single one of his students and trains the best of his abilities. He goes above and beyond for his students and the gym! I have never met anyone so committed and loyal to Muay Thai boxing and his students before. This gym is family ! ... this gym for me has helped me build my confidence, myself worth, and my strength! It has helped me personally get out of trouble and look for brighter things in life. Coach Jean Carrilo doesn't just teach Muay Thai, he teaches you a way of life. A better life. read more

Very welcoming and supportive for beginners (me). I just started training at the gym with coach Jean Carrillo. As a girl and total beginner, I was a bit nervous before my first lesson knowing that coach Jean has trained many top fighters in the world. I was afraid it's gonna be too hardcore. However, I felt very welcomed and supported by coach Jean and everyone at the gym. They were all very nice, and my partners all tuned things down and helped me out. Coach gave me some extra attention and instruction to make sure I can follow along. It's been a great experience so far. I encourage everyone who's on the fence to come check the place out. You won't be disappointed, even if you are a beginner. read more