I had been interested in learning Muay Thai for a while and decided to start looking for gyms in my…read morearea. I stumbled across Ascend Muay Thai on Yelp and sent them an email to inquire about their intro classes. Coach Jackie responded to me in less than 30 minutes with the pricing and class information. She was super friendly over email, which made me feel better about trying a fairly intimidating new hobby at 27 lol. It has now been about a month since I started attending the intro class, and I wanted to write about my positive experience here. This is a family owned gym that cultivates a welcoming environment. All of the coaches are passionate and knowledgeable about the sport. Also, not only am I learning a lot, but it's also a KILLER workout!!! I genuinely look forward to coming here 2x a week I would highly recommend coming here if you're interested in learning more about Muay Thai!

I found Ascend by googling "Muay Thai near my location ." They had a class at a convenient time…read morefor me so I drove in. Chris Hom took my info , gave me a quick tour and we began the 11am session. I was very happy with the class,Chris ran an organized class ,he had a solid ability to impart information and make sure everyone was on point for the drills,gave each of the fighters tips on their technique. My partner was Mark,he was knowledgeable and fun to work with. I live and train in Las Vegas,but try to hit local gyms when I travel. I have been to over a dozen across the country,and Ascend will definitely be my home away from home while visiting South Bay Area.

I have reviewed this gym before - but I wanted to add a testimony - after one month of Muay Thai -…read moreI'm usually in 4-5 times a week - I am completely off two blood pressure pills! Woo hoo!

My son has been training here since last summer and it's made a difference in his training habits…read moreand time management. Master Cheetah, Ms. Cheetah and all of the instructors are great and I see my son growing and excelling here. The students and family, are all treated, literally like family. I'm so happy that I've found a place for my son to train, enjoy, learn and grow with kids his age. I highly recommend Master Cheetah and his staff at Chaiyo Muaythai.

Wish I had found this place sooner! I have trained ring style muay thai before I came here... and…read morehonestly this is authentic and original as you can get. It's like what a real old school gym is like - no classes... you walk in and warm up and the Kru and Sr. Instructors come up to you and provide you with one on one instruction. Honestly, if your goal focus is to compete then this is NOT the gym for you - not saying there is anything wrong with training to compete - but this gym isn't for that! But if you want to sharpen your ring technique - in addition to going to where ever it is that you train now - then by all means come here and learn this style. But like i said... if your sole purpose for training is to compete, Muay Thai Academy is not the gym that will be out there trying to get to fights. Here we focus more on techniques that are more applicable to real life, self-defense, protection, law enforcement, etc - but with the Muay Thai twist to it. So what I am saying is.... Muay Thai Academy is very welcoming with a team of experienced instructors that you won't find anywhere else. I wanted a place that kept the authenticity and integrity of Muay Thai and I found it here.

With so many McDojos and ridiculous UFC-wannabe gyms in the South Bay, the Muay Thai Academy truly…read moreis something different. There is a reason people have come from around the globe to seek instruction here -- it's just that unique. While 'Muay Thai' is in the name of the school, it is merely the foundation of the principle art taught here: Close Quarters Combat. Close Quarters Combat is a combination of several martial arts (old style Muay Thai known as Muay Chao Chur, the military style known as Ledrit, as well as Boar Bando and Kalaripayat, a Burmese and Indian Combat Art) and is designed for street applications: law enforcement, VIP Protection, multiple opponent, military, and self defense. They can teach "ring style" as well, but sport/competition is less of a focus here. In addition to hand-to-hand combat, bladed and stick weapons training are also available. Instruction takes place in a free-form, semi-private format. With the exception of a conditioning class here and there, there isn't a structured class setting like you'll find at other gyms. The Academy is open from 5pm to 9:30, M-Th and late Saturday morning/afternoon, and you can go in any time during those hours and train for as long as you'd like or can handle. Instructors and Junior Instructors walk the floor, answer questions, setup drills, and help you work through techniques on an individual basis, then let you try them out on your own or with others. The Instructors are all top notch, have been working together for years, yet still have varied backgrounds and unique methods of teaching. Collectively, the knowledge they can impart is unmatched in any martial arts school in the area. I've trained here for the last several years off and on (my hectic work/travel schedule and frequent basketball-related injuries keep me from going as regularly as I'd like) and can't recommend it enough if you're a self-motivated, hard-working individual looking for unique, personalized martial arts training with street-applicable, self-defense focus from some of the most experienced combat technicians around. It is a real privilege to live in the same vicinity as this school.

I have taken classes as a group with Lawrence before he started doing private sessions. He's really…read morea nice and focused instructor. I was taking muay thai classes for years but he was able to help me with fixing my bad form. He's definitely the person to see if you want to become better with your technique in all the different moves in Muay Thai. He's also very good at communicating and patient. He definitely knows what he's doing and is able to communicate it to any level fighter. I definitely recommend anyone to take lessons from him, he's worth it!!

I've known Lawrence for about 1.5 years now and since day one I can tell Muay Thai is his passion…read more Both as a teacher and as a practitioner. The advantages of getting private Muay Thai instruction as opposed to just taking a class at a gym is the hands on, one on one instruction you are getting. Especially from someone like Lawrence, who is constantly looking over you making sure you are doing things the correct way. You can tell he wants you to get the technique down the right way. He also works at a pace that you're comfortable with. Other things I'd like to add are that Lawrence does not have an ounce of arrogance in his body and is very down to earth. He never talks down to you and to some, that means alot. Anyone taking any type of Muay Thai should definitely check out The Machine Private Muay Thai Instruction.

I've been training here for many years, and I can honestly say this is one of the best gyms in the…read moreBay Area. It's not just for fighters--it's an incredible place for hobbyists, beginners, and anyone looking to get in shape. At the same time, some of the Bay Area's top fighters train here. I was one of California's highest-ranked amateur MMA fighters, and today I'm one of the state's top professional fighters--even though I only compete once a year! Come check out Bay Area Fight Academy. Everyone is welcome!

I went in to check out the gym after the head coach told me I could come by anytime, and I was…read morealready pretty nervous since I'm new to MMA. Unfortunately, one of the staff members -- a heavier-set guy with glasses -- came across as rude and dismissive toward me, which made the experience uncomfortable. As a beginner, first impressions matter a lot, and instead of feeling welcomed I felt talked down to. The head coach himself seemed respectful, which is why I'm leaving this review honestly instead of just writing the whole gym off. I just think new people should be treated with more patience and respect, especially when they're stepping out of their comfort zone to try something new.

I've been a member for nearly a year and it has been a life changing experience…read more Prior to joining, I had searched a few Muay Thai gyms in the area and couldn't really see myself fitting in at the majority of them. It wasn't until coming across Coach Gabe, Coach Ant, Coach Rey and Coach Mya at Rooted Legacy that made me feel comfortable taking on a new skill later in life. Both have decades of experience and still keep their skills sharp by competing. The gym has only been open a year and in that time there have been growing pains but they continue to learn and make the training challenging, educational and fun.

From the owner: Authentic Muay Thai academy in Martinez Caread more

Went here on 4-19-2011 to the take down course had a great time with Sempei Joe's teaching and…read morecomprehensive instructions. The environment is warm and friendly and you will get a great work out.

This dojo is smaller, tucked away, but worth finding. This place is about the substance of your…read moretraining, regardless of your discipline. They cater to many skill levels and interests. The cross-training opportunities are very much there, if that's your thing. Or you can focus on Muay Thai or Muay Boron and never get to the end of what you can learn from Joe or Pornsak. The adults compete in local and regional tournaments. Check out their facebook page for some of the pictures. Awesome kids Muay Thai class. Goal-oriented. Disciplined. Taught by a very experienced teacher and fighter. He's about making your kids accountable for their skills. They are very flexible - so if you want to drop in for a class and try it out you just let them know. Hope to see you there.

Ground Up Muay Thai has Amazing Coaches. Not only do they show commitment, respect and patience,…read morethey teach the proper techniques of the sport to the students. Ground Up shares a true passion of the sport and makes everyone feel welcome. THANK YOU Team.

From the owner: Here at Ground Up Muay Thai, we help everyone stay active, lose weight, meet new friends, build…read morecharacter, learn self-defense, build self confidence, while training in one of our classes. Beginner - Advance Classes MUAY THAI F.I.T (fast, intense, training)