Been training in the ancient art of boxing with kicks for more than a decade now at a few gyms in…read moreand around L.A., and Classic Kickboxing by far is the CLEANEST. In fact, of all the gyms I've been to - including the ones that fit into the LA/24 Hour Fitness mould - this spot in the heart of Old Town Pasadena still remains the most diligent in terms of hygiene. And that's something that's often overlooked in gyms, especially ones that specialize in contact training and use mats. You can easily pick up a case of staph or any other crap that will do serious harm to your body if your gym floors and equipment are filthy and unkempt. (Google Ben Askren if you want to know what can happen to you if you train in a filthy gym.) Mauricio, Classic Kickboxing's owner/instructor, absolutely ensures that his establishment stays clean by reminding everyone to sanitize their stations after each session. That means wiping down the bags, mats, and everything else you've soiled. On that tangent, I know some other reviewers have complained about Mauricio being too militant about his gym's cleanliness, or - strangely enough - even bitched and moaned about the facility not being clean at all. I seriously doubt they've been to many other gyms. His cleaning regimen is not only for your safety, but others as well. Speaking of Mauricio, he is an excellent technical instructor and a really approachable guy. Don't be afraid to ask him questions. He is there to teach you! If you watch his instruction closely, you can see why he is a former Colombian kickboxing champ; his form and technique is excellent, especially his kicks, which he was known for during his career. You will definitely learn proper technique here if you pay attention. Mauricio's kickboxing classes are group instruction and ALL levels of skill are welcomed. Classes run for about 40 to 45 minutes or so and they involve striking and kicking drills, with some form of plyo in between. The last few minutes are meant for core/abs work and light stretching. Is it difficult? It really all depends on how much effort you put into it. You can move at your own pace for sure and nobody will call you out on it (I know some gyms use shame as a type of tactic to motivate you; works for some, most others not so much). But Classic Kickboxing really is a stress-free establishment that rewards those who put their all into their workouts. Other things to note: - The gym is big and beautiful to look at. Lots of heavy bags, lots of space. The other side of the facility has a full ring and another large room. This area is for private instruction only. - They have secured lockers on-site in case you'd like to stow away your valuables. - Parking is paid on the streets nearby, which is ideal. But if you can't find a spot, there are a lot of garages in the area within walking distance. - Mauricio is the primary kickboxing instructor. He has a couple others, but I'd recommend taking his class first (see their online schedule) if you're new. - His other instructors teach boxing and judo. One of his boxing instructors, Christian, was a sparring partner for former world champ Vasiliy Lomachenko. That says quite a lot. - Monthly dues are fair, and compared to the other kickboxing gyms I've been to, actually a bit cheaper. You schedule classes online through their website, or on the Mindbody app. - Best of all, this gym is MEATHEAD-free. Of all the contact gyms I've been to, there's always at least one fragile, big-ego type who walks around like they're the next big thing and tries to pick up on anyone who walks by. If they're here, I haven't seen them at all. And I'm here quite a bit. I believe Mauricio can spot these alpha fail types very quickly and "discourages" them from coming back. Bottom line: Classic Kickboxing is a fun, great workout in a stress-free, meathead-free, and super-clean environment. You couldn't ask for much more than that.

Best place in Pasadena for boxing and kick boxing classes. Super clean and friendly environment to…read morelearn the ropes and get a great workout! Mauricio is so helpful! Christian's boxing classes are the best. Plenty of street parking and nearby city lot for $1. You can sign up directly with them or drop in classes using the MINDBODY app. The intro $15 class drop in they provide you with wraps and gloves. then second $45 class gives you your own pair of wraps and gloves! Super friendly staff and peeps here. Sparing, personal training and separate dojo areas for the advanced too! Highly recommended for the beginner or pro!

Been coming here 4 years and it feels like my home away from home. They are welcoming from day one…read moreand the coaches are high level. The owner Savant was a top 10 featherweight in his prime and always pays close attention to each student. Coach Chris though is light work every time

I cannot stress how much I loved my time at Fight Academy Pasadena. I had been training for 5 years…read moreat different gyms (jiu jitsu) before finding Fight Academy and I stayed there for the last 2 years I was based in LA. EASILY the best training, community, vibes, and biggest improvement in my fitness and combat sports training was here. Savant leads an amazing team of coaches!

I've been working out here for years and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Great customer service thanks…read moreto the great people working there like Carlo and all the staff. Highly recommend giving SP fitness a shot if you're looking for a great gym in the LA area.

South Pas Fitness has become my go‑to gym because it consistently delivers on everything that…read morematters to me: cleanliness, great service, and ease. The staff is always genuinely pleasant and helpful -- the kind of people who greet you with a smile and make the space feel welcoming. I love the infrared sauna, especially because you can book it in advance, which makes planning workouts so much easier. Their variety of weight machines keeps things interesting, and I never feel like I'm waiting around for equipment. It's rarely crowded except for the usual New Year rush. Parking in the lot can be a little tricky since it's small, but there's plenty of free street parking right outside, so it's never a dealbreaker. They also offer a great lineup of workout classes, which adds even more value. Overall, it's a gym that makes staying consistent feel effortless. Neighbors and friends are all members so it's fun to work out together and there are perks for referring new members too!

LAKO has become a sanctuary-like place for me. it's a fun and supportive environment with great…read moreenergy in the air. They play the best music to get you moving and each time I walk out of there with a big smile on my face and feeling so grounded and grateful. Yuichi is a gracious guy and the staff and coaches are amazing people who do a great job of motivating others, and making everyone feel like part of the pack. They offer numerous daily group classes, excellent private training, open gym with great equipment, training camps, and kids classes, just to name a few. They also participate in various community supportive efforts from animal advocacy to families in need, to toy drives....they do it all. Not sure what else one can ask for from one place. Thank you guys, much love

There is no other place in NELA like LAKO. Don't let the fact that it's a boxing gym intimidate…read moreyou. Everyone there from front desk, to trainers, to the other members are not only friendly and welcoming, but they make you feel strong and empowered every time you walk through the doors. And you leave feeling even better. The classes are suitable for people of all skill levels and you have your choice of boxing, kickboxing, bootcamp and sparring. The trainers are top notch (shout out to Justin!). If you're looking to get in a workout between classes, they have cardio equipment and weights. There's a recovery room for sports massage and compression sleeves, etc. Rates are competitive, bathrooms are always nice and clean, music always bumping and if you're lucky you'll get to meet Koko the mascot :)

I've been doing Muay Thai for 14 years, give or take…read more Most of that time was spent doing it one-on-one with trainers, which was awesome for personal attention and scheduling, but expensive and hard to stay consistent with. But they were able to be patient with me, to explain things repeatedly--I'm very visual and super literary but much less intuitive when it comes to athletics--and this helped me learn the basics of the art of Muay Thai. And then my last trainer got too busy to keep going. So I tried a bunch of Muay Thai gyms, never really finding anything that matched the return I got from 1-on-1 training. Then one day I spotted NELA Combat Fitness on a Figueroa corner and got intrigued. I tried a class and loved the energy of the space. Highland Park is a wildly creative area, and the experience at NELA Combat Fitness mirrors this: The people are diverse, upbeat, inclusive and very dedicated to the art of Muay Thai. You might find a 50+ year old like me training with someone in their early 20s, and this dynamic is always approached respectfully. Ed, the owner, is a true gem of a human being: warm, funny, and with deep history with and knowledge of Muay Thai, and he teaches with a razor sharp eye and the communication skills to help keep things safe and to level up your game. The gym itself is spotless, well-designed and comfortable. One way that the absolute courtesy with which the gym operates shows up is when we go return Thai pads or kick shields: cleaning wipes are shared and pads are stacked in an orderly way. Every teacher approaches class a little differently, but if you show up, know that you are in for a wonderful workout that is easily tailored to your skill level. The music is always different and always good. You will be inspired to push yourself beyond your limits, outside of your comfort zone. You will grow, you will sweat, and you will learn. And you will emerge a stronger person. And about Muay Thai overall? It's the best. I feel elevated and calm afterwards, able to take on anything life throws my way with compassion. That's the irony - punching, kicking, elbowing and kneeing it out for an hour actually makes you a calmer, kinder person. Your baseline is reset and your cardio and strength gets better and better. I truly feel like I've found a gym that I want to stay a part of. Thank you, Ed, and thank you NELA Combat Fitness community.

If you're looking for a place that combines killer workouts with a welcoming community vibe, look…read moreno further! NELA Combat Fitness is IT! I was so pumped after my first class ever, I signed up straight after. Being a beginner myself, I was happy that everyone here took the time to show me how to do the moves. The kickboxing class was intense in the best way possible - a hard but awesome workout that left me feeling like a total champ. I have a long way to go in my journey, and girl I know it, but I couldn't have found a better place to go to. The owner, Ed, is incredible. You can really tell he cares deeply for the community as he's not just running a top-notch gym, he's building a fitness family. He was motivating and supportive, pushing everyone to give their best without ever losing the fun vibe. Shoutout to Derrick too for teaching me the moves in my first class! I can't wait to make this my new home for kicking and punching my way to a healthier me (and to release some after-work stress too)! See you on the mats!

I've been attending for over 5 years and it has been a life changing experience. I am more fit that…read moreI have ever been my entire life. Even though half the work is Mike Mills training, the other half is really accountability to oneself. So do yourself the biggest favor and commit yourself to a good training program like this!

I've been going to Kinetic Kickboxing for a few months now and have absolutely loved the…read moreexperience! I like that the class is focused on technique and because the class size is smaller, you get more individualized attention toward building your own skills in kickboxing. Michael is great at training people at their specific skill level and helping them advance at their pace. He's also helped answer all the questions I've had along the way around better understanding executing combos and techniques.

It doesn't getter any better than getting trained by Coach Yager. He's a professional MMA fighter…read moreand knows what he's doing. I've never taken any previous boxing nor martial arts classes before. Coach Yager is patient and makes learning the techniques easy for me. Just after a few weeks I'm already seeing results. The gym is clean, the other members are super friendly, and the atmosphere motivates me to want to train hard. The P.A.R.K. M.M.A. has helped me develop a love for this sport. I always leave happy and highly recommend becoming a member!

From the owner: THE P.A.R.K. MMA is a fun and exciting place to train mixed martial arts for all levels…read more Professional Amateur Recreational Kickboxing

Absolutely recommend! First of all would like to say that…read morethis place will definitely motivate you to do your best. Thanks to amazing coaches and amenities available you will be able to achieve your goals quickly. The space is big and can accommodate decent amount of people. Do not hesitate go to Taejo

My girls , 9 & 11, just finished their first week here. They love coming and look forward to it…read more They are smiling during and after class. The coaches are great , patient and funny. My kids have no experience at all but I see they learned so much already In just 3 days. The only thing, Parking is a bit of a struggle. But other than that this place is awesome everyone is so welcoming. My girls get very sweaty In 45 minutes. We love it!

The most non-commercial real deal Muay Thai kickboxing facility. In a male dominated sport I am so…read moreimpressed with the awareness of all Instructors with their students within the four walls of class & how they partner students up appropriately by skill level,it's mostly male dominated, but everyone treats you with the upmost respect, including holding you accountable to ensure that you give your All even as a female. I have never felt more comfortable and empowered in my life: I'm used to coach Ariel, who is amazing, and I dare to venture out to and today had Coach ED IN GLENDALE, when I arrived, I thought maybe I was in an advanced class and Coach Simmy held me accountable to believing in myself that I belonged in that class most importantly that I was capable. I don't know if it's the mission statement. I don't know if it's the core or business objectives of MTK, but the blueprint is clear from their NOHO location to Glendale. WINNERS WIN It takes a lot to impress me. I pay money not only to learn the skill, i you pay for the experience. Worth every penny. And you SWEAT LIKE A MUTHA KICKER! lol

I just finished my first class here and it was amazing. Very informative so I felt like I was…read morelearning a lot while also getting an insane workout that kicks your ass. It's not a boring commercial gym at all. Very real and raw. Coach Simmy was awesome and Jennifer at the front desk was so helpful!

I love this place. I had reached a plateau in my weight loss and knew I needed something else to…read morekickstart the weight loss again. The classes are so much fun and Leaf is a great instructor. He's patient and helps you get the moves down. Oh and I've taken off 7 lbs in just over 3 weeks. If you're thinking about joining, I say go for it!!! It has made a difference in me all the way around. See you there.

It has been a year since I have been part of KBXC gym in Torrance, CA. I must say it is the best…read moreinvestment in my life. The coaches are awesome and keeping pushing to do your best. The members are very supportive, caring and become a family. I may have taken a break from couple months before but I was welcomed back warmly. I definitely would recommend it to anyone who wants to push their limits in life and try a new workout.