Kru Dan, Coach Chad and now Coach Ikaika are great instructors at Muay Boran Hawaii. Their technical expertise and personable natures attract students from various backgrounds. I'm learning a martial art that is both beautiful and lethal and has improved my health in terms of durability and longevity. I got t-boned 3 years ago at a high rate of speed, not survivable by some. The controlled impact from our classes prepared my body to withstand the trauma. And when I was most consistent with their training, my pulse rate got down to 47 bpm. At 65 years old now they accept my limitations while encouraging my progress. They attract awesome students too! read more

One of the best things that I've done since graduating college was giving Muay Thai a try to see if that is something I would want to do consistently. It's almost been two years since going to my first class at Muay Boran Hawaii and it has nothing but positive for me. I've learned so much about the art of Muay Thai and about myself. Since joining back in 2022 I've lost about 18 pounds and myself confidence has grown a lot. So far my experience has been amazing! Kru Dan and Coach Chad give each and every student in the class attention and showing all of us the right and correct technique. The best part is Kru Dan and Coach Chad are always willing to give the extra time and effort for everyone before and after class to work on technique or just talk about the art of Muay Thai. read more

Before this vacation trip I hadn't even heard of Muay Thai Boran (Ancient Muay Thai) before. Thank to Kru Dan (kru = teacher). Growing up I never trained in any kind of contact sports before. A couple years ago I started to train Muay Thai and I really enjoy it very much. On this trip I didn't really want to train because I'm on vacation and I just want to relax. But I was browsing on yelp on my first day in Honolulu for places to eat, activities to do and I ran across Muay Thai Boran so I bookmarked it and let the navigator lead me to Iolani Palace and I was very puzzled I thought the gym is in the palace or under the palace. The GPS kept confirming that I've arrived, I saw nothing but the palace and the parking meters. I called and try to find out about this confusion but no one answers. On my way home Kru Dan called and we straighten everything out so we agreed to meet and I can observe his class. After I went to observe his class I decided to give it a try because it's something that I'd never seen before. The movement, the technique is different but yet similar and it's very intriguing. And the way Kru Dan broke down the technique and explain to me and makes it simple enough for me to understand was great. He told me the back stories of all the technique and the movement was awesome. I've learned so much in a very short period of time. I'm very thankful to Kru Dan that he helps me to understand and remember my own culture and tradition that I didn't know before or I forgot. I will try my best to remember and practice all the techniques and movement he taught me so I won't let this form of martial art disappears. read more

Muay Boran Hawaii - Training with Kru Dan at Kapiolani Park - Muay Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Been wanting to write this review for some time now but have been struggling to put into words how amazing Kru Dan and Coach Chad are. I am a C student at best but they never treat me that way. They give attention to each student in their class, willingly spending extra time before & after class to provide additional instruction to anyone who wants to learn. They have an overall respect, love and appreciation for the art and culture behind Muay Boran and it shows in how they teach and how they continue to learn themselves. Truly wish I had started down this path earlier but am incredibly appreciative that I was able to find this school and these two amazing people/instructors. Huge thank you to Kru Dan and coach Chad. read more

One of the best one on one training experiences I've ever had; every technique and reasoning was explained at my level and he was able to speed up or slow down our progress based on my performance and understanding. I've trained in several styles over the years with many people and Dan is nothing less than exceptional. We were visiting O'ahu for a few weeks and Dan was quick to respond to our inquiry and fit me in for a few sessions. Not only was he professional, well informed and articulate, he was also a really cool guy to talk to and easy to relate and even helped us with good suggestions on sightseeing some of the better parts of the island. If your visiting or living on O'ahu, go to Muay Boran Hawaii. I highly recommend Kru Dan and Muay Boran Hawaii for people at all levels. read more

Kru Dan is a very humble and patient teacher. He emphasizes on form and technique, than the power will follow. I am sometimes overwhelmed by all the combinations but eventually I catch on because I am still a beginner. This is not just a class but also a journey. Learning Muay Thai, Muay Boran and even some of the culture of Thailand where this deadly art came and evolved from. If your are interested in Muay Thai this is your calling!! read more

I have dabbled in many martial arts over a span of 20 years. To say I'm picky is kind of an understatement, lol. Easily ranked among my top 2 favorite instructors, Kru Dan is everything one could hope in a martial arts instructor. Humble & patient without a trace of ego that we see so much of in the martial arts community (ie. "my style is better than yours"). His lessons are well structured and each class is always a fun workout! Kru Dan teaches both the sport of Muay Thai and the art of Muay Boran, the predecessor of Muay Thai. You can expect to learn the Thai terminology that goes along with the movements. He does give handouts so you can remember the words. While Kru Dan never rushes you, I would suggest you do your part and do your homework & practice if you want to progress, lol. If you want to know more about Muay Thai beyond the sport, then definitely give Muay Boran Hawaii a chance. read more

I met Coach Dan at UFC Gym back when it opened in 2012. Previous to joining this gym I had done basic kickboxing classes and boxing classes at other places, but it was always with heavy bags and mainly just to get a good sweat. What I found in Coach Dan's style of training is how much there is to learn in Muay Thai. He's very good and breaking things down and working on your technique to prevent you from getting hurt and also make your strikes matter. I've learned so many different things, worked on so many different techniques and most importantly had so much fun doing so. If you've ever been interested in Muay Thai and are just starting out, I'd highly recommend taking the leap with Coach Dan. He's very patient and a phenomenal teacher that will work with you.... and besides, why would you run when you could have fun hitting and kicking things :) read more

Just going to say up front that this is going to be a rave review. Figure full disclosure as I love this school, my teachers, and my classmates. Checklist: 1. Patient, knowledgeable instructor- check 2. Accessible teaching style even for beginners- check 3. Fun class and classmates- definitely a check 4. Useful way to not only stay or get in shape while learning valuable skills- double check 5. Able to fit in as a new member or as someone new to the art- big check Don't hesitate to give them a try. I'm so happy I did read more

Coach Dan is a really great instructor. He is very knowledgeable about Muy Thai! So if you're looking for an awesome Muy Thai instructor on the island go check him out!!! read more

I was able to train with Dan in Oahu and it was literally the best experience that I have had in quite some time. A group of us were able to book a number of private lessons with Dan where he came over and gave us a group lesson. There were three families with adults and youths and Dan knew how to get our attention, warm us up and get us working out. Let me tell you everyone loved it! After the family lesson a few of us stayed for "round 2" and we kept going. Dan worked us out to the max! We learned a lot and went away educated, stronger and very happy. If you want the best workout and instructor on the island. Run.....don't walk and book and appointment with Dan. read more

I got to train with Dan for a week. Was amazing, he knows how to read your level and keep pushing you slightly beyond in the perfect way. Can't wait to come back to Oahu and train with him again. read more

I am so glad I started private lessons and UFC classes with Coach Dan. He is very patient and an excellent teacher. He breaks down every move step by step and explains its importance. If you are looking to learn Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and Self Defense Coach Dan is the person to call. read more

I met Coach Dan through the UFC Gym where he teaches Muay Thai, and I first heard about Muay Boran ("Ancient Boxing") through him. Muay Boran is the combatives (battlefield) predecessor to today's sport of Muay Thai. I have had the privilege of training under more than sixteen martial arts teachers, including three Muay Thai instructors, an 8th degree Judo red belt, and a 10th degree Karate black belt. Out of that crowded field, Dan is easily one of the best martial arts teachers I have ever had. He is friendly, easy-going, and insightful. While many martial artists and sport fighters have an ego, Dan is humble. Most martial arts instructors like to present their system having answers to any combat situation, but Dan regularly acknowledges Muay Boran's strengths and weaknesses. Dan has an excellent understanding of the application of Muay Boran's techniques as well as the attributes a fighter must develop to use the art to its full potential, including timing and situational awareness. Where appropriate, Dan easily switches between Muay Boran and Muay Thai noting what works better in the ring and what works better outside the ring. I am interested in martial arts in general, and when I ask questions about Muay Boran's history, the cultural setting, and how it interacts with weapons and armor, Dan generally has good answers or references. We have just finished Level One where we learned the basics of footwork, strikes (punch, elbows, knees, kicks, and thrust kicks) and several defenses, including some counters, throws, and limb destruction. I am looking forward to Level Two where more advanced combinations and counters await. If I had any complaints or concerns with the class, I would say a lot of information is packed into relatively little time, and without practicing at home, I doubt I would have had enough repetitions to remember the material or execute it properly. Luckily, Dan provided handouts that helped me practice at home. In conclusion, the Level One Muay Boran course was one of the best experiences I have had in the martial arts, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in martial arts to try it out. read more

When I was 13, I saw Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior and I was mesmerized by the movements and stunts performed by Tony Jaa. I've always wanted to learn this specific ancient style, but there was no one on the island that taught this. Eight years later, I saw on Facebook that Kru Dan Kaetsu was holding classes for Muay Boran, so I had saved up as much money as I could to do a crash course on the art. I have taken on a duty to spread this beautiful art to Oregon where I currently live. Kru Dan is a great instructor and is very knowledgable in the ancient style of Thai combat. He is very thorough when discussing techniques and drills. It is very rare to find someone who can teach this style in Hawaii with a welcoming approach to learning. You want to take your striking game and self-defense arsenal to the next level, then take this course! read more

I wasn't planning on working out everyday while on a short trip to Honolulu. However, plans changed and I decided to look into Muay Thai training. I come across Kru Dan's website and learned that he had an impressive background in Muay Thai training. I've been training at gyms across the country for the past four years and he is one of the few people that has a great appreciation for Muay Thai and passion for the sport! I wanted to take one of his group classes to see if I liked his style before setting up a one on one training session with him. Luckily for me, he made time to train with me the night before I left. In the short time I was able to train with him, he gave me a lot of pointers and things to help me work on. I feel like I accomplished a lot in the short time I got to work with him and will schedule training times ahead of time for my next vacation here! read more

Coach Dan is a great / avid practitioner of Muay Thai. I have trained with him in the past, and will more than likely continue training with him in the future. Dan doesn't carry that "tough guy" mentality that a lot of coaches seem to have, which is really cool. The greatest thing is that he takes time to answer any questions I've had regarding Muay Thai, outside of sessions. That is something which should be emphasized in any customer service scenario. Communication. Dan is pretty flexible with his scheduling, I've met with him on weekends, due to my work schedule on weekdays. Let's be real here, who really enjoys working on weekends? I know I don't. Kru Dan also has quite a bit of experience under his belt, training Muay Thai for about 15 years. He travels to and from Thailand as well. Overall, if you're interested in learning a striking art, getting some cardio in, or just looking to try something new, yeah definitely train with this guy right here! read more