Dude- my size 10s have been fitting tight on me since the middle of last year's pandemic and the…read morehell I want to start inching towards a 12! Gyms are back- but took me a while to nail "the one" because many rely on machine work which I would do- but they're necessarily not my thing. Classes are more up my alley because I love to get my body worked up real good with an instructor and Belmars in the Greenburgh area of White Plains, met me there. Belmars is primarily known for Muay Thai but with one call prior to my Saturday class, Peter mentioned there's Circuit training and Zumba. He texted location details as it's off the Route 119 path and prices for each of those. Because of COVID, Peter mentioned not many folks are hitting the gym and classes have been small. The entire Belmars space is big. It opens with a large exercise room, wall-to-wall mirrors, boxing ring further back and a smaller Circuit Rm- where I and someone else, dripped in sweat with Christine. Don't be fooled by her small frame- my girl will have you hating her...I did- but it was all love and the burn was real even the next day! Plus her playlist was bomb! From Freddie Mercury to old school hip- hop to some pop- she had us going. Listen- I'm a size 10 and felt super comfortable not to be exercising with size 0 Beckies like you see in high-end gyms. By the end of her workout, my muscles shook like never before. Christine's Circuit Training class wasn't an easy ride but made such and an incredible difference even it's just Saturdays for 45 minutes. After a year+ not stepping foot in a gym, coming here gave me adrenaline for more!

If you are reading my review, you are most likely looking for a Martial Arts School or a gym to get…read moreinto shape. You may have joined a commercial gym. But quit because you felt out of place. You may have joined a Martial Arts school and realized that you are going to get hurt and you're not in shape. Or, you are like me looking for something different, I have practiced Shotokan karate for over 30 years. I have jumped from martial art school to martial art school and weight gym to weight gym. I completed Peter's 5 week beginners Muay Thai and fitness class. It's the class everyone has to take to advance to the Muay Thai Kickboxing and Boxing classes. That first class was filled with about 20 + people. I thought I was strong, but I was wrong. I can't jump rope and It was the first time I did a pushup in about 20 years. I also did not know what a Burpee was. (Peter made this exercise look easy). By the end of the 5 week class, I was at 50 Pushups, 3 minutes jumping rope and about 15 Burpees. Maybe Martial Arts are not for you, but you want to get in shape. You want a body of a boxer or you just want to take your shirt off at the beach. Or, if you are like me, you need to shed some pounds. (I was over 270lbs I now weigh in at 230lbs.) My name is Charles White. I hold black belts in Shotokan Karate and Kendo. If I could compress my 30 + years of experience. I would tell everyone to take the 5 week beginners class at Belmars Gym. There are even classes for children over 6 years. I even sent my two nieces and my nephew. The ability to defend oneself is a skill every child should learn. The ability to defend oneself is a skill they will remember for a lifetime

Couldn't have been more happier with my decision to sign my son up to karate. But not just…read moreanywhere, here specifically. Who would've thought that a child of then 5 would have such a rough year for their first real school experience with bullying. My son did, and it was really affecting his behavior in school and then eventually at home. I knew that he needed a positive place to release the stress a young 5 year old can feel. Within 3 months I've noticed such a big change in his behavior, he was walking around with a smile and less aggravated to attend school. He is in his 8th month this December and in first grade now and I no longer pick up an angry child from school. He is more confident, self assured and although it has gotten tougher for him he has stuck it through and made some friends he can hopefully build long lasting relationships with. What makes this place great besides the beautiful space and well kept dojo and bathrooms are the Senseis. Both Sensei Luis and Sensei Rahul are amazing with the kids. Disciple, structure and respect will be learned here and they demand it. They are serious and tough on the young ones, pushing them to their full potential. And on the other hand they are very playful and loving and give the kids a break with occasional games when they are deserving. The children really show interest to be here, they are ready in line and excited. I have seen some amazing students that they have molded in this dojo and only hope that Noel will also follow their footsteps. Glad to be apart of the BX Martial Arts family. I truly am grateful for my sons Senseis and have an immense amount of respect and love for what they do for our children. Keep it up!

Highly recommend anyone attending this school instructors are very knowledgeable and professional!!…read moreThe student are also great bunch of people to study with very motivated and support each other!! It's been a great experience for me!!

Muay thai was something I wanted to learn but was lowkey a bit afraid. This gym is very beginner…read morefriendly and everyone here makes you feel welcomed immediately. People here are very respectful and mindful of others, which is really important. There are classes Monday-Saturday. Legit the best workout ever (I've done crossfit, powerlifting, hiit, yoga, etc). It works your core, your overall strength, upper body, lower body, and also your mind. The gym helped me make become better in other things too outside the gym (eating habits, running more, etc!!) They do other activities too - beach trips, conditioning in parks, etc!!

I'm beginning to find, as I get older, that experiences that have the ability to completely…read moretransform your life become more rare. When you are young, you are constantly trying and learning new things, figuring out for yourself what you love to do and eliminating those you don't. You start to find a passion for things like soccer or piano, and stick with them, loving to play. Then you grow up, responsibilities kick in, and time becomes more limited. Most of the time, I find myself trying to recreate the fun I had as a kid by re-experiencing situations with new people or joining an adult sports league with random people, which is not at all the same feeling you get from being on a real, dedicated team. The art of Muay Thai is one of the only sports or activities that has unexpectedly thrilled me in a way that is brand new, and leaves me craving more and more. The only other sport that does it for me is scuba diving. There are some similarities between the two: family, fear facing, fitness, and fun. 1. FAMILY: When you join 8 Venoms Muay Thai, you become a family. You are there to support and help each other. You may find that if you sign up for a free trial that you become addicted in more ways than one, to the class and to the people. Your new teammates will be the ones asking if they'll see you next class, and part of the reason you say yes is because you don't want to disappoint them, and it happens in that split second after they ask the question when their face is bright with pure joy from the class and the suspense for your answer. You can't make new friends like this in a typical gym atmosphere and you sure as hell will never find the strength of a family like 8 Venoms Muay Thai. 2. FEAR FACING: "Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt Muay Thai is a fighting sport. You will hit and get hit. 8 Venoms gets its name because Muay Thai is known as the Art of 8 Limbs: 2 fists, 2 elbows, 2 knees, and 2 shins. You will learn to use all of them. I'm a fear facer and a big believer in it. Do I get nervous? Yes. But that's the only way to get stronger. 3. FITNESS: One aspect of Muay Thai among many that you can't get from a regular gym is that it's both a mental and physical exercise. I consider myself a forever student. If I'm not constantly learning something new, I start to get bored. I never would have dreamed that discovering Muay Thai would have been the absolute best gift I could have given myself for my recent birthday (Thanks Skylar B. who turned me onto it). I have been to many gyms: oldschool average joe's gyms, giant gym chains, boxing gyms, etc. Before this class, I considered myself to be healthy, very active, and pretty athletic, but damn, did I get a wake up call. The class starts with jump roping... Who knew that jump roping could be so hard?! I thought I was going to die the first few times. My legs were sore as hell. I guess lifting just can't get you there. Then there's cardio, core, and flexibility, which is awesome. I'm not too too bad on the cardio and core front, but I def. struggle and need improvement. I honestly thought I was a flexible human until now...wooweee, not so much. I think part of the reason I have trouble doing certain skills sometimes is because my hips are not at all used to turning over in such a way while the balls of my feet do something else and my arm is outstretched at the same time. I swear, at the least, Muay Thai will keep my body from getting old and decrepit. Then there's the lessons on different Muay Thai skills and techniques: boxing, kicks, defense, etc, which is really... 4. FUN: Omg it's so much fun. Instructor Gian is extremely knowledgeable and cares about his students. His analogies and descriptions make everything really easy to understand. I partner with my sister sometimes and we have laughing fits. It's just fun to learn something new, practice it, and eventually get it right. I guess I should say it's funnier when you get it wrong and more rewarding when you get it right. I find myself even daydreaming about it, replaying skills I've learned in my head, and hoping that by thinking about it my body will react how I want it to (so far it doesn't, but I'm trying!). All skill levels are welcome. I am a giant newb right now. I hate it lol, and I'm determined to get better. There was a little kid in the class too and he could really hang with the rest of us. Then, there are also those who are really advanced. 8 Venoms is located in the FMA Center and the storefront is really deceiving. If you enter in the front, you go down the stairs and the place is huge. There's the front desk area, and a large viewing room, for anyone there who needs to wait. If you park in the back lot, you can enter that way and walk past the koi fish tank. The actual training space is very large with ample space to move around, and the 7:30 pm class times are also really convenient for me to make after work w/the option of the 1 class on Sat. Try it!

I had a great experience with the coaches at the new Sanuk Martial Arts. Drills were amazing,…read moretechniques tips were helpful and all the coaches seemed to really enjoy it. Such a great vibe while getting in an amazing workout. convenient location: one block from the Great Neck LIRR stop. Highly recommend

From the owner: At Sanuk Martial Arts, we offer world-class training in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu , two of…read morethe most respected martial arts in the world. But we’re more than just a gym. We’re a community of passionate individuals committed to growth, discipline, and supporting each other both on and off the mats. In Thai, “Sanuk” is a deeply rooted cultural concept that means "fun" or "enjoyment." But it goes beyond just having a good time , it reflects a way of life. To Thai people, doing something sanuk means doing it in a way that is joyful, engaging, and worthwhile. It implies that life should be lived with a sense of pleasure, laughter, and positive energy, even when doing everyday tasks or hard work. A job, a conversation, or even a challenge should ideally be sanuk , fun, lively, and infused with a good spirit. It’s not just about personal enjoyment either - sanuk often involves others, encouraging social connection, good humor, and shared experiences. It’s a value that helps shape Thailand’s famously warm and welcoming culture. Sanuk Martial Arts is place where people don’t just train hard, they do it with joy, camaraderie, and a love for the art.

Carlos is an incredible coach with extensive experience fighting and coaching fighters and students…read moreof all levels. I have learned so much from studying under him. No matter what level you start at with Carlos, he makes you feel like you belong and helps you see your potential to become even better. Everybody at the gym is really positive and friendly. It's a beautiful training space too.

I am a woman that has trained under Carlos for about 6 years. I love his gym and the way he trains…read morehis students. He is a talented coach that puts his all into his fighters. I have NEVER felt disrespected as a woman in his gym, I was always treated as an equal. I think what he is trying to do for men's mental health is a must needed. The reason he does not want to coach women fighters is NOT because he is a "misogynist pig", the reason he has chosen not to train female fighters is because the strain that a human body is put under when preparing for a fight is very harsh. The process can affect our ability to carry a child in the future, it effects our periods and the constant hits to our bodies can affect our bones in a very negative way which we would especially feel after going through menopause. Women now days do have a lot of different "outlets", whereas men do not have as many "outlet" opportunities and definitely need them (just look at men's mental health). He has stated in many of his videos that he hates how in other gyms, women have been used solely as a "sale" for the gym by using photos of hot women, instead of just focusing on the fighters (be men or women). Carlos has the kindest sole for humans and has often trained people for free if they have not been able to pay. He has helped countless amounts of men from killing themselves by being there for them. He has given fighters an opportunity to fight and grow. He has done so much for the Muay thai community and has a gift for teaching it. His wording in his videos may be misleading of what he is trying to say and English is not his first language, but if you actually sit down with him and talk to him you may actually understand what he is really trying to say.

Wow. This is a top-class establishment, which offers Muay Thai, BJJ, MMA, and kettlebell classes…read more Thus far, I have trained under Augie (the head instructor), Dina, Bennie, Brendon, and Jessica. I have never taken any of these classes but the instructors are so knowledgeable, observant, and patient. They made me feel comfortable every time I went to class. I have only been coming here a couple of months and I can already see an improvement in my game and an increase in my confidence. Augie also takes great pride in his establishment and provides the best equipment so we are always protected. Additionally, the other students are welcoming, knowledgeable, and are always willing to help you. Everyone is always looking out for each other and it truly feels that you belong to a family there. You will not regret spending your time, money, and energy here.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Augie is a fantastic instructor: so patient, diligent,…read moreand makes you feel so comfortable when learning a new sport! I have always wanted to try some kind of martial art, but was too nervous to actually do it. When I first when to MK Muay Thai, Augie gave me directions on how to get there and came up to me right away when I walked in so I didn't feel awkward. He also set me up with one of his instructors, Andre (who is also AMAZING) and I basically got one on one coaching for the first few months of being there. Now, I feel so much more confident in my own skin and I feel like I could protect myself if I ever needed to. Another thing is that Augie doesn't jip you with the money. His prices are so fair and he is flexible with you. I was traveling for a month, so he did not charge me for the time I wasn't going to be there. Not a lot of gyms are like that. He is really a class act! There is a really positive environment here. Everyone is dedicated to learning the sport, which includes helping one another improve. Even in big classes, I always feel like I have so much support. If you are on the fence, GO! You won't regret it!

Best place to train muay Thai in the trip state area. I've tried other gyms in other states and…read morethis is the best gym hands down.

Such an upbeat and fun alternative to the mainstream cardio kickboxing classes. You get actual…read moreinstruction on technique and application in real life versus just punching a bag. Whether you want to actually fight or just get In shape this gym has something for everyone. It's all about personal goals and growth, not the one size fits all classes offered by other gyms.