Best Mma Gym near Austin, Texas

I've been to a few martial arts gyms over the years and I have to say that head coaches Randy and Tessa have created something special with Austin Kickboxing Academy. The community they have built is incredible and empowering. If you are even remotely interested in learning boxing, muy Thai/kickboxing, sign up for a free class and check it out for yourself. The experience level at the gym ranges from complete beginner to those with 10+yrs experience. I had absolutely no training before but after attending the beginner class I was hooked! Almost 2 years later and I still enjoy it as much as my first day.

Clean, organized, professional, and respectful. All the coaches are great at what they do. They take the time and effort to make you a better fighter/person. Great community here. I highly recommend this place to everybody at any level/experience! First day is free! Just bring some 16oz gloves, 180” wraps, and 15-20 minutes early.

For the Ladies—This Gym Gets It! Let’s be real: martial arts in ATX is still very male-dominated, and as women, our biggest concerns often include: - Safety & Physical Boundaries - Comfort & Atmosphere - Harassment & Respect - Strength & Skill Disparity - Progression & Recognition - Finding the Right Gym As a woman who has trained at AKA for over a year, I can confidently say that every one of these concerns is taken seriously. The head coaches are incredibly dedicated to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive culture. One of the head coaches is a woman, a mother, and a former pro fighter with 20+ years of experience in Muay Thai, BJJ, wrestling, and more. I’ve personally witnessed the heart and integrity she and the rest of the team pour into this gym. AKA arguably has one of the highest female-to-male ratios in the area. You’ll never walk into a class without female training partners, and on some days, the class can be 50/50—or even majority women. The gym also offers an all-women’s class and have female coaches on staff, as well as, competitors. I have never had any issues with my fellow athletes—male or female. The women here are incredibly welcoming and supportive, and the men show nothing but respect and kindness. They’ve become not just training partners but family. On a personal note: for any women who, like me, have been diagnosed with PTSD or struggle from SA or abuse, this gym has been life-changing for my mental health, confidence, and overall well-being. The safety and integrity of the gym I signed up for was critical for my success in this sport. I never feel unsafe walking in. I know that if I ever need to use my voice, the coaches will listen, respect it, and handle any concerns with grace, professionalism, and urgency. tldr: Ladies, mothers, women of all ages—you’ve found your gym. You’ve found your fight-girl squad.

Came here with no experience and was welcomed with open arms. From day 1 the coaches were fantastic at calming my nerves and showing me the fundamentals of Muay Thai. I’ve also met so many individuals from different backgrounds that I’ve been able to connect with outside of the gym. This is the place to train in Austin Texas and I can’t recommend it enough!!!

Hands down the best martial arts gym I’ve been to! The coaches are experts at their craft, great teachers and make a conscious effort to take care of their students. Owners Randy and Tessa foster a community that feels like a second family. Classes are a blast! Everyone trains with an intent to improve not only themselves but those around them. I would recommend this gym to anyone and everyone. Also, coach Randy has great taste in music.

Old Gaurd Thai boxing club is a great place to train the owners, and the coaches alike are friendly, humble, patient and very knowledgeable As a former member with over 47 years in fighting arts and has been blessed to train with some of the best in the world. I can assure you old guard is one of the best I had the opportunity to train with! whether your goal is to get into shape or compete The old guard will get you there.!

Absolutely fantastic place to train. All of the coaches are knowledgeable and go out of their way to be helpful. There’s a great mix of all levels at the gym as well. You’ll have a great experience whether you’re just starting to train or already have been for years. This translates to the sparring culture as well - no egos, just fun while trying hard One of my favorite parts of this gym is how thoughtful they are about the curriculum. Everything they have you do is well thought out and intentional. each week builds off the last in a way that’s very rewarding on top of being very effective I can’t think of a single negative thing to say about this place, the staff, or the community. They also have some absolutely killer merch!

If you're in Austin and want to train Muay Thai, look no further—Old Guard is the place to be. As an out-of-towner visiting ATX for work, I was looking for a gym to continue my training without any interruptions. After researching a few places online, I settled on wanting to check out the Old Guard, and was so glad I did. Reaching out via email, I got a lightning quick response from the owner, Dave. He mentioned the Friday classes were 'tough, but fun' and would allow me to drop in. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The team at Old Guard knows their stuff and has serious Muay Thai credentials. The gym itself was super clean, well-equipped, and had everything you could need. Everyone in the class was welcoming and friendly—no egos here. Bonus points for the Taylor Swift shrine, which added a fun, lighthearted touch to the space. It was a reminder that while you're there to work hard, you can still enjoy yourself. Hoping its not too long before I get the chance to visit again! Shout out to Coach Spencer—he not only knows his stuff, but is also just a super cool dude.

If you're looking for the best Muay Thai gym in Austin, Texas, you've found it! It's a welcoming environment to learn authentic Muay Thai, whether you're a total beginner or an experienced Nak Muay. The Old Guard Thai Boxing Club is a bright, clean, spacious Thai Boxing gym that's professionally run. Those new to the art of eight limbs are welcomed with extra attention, unlike many big box kickboxing studios where people aren't given enough attention and just practice with bad form for months or sometimes years. I appreciated how diverse and friendly the members and staff were on my first visit. I was visiting from out of town at a business conference and did a drop in class; I was welcomed into their more experienced pad rounds class and found the combinations we worked on to reflect real life experience from competing in the ring. Even if you're only a beginner or doing it for fitness or fun, it's important to train with technically proficient coaches to learn correct technique to avoid injury - repeatedly doing it wrong at cardio kickboxing gyms often causes repetitive use injuries. The other thing that attracted me to The Old Guard is they have brought in world class Thai fighters such as Stamp Fairtex, Supergirl Jaroonsak, and I believe Ognjen Topic will be coming this Fall 2024. This is the sign of a gym that invests in elevating the instructional quality for their fighters, coaches, and recreational members. Thanks for the hospitality!

These guys are the real deal, authentic Thai style and great conditioning. I'm a competition fighter visiting from Sacramento and needed a good place to train during my stay. The owner, coaches, and students are all great people who have been extremely friendly/welcoming. The technique they teach is on point and fundamentally solid. For all my fighters out there looking for a high level gym or anybody looking to get started I highly recommend this spot. Even if you're just looking to train for fun or get in shape this gym is your best bet in Austin Texas.

I have trained at several gyms from MMA gyms with current and former UFC world champions, to ones with only hobbyists and Black Widow MMA is by far my favorite gym of all of them. I learned so much in just my short time training there and was very impressed by Coach Bitsy and the techniques she would teach. You can tell she is a coach who truly cares about the people training there and watches and teaches the technique according to what they need. Also the environment is very friendly and inviting while also being able to push you to be better. Which is very hard to find!

Can’t say enough good things about this gym! I’ve been going here since May 2022 (1 year 10 months). I came in with zero previous martial arts experience feeling like Bambi on ice. In under 2 years I’ve learned the fundamentals of BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA and I’ve competed 4 times in 2 tournaments. This is an excellent gym for the well experienced and new beginners. The gym has excellent retention. It’s a no-ego-safe environment where everyone helps each other develop and improve. If this sounds like your kind of school, then I highly recommend you try a class at Black Widow.

Been training here for just about a year, everyone here takes care of one another and coaches do an amazing job at facilitating a safe environment for each person to learn and grow. The community here is really supportive and I’ve gotten the chance to see our coaches patiently working with myself and others each session, helping us make progress and sharpen our skills. If you’re interested in trying martial arts for the first time or if you’re experienced and looking for a great gym in Austin, come on by Black Widow MMA, you will not regret it.

This gym is seriously amazing. Great coaches, great atmosphere, top notch instruction, and overall just an amazing community. This is my first year training martial arts and I’m so glad this is the gym I found when I moved here. They have a women’s class at noon on Saturdays which is how I got started. Everyone was so kind and helpful. Highly recommend!

Honestly, this is an extremely great gym. I travel for work and this was the gym I trained at while out in Austin. I’m always a little hesitant stepping into a new gym but from my first day to my last day, it was a great experience. The muay Thai, jujitsu, and MMA are legit. The coaches are extremely knowledgeable and aren’t afraid to answer questions or restart a technique drill so no one is left behind. Your training partners work with you at your skill level, especially when sparring or rolling. The gym culture is very welcoming, everyone in there is a badass, very friendly, and shares the same passion for martial arts. If you’re in Austin, definitely check them out. You’ll leave with some new friends and new skills.