Body Arts Gym

I went for a free trial class a while ago. PROS: 1) First, it's a quality workout for sure. I liked the change up in the routines to keep it from getting boring. 2) The instructor was patient and knowledgeable. I had practiced a totally different style for years and showed up with a lot of the old habits , but he accommodated the learning curve well. 3) Instructor was not one of those Muscle-headed "I know 100 ways to disembowel a bear with a bottle cap!!!" types who run 90% of these types of places. 4) The equipment was plentiful and in good condition. They even let me borrow a pair of gloves for practice. 5) Respectful atmosphere. That's hard to come by in these schools, maybe I should've put that first? CONS: My only critique is on Muay Thai itself. I had some insights during this class and from what I researched online. 1) The foundation of Muay Thai seems to be conditioning above all things. That's perfectly legitimate, but it's not mutually exclusive to Muay Thai. You can get "tough" and learn a different martial art. 2) The strikes and defenses of Muay Thai lean heavily on strenuous conditioning to prevent catastrophic injury to yourself- even if you do it 100% perfectly. There is a huge emphasis on physical "toughness" as your primary defense, which leaves unconditioned, novice practitioners way more vulnerable than you'd want to believe. The place does market to beginners but if you want to learn an art that will make you an effective fighter in less than 5 years, keep looking. *Yes after 5 years of very diligent practice and conditioning your skill will be formidable. However the chances that you'll avoid a permanent, crippling injury along the way are slim. The instructor himself had a bad knee and something wrong with his shoulder that he was visibly in great pain with, at the end of the class he could barely walk straight- and this was a light class with no sparring. I thought to myself "Is that what I want to be like in 10 years? Wincing and limping around?" SO ... Nice enough place, and a fair price for the training they offer. Come here to get in shape and socialize. However if you're looking for ***self defense*** and you're not already tough as an oak door- Muay Thai is more of a liability than an asset when you take off all the padding.

I have been a member of Body Arts for over a year now. I walked in looking for a new fitness outlet and was interested and willing to give Muay Thai a go. A new fitness outlet turned out to be peanuts in comparison to all I have gained in the last year. In my time with the gym I have gained knowledge, skill, respect, and a whole family. Our gym is unique in that there is a coach, Angel, that has his whole heart into the home he has built, and within the home is a group of people from all walks of life that care and respect one another in a sort of family way. Everyone that participates is there to encourage and build each other up. We have all levels within the gym, all sorts of personalities, varied professions, but when we come into the gym we are all equals and are a true family. Crazy to say that within the years time I went from being unsure and a complete beginner to taking my first fight within the next week. I attribute all of that not necessarily just to learning the sport and working hard but mostly to the support group and family I have made in the beautiful home that Angel has built.

I joined body arts gym in January. Since then I've lost over 30 pounds without dieting. Not only that, but I love going to classes. The classes are always a little different. I feel like I'm building skills and making new friends. Angel is a great teacher. He is the right combination of encouraging and understanding. This is the perfect workout for people who are bored with slogging away at the gym. Come check it out!

An awesome learning environment! Like many gyms you may feel intimidated when you enter but everyone is welcoming, and willing to help no matter if you're brand new or well seasoned. Positive vibes all around. I've been training here for years, it's my home away from home.

Body Arts is a great environment to learn and practice Muay Thai and to get into amazing shape. Whether your goal is fitness or competition, the members and instructors are accommodating, motivating and fun while providing top technical instruction. A variety of skill levels come together to form a crazy and awesome family that is a pleasure to be a part of.