What people have said about training at MTAI

Jarrod J.

"I have been training here for a few years and it is by far the best and most authentic muay thai training facility I know of... The staff here is also great. They know their stuff, have very varied backgrounds and experiences, and can help you with all facets of what you may experience or come up against in the real world."

Jo. T.

"Wish I had found this place sooner! I have trained ring style muay thai before I came here... and honestly this is authentic and original as you can get. It's like what a real old school gym is like - no classes... you walk in and warm up and the Kru and Sr. Instructors come up to you and provide you with one on one instruction... Here we focus more on techniques that are more applicable to real life, self-defense, protection, law enforcement, etc - but with the Muay Thai twist to it. So what I am saying is.... Muay Thai Academy is very welcoming with a team of experienced instructors that you won't find anywhere else. I wanted a place that kept the authenticity and integrity of Muay Thai and I found it here."

Shawn C.

"I came to this gym after hearing about it a year before. I finally stopped messing around and decided on doing something outside of work and school that I can be proud of doing. I've been attending this school for over two years now. The knowledge offered here can't be beaten (pun intended?) and the people you meet are beyond friendly and helpful. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn Muay Thai and Close Quarters Combat (which is exactly what it sounds like if you were wondering). In all honesty, this is not a place where you'll end up competing in a ring... Once you get the basics down of foot work and body mechanics, you will be impressed with yourself and your performance of every technique after that. If you don't have patience or want to become an Ultimate Fighter, there are other schools you might want to check out. Don't be shy, come visit if you're interested!"

Brett D.

"Muay Thai Academy truly is something different. There is a reason people have come from around the globe to seek instruction here -- it's just that unique. While 'Muay Thai' is in the name of the school, it is merely the foundation of the principle art taught here: Close Quarters Combat... Instructors and Junior Instructors walk the floor, answer questions, setup drills, and help you work through techniques on an individual basis, then let you try them out on your own or with others. The Instructors are all top notch, have been working together for years, yet still have varied backgrounds and unique methods of teaching. Collectively, the knowledge they can impart is unmatched in any martial arts school in the area. I've trained here for the last several years off and on (my hectic work/travel schedule and frequent basketball-related injuries keep me from going as regularly as I'd like) and can't recommend it enough if you're a self-motivated, hard-working individual looking for unique, personalized martial arts training with street-applicable, self-defense focus from some of the most experienced combat technicians around. It is a real privilege to live in the same vicinity as this school."

Gurepreet D.

"This is not the place you want to train if you are looking for the run of the mill Muay Thai or 'ring style fighting' version of the Muay Thai. At the Muay Thai Academy in Santa Clara it's all about practical combat and street application. Their style is based on the old style Muay Thai, military style Muay Thai - Lerd Rit (Ledrit), Boar Bando and bladed and impact weapon fighting. Its cadre of highly experienced instructors are from various branches of military special forces, including the founder who is a former counter-terrorism and intelligence officer. I have trained all over the place and the instruction at Muay Thai Academy is by far the best."

Peter T.

"This place was my first gym, and it will most likely be the standard to which I compare all my training. You really learn the technique here, and there's no structured class that focuses on 20-30 students at a time. You will have an instructor scrutinizing your technique and helping you develop your own unique style. If you've learned something elsewhere, they won't change you. They'll help you refine your technique since each instructor has had extensive training in the world of combat arts. I loved this place when I trained here. It's been much too long since I've been back, and I've tried out a number of gyms and styles. I still love this place. Its instructors are unparalleled. They don't sugar coat and they don't beg for your membership. No one who works here gets paid, they're teaching because they truly love the aspect of passing on their hard earned knowledge. Come here with an open mind. You'll learn things about yourself as well as your body's potential... I trained here when I was 17, and I still look forward to every visit I make. And everything that I loved from three years ago is still here. The staff is just as amazing as ever!"

'Daddy' B.

"When I moved to the Bay Area, I was looking to find a gym to learn, train, and fight Muay Thai. I visited several places as far north as San Francisco. When I found Muay Thai Academy International, I knew immediately I found my home. Specializing in old style Muay Thai, close quarters combat, blade and impact weapons, not to mention the intense conditioning, this is IT!!"

Moe Alnaqib

"I am an alumni of Muay Thai Academy International, I trained there for about 3 years before moving to a new city.

I'm incredibly grateful for my time there. I learned many valuable self-defense skills, not only in a physical fighting aspect, but also in terms of self-confidence, remaining calm under pressure, de-escalation tactics, and just building a healthier lifestyle. These skills have translated into so many aspects of my every day life.

I started off with the academy with zero martial arts experience, but Nirmalya and the rest of the training staff were very warm and welcoming. Everyone acted as a coach and mentor and they were always available when in need of extra help at the gym. They provide a safe environment for beginners with a structured training plan to get you up to speed, and they always prioritize a healthy and inclusive community for all. The staff at the time were all volunteers who coached entirely for the love of it.

While regularly scheduled classes are provided, the academy is open for members to just come in and train on their own, perhaps after a long day at work and you want to just shut off your brain and punch a bag. It's an open gym environment for members, with that, you get what you put into it.

I highly recommend this Muay Thai Academy!"

Siddharth Jain

"I've been training with Dr. Bhowmick for a bit over a year now and this is hands down one of the best, if not the best place to get personalized martial arts training in the bay area. The instruction spans muay thai, western boxing, weapons training, and grappling & judo. It is extremely comprehensive.

The culture is warm and friendly and the programming is extremely structured. The instructors genuinely care about your development and are excellent at what they do.

I hope this academy stays open for as long as possible so this learning environment is available to everyone."

Yuh Bo Feng

"I enjoy it's unique system and various classes. Students are humble and chill and each instructor provides a different perspective.

If you're like me and enjoy experimenting using different styles to see what works, this is a great place to do it.

They give you a lot of space for you to work on your own stuff but also provide traditional structured classes if you prefer instruction.

Most classes are hand to hand combat but some instructors give weapon combat training, you just need the courage to ask.

Big open space and a lot of equipment. The rate is incredibly cheap for the Bay Area and the owner doesnt make money from this. I want this place open for as long as possible so I hope more people can come by join."

Dr. Sheldon Greaves

"There is no better place to get in touch with your inner badass than this school. Absolutely the best combat training outside of the military on the west coast."

Bavesh Patel

"One of the best academy to learn Muay Thai. It's a technic to teach how to protect ourselves. Very nice person, good academy. They teach at very low rates. Good location and very spacious."

Pawan Jheeta

"Best combat training in the bay area. Boxing, Muay Thai, and practical Street Fighting defense. No Bro-Culture here, everyone treats each other with respect and dignity."