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1Up MuayThai Academy
5 ★★★★★ 99 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Alexandria, Virginia
Authentic Thai — reviews and the gym's own info point to coaching rooted in Thailand's muay thai tradition. If lineage matters to you, ask where the coaches trained and about their kru.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- Fitness & conditioning muay thai fitness and cardio classes — a serious workout you can do without ever having to spar
- Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule 1upmuaythai.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (240) 640-6226
Hours
| Monday | 9:30 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM–4:30 PM |
The classes they run
“The environment is welcoming and beginner-friendly for people of all ages and genders, while still offering challenging and rewarding classes for more experienced practitioners.”
“While my children have been coming here they’ve blossomed, even their grades are up in comparison to last year.”
“After almost 2 years of practice, I didn't know how much I'd value an all Women's Muay Thai training until I found 1up.”
“The group classes are a great way to go and on Friday nights they have fun sparring based classes.”
“I highly recommend this gym to anyone interested in Muay Thai, whether you’re a beginner or experienced fighter.”
“Kai and Coach Kerem do an amazing job emphasizing proper technique while also adapting training for all skill levels, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced.”
Other martial arts here
“Had absolutely no idea what I was getting into and had never done any form of boxing or martial arts.”
What members say
“Kai and Coach Kerem do an amazing job emphasizing proper technique while also adapting training for all skill levels, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced.”
“The environment is welcoming and beginner-friendly for people of all ages and genders, while still offering challenging and rewarding classes for more experienced practitioners.”
“The instructors are highly knowledgeable not only in Muay Thai but also in health and wellness and they create a supportive, motivating atmosphere.”
“Kai and Coach Kerem do an amazing job emphasizing proper technique while also adapting training for all skill levels, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced.”
“Amazing workouts and really thorough instructions and technique is taught, it’s great for all skill levels/ages and very professional.”
“I highly recommend this gym to anyone interested in Muay Thai, whether you’re a beginner or experienced fighter.”
From the reviews
Coach Kerem and Dr. Kai teach an amazing program at 1Up. Amazing workouts and really thorough instructions and technique is taught, it’s great for all skill levels/ages and very professional. The group classes are a great way to go and on Friday nights they have fun sparring based classes.
Walking into this gym for my first Muay Thai class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I didn’t expect was how incredibly welcoming everyone would be. From the moment I stepped in, the coaches and members made me feel like I belonged there, even as a total beginner trying to figure out how to do a simple kick.
I’ve been training at 1Up MuayThai Academy for about four months now, and my experience has been excellent. When I first joined, I had no prior combat sports experience, but I quickly noticed significant improvement in my skills and overall fitness.
Today I visited 1UP Muay Thai with my three kiddos, and we had the most amazing experience Dr. Kai and Coach Kerem were absolutely phenomenal. They were welcoming, encouraging, and very knowledgeable in what they were teaching the children.
New to muay thai? Start at 1Up MuayThai Academy
1Up MuayThai Academy comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first muay thai class at 1Up MuayThai Academy
Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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