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8Tribe Muay Thai
5 ★★★★★ 53 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in San Diego, California
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.
Intimate, supportive gym offering personalized Muay Thai training to beginners and experienced fighters alike.
Plan your first class
- 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
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- 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 8tribe.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (619) 793-6781
Hours
| Monday | 4–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 4–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–7 PM |
| Thursday | 4–7 PM |
| Friday | 4–7 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“He’s an amazing coach, and can help you improve your skills whether you are a total beginner or a professional fighter.”
“The private lessons range from highly technical to brutal workouts and are also fantastic.”
“If your looking to get into the sport of Muay Thai or just want to learn the art and get fit, 8 Tribe is the place.”
“The dedication to safely training is also very prominent be it during pad work, bag work, or hard sparring.”
“He’s an amazing coach, and can help you improve your skills whether you are a total beginner or a professional fighter.”
“The fighting skills, fundamentals and the mind set I have developed was tremendous and the best opening gate into the world of martial arts.”
“He can adjust to your needs, be it to for fighting competitively or for self-defense -- he has experience with both.”
“Ronnie maintains a positive culture and environment for students He is also a top notch fitness trainer, who in addition to training me, trained my son.”
Other martial arts here
“Ronnie runs the best Muay Thai/kickboxing program in San Diego.”
“I was introduced to Muay Thai in 2011 and Ronnie was my trainer back then in North Melbourne Boxing & Fitness gym in Australia.”
What members say
“I'm still very much a student of Muay Thai and have a lot to learn, but this experience reminded me how important great coaching and a positive gym culture can be.”
“On my first day, Ronnie promised me I would get a good workout and learn something and he’s kept his promise every class.”
“If my best friends and family wanted to learn Muay Thai I would only let them train with Ronnie because I know they'll learn quickly and be in the best hands.”
“8Tribe Is a family I’m proud to form part of I trained with Ronnie for three years because I wanted to learn how to do proper striking and not only did.”
“Whether you’re looking to get in great shape or compete at a high level, Ronnie is the man for the job!”
“The fighting skills, fundamentals and the mind set I have developed was tremendous and the best opening gate into the world of martial arts.”
From the reviews
I've trained at different gyms with different trainers and 8tribe is definitely the best. If my best friends and family wanted to learn Muay Thai I would only let them train with Ronnie because I know they'll learn quickly and be in the best hands. Ronnie is an experienced fighter himself and is a great teacher.
I did a lot of research when looking for a Muay Thai instructor in the San Diego area. I visited a handful of gyms and talked to some nice folks along the way. I knew I wanted one-on-one training, and I came across Ronnie and 8Tribe. Ronnie is the man.
Ronnie is hands down the best muay thai coach around. He's got years of fighting and coaching experience as well as passion to pass on everything he's learned to others. From completely new to seasoned fighters there's a program for you.
I started training with Ronnie because my boyfriend had been training with him for almost a year. Every time he would come back from training he would be in the best mood and so happy. He started showing me some moves and invited me to join him. Ronnie allowed me to join a session and I was hooked!
New to muay thai? Start at 8Tribe Muay Thai
8Tribe Muay Thai 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 8Tribe Muay Thai
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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