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Ares Combat Training Center

4.6 ★★★★★ 38 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Macedonia, Ohio

Muay Thai gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness classes Fight team

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
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule arescombattrainingcenter.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (330) 748-4931

Hours

Monday 9 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 9 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–9 PM
Thursday 9 AM–9 PM
Friday 9 AM–9 PM
Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday 10 AM–5 PM

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Muay thai classes on the schedule at Ares Combat Training Center, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 4 mentions

“I have made many friends and became well acquainted and trained with many of the members of the active fight team even as a beginner.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 4 mentions

“Known this guy since we were kids, lifetime fighter.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“Have had really good experiences in personal training sessions and the group sessions.”

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🔥 Muay Thai Fitness 3 mentions

“Strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to get in shape but most importantly defend themselves outside.”

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🤼 Clinch

“The fundamentals he teaches such as clinch work, sweeps, trips, throws, and footwork are fun and extremely practical/useful.”

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🏆 Fight Team 6 mentions

“I have made many friends and became well acquainted and trained with many of the members of the active fight team even as a beginner.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“There's something for everyone cardio boxing,self defense, strength confining you name it you can get it here.”

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Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Ares Combat Training Center — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 2 mentions

“Nolan is a killer in cardio and Coach Hare is an amazing coach all around especially Kickboxing.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🥊 Boxing 7 mentions

“I trained here for 2+ years up until I had my surgery and there really is no better place to train for mma, boxing or just getting in shape.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 5 mentions

“Richard Gibson is the grappling/BJJ instructor he teaches very practical takedown and grappling techniques that you would genuinely use in a combat scenario.”

Other gyms that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu (bjj) →

🏟️ MMA 8 mentions

“I trained here for 2+ years up until I had my surgery and there really is no better place to train for mma, boxing or just getting in shape.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🤸 Wrestling

“If you need fitness, wrestling, boxing, jujitsu, mma, anything go see Dave "the anvil"!”

Other gyms that also teach wrestling →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, boxing, or MMA alongside muay thai, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 38 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 10 mentions

“Amazing coaches an trainers incredible facility Dave Graf vision an dedication to his dream an passion unmatched.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“Ares isn’t my normal gym I train at primarily but I have alot of good friends over here and Dave the owner has always been so welcoming and helpful.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 6 mentions

“Ares isn’t my normal gym I train at primarily but I have alot of good friends over here and Dave the owner has always been so welcoming and helpful.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Richard Gibson is the grappling/BJJ instructor he teaches very practical takedown and grappling techniques that you would genuinely use in a combat scenario.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 6 mentions

“Nolan is a killer in cardio and Coach Hare is an amazing coach all around especially Kickboxing.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 9 mentions

“I have made many friends and became well acquainted and trained with many of the members of the active fight team even as a beginner.”

From the reviews

I have been doing MMA last 4 years in NJ and recently in 2021 moved in the area. Dave is well known in MMA world being a great coach. He has a great technique and personality and his other coaches are excellent with different strengths.

★★★★★ — Akin, Mar 2022

The best Combat Sports gyms in the NE Ohio area. I have been to Strongstyle MMA, Apex, and other gyms. Ares Combat has the best quality for the price. I have learned more at Ares in the few months I have been here than anywhere else.

★★★★★ — Nicholas, Oct 2025

Amazing coaches an trainers incredible facility Dave Graf vision an dedication to his dream an passion unmatched... Dave what an amazing legacy you have created .. GOD bless brother keep living the dream🌟🙏

★★★★★ — De, Apr 2025

I trained here for 2+ years up until I had my surgery and there really is no better place to train for mma, boxing or just getting in shape. With excellent coaches that care about your well being and actually care about you improving its no surprise at how much impact they are having in the local mma, boxing and bjj…

★★★★★ — Ozzy, Oct 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 38 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Ares Combat Training Center

Ares Combat Training Center comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first muay thai class at Ares Combat Training Center

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.

Muay thai is a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Ares Combat Training Center

420 Highland Rd, Macedonia, OH44056

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.