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Beacon Mixed Martial Arts
5 ★★★★★ 66 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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
- 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 chapelhillmma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 984-999-5300
Hours
| Monday | 4–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am–1:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 4–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–1:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9 am–12:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“This is my first time learning jiujitsu and sometimes I feel like I should be in the children’s classes but everyone is incredibly helpful and supportive.”
“My son has been doing the kids' Muay Thai program since September 2022, and it's been so great for his coordination, confidence, and physical and mental health.”
“Each sparring session starts on the feet, which better prepares students for tournament, or ultimately, for self defense, where all encounters start standing.”
“Coach Kirby is a fantastic instructor, he is extremely knowledgeable and does a great job teaching his students proper techniques.”
“Each sparring session starts on the feet, which better prepares students for tournament, or ultimately, for self defense, where all encounters start standing.”
Other martial arts here
“If you’re looking for a spot to train, learn, and master your BJJ and/or Muay Thai/Western Boxing skills this is the place to be and the next option won’t come close.”
“If you’re looking for a spot to train, learn, and master your BJJ and/or Muay Thai/Western Boxing skills this is the place to be and the next option won’t come close.”
“We are very new to Beacon MMA and BJJ in general, but since day one I have been nothing but impressed.”
What members say
“Coach Kirby does a great job of making sure that the training environment is conducive to maximized learning and provides great tips that helped me ramp up my skill set quickly.”
“I joined without ever having trained Muay Thai before and was met with a very welcoming and supportive training environment that helped me build up the necessary skills.”
“I joined without ever having trained Muay Thai before and was met with a very welcoming and supportive training environment that helped me build up the necessary skills.”
“He sets very clear expectations for his students with a high regard for safety and correctness in technique which I believe is very important.”
“Each sparring session starts on the feet, which better prepares students for tournament, or ultimately, for self defense, where all encounters start standing.”
“The gym was very clean and seems well-managed.”
From the reviews
There are a lot of options for jiu jitsu training, particularly in the triangle. I have trained at a few different schools over the past couple years as a permanent student, or visiting while traveling. Coach Kirby Farrales is a detail-oriented instructor.
We are very new to Beacon MMA and BJJ in general, but since day one I have been nothing but impressed. My son is one of the youngest students and as a mom that made me a little nervous. Coach Kirby has been such a great instructor every moment of class.
My son (now 15) has been attending Beacon for 2 years. It has been an incredible experience for him and us. Coach Kirby is incredible and helped create a passion for this sport and amazing self-discipline for my son.
My son has been doing the kids' Muay Thai program since September 2022, and it's been so great for his coordination, confidence, and physical and mental health. Coach Kirby is patient, kind, tough, and humble.
New to muay thai? Start at Beacon Mixed Martial Arts
Beacon Mixed Martial Arts 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 Beacon Mixed Martial Arts
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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