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Carnicella MMA

4.7 ★★★★★ 41 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Clifton, New Jersey

Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule carnicellamma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (973) 752-1932

Hours

Monday 10 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–9 PM
Thursday 10 AM–9 PM
Friday 10 AM–8 PM
Saturday 9 AM–12 PM
Sunday Closed

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 Carnicella MMA, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 3 mentions

“Great MMA gym excellent coach is a motivating environment whether you’re a beginner or experienced this place pushes you to improve every session highly recommend.”

All gyms that run beginner muay thai →

🧒 Kids Muay Thai 3 mentions

“Sensai paul is amazing and caring great with kids.”

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🏆 Fight Team 5 mentions

“I was fortunate enough to meet Sensei Paul and a few of the fighters from Carnicella MMA back in 2017.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

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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 Carnicella MMA — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Boxing 2 mentions

“Whether you are going for BJJ, Wrestling, Boxing, etc.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 9 mentions

“Sensi Paul Carnicella a great grappling jujitsu instructer i went there year ago one of my first mma schools his details in grappling is what makes the difference.”

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

🏟️ MMA 18 mentions

“Great MMA gym excellent coach is a motivating environment whether you’re a beginner or experienced this place pushes you to improve every session highly recommend.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🤸 Wrestling

“Whether you are going for BJJ, Wrestling, Boxing, etc.”

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 41 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 4 mentions

“Great MMA gym excellent coach is a motivating environment whether you’re a beginner or experienced this place pushes you to improve every session highly recommend.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“Great MMA gym excellent coach is a motivating environment whether you’re a beginner or experienced this place pushes you to improve every session highly recommend.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 6 mentions

“The staff and instructors are both friendly and professional and more than willing to help you understand the technique and how it applies to both the sport and in real life.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 5 mentions

“The staff and instructors are both friendly and professional and more than willing to help you understand the technique and how it applies to both the sport and in real life.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 10 mentions

“I was fortunate enough to meet Sensei Paul and a few of the fighters from Carnicella MMA back in 2017.”

From the reviews

I was fortunate enough to meet Sensei Paul and a few of the fighters from Carnicella MMA back in 2017.…Paul and the guys invited me to come train at the gym and while I had an athletic background I had no martial arts training. Despite my initial apprehension, I figured why not give it a try.

★★★★★ — Connor, Feb 2023

The review by "Jeffrey Hines" is both false and an unwarranted attack by someone who has no understanding of the sport or environment. I have been a proud member of Carnicella MMA for over a decade.

★★★★★ — Bryan, Mar 2022

Best MMA gyn I've ever been too. It has real fighters nothinf fake. Y ou have to earn your belt for jiu-jitsu really great.

★★★★★ — Isabel, Apr 2025

Mma gym is on another level, the place you need to be if you want to get better/be a fighter

★★★★★ — Jordan, Jun 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 41 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Carnicella MMA

Carnicella MMA 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first muay thai class at Carnicella MMA

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 Carnicella MMA

308 Colfax Ave, Clifton, NJ07013

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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.