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Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing

4.9 ★★★★★ 39 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Knoxville, Tennessee

Free trial Beginners welcome Fight team

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
  • 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 catebjjandkickboxing.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 865-386-5052

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 9 AM–9 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 Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 4 mentions

“Everyone in the gym is positive, encouraging, and truly wants to help you succeed, which can be a big deal if you are a beginner like me.”

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Teen Muay Thai

“It is not often that a teenager looks forward to hanging out with their parents.”

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🥊 Sparring

“Lots of focused drilling and sparring rather than mindless repetition without focus.”

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🏆 Fight Team 2 mentions

“For my people that’s looking to compete either in jujitsu or kickboxing anything like that.”

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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 Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 5 mentions

“If you are looking for a new gym to challenge yourself and improve your martial arts skills in the Knoxville area I would seriously consider Cate BJJ and kickboxing.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 14 mentions

“If you are looking for a new gym to challenge yourself and improve your martial arts skills in the Knoxville area I would seriously consider Cate BJJ and kickboxing.”

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

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

“Josh has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience from BJJ, Wrestling and MMA and is clearly dedicated to making sure his students improve and meet their goals.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🤼 Judo

“You won’t find another gym in town that mixes Bjj (from a fantastic lineage)with legitimate wrestling and some judo.”

Other gyms that also teach judo →

🤸 Wrestling 3 mentions

“Josh has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience from BJJ, Wrestling and MMA and is clearly dedicated to making sure his students improve and meet their goals.”

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 39 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 5 mentions

“Aside from being a master of his craft, Josh is one of the best coaches I've had in 10+ years of athletics, who genuinely wants to see you succeed in whatever your aspirations are.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“Everyone in the gym is positive, encouraging, and truly wants to help you succeed, which can be a big deal if you are a beginner like me.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 7 mentions

“Comparative to other gyms around town, the monthly rate feels like a steal and Coach Cate makes everyone feel like part of the family.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 6 mentions

“Coach Cate is a top notch teacher who keeps the students engaged, learning new techniques, motivated, safe and having a good time.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 5 mentions

“Coach Josh and Team Kaos helped me get prepared for both of my fights and I couldn't have done it with out them!”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 3 mentions

“This is a great gym, I would recommend anyone who is interested in starting or continuing their training to check it out!”

From the reviews

This is a great gym, I would recommend anyone who is interested in starting or continuing their training to check it out! I believe the gym is great for several reasons. Coach Cate is a top notch teacher who keeps the students engaged, learning new techniques, motivated, safe and having a good time.

★★★★★ — Zach, Jul 2024

I came to Cates's as a 38 year old guy brand new to martial arts. Joining this gym was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I've made. For over two years now, I leave every class and open mat feeling glad that I showed up and put in the work.

★★★★★ — Kerry, Aug 2024

Josh is a great coach and has a very organized and structured curriculum. You won’t find another gym in town that mixes Bjj (from a fantastic lineage)with legitimate wrestling and some judo. No other school in town will teach you to take down your opponent or defend the takedown like this one.

★★★★★ — Jason, Jul 2021

Great place to learn BJJ/Kickboxing. Classes are about an hour and they go by quick. Been going for about 2 months at time of post and enjoying every minute of it!

★★★★★ — Montrale, Jul 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 39 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing

Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing 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 Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing

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 Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing

1722 Louisville Dr Ste c, Knoxville, TN37921

Get directions Instagram

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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.