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City of Champions
5 ★★★★★ 26 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.
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
- 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule cityofchampionssd.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 619-286-9900
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–3 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“As a complete beginner, I found City of Champions incredibly welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable.”
“I have already learned a lot from Todd's Muay Thai classes and Zorael's strength and conditioning classes are an awesome workout.”
“These classes put me in better shape than I ever was and gave me self defense & confidence that I really needed as a girl.”
Other martial arts here
“City of Champions is easily the first gym that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in learning BJJ or Muay Thai in the San Diego area.”
“Class sizes are much more manageable than big full-service MMA gyms, ensuring you get lots of personal attention and instruction.”
What members say
“I had a baby and now I am going back and taking the 7 pm Strength / Conditioning this class is high energy with a very positive coach , Zoarel she's a great trainer !”
“As a complete beginner, I found City of Champions incredibly welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable.”
“City of champions is a great gym where you feel like everyone is a family, everybody is about hard work and helping one another.”
“Dustin (head coach) is an amazing teacher that has an old school mindset, with new school techniques.”
“I had a baby and now I am going back and taking the 7 pm Strength / Conditioning this class is high energy with a very positive coach , Zoarel she's a great trainer !”
“Hiro, the Muay Thai instructor, is equally skilled and an outstanding teacher in his craft.”
From the reviews
City of Champions is my home. I first started looking into bjj gyms around the fall of 2016. I tried a bunch of places out and felt right at home at City of Champions. Everyone respects each other, rolls hard, and keeps each other safe most importantly.
I found this gym while walking my dog around the neighborhood. I take Muay Thai with Aziz and Hiro. I also take Strength & Conditioning with Aziz. They are fantastic coaches and they are truly committed to the growth of their students. I've been going there about 10 months and love it.
I started training at this location for 1 year and I enjoy it. The facility is clean and organized. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The rest of the members are friendly as well. One aspect of this gym that I really appreciate is that there are no egomaniacs. Everyone is respectful and polite.
This is a one of a kind gym with both amazing instructors and a great communal atmosphere. The owners are very down-to-earth, friendly people who are also excellent in their crafts with a strong competitive background.
New to muay thai? Start at City of Champions
City of Champions 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 City of Champions
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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