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Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
5 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Apex, 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 (ages 3–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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
- 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 connectionbjjacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (910) 536-2278
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 AM, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30–10:30 AM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6–7 AM, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30–10:30 AM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 5:30–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in every student's growth, whether you're a complete beginner or more experienced on the mats.”
“What really sets this gym apart for me is that I can also take classes alongside my daughter, and it has been such a wonderful bonding experience for us both.”
“They even offer kids classes from 3 years and up and has an all women’s class as well!”
“Vini is a fantastic guy who even took the time to work with her one on one to make sure she was squared away on the techniques being taught each day.”
“Not only is Gabriel a phenomenal athlete, he has created a great training environment with competent and competitive instructors.”
Other martial arts here
“Gabriel is one of the best in the world but seeing how much he devotes to his academy, which isn’t in a place with a huge “jiu jitsu” scene is really inspiring.”
“I highly recommend connection jiujitsu over any karate or taekwondo classes for little kids.”
What members say
“Coaches Kinho, Leo, and Maria are amazing—they treat every child like their own, creating a supportive and fun environment.”
“The culture of the gym is welcoming, professional, and family-friendly, while still offering challenging, technical rounds for athletes who want to push their performance.”
“The culture of the gym is welcoming, professional, and family-friendly, while still offering challenging, technical rounds for athletes who want to push their performance.”
“The culture of the gym is welcoming, professional, and family-friendly, while still offering challenging, technical rounds for athletes who want to push their performance.”
“Our kids have grown so much in skill and confidence thanks to their dedication.”
“Not only is Gabriel a phenomenal athlete, he has created a great training environment with competent and competitive instructors.”
From the reviews
Great gym atmosphere, hard rolls, excellent professors. This is the first gym I feel im really part of a family that cares about me instead of treated like another member. Recently did remodel and improvements to the gym and it looks amazing.
Our kids have been in the jiu-jitsu program for 6 months, and we couldn’t be happier. Coaches Kinho, Leo, and Maria are amazing—they treat every child like their own, creating a supportive and fun environment. Our kids have grown so much in skill and confidence thanks to their dedication.
These guys are the best! Took my 7 year old daughter to attend a seminar with Gabriel and Ffion which was a dream come true for her. The team at Connection went above and beyond to accommodate her being one of the only kids to attend.
We love Connection! We participate in their kids program. All of the coaches and professors are extremely friendly and inviting. They are all brown and black belt instructors with competition experience. It’s a well run class and you can tell safety is maintained and a priority!
New to muay thai? Start at Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC 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 Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
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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