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Control Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 45 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Highland Heights, Ohio

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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
  • 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 controlmartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 440-590-6113

Hours

Monday 5:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am–7:30 pm
Wednesday 5:30–8:30 pm
Thursday 11:30 am–8:30 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9:30 am–1:30 pm
Sunday 12–1:30 pm

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

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 3 mentions

“A great place for beginners and experienced fighters coach Dave is awesome and knowledgeable.”

All gyms that run beginner muay thai →

🧒 Kids Muay Thai 2 mentions

“My son and I attended an introductory class.”

All gyms that run kids muay thai →

🏆 Fight Team 2 mentions

“A great place for beginners and experienced fighters coach Dave is awesome and knowledgeable.”

All gyms that run fight team →

Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Control Martial Arts — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 4 mentions

“I spent almost a year training BJJ 4-5x a week with them during a temporary relocation.”

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

🏟️ MMA

“Really fun place to learn MMA!”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 45 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 7 mentions

“Highly recommended, great place to train with friendly and knowledgeable instructors offering tuition in a range of disciplines.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“A great place for beginners and experienced fighters coach Dave is awesome and knowledgeable.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 11 mentions

“Notably these classes are genuinely friendly in nature, by this I mean there is nothing hot headed, nor sickly sweet and gimmicky about any of it.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“He thoroughly explains techniques, and answers any questions students may have.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“Everyone is helping each other learn and become better, all the while getting a killer workout in.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 2 mentions

“A great place for beginners and experienced fighters coach Dave is awesome and knowledgeable.”

From the reviews

I've been training at MKG Cleveland under Sifu David Hearst for the past 10 months and cant say enough great things about this Academy. Having little to no previous training, I went from barely knowing how to throw a punch, to developing a strong base in the arts of Kali, Panantukan, Muay Thai, and Jeet Kune Do.

★★★★★ — Marco, May 2013

I've been training with coach Dave for a few years now. He is one of the most knowledgeable & humble martial artists I've ever met. He fosters a positive, safe environment, exploring peoples potentials but making sure they have fun most of all. Coach Dave also welcomes people of all martial arts backgrounds.

★★★★★ — Okan, Feb 2023

Highly recommended, great place to train with friendly and knowledgeable instructors offering tuition in a range of disciplines. I enjoyed all the classes, everyone is trying to help each other grow and improve, and I got what is honestly a huge amount of individual feedback and help from the owner and others.

★★★★★ — Benjamin, Dec 2021

Control is absolutely fantastic. Dave’s curriculum & knowledge go beyond anything I’ve seen! The facility itself is beautiful, and has tons of space along with all the equipment needed. Dave is a great instructor - always helping students learn and perfect their craft, and the other students are great as well.

★★★★★ — Shawn, Mar 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 45 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Control Martial Arts

Control Martial Arts comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at Control 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.

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 Control Martial Arts

261 Alpha Park, Highland Heights, OH44143

Get directions Facebook

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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.