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Derby City MMA
4.8 ★★★★★ 434 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Louisville, Kentucky
Family-friendly martial arts facility with boxing options and clean mats, plus classes for adults, kids and teens.
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 derbycitymartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (502) 937-8797
Hours
| Monday | 10 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–1 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–1:30 PM, 5–7 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“The coaches show true interest and put so much effort into improving everyone's game whether they are a beginner or at the expert level.”
“Great atmosphere for the kids part of the day the instructors are fun and my son has learned a lot especially how to punch.”
“I’ve attended camp three times and competed in a Chewjitsu tournament, and every experience has been solid.”
“Started for self defense but enjoyed the classes and now do it for fun.”
Other martial arts here
“I have been coming to this gym for nearly 3 years now, been training jiu-jitsu for 9 years this May (at time of this review).”
“Derby City MMA was by far one of the best I've attended.”
What members say
“Great staff, great instruction and cool people to roll with if you live in that area or are passing through hit them up it will be worth your time.”
“The coaches show true interest and put so much effort into improving everyone's game whether they are a beginner or at the expert level.”
“I dropped in again yesterday and had another positive experience — very welcoming members, great rounds, and a clean environment.”
“All of the instructors compete and their attention to detail is next level.”
“I’ve attended camp three times and competed in a Chewjitsu tournament, and every experience has been solid.”
From the reviews
Was in the area and asked if I could drop in for a class and they said come on in! Great staff, great instruction and cool people to roll with if you live in that area or are passing through hit them up it will be worth your time. Definitely my home away from home when I am in that area!
I’d highly recommend Derby City MMA. There are plenty of highly skilled, world-class people here, covering a wide variety of styles. All of the coaches are very down to earth and genuinely care about your development.
I travel a lot for work and dropped in to Derby City. This is an amazing facility and the members and staff treated me like one of their own. I've followed Chewy's YouTube channel for years, and he ran an amazing class. He's a fantastic instructor who runs a really phenomenal gym filled with great people.
This place is absolutely amazing! If I could rate it higher than five stars, I certainly would! Trish Burnell is incredibly kind and caring, making me feel at ease when I talk to her! Coach Hayden is my favorite coach there, and he definitely deserves a raise!
New to muay thai? Start at Derby City MMA
Derby City MMA 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.
Your first muay thai class at Derby City 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.
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🥊 Free trial class — check their site