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Evolutionary Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 209 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Hackettstown, New Jersey

Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness classes

Plan your first class

  • 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 3–15) — 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 njfight.net — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (908) 850-6009

Hours

Monday 3:30–9 PM
Tuesday 3:30–9 PM
Wednesday 3:30–8 PM
Thursday 3:30–8 PM
Friday Closed
Saturday 9 AM–2 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 Evolutionary Martial Arts, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 4 mentions

“From the first day, everyone was welcoming and supportive, which made it easy to feel comfortable even as a beginner.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 13 mentions

“My daughter started training here a few months ago and everything has been fantastic from the start.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“10/10 recommend evolutionary martial arts especially for personal training, kids classes etc.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 9 mentions

“She created a welcoming, supportive environment while still making sure we learned practical, real-world self-defense techniques.”

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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 Evolutionary Martial Arts — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 2 mentions

“I’ve been training at Evolutionary Martial Arts in Hackettstown for about 5 years doing Muay Thai kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it’s been an amazing experience.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 3 mentions

“I’ve been training at Evolutionary Martial Arts in Hackettstown for about 5 years doing Muay Thai kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it’s been an amazing experience.”

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

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 209 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 9 mentions

“She created a welcoming, supportive environment while still making sure we learned practical, real-world self-defense techniques.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 13 mentions

“Instructors are kind, down-to-earth, and knowledgeable people who treat myself and others at EMA like family, no matter your experience level or background.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 5 mentions

“It’s a great place to challenge yourself, learn real technique, and feel empowered both on and off the mats.”

💗 welcoming to women 4 mentions

“Alex led an incredible women’s defense class that was both empowering and informative.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 18 mentions

“Our 2 young girls have been coming here for a few years now and the change in their self-confidence, physical strength, and mentality is astounding!”

From the reviews

My experience with EMA has been fantastic. My interactions have been with Sifu Dave and Ales. Both are amazing and I felt comfortable with them right away. My daughter and I signed up for a private self-defense class with Alex.

★★★★★ — Kcif77, Jan 2024

EMA is wonderful! We signed up our son for martial arts camp in the summer for a week of trying something new and he quickly fell in love. We quickly signed up for classes and haven’t looked back. The instructors are amazing, patient and kind, but also hold the kids accountable.

★★★★★ — Megan, Mar 2026

I love everything about EMA. My husband and daughter have been going for years. I recently started and am so glad I did. They are friendly, inviting and very knowledgeable. They make you feel like you have known them forever. Dave, Doug, Jobi are amazing people. You will learn so much while getting an amazing workout.

★★★★★ — Diana, Jun 2021

The best of the best!!!! I signed up for a 4-week self defense boot camp and Alex was incredible! Those 4 weeks were not only empowering physically, but mentally as well. Alex created an environment that was challenging, supportive, and motivating from day one.

★★★★★ — Nicole, May 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 209 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Evolutionary Martial Arts

Evolutionary Martial Arts 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 Evolutionary 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 Evolutionary Martial Arts

111 Main St, Hackettstown, NJ07840

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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.