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Imperium Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 112 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in North Reading, Massachusetts

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness classes 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
  • Drop-ins drop-ins run around $34 — many gyms also offer monthly memberships and a discounted first session, so ask about new-member rates
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fitness & conditioning muay thai fitness and cardio classes — a serious workout you can do without ever having to spar
  • 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 imperiummartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (617) 962-4415

Hours

Monday 5 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–9 PM
Thursday 5 AM–9 PM
Friday 5 AM–9 PM
Saturday 9 AM–12 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 Imperium Martial Arts, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 5 mentions

“He meets everyone where their skill level is from first timer to seasoned MMA practitioner and helps them improve.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 21 mentions

“Imperium martial arts is a fantastic gym, Connor does an amazing job teaching the kids and they have a blast learning from everyone there!”

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👤 Private Lessons

“It was great to have a one-on-one boxing session with Connor.”

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🔥 Muay Thai Fitness 3 mentions

“The class was a great workout but also emphasized the basic fundamentals of striking and self defense, perfect for any level!”

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🏆 Fight Team

“Everyone from trial class students to professional fighters train at this location, and form a welcoming friendly team that support eachother on and off the mats.”

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📘 Fundamentals 2 mentions

“The class was a great workout but also emphasized the basic fundamentals of striking and self defense, perfect for any level!”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“The class was a great workout but also emphasized the basic fundamentals of striking and self defense, perfect for any level!”

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

🥊 Boxing 2 mentions

“It was great to have a one-on-one boxing session with Connor.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 6 mentions

“Whether it’s BJJ, striking, or conditioning, the instruction is top-notch and you can see real progress fast.”

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

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

“He meets everyone where their skill level is from first timer to seasoned MMA practitioner and helps them improve.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🎽 Karate

“Our children are not part of the Imperium Martial Arts but have taken karate in the past.”

Other gyms that also teach karate →

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 112 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 5 mentions

“Connor Barry is not a great coach but he’s also one of the best people around.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Everyone from trial class students to professional fighters train at this location, and form a welcoming friendly team that support eachother on and off the mats.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 9 mentions

“Everyone from trial class students to professional fighters train at this location, and form a welcoming friendly team that support eachother on and off the mats.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Everyone from trial class students to professional fighters train at this location, and form a welcoming friendly team that support eachother on and off the mats.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 5 mentions

“His style incorporates elements of martial arts, which made learning 🥊 feel more holistic and skill-based rather than just about conditioning.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“My kids have grown so much in confidence and focus, and we’re just so thankful to be part of such a positive, encouraging community!”

From the reviews

This the best martial arts school around the area. Connor Barry is not a great coach but he’s also one of the best people around. The class is full of great people no matter if you’ve been doing martial arts for years or just starting out.

★★★★★ — Ricky, Sep 2024

Connor has built an incredible business and martial arts program in Imperium. The care, attention, and high quality instruction provided by the coaches to each individual is outstanding.

★★★★★ — Eric, Aug 2025

This jiu jitsu academy has been a wonderful addition to our community and an incredible resource for kids. My son, who is almost 4, started a bit earlier than most, and it has been amazing to see how much fun he has while staying active and learning alongside other kids who share a love for jiu jitsu.

★★★★★ — Patricia, Jan 2026

Imperium gym is the real deal, They provide classes for all levels, as well as children classes. Coach Connor & the sensei’s here are great especially with children and my son personally has learned a lot! from them and always looks forward to get back in there the next day and keep working.

★★★★★ — Kevin, Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 112 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Imperium Martial Arts

Imperium 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at Imperium 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 Imperium Martial Arts

197 Main St Ste 201, North Reading, MA01864

Get directions Instagram

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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.