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Independent MMA & Fitness

4.8 ★★★★★ 164 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in McDonough, Georgia

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness classes Fight team

Family-friendly center offering jiu-jitsu, cardio kickboxing, and boxing classes, among others.

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 5–8) — 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
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule independentmmafitness-mcdonough.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 678-432-9005

Hours

Monday 6 am–1 pm, 4:30–9 pm
Tuesday 8 am–1:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–1 pm, 4:30–9 pm
Thursday 8 am–1:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm
Friday 6 am–1 pm, 4:30–7:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am–1 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 Independent MMA & Fitness, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 4 mentions

“The instruction is clear, the training is challenging, and everyone is welcoming whether you’re brand new or experienced.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 6 mentions

“Professor Chad (one of the owners) is one the most personable, dedicated, and knowledgeable BJJ instructor’s my son has ever worked with.”

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🔥 Muay Thai Fitness 4 mentions

“I’ve really enjoyed training here and would definitely recommend Independent MMA to anyone looking to learn real martial arts and get in great shape.”

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🏆 Fight Team

“Can't wait to come In and start my journey to become a fighter Rachael the manager was awesome helping me on the phone promote her if you can!”

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📘 Fundamentals 4 mentions

“Independent MMA Staff have been great in showing proper technique, motivating & pushing us to push ourselves & keep going.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“I love the variety of classes offered and how they genuinely want you to succeed in your goals from weight loss, self defense to self confidence.”

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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 Independent MMA & Fitness — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 2 mentions

“I started off with kickboxing/boxing and man has it changed my mental health.”

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🥊 Boxing 5 mentions

“After spending almost a year coming here, I feel amazing and love how great I am at boxing!”

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🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 5 mentions

“Since I’ve moved away, I’ve been to other BJJ gyms but still miss training at Independent.”

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

🏟️ MMA 9 mentions

“I’ve really enjoyed training here and would definitely recommend Independent MMA to anyone looking to learn real martial arts and get in great shape.”

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 164 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 6 mentions

“Great Gym, awesome coaches and gym partners. Really great and available schedule to go and workout at any time!”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“The instruction is clear, the training is challenging, and everyone is welcoming whether you’re brand new or experienced.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 10 mentions

“The instruction is clear, the training is challenging, and everyone is welcoming whether you’re brand new or experienced.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 5 mentions

“Independent MMA Staff have been great in showing proper technique, motivating & pushing us to push ourselves & keep going.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 6 mentions

“I’ve really enjoyed training here and would definitely recommend Independent MMA to anyone looking to learn real martial arts and get in great shape.”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 4 mentions

“Great gym with a solid atmosphere and knowledgeable coaches.”

From the reviews

Great gym and great classes for beginners! They WILL PUSH YOU BEYOND your comfort zone! Come ready to work with a great attitude! They taught me the basics, fundamentals and beginner techniques of boxing! Coach Baba is a great coach! Coach Nando and Coach Manny helped me as well! I highly recommend!

★★★★★ — C, Jul 2024

I did my research for awhile and I’m so glad I choose this gym. I was skeptical as to where to go for proper training for my children. Independent offers several woman and men trainers varying in age ranges, which I really like!

★★★★★ — Heather, Feb 2022

I love coming to this gym. Amazing community, great workouts and coaches are awesome at teaching you the basics and building you up. Very beginner friendly but that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to work. We workout hard but there’s tons of support and encouragement across the classes.

★★★★★ — Valerie, May 2024

Independent gym is my favorite place to be, it’s my safe place. It’s legit and all the trainers are professional. I started off with kickboxing/boxing and man has it changed my mental health. I recommend Coach Bolo and Coach Baba! Both are great trainers.

★★★★★ — Tania, Nov 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 164 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Independent MMA & Fitness

Independent MMA & Fitness 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 Independent MMA & Fitness

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 Independent MMA & Fitness

235 McDonough Pkwy, McDonough, GA30253

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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.