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JKD NYC

4.9 ★★★★★ 90 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in New York, New York

Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness classes Fight team

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 — 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
  • 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 jkdnyc.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 347-746-5532

Hours

Monday 9 am–9 pm
Tuesday 9 am–9 pm
Wednesday 9 am–9 pm
Thursday 9 am–9 pm
Friday 9 am–5 pm
Saturday 9 am–5 pm
Sunday 9 am–5 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 JKD NYC, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 12 mentions

“Even though I was a beginner when I started, Chris and the rest of the team really took the time to make sure I understood what we were learning and its application.”

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👤 Private Lessons 7 mentions

“I have been attending classes and private training sessions at JKD NYC for about a year and a half now and all that I can say is that it has been a truly rewarding experience.”

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🔥 Muay Thai Fitness 5 mentions

“At the end of every class I am drenched with sweat after a great workout that mixes in useful parts of boxing, kickboxing, knife fighting, and other styles.”

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🏆 Fight Team 2 mentions

“JKD NYC is a fantastic community of real fighters and people passionate about what they are learning.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 14 mentions

“If you want to be pushed forward as a better fighter or simply want to gain confidence in self defence then I can't recommend a better community to learn with.”

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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 JKD NYC — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 2 mentions

“At the end of every class I am drenched with sweat after a great workout that mixes in useful parts of boxing, kickboxing, knife fighting, and other styles.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🥊 Boxing 2 mentions

“At the end of every class I am drenched with sweat after a great workout that mixes in useful parts of boxing, kickboxing, knife fighting, and other styles.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

“Every class is different and we do cool drills with knives and sticks and of course kicking and punching and grappling.”

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

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🎽 Karate 2 mentions

“I have trained in Wing Chun, Karate, and JKD at other schools throughout my life and nothing compares to the kind of hands on/real time training I have acquired from JKD NYC.”

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 90 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 2 mentions

“Chris is a great person and an amazing instructor.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 15 mentions

“Even though I was a beginner when I started, Chris and the rest of the team really took the time to make sure I understood what we were learning and its application.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 11 mentions

“I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn real self-defense, regardless of skill level, in a friendly, professional environment.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 14 mentions

“The fighting style itself is a common sense approach to fighting utilizing the best techniques and approaches from all different forms of fighting.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 4 mentions

“At the end of every class I am drenched with sweat after a great workout that mixes in useful parts of boxing, kickboxing, knife fighting, and other styles.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 13 mentions

“In NYC, even if you are the type of person to never pick a fight, you should be prepared for anything to happen and it is important to be capable of defending yourself.”

From the reviews

Wish I could give this place and Chris Moran more than 5 Stars. I’ve trained in many different marital arts in the past and was looking for a place to continue my training when I moved up to NYC. I joined JKD and was immediately hooked.

★★★★★ — Dylan, Sep 2018

Wasn't sure what to expect when I showed up at the school/studio. When I first walked in all I saw was a room with gear, mirrors, and, a variety of students at all levels. The instructor (Chris) was younger than me and dressed in street-clothes.

★★★★★ — Philip, Aug 2013

I have been regularly attending Chris Moran's JKD classes for over six months and the experience has been amazing. If you are already black belt in some martial art, you will definitely learn new things. If you have no experience and just want to get in shape, the classes will be perfect for you too!

★★★★★ — Michael, Apr 2016

I highly recommend JKD NYC for individuals of all skill sets, to those just learning a fighting style to those advanced in other practices. It is worth attending one class, or just doing a trial private session with Chris to get a feel for his style and all the great things his program has to offer.

★★★★★ — Anup, Sep 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 90 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at JKD NYC

JKD NYC 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 JKD NYC

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 JKD NYC

115 W 30th St, New York, NY10036

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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.