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MMA Institute
4.8 ★★★★★ 88 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Richmond, Virginia
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
- 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 mmainstitute.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 804-330-3424
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7–8 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 7–8 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 6–7 am, 10 am–1 pm, 5–7 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“The staffs knowledge, excellence, and compassionate approach make this ideal for beginners and experts in different disciplines.”
“That purpose and discipline is what got me away from a life of crime & addiction and still is largely responsible for the lifestyle and character me and my son have today.”
“I came to MMAI under Rick McCoy at just 18yo when he furst opened - a very troubled youth having missed high school entirely due to incarceration.”
“The classes were a great mix of instructional, situational, and pure sparring exercises.”
“He took me from that through the amateur ranks to becoming a professional MMA fighter to opening my own gyms and other businesses.”
“I recommend joining if you are looking for a tough workout and are looking to learn how to protect yourself and loved ones.”
Other martial arts here
“During my time there, I primarily focused on Gi and No-Gi grappling, and this review will be centered on my experience in those areas.”
“He took me from that through the amateur ranks to becoming a professional MMA fighter to opening my own gyms and other businesses.”
What members say
“I watch every class she goes to, she’s been going for about 6 months at this point and I’ve only seen great instructors, motivated staff and inspiring adult classes.”
“-Welcoming Atmosphere: The school offers both competitive and recreational classes, making it suitable for individuals at various stages of their grappling journey.”
“-Welcoming Atmosphere: The school offers both competitive and recreational classes, making it suitable for individuals at various stages of their grappling journey.”
“2 years in and I’ve never had more self confidence, I’m in the best shape of my life, and I feel like I have a family structure that I’ve never really had before.”
“He took me from that through the amateur ranks to becoming a professional MMA fighter to opening my own gyms and other businesses.”
“-Cleanliness: The facility is well-maintained, with Joel and other staff members consistently cleaning the mats after every class.”
From the reviews
I’ve been going here for 2 years now. I walked in with 0 experience, didn’t know anyone, and was a little scared. 2 years in and I’ve never had more self confidence, I’m in the best shape of my life, and I feel like I have a family structure that I’ve never really had before.
I love this place, and I’m really starting to appreciate what MMAI has to offer as I look for a new gym in Chicago. I mostly focused on grappling while I was at MMAI. The classes were a great mix of instructional, situational, and pure sparring exercises.
I trained at MMA Institute for approximately six months before relocating from Virginia. During my time there, I primarily focused on Gi and No-Gi grappling, and this review will be centered on my experience in those areas.
Love this place! Good vibes. We train together not against each other. Meaning we bring the best out of one another. Everyone’s encouraging. Everyone gets along. We truly wanna see everyone reach their full potential. To become the very best they can be. The training itself is legit.
New to muay thai? Start at MMA Institute
MMA Institute 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.
Your first muay thai class at MMA Institute
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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