HomeCaliforniaPasadena › Modern Martial Arts and Fitness

Modern Martial Arts and Fitness

4.9 ★★★★★ 125 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Pasadena, California

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons 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
  • 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
  • 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 modernmartialartsandfitness.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (626) 227-1414

Hours

Monday 5–9 PM
Tuesday 5–9 PM
Wednesday 5–9 PM
Thursday 5–9 PM
Friday Closed
Saturday 10 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 Modern Martial Arts and Fitness, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 11 mentions

“Justen is a great instructor as well and takes great lengths to make sure beginners like me feel comfortable and are learning.”

All gyms that run beginner muay thai →

👤 Private Lessons

“I absolutely recommend trying a class and a personal training session.”

All gyms that run private lessons →

🥊 Sparring 3 mentions

“I appreciate the fact that we get to do controlled sparring at the end of each class to apply the technical skills being taught to us by Coach Justen.”

All gyms that run sparring →

🏆 Fight Team

“Justen, and all the coaches, are experienced fighters that care about helping others improve.”

All gyms that run fight team →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“I can attest that he teaches practical, effective martial arts that work in fights and self defense situations.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Modern Martial Arts and Fitness — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 13 mentions

“Modern Martial Arts & Fitness also has such a wide range of classes -- I absolutely love Muay Thai and their all-women No-Gi BJJ.”

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

🏟️ MMA 5 mentions

“They also offer Muay Thai, BJJ (Gi and No-Gi), wrestling and MMA classes which is a great variety of martial arts if you are trying to expand your skills.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🤸 Wrestling 7 mentions

“They also offer Muay Thai, BJJ (Gi and No-Gi), wrestling and MMA classes which is a great variety of martial arts if you are trying to expand your skills.”

Other gyms that also teach wrestling →

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 125 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 6 mentions

“Justen is a great instructor as well and takes great lengths to make sure beginners like me feel comfortable and are learning.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 19 mentions

“I came to Modern Martial Arts & Fitness with no prior martial arts background but immediately felt welcomed by the coaches and students.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 27 mentions

“The atmosphere at the gym is friendly and welcoming, but at the same time there’s a strong focus on training.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 6 mentions

“Regardless of your experience level, you will come away from each class with better technique.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 7 mentions

“I appreciate the fact that we get to do controlled sparring at the end of each class to apply the technical skills being taught to us by Coach Justen.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 7 mentions

“What stands out most is the positive atmosphere everyone is respectful, motivating, and focused on helping each other grow.”

From the reviews

Owner/head instructor Justen Hamilton is an incredibly effective teacher and a gem of a human being. What a welcoming environment he’s created here at Modern Martial Arts. Justen got me ready for most of my MMA fights. The victories were his as well.

★★★★★ — Mike, Jul 2023

I started training wrestling and Muay Thai about two months ago with no prior experience, and the sheer speed at which my skills in both have been developing has far exceeded my expectations. I know for a fact that this is due solely to the quality of the instructors and the environment they have created in the gym.

★★★★★ — Sean, May 2025

I've trained at various gyms in the past, and Modern Martial Arts is one of my favorites. Everyone always comes to class with positive energy, and all the staff/instructors are great people to be around. Despite training striking for several years in the past I find myself learning new things every Muay Thai class.

★★★★★ — Carl, Jan 2026

Awesome place!! I’ve been training No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu here as a total beginner with no previous martial arts experience for about 2 months now, and I have to say, the coaches and students have been so nice to me and it's been really welcoming. Coach Justen is a skilled teacher and attentive to all of the students.

★★★★★ — Ryan, Feb 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 125 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Modern Martial Arts and Fitness

Modern Martial Arts and 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at Modern Martial Arts and 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 Modern Martial Arts and Fitness

2318 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA91107

Get directions Instagram

More muay thai gyms near Pasadena

Legacy Pasadena

4.7 ★★★★★ 41 reviews

2560 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA

🥊 Free trial class — check their site

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Authentic Thai expert, authentic coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly gym

under a mile away

Aragon Training Academy - Muay Thai

4.9 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

3636 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA

🥊 Free trial class — check their site

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness Fight team Authentic Thai expert, authentic coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly gym

1.6 miles away

Classic Kickboxing

5 ★★★★★ 46 reviews

91 Union St, Pasadena, CA

Muay Thai gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness Fight team expert, authentic coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly gym

2.6 miles away

All muay thai gyms in Pasadena, CA →

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.