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Neon Belly MMA
5 ★★★★★ 10 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Nashville, Tennessee
Authentic Thai — reviews and the gym's own info point to coaching rooted in Thailand's muay thai tradition. If lineage matters to you, ask where the coaches trained and about their kru.
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
- 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule neonbellymma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (615) 854-8283
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 AM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 6–7 AM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 6–7 AM |
| Saturday | 12:30–3 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“He has a wealth of knowledge and experience and caters each class to the skill levels in the room- from day one beginners to advanced athletes training for upcoming fights.”
“You can tell that he cares if you are learning proper technique and having a great time.”
Other martial arts here
“My buddy and I dropped in while visiting from out of town, and we had an incredible experience at Neon Belly MMA.”
What members say
“Joe’s coaching is outstanding, he does a great job breaking down techniques, paying attention to details, and helping students improve regardless of experience level.”
“He has a wealth of knowledge and experience and caters each class to the skill levels in the room- from day one beginners to advanced athletes training for upcoming fights.”
“First timer and definitely felt at home with the group; people were friendly and the class was so enjoyable, even with such a learning curve.”
“Joe’s coaching is outstanding, he does a great job breaking down techniques, paying attention to details, and helping students improve regardless of experience level.”
From the reviews
just started here. awesome training. technical but also really fun. not many things get me up at 5am but this class can. also you can nerd out about pizza dough with coach Joe after class if that floats your boat. learn how to make a light detroit pizza for someone and then immediately elbow their face right off.
I rarely write a review on Google reviews, but this is one of the rare occasions that felt compel to. I have trained in many gyms and felt like this is the first time a gym has delivered on a culture of inclusion.
My buddy and I dropped in while visiting from out of town, and we had an incredible experience at Neon Belly MMA. The atmosphere was welcoming from the moment we walked in, and everyone made us feel like part of the team.
Went and had a session with Joe at Neon Belly recently after hearing about it from a friend. The class was small, but incredibly informative. It was, what I would consider, a good mix of footwork, and movement for striking. Everyone in the class was very polite, and it was overall a fantastic experience.
New to muay thai? Start at Neon Belly MMA
Neon Belly MMA 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 Neon Belly MMA
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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