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NM Jeet Kune Do Academy

4.8 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Union City, New Jersey

Muay Thai gym Kids & teens Private lessons Fight team

Plan your first class

  • 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
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule nmjkd.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (201) 913-5392

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 3:30–9 PM
Wednesday 3:30–9 PM
Thursday 3:30–8 PM
Friday 3:30–8 PM
Saturday 11 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 NM Jeet Kune Do Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Muay Thai 9 mentions

“I have enrolled my child in this class , where the teacher is exceptional and well-versed in effective techniques.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“I have been taking private lessons and had been looking for someone like Sifu Nelson my whole life.”

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🏆 Fight Team

“There is a counter in this martial art for any type of fighter that may be encountered on your path.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 8 mentions

“He teaches Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do which I never realized takes the best from all the forms of martial arts out there and trains you how to protect yourself on the street.”

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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 NM Jeet Kune Do Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 2 mentions

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🥊 Boxing

“Bruce Lee incorporated techniques into JKD from Boxing, Fencing, Grappling and other martial arts such as Judo and Jujitsu.”

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🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 3 mentions

“I've done BJJ for years and it's great for the ground but is not always the best for real world situations.”

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🏟️ MMA 2 mentions

“The teacher is very knowledgeable in Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do and other mixed martial arts.”

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🎽 Karate 2 mentions

“I had taken some Karate in the past but never felt I could protect myself on the street and progress was slow and seemed to perform the same moves every class.”

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🤼 Judo

“Bruce Lee incorporated techniques into JKD from Boxing, Fencing, Grappling and other martial arts such as Judo and Jujitsu.”

Other gyms that also teach judo →

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 51 Google reviews — in their own words.

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 4 mentions

“Real martial arts training within a family atmosphere.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 10 mentions

“He teaches Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do which I never realized takes the best from all the forms of martial arts out there and trains you how to protect yourself on the street.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 3 mentions

“I have trained with many masters, but his knowledge of fighting is really something else; he took it to the next level.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 5 mentions

“Sifu Nelson not only teaches martial arts, but he also teaches discipline.”

From the reviews

I have a background in martial arts from various disciplines. Jeet Kune Do and Wing Chun are new disciplines to me. Sifu Nelson studied under one of Bruce Lee's Student and has an immense wealth of knowledge as he has added systems of his own. Jeet Kune Do is for the no nonsense man or woman.

★★★★★ — Rafael, Mar 2022

Amazing Martial Arts school. Sifu Nelson is a master Martial Artist and provides great instruction and the history of JKD with stories about his Masters and Bruce Lee.

★★★★★ — Arian, Jun 2023

I discovered this place last year and is close to where I live. Much easier to stay here in New Jersey than travel to New York City! I have been taking private lessons and had been looking for someone like Sifu Nelson my whole life.

★★★★★ — Verne, Dec 2021

I have been training for three weeks and feel like a different human. Now, I have the ability and the techniques to defend myself against multiple opponents simultaneously or against a bigger and stronger opponent. I realized that techniques make a difference, and there's no one better than Nelson Mendez to teach them.

★★★★★ — Kingprettyboy, May 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 51 reviews →

Your first muay thai class at NM Jeet Kune Do Academy

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 NM Jeet Kune Do Academy

2112 Bergenline Ave, Union City, NJ07087

Get directions

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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.