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Pura Vida Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 88 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Denver, North Carolina

Free trial 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
  • 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 pvmanc.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (980) 241-8373

Hours

Monday 9–10:30 AM, 6–8:30 PM
Tuesday 9–10:30 AM, 4:30–8:30 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–10:30 PM
Thursday 9–10:30 AM, 4:30–8:30 PM
Friday 9 AM–10:30 PM
Saturday 9–10:30 AM
Sunday 9–10:30 AM

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 Pura Vida Martial Arts, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Muay Thai 14 mentions

“Charlie is great with the kids, and has a way of instilling confidence while motivating them to keep moving forward in a way that pushes them to want to grow and try harder.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“He also offers very reasonably priced private lessons which I am currently taking as well.”

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🥊 Sparring

“The upper belts are very kind sparring partners creating a great environment for myself to learn as a new student.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“Not only is my son learning valuable self defense skills, he is having fun.”

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🔓 Open Gym 2 mentions

“Come by Sunday Mornings at 8:30/9:00 for an open gym to see if you like it or check his website for the regular class schedule.”

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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 Pura Vida Martial Arts — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 8 mentions

“We have been taking our 5 year old son to Pure Vida for the last year and a half and he loves it, he asks if he gets to go to Jiu Jitsu almost every day.”

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

🤼 Judo 4 mentions

“Charlie offers classes in BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai.”

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 88 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 3 mentions

“Thank you Coach Charlie for such an amazing environment to train.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 10 mentions

“But most important a great group of friendly guys who are willing to take time to teach the newbies (like me) without making you feel like a dumbass.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 2 mentions
🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“My son loves talking about and showing the new skills he’s learned, and he has enjoyed the new friends he’s made.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 3 mentions

“The upper belts are very kind sparring partners creating a great environment for myself to learn as a new student.”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 5 mentions

“The gym is always very clean, the cleanest I have personally seen.”

From the reviews

After battling cancer and intense chemo my body and confidence was wrecked. Pura Vida is definitely the best decision I have made to help get me back into shape and help me mentally after that intense battle. Coach Charlie has a very clean gym and super amazing students.

★★★★★ — John, Nov 2022

As a parent, I’m very pleased with the instruction my son receives. Charlie and his team are firm but fair, and I’m glad that in this age of “everyone gets a trophy,” at Pura Vida every accolade or belt is earned, not given.

★★★★★ — Anderson, Apr 2024

Both my 5 year old girl and 7 year old boy take classes with Charlie and we couldn’t ask for a better teacher. He is so patient and really gets down to the kids levels to explains why the moves he’s teaching is important.

★★★★★ — Meaghan, Dec 2024

My 5 year old son joined the pee wee class this summer. He looks forward to it each week and has really begun to come out of his shell and gain more confidence. Charlie & his staff are great with the kids and we are so happy we signed up with Pura Vida!

★★★★★ — Bianca, Nov 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 88 reviews →

Your first muay thai class at Pura Vida Martial Arts

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 Pura Vida Martial Arts

1221 NC-16 Bus, Denver, NC28037

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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.