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Pu’u Muay Thai Santa Barbara
5 ★★★★★ 40 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Santa Barbara, California
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
- 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 (ages 7–16) — 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
- 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 muaythaisantabarbara.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (805) 665-3311
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
The classes they run
“Coach Ryan and Coach Jonathan are amazing as well they work their hardest to show beginners how to advance in the sport.”
“Great for kids and teenagers well, great location that's easy to find, friendly staff.”
“I started this training to get in shape but besides that I am learning so much more and meeting awesome people that are dedicated to this and doing it along with you.”
“The trainers follow a real traditional style and they are all X professionals passing knowledge down to their team and fighters.”
Other martial arts here
“Coach Ryan has been incredibly patient as I get rid of my old Kempo Karate habits and switch over to Muay Thai.”
What members say
“Ryan is an excellent instructor, works with you every step of the way and has so much patience to make sure you are comfortable and understand everything he teaches us.”
“I was very adamant about trying a martial art before, but once I came to Pu’u I was instantly hooked after the first day and was eager to get back on the mats and train again.”
“Even though I was only there for a short time, the gym almost felt like a family (in a good way 😅) and I made some great friends.”
“They have a sharp focus on the fundamentals, which is immediately evident when you watch the form of everyone from their youngest practitioners, to the oldest.”
“If you are considering stopping in you really should just be prepared to sweat 😊!”
“Everyone is equal here at the gym, from the new guy who just walked into through the door, to the one who's preparing for an actual fight.”
From the reviews
I’ve been coming here for about a month and a half now and this has been an excellent experience. This is a great authentic Muay Thai academy for beginners AND for those who have experience in martial arts. The instructors are very knowledgeable and friendly. Classes are available for just about any type of schedule.
I have been training at Pu’u Muay Thai for about two months and I’m loving it. My background in martial arts was strictly taekwondo, and I wanted to build on that and try something new. This has been a wonderful experience so far!
I started Pu'u Muay Thai to spend some constructive time with my teenage daughter. We both love it! From the very first day everyone has been very welcoming. I have joined many other forms of fitness programs and gyms and it was always a challenge being new. Pu'u Muay Thai has made it easy and fun to be a beginner!
Best gym ever! I can't recommend this place enough. Sadly I could only train here for about 5 months but in that short time I learned so much and saw a lot of change in my body 💪 The coaches have an incredible eye for detail and know how to push their students to improve without it being too much.
New to muay thai? Start at Pu’u Muay Thai Santa Barbara
Pu’u Muay Thai Santa Barbara 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 Pu’u Muay Thai Santa Barbara
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.
More muay thai gyms near Santa Barbara
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🥊 Free trial class — check their site