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The Academy Elk River

4 ★★★★☆ 43 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Elk River, Minnesota

Muay Thai gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule academyelkriver.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 763-250-4640

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–6 pm
Saturday 10 am–2 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 The Academy Elk River, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 3 mentions

“Adam , David , Jason are excellent coaches/teachers that are thorough ,attentive, with a wideband of knowledge , Great school for Beginners and the experienced.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 9 mentions

“Six years later I’m still a member and two, soon to be all three of my kids are a part of the little champions program.”

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💪 Women's Muay Thai

“It's totally non-gender biased and as a woman I feel completely comfortable in co-ed classes.”

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🏆 Fight Team 2 mentions

“I even competed for the first time at 41 years old.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 5 mentions

“Top notch coaches and members set up for what ever your goal may be fitness, self defense, competition they do it all and tailor it for all ages, skill levels and body types.”

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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 The Academy Elk River — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 5 mentions

“If you're looking for a welcoming atmosphere with experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing coaches- The Academy Elk River is the place to train.”

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

🏟️ MMA

“Excellent place to learn MMA and self-defense with highly skilled instructors.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 43 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 7 mentions

“Adam , David , Jason are excellent coaches/teachers that are thorough ,attentive, with a wideband of knowledge , Great school for Beginners and the experienced.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Adam , David , Jason are excellent coaches/teachers that are thorough ,attentive, with a wideband of knowledge , Great school for Beginners and the experienced.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 8 mentions

“If you're looking for a welcoming atmosphere with experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing coaches- The Academy Elk River is the place to train.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“The Little Champions class has helped my son and daughter find focus and build confidence.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 6 mentions

“Top notch coaches and members set up for what ever your goal may be fitness, self defense, competition they do it all and tailor it for all ages, skill levels and body types.”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 3 mentions

“Great gym, great instructors, great gym mates.”

From the reviews

Excellent place to learn MMA and self-defense with highly skilled instructors. It's totally non-gender biased and as a woman I feel completely comfortable in co-ed classes. Every woman should spend some time learning these skills. Edit: Just an update. I'm still there and it's still awesome.

★★★★★ — Abbey, Mar 2022

This gym is 100% Veteran friendly! I absolutely love the place! The Coaches and students were so welcoming when I walked in on 01/31/22. I have been training BJJ 2-3 times per week since that time, and have built some really great friendships as a result.

★★★★★ — Jason, Jun 2023

Top notch coaches and members set up for what ever your goal may be fitness, self defense, competition they do it all and tailor it for all ages, skill levels and body types. I would highly recommend.

★★★★★ — Marco, Feb 2020

If you're looking for a welcoming atmosphere with experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing coaches- The Academy Elk River is the place to train. No matter what your interest level in training is- whether it is to shed a few pounds, increase your physical fitness or fight in the octagon they've got you…

★★★★★ — Jaime, Feb 2014

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 43 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at The Academy Elk River

The Academy Elk River 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 The Academy Elk River

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 The Academy Elk River

17375 US-10, Elk River, MN55330

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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.