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Valhalla Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness
4.8 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Santa Barbara, California
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 — 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 sbmartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 805-687-1514
Hours
| Monday | 5:30 am–12 pm, 3–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30 am–12 pm, 3–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30 am–12 pm, 3–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30 am–12 pm, 3–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 5:30–11 am, 3–6 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Overall this gym is the perfect place for all ages, young and old; experience or no experience.”
“This is an amazing place to learn martial arts, Mike is one of the best coaches, my kids have been learning a lot of respect and discipline!”
“This gym has given me inner-strength, community, and discipline throughout my teen years and adulthood.”
“He is a man who deserves more recognition by encompassing the best virtues of a true fighter: skill, integrity, character, and sportsmanship.”
“The lessons learned here through doing martial arts transcend self defense and have far reaching applications in the real world.”
Other martial arts here
“Came here for a few years and it taught me discipline, hard work, and really showed me lots of technique in my boxing and kickboxing.”
“Came here for a few years and it taught me discipline, hard work, and really showed me lots of technique in my boxing and kickboxing.”
“From his kind instruction, I've become better at jiu-jitsu and kickboxing but, most importantly, my confidence in myself has grown.”
“This gym is a great starting point for anyone interested in having a career in the mma world as well.”
What members say
“This is an amazing place to learn martial arts, Mike is one of the best coaches, my kids have been learning a lot of respect and discipline!”
“Overall this gym is the perfect place for all ages, young and old; experience or no experience.”
“Came here for a few years and it taught me discipline, hard work, and really showed me lots of technique in my boxing and kickboxing.”
“I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m learning martial arts, which has helped me accuire discipline at the gym and in my personal life.”
“My daughter loves going to Valhalla, I have seen a major self confidence boost since attending.”
“He is a man who deserves more recognition by encompassing the best virtues of a true fighter: skill, integrity, character, and sportsmanship.”
From the reviews
I trained with Mike MacDonald decades ago. Literally back in the early 2000s when I attended UCSB. Mike pours his heart and soul into his teaching. His patience, skill and communication are phenomenal.
I've been going to Valhalla MMA for about three months now. I typically go once or twice a day, everyday of the week with exception to the weekend. My experience has been nothing short of great. The atmosphere is hard to beat, the people are friendly, and most importantly coach Mike is exceptional.
This gym has given me inner-strength, community, and discipline throughout my teen years and adulthood. The classes are fun and challenging. The coaches are easy to work with and have personality. This gym is a great starting point for anyone interested in having a career in the mma world as well.
I have tried out multiple dojos in SB and haven't found a more caring, welcoming space. Master Mike is a highly trained and knowledgeable instructor who always gives extra to his students. His generosity is what hooked me, and his expertise is what made me stay.
New to muay thai? Start at Valhalla Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness
Valhalla Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 Valhalla Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness
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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🥊 Free trial class — check their site