I have been training at Austin Kickboxing Academy since may or June of 2025 and this gym has helped me in so many ways. I am in the best shape of my life from training hard and in a better place mentally. It's a very friendly environment and the classes are very intense, everyone is very encouraging and they push you to become stronger and work hard. All of the coaches here are very skilled and nice people, they personally assist you throughout the class to help you understand the correct form and it's really helpful. To anyone thinking about joining just come take the free trial class like I did and see if it's for you! read more

My son has been going to Austin Kickboxing Academy for about a year and a half now and has learned so much. I love that every class is different, great exercise and builds his confidence. The coaches are so patient, encouraging and available to help throughout the classes. read more

Austin Kickboxing Academy - Working pads with Coach Randy - Boxing Near Me - Austin, Texas

Coaches are amazing - super knowledgeable and friendly. Super approachable for beginners to learn technique and work up to contact and sparring. 10/10 recommend read more

Austin Double Standard Academy Here's what you need to know about this circus(gym). Once you become a member you'll be welcomed with a fake smile, fake title as a friend, brother, sister whatever. And every time you come to the gym you will feel that fake friendly environment. Take in consideration before signing up, that if they want to kick you out - they will find any reason to do that. Doesn't matter you right or wrong - nobody is going to talk to you, even look at you. "you out" - that's the statement. Very cultish gym where Mr Head Coach Randy() likes to be and act like a "boss", driven by an ego, and everybody is going to do whatever he asks/says. As I stated above if "commander"(I'd call it a clown, but don't want to be rude) gave a command to don't pay attention to your existence - almost all crew members like a good behaved puppies going to do so. Kicking out people, coming up with absolutely ridiculous reasons like " you as an individual make comments about females at the gym and it makes them feel uncomfortable, stating that there were witnesses". You confused, because there's no evidence, not even a single explanation of what happened, you don't understand what's going on. But when you want to find out the truth, actually sit down with everybody who's "involved" and talk - "we are afraid for our business, we scared that we gonna be sued, we don't have money(kinda shame to say in my opinion), we have to let you go." but at the same time we protect our students, we care about safety etc.(really? I feel it) and technically you have to violate the same rule 3 times to have your membership terminated but not at this circus(excuse me again, gym.) Oh, and probably gonna come up with other BS from the past, like you were working hard on the beginners while sparring or something like that. Or driving fast in front of the gym(attaching a screenshot, after checking tell me that you are man enough to use that as a reason). P.S. Head Coach Randy doesn't feel shy to knock people out in the ring, and once they down just stay and look at them, like there's something personal. Ego problem. (Don't even try to dispute that, it was in front of me, Ben did NOT deserve it. Sharing with everybody how Ben called him to spar last session and MR HEAD COACH had to show him who's the boss - ). Attaching another screenshot, which is probably going to be hard to swallow, but it is what it is, nothing personal right buddy? Since we talking about "making comments what makes people feel uncomfortable". :) (conversation was with a female from that gym). That being said you officially have a status of Austin Double Standard Academy! Congrats! If that's all okay with you - please more than welcome to sign up! read more

Austin Kickboxing Academy - 2 - Boxing Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

This is my first Yelp review- normally I like to hide in the shadows and let veteran yelpers do the heavy lifting. BUT, every now and then you run into someone, or someplace, deserving of a spotlight. AKA is that place for the following reasons (gets out soapbox) 1. Culture. I had just switched careers and moved to Austin, and aside from my new work colleagues, the AKA family were the first people I met, and will be lifelong friends, of that I have no doubt. Randy, the owner, treated me from day 1 like I had been going to the gym for years. No favorites, no nepotism, just honest, open, friendliness that has trickled its way down through the entire staff and all the coaches. Of all the gyms, martial arts and otherwise, that I've been to, AKA has, hands down, the best culture and community. It was, and remains to this day, a grounding, positive force in my life. 2. Facility. The gym itself is f*cking awesome. More bags than you can count, a ring, a cage, mats galore, tons of equipment, and if you're a meathead like me- there's an excellent functional training section with a power rack, kettle bells, impact balls, etc. Plenty of space to train; sanitation and hygiene standards are followed and enforced. One finer detail that sometimes gets overlooked is pricing- they have a few options, namely month-to-month vs contract. If you're just feeling it out, you can go month to month, but if you want to make a commitment or if you're like me and know you'll stay consistent because it's something you enjoy, you can sign a contract and get a significant discount. Also, they have a free trial if you want to test drive a class before making a decision. 3. Coaching. Like I said above, the sense of belonging, the friendliness, and welcoming culture Randy has created has trickled down through all of the staff. Randy runs the gym with his wife, Tessa, and the occasional appearance of their daughter. They are a family, and they will bring you into that family if you join. The other coaches extend that same feeling, and aside from being excellent at what they do, they are laid-back and cordial- offering private lessons and sometimes just giving you one-on-one attention for the hell of it. Can't speak highly enough of Adam, Eric, Jared, Nick, Ricky, Edgar, and Bubba. They are all wildly unique, talented individuals all working together to see you grow. Edgar is a mean salsa coach, too, if you're looking to stack dancing lessons on-top of ass kicking... Overall, I can't speak highly enough of AKA. If you're on the fence, looking for a gym, just got to town, or want to shake things up- DROP IN. You won't regret it. Did I mention it's free? Oh yeah, and they have kids classes, too. I don't have any rug rats of my own but it looks awesome and the kids are always smiling and having a blast. They have a structured, traditional feel to the classes but mix in plenty of fun and games to keep it interesting and stimulating for young minds. You might mess around and make one of the most impactful positive decisions in your life and your child's life at the same time... read more

Austin Kickboxing Academy - Boxing Near Me - Austin, Texas

Solid striking programs, excellent coaches the youth mma is a bit watered down. We were grateful for our time spent here to train.

Swung by the gym to train while in town for work. Great group of people and great leadership with a passion for the sport. Gym is big, classes are well organized and thought out, and everyone is putting in work . Thanks for having me over there guys! read more

I've been training here for a few months and have had nothing but positive experiences. The coaches are fantastic across the board and so is the community in general at the gym. They do an awesome job of making sure beginners are taken care of The facilities are clean and organized. Plenty of equipment and classes to take. Highly recommend! read more

I can't say enough good things about Austin Kick Boxing Academy! I'm at the year point and have learned so much here. I came over from a mixed martial arts gym that had Muay Thai once a week and it's the only class I took there. I was there for about 3 years due to my daughter's cheerleading being a few doors down being the same nights I went to Muay Thay. I enjoyed it but after my daughter stopped doing cheerleading, it became out of the way to where I live and work and I wanted to do more Muay Thai training as well. My wife surprised me with a 3 month membership at AKA for Father's Day last year and I went on to pay for the year. I'm glad I did and wish I had the chance to join sooner. I liked that the community was very inviting (you can find someone to talk to easily and everyone has helpful suggestions), the coaches were accessible and helpful in teaching techniques not to mention just down to Earth, and the gym is clean and you can tell they take pride in their gym space. They have gloves, hand wraps, shirts, and shorts that you can purchase. They have a weights area, tons of heavy bags, a ring, and a cage, changing stalls, tires to jump on or flip ;) , a few loaner jump ropes, and clean restrooms. They also have plenty of parking. The classes I have time to attend are the lunchtime classes which are Monday and Friday Muay Thai and Wednesday boxing. Those classes are techniques based and we will build on a technique, on the bags or on the pads and sometimes apply that in light sparring. I also attend the 6am Tuesday and Thursday Muay Thai bag class days which are more learning and building on a technique on the bag along with fitness training. The coaches I train with the most often are Coach Mark, Coach Eric, and Coach Dusty. They all have their own style and way of teaching the class and I've had an "aha!" moment with all of them. All the coaches here are super cool though. The owners, Coach Randy and Coach Tessa are amazing folks and I appreciate them for creating this amazing space to train. At 43 I may not be the best at it and feel sorta late to the game in terms of the frequency of martial arts training but I've never felt like this was something that I couldn't handle and the coaches at AKA make it so accessible for anyone. You should definitely not let age be a factor in not training in some kind of martial art or other activity! I highly recommend Austin Kick Boxing Academy! Here's to another year! read more

I love the instructors here! I have trained on and off here since 2013 or so, back at their old location. Best instructors in Austin!

This is an amazing gym! The workouts are difficult enough to challenge anybody and leave my body feeling amazing at the end of the hour. There is no worry that you are going to hurt yourself due to improper form because the instructors are very present and interactive with their coaching. They teach to each individual as needed. All of the instructors are warm, approachable, and extremely knowledgeable. And the community here is fantastic. I have met many friends through this gym. They have (free) get-togethers occasionally where they do various things like play volleyball, have a guest instructor teach a samba lesson, etc. This week a group is visiting and training in Thailand together! I honestly love these people and this place so much, and my body is so much stronger because of them. read more

I chose this gym because it was close to my house and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I have been training here for two years (starting as a complete beginner) and just signed up for another year. Instructors make gyms and this gym has the best around. They are extremely knowledgeable, patient, and respectful. They keep class fresh and exciting by changing up the class content and warm-ups regularly. They pay close attention to students and you can tell they really care about you. The owners of the gym are former professionals and I always learn something new when I train with them. Everyone is very friendly with each other and it has a family-like feel to it. Some Muay Thai gyms are known for having an aggressive/intense sparring culture, but this gym keeps it technical and playful, with the option to go a little harder if you like. I think this is the perfect way to get better while being safe. I love this gym and I would recommend it to anyone, beginner or advanced strikers alike. read more

Love the environment of the gym as well as the coaching. All the equipment needed to train is there and the gym is huge !

They say first class is free, but they do NOT mention that you HAVE to purchase wraps and gloves if you don't have your own. My husband and I spent $100 so about $50 each. So in reality... it wasn't free lol. The class at the start felt very chaotic, not a lot of structure you really just have to jump into it and follow whatever everyone is doing. Since this was our first time being here I felt very lost in the sauce, so anyone wanting to try it out, be prepared to jump right in and figure shit out We mostly liked the class once we got into it, instructors came around and helped us with proper form and technique which was cool. read more

Austin Kickboxing Academy has been absolutely awesome. Their wide variety of time slots for their classes has been valuable as well! I have been going here for some time. A great team behind AKA, the community you get to be a part of, and the growth both physically and mentally have been the biggest reasons that keep me going back. In just the last class I attended, I was on my last spurt of energy ending the Boxing class, and several other students as well as the coach/instructor were super encouraging in pushing through and finishing off the class strong. I hope you find yourself here as a member and hope to witness your growth as well, I can see how much passion is shown through coaches/instructors in supporting us. They even offer the first class free to get a feel for it, I hope you give yourself the opportunity to better your quality of life at Austin Kickboxing Academy! I will be there as often as I can and hope to see you there! - Tido P.S I was previously at a point in my life where I had the option to exit Austin for other work opportunities, and one of 5 factors that kept me here, was losing Austin Kickboxing Academy. I listened to a podcast that also discussed training, and AKA was highlighted as a great place to attend, I was already attending AKA before I heard it. This was just icing on the cake for me! read more

I was in Austin Texas for some education, just flew in. Found this gym Austin Kickboxing Academy on yelp, dropped in for a class. They were great! The gym had a gritty unfinished look that just reminded me of a "Rocky" style old school gym. I loved it! Friendly, Excellent vibe! Great instruction. I'll go back again for more. Heavy bag work was legit. I recommend stopping by. Great, detailed instruction. read more

See all

Looking for your first martial arts gym at the ripe old age of 39 (when i joined in 2022) can be very daunting, but walking through the big warehouse doors of AKA and being met with that warm welcoming feeling from coach randy and coach tessa made the decision to join AKA a lot easier. i live like 30 miles away (as of joining the gym and writing this review), and it's still worth the drive. When i made the decision to take up some sort of martial arts or combat sports as something to help me get in shape initially, i visited a few gyms from georgetown to south austin and AKA instantly stood out because of that overall homely feeling. it's hard to explain, but i felt more intimidated at those other gyms because of the members walking around, and with AKA, i felt and more intimated throwing that first punch and kick while the members themselves made me feel more and more welcome, if that makes sense. it's the whole "check your ego/we all start from somewhere" type mentality that they actually put to practice instead of just saying it. The coaches have a good eye to let know how much you're progressing and what you need to improve on, and deliver criticism in a very constructive and professional manner. Even if the classes are big, the coaches will take the time to give you advice and knowledge as an individual and not call you out in front of the class. The classes are very well organized and very challenging at any level. That being said, the coaches definetly challenge you and motivate you to see progress and growth, but never will they put you in danger as student safety is paramount to them. They emphasize this a lot. "balance balance/take care of each other while sparring/ stretch/ hydrate/etc." They emphasize this A LOT! Also, classes are never boring and are always evolving- we are always learning something new. also, they will occasionally bring in some of their esteemed colleagues from muay thai to do a seminar, or teach us what they just learned from the most recent thailand trip, so every day there is always that makes going to the classes fresh and not stagnant. there are so many positives! highly recommended! read more

I have Terrible experience in this gym, dirty place , unprofessional head coach , never go back again

5/5 Trained here for roughly ~1.5 years. Highly recommend to anybody interested in finding their next martial arts gym. Coach's are all very welcoming and create a safe environment for their members that range from competition-level to day-one gym go'ers. It's clear Randy and the rest of the coaches hold their gym to a high standard in all aspects -- from attention to their students to the cleanliness of the gym. You'll for sure get a great workout every class. Good vibes environment all around, they host holiday parties and social gatherings to ensure everyone feels welcome. read more

This gym is the bestest. All the coaches are knowledgeable in their craft and dedicated to teaching it. Randy and Tessa are phenomenal martial artists and just genuinely such great people. The best part about this gym is that there is a really good gender balance and the community is diverse. This is the martial arts community you've always wanted :) read more

Great facility, awesome coaches and super welcoming enviroment. Ive been coming here for over a year and I am still excited everyday to go to training. Couldnt recommend this place more it truly feels like a second home! read more

Best martial arts gym in the area! I'm new to the town and dropped in to try out the facility and was immediately greeted by Randy, the owner. Extremely genuine and welcoming guy, who also has 25 years of martial arts experience under his belt so he knows his stuff. Plenty of space available, all the equipment you need, as well as some fitness equipment to bring it full circle. 10/10 recommend and will be signing up as a member myself! read more

I enrolled my 12 year old daughter into the Kids MMA class, and she is LOVING it! She leaves the classes feeling energized and strong. She points out how practicing in this environment makes her feel so good. The instructors are kind and directive, and the supervised interactions between the students encourages them to practice their new martial arts skills in a safe and nurturing environment. The instructors include men and women. There is a mix of ages for the children, and the different levels of experience in the kids help all kids feel welcome. We recommend this class! read more

Austin Kickboxing Academy - Kickboxing training compliments my bicycle training! The stronger I am with kickboxing, the stronger my stroke power on my bicycle. - Boxing Near Me - Austin, Texas

I spend most of my time outside of work and home here. AKA is a great gym and friendly/inclusive community that inspired my Muay Thai hobby

I've trained for a while and it's hard to find a really tries to build up new people and keep older students engaged and advancing. Nice big facility. Everyone I have met has been nice and welcoming (just moved). They shows really nice and practical techniques and focus on basics like structure and readiness. I've always felt like everyone goes a good intensity. I've really enjoyed the clases and people I've met. If you are new or experienced this is great place to check out read more

What better way to lose your BBQ belly than to go for a kickboxing session on your last evening in Texas! My trainer at TBI in LA had passed by Austin Kickboxing before, which is how I found out about them. I was staying at a hostel nearby and came by car. The parking lot in the back is huge so you won't have to worry about street parking. I showed up 20 minutes early to sign the waiver and was quickly shown around the hanger by a staff member. The place is one of the larger gyms I have seen in the US and they offer lots of types of different workout gear from numerous bags to weights etc. I dropped in at the fundamentals class, which consisted of a group warmup run around the room followed by some rope skipping. Afterwards they did some cardio muscle drills (squats, lunges, hops,..). Then the class got divided according to level. The beginners focused on bagwork with Tessa while intermediates and up did contact drills with Randy. He explained the drills in a practical way as well for offense as for defense. After these drills there were two rounds of light sparring. Lastly there was a group stretch. While there is no AC in the room, there are some fans to keep the air moving but I can see it being real risky to push yourself too much come summer. At the end of training, Randy emphasized the importance of hydrating and electrolytes to everyone. I really enjoyed my training and was imoressed with the gym as well as with the level of instructors. Thanks for welcoming me! read more

See all

AKA is a fantastic place to train. I love it because they offer a great variety of classes, excellent instruction, and there is very little ego - it's all about learning and improving. I've been training in fight sports for about a decade, but my skillset as a martial artist has improved markedly in the 3 years that I've been at AKA. The coaches are knowledgeable and have a ton of competitive experience in a variety of fight sports including Muay Thai, Boxing, and BJJ. They encourage their more experienced members to mentor and teach less experienced folks which makes you feel like part of a team - everyone is invested in each other's growth and is there to support each other, regardless of what your skill level is when you first walk in the door. I am very proud to call AKA my home gym. read more

Amazing place! All the coaches are very knowledgeable and super friendly and professional. As a 50 year old fitness enthusiast I get a great workout and always learn something new. You can choose a class from bag work and pads, to controlled sparring. Best value for the money! read more

If you're interested in losing weight and learning the art of Muay Thai this is the spot to go to!! Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Huge gym with plenty of space. I've lost over 50lbs training here! read more

I took a free class once long ago (at their previous location). I liked the large kickboxing class because it was challenging and a quick fat burner. I have been to countless martial arts schools in my lifetime and this one (along with Black Sheep Boxing) are the best. Unfortunately they have become a tad too expensive so I couldn't go full time. read more

I joined this gym about 7 months ago, and I couldn't be happier! I've always wanted to join a kickboxing gym, but was too afraid. I found this gym after a little searching on the internet ,and after reading other reviews and viewing pictures, I had been convinced and decided to give it a shot. First class was FREE, and everything I needed was provided. I was given a tour of the gym, and later was taught how to wrap my hands before class began. All coaches/staff were extremely welcoming, which definitely helped with my nervousness. During class I was helped with anything (and everything at that point haha) I was having trouble with, and the coaches were very encouraging throughout the duration of the class. After class membership options were gone over with me, and not once was I pressured into signing up for anything I didn't want to. I actually didn't end up signing up that same day even though I knew I was going to, and they were totally cool with that. :) 7 months later, and I am still in awe with the attitude of the coaches, and the gym itself. After being worked with, and pushed (but not too hard) I definitely feel a difference in my skills compared to when I first started. I've lost a lot of weight, and have noticed muscle growth, but most importantly my confidence and overall happiness has increased tremendously! As serious as they are about their work/training the coaches, and members of this gym are really friendly, fun, and silly people, which really adds to the experience. Needless to say, I'm really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined AKA! read more

Wow, I am super remiss in not writing a review before now (sorry, Randy!). This is my home gym and easily one of my favorite places in austin. I fell in love with it here, and ironically also fell in love here- my boyfriend and I met training here and he helps teach quite often. A year and a half ago I got a hankering to do something new with my fitness. I had always been interested in martial arts and was originally heading towards Krav Maga. Instead, a leasing agent in my complex at the time recommended Muay Thai as a form of martial arts and fitness I might enjoy. She had been training with Randy and the team here before they had a brick and mortar spot and recommended them. I'm so glad she did. I was nervous in my first class- I'm a petite girl, and I didn't know if I would be welcomed. Instead, I got the warmest welcome, intense, high quality training, and one on one support. This isn't an anomaly- it's how AKATX does it. I'm happy and proud to say I'm part of the AKATX family. We are friends with everyone here and it's a home away from home. My Muay Thai game is tight (and who knew I would ever get to say that?!) and I have come to love the form. Get your asses in here. They'll come out fighting- and sculpted! read more

Austin Kickboxing Academy - Sparring is on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Notice that the coaches are watching you one on one! - Boxing Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

This place is great! If you're thinking about starting out (or continuing) with boxing or Muay Thai, join this gym! I really can't speak enough about how great the instructors are. Randy, Tessa and Nahn are supremely professional and helpful. Whether you want to do something fun for fitness or are looking to go pro some day, you really can't go wrong with this place. Highly recommended! read more

I've trained at AKATX for over 2 years and I cannot say enough how much I love this gym. All the coaches are very experienced and highly trained. They put a lot of focus on proper technique; they explain techniques thoroughly and provide helpful constructive criticism to help you hone your skills. The conditioning here is also amazing; the coaches really know how to push you to do your very best in every class. The classes are physically challenging, but the results are clear; I've consistently seen that our fighters have better stamina compared to fighters from other gyms. AKATX offers a free trial class and doesn't pressure you to sign up or force you to sign long contracts. The classes are split by skill level so newcomers don't have to feel intimidated and advanced students never feel stunted. Whether you're training for a fight or just trying to get in shape, the coaches support your goals. I highly recommend this gym to anyone of any skill level--as long as you're willing to take the challenge and give it your all. read more

Where to even start.... Joining this gym has been an amazing journey for me. I started at this gym not knowing much about Muay Thai or Boxing about 6 years ago other than I knew it was something I had been wanting to try out for a long time. I came in not knowing how to properly throw a punch and intimidated by it all but that all changed thanks to the instruction and encouragement by all the coaches there - Coach Charles, Randy, Nhan, and Tessa. Now I consider myself a fighter and have won 3 out of 4 boxing fights I have competed in and even have a shiny Golden Gloves jacket up on my bedroom wall. I had tried out a couple other gyms before joining AKA and they did not compare at all to the amount of technical training and expertise you get when you come here. Each time you train someone is going to be watching you and making sure you are doing things the right way so that you don't hurt yourself and so that you learn how to do everything properly which is so important whether you want to compete in fights or just do this stuff for fitness and fun. Even if you are just starting out, they will cater to everyone's individual level and you will improve fitness and technique wise in a safe feeling environment. When you join this gym, you really also join a community. It is very empowering to come in not knowing how to defend yourself and after some training, come out feeling confident and strong. If your goal is to just get into shape or to compete in your first fight - they can get you there. read more

See all

Awesome experience with Austin Kickboxing Academy! First time getting into martial arts, so I did a bunch of research on all the different gyms in the area. I met with several coaches from different gyms, and decided to give it a try with Randy Vera. Randy, as well as all the coaches at AKA are warm, welcoming, and know their stuff. If I could do it over again, only thing I would do differently is sign up sooner! read more

I tried one free class last summer (2018). I liked everything about the gym except for one thing. No A/C makes it a risk for certain people. I have trained in many schools all my life. So I was able to handle it but its not something I want to pay over $100 a month for. I liked that they had trainers of all ages there including an experienced senior boxer. My first school was a shaolin boxing school with no A/C and no mats. So our early morning class was awesome. This school however just gets way too hot in the summer (great for fat reduction though). read more

I'm in town for work and needed to continue my training while away from home. So I decided to tryout this gym and was very please. The owner Randy is very kind and welcoming. This gym has all level of fighters and the coaches themselves are/were professional fighters. So it's not just a bootcamp boxing or Bootcamp Muay Thai class. They teach proper technique and for anyone up for it you can also spar. What I also like about this gym, no egos and everyone shows respect for each other. True fight gym. Randy and his team have created a great atmosphere to train. During the summer months I recommend come hydrated it gets hot in there. I don't mind the heat but everyone is different. Have fun and keep your hands up. read more

I started going to Austin Kickboxing Academy in April both for my mental health as well as my physical health. I have both depression and anxiety, and my physical health was poor after I sacrificed it to do well in school. I started attending the kickboxing fundamentals class in April and within a month I was seeing improvements in my demeanor, my confidence, and my body. It's been about 5 months now, and I have dropped 35lbs, 7 percentage points in body fat, as well as 6 inches around my waist. AND I've gained muscle so I've actually lost more pounds of fat than that :D My mental health has improved so much that now I only see my therapist once every few months. I was afraid to go at first because I thought I would fail and suck and never be good at it, but Randy (owner and class instructor) was so encouraging that I didn't give up. The classes are fantastic, you get an intense workout while developing your skill set. All the instructors are helpful and are always willing to answer your questions and demonstrate techniques you may not be getting. I am very analytical and pick things up a little bit slower than most, but they are so patient and don't give up on me. Ultimately, I am so grateful for AKATX, it's helped save my life. read more

Quality over quantity. They give each student a personal touch. Great atmosphere. Awesome coaches. Awesome team atmosphere as well. Doesn't matter what level you are, Coach Randy will definitely tell you how great you are doing and most importantly what you need to work. Highly recommend. Be prepared to have your patience, dignity and body tested. read more