Ummm...why are there only two reviews here?…read more This place is A-MAZING!!! Screw 24-hour fitness and the monotony of a gym. Come here!!! The prices are about the same, you're supporting a local business, and the value at Niavaroni's is so much better. Niavarani's is professional, VERY welcoming to females, adults, and youths of all shapes, levels, and sizes I like the management. The instructors are all amazing (EZRA REGAN is my favorite...you're AWESOME!!!). This is what I love most: I can go into a class for an hour, come out drenched in sweat, get an amazing work out, and feel great afterward. And the best part about Niavoroni's: When I come here, I feel like I'm part of a family.

A year ago, I would have rated it 5 stars. Now? It's just OK…read more Let me expand. I'm here for the kickboxing-- or, Muay Thai. Ezra was a fantastic instructor. Every week we would improve or learn. Now that he is gone, it just isn't the same. Now, the gym is focused primarily on boxing. There is very little new instruction in the way of kickboxing, and I don't think I've seen clinching (a large part of Muay Thai) even mentioned since. The sessions are very formulaic, and have very little variation anymore. Some calisthenic warm up, a round of shadow boxing, some running drills, a little bag work, then no/light contact basic punch drills with a partner. Then the same ab routines and maybe some jump rope. In general, the above isn't really a problem if it was just a cardio burn class offered at the local gym - but this is a dedicated boxing/kickboxing gym that commands a price 2-3x higher than your average gym membership. One thing that does give them a distinct advantage is the hourly class schedule. They run a lot of classes!

Great gym, great people. If you put in the work, Kru's Josh and Erica will give you every bit of it…read moreback and then some. The skill development is unmatched. This gym has repeatedly turned people that have never thrown a punch or kick into competitive fighters. Pick a class, talk to someone training, and they'll have a story of how training at JMT improved them mentally and physically. The gym culture is uniquely welcoming and supportive. It's the sort of place where absolute newbies can train comfortably with amateur fighters, with the expectation that both should take the opportunity to learn from each other. Egos and drama are checked at the door; the people that try to bring it in don't last long.

This place is amazing for people who want to learn the fundamentals of Muay Thai. I did an intro…read moreclass with the owner since I have no previous experience, and he was encouraging and also patient. The community seems like a family, and I will definitely be signing up for a membership.

I remember stepping into the gym for the first time, overwhelmed by the noise, heat, and apparent…read morechaos. Now it feels like a second home. Under the leadership of Kru Rick, the atmosphere is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive. I started at rock bottom. Exhausted and carrying extra weight, I couldn't manage a single push-up, yet I was treated like part of the team from day one. The coaches are knowledgeable and offer thoughtful feedback. Classes are challenging and fun, and the people here are wonderfully supportive and encouraging. I started for physical fitness and stayed because Muay Thai has had such a positive impact on me mentally. A year and a half flew by and I'm down 30 lbs and feel stronger and more confident in my body. Muay Thai is healing. I've had a rough several years, and training has helped me work through fear and other difficult emotions. Over time, I've become more resilient and grounded. I genuinely love this sport and it has changed me in ways I didn't expect.

I brought my son in for a trial and he absolutely loved it. He was dripping in sweat. Kru Rick was…read moreno pressure, he explained how it works and the prices. It was all definitely worth it. Unfortunately the drive was further than I thought and he did let me know of a closer place to me which I found very honest and upstanding. I did not sign up at this time but would recommend them to anyone and possibly may return in the future.

Ground Up Muay Thai has Amazing Coaches. Not only do they show commitment, respect and patience,…read morethey teach the proper techniques of the sport to the students. Ground Up shares a true passion of the sport and makes everyone feel welcome. THANK YOU Team.

From the owner: Here at Ground Up Muay Thai, we help everyone stay active, lose weight, meet new friends, build…read morecharacter, learn self-defense, build self confidence, while training in one of our classes. Beginner - Advance Classes MUAY THAI F.I.T (fast, intense, training)

Great coaches. Matt is very knowledgeable and respectable. The gym is clean and sanitary. I've been…read moregoing here for like 2.5 months, and I am very impressed with the establishment. Sawadee ka

Ok. I went in to observe a class and I was happy to see first rate instruction from a knowledge…read morepractitioner with over eight years experience in Muay Thai. The class started with a warm up which is very good at reducing injuries. The movements and strikes were explained in detail and then demonstrated. Students were carefully observed and given feedback on how they were performing. Praise if doing well and helpful critique if they needed improvement. There was an positive atmosphere in the class and everyone worked together as a team. I immediately signed up after observing the class. They do not lock you into a long term contract. You can go month to month if you'd like. That was refreshing. Their rates are very reasonable for the quality of instruction you are receiving. I went to my first class the next day and received excellent instruction on striking and defense. It was a very good workout as well as teaching self defense and the art of Muay Thai. I will be a student here for a long time. F.Y.I. - they also offer a cardio kickboxing class that'll get you in shape quickly. Give them a try, I highly recommend it.

Two years ago I walked in and was immediately unsure whether it was the right decision because…read moreeveryone looked so skilled and experienced, and I had no Muay Thai experience at all. When I expressed my doubts, the business owner's wife said "oh don't worry sweetheart, this will definitely be the workout to get you fit." And she was right. Despite me being a beginner, the coaches and other gym members were patient and supportive. The community is fun and incredibly welcoming and that encouraged me to train regularly, and I was proud of how much I grew through their routines. MTL also has impressive fighters. I highly recommend MTL.

I was nervous and scared just as most people were coming to this gym. I can promise you that this…read moreis the most welcoming gym with the most serious fighters but also most humble. Everyone is friendly and amazing here. I'm glad I found this place and recommend if you're ever curious about Muay Thai. MTL is the place to go.

I've had 4 sessions with Eddi so far and plan to keep training with him. I came back to boxing…read morepostpartum after some time away, and he's been great about meeting me where I'm at while still challenging me and helping me rebuild my skills. I still remembered a lot of the punches and combinations, but my footwork, reactions, and power needed work, and Eddi has been really good at breaking those things down and helping me sharpen them again. I also appreciate that he's been thoughtful about the fact that I'm postpartum and returning to more intense training. He's encouraging, knowledgeable, easy to work with, and makes the sessions feel productive without being overwhelming. I'm looking forward to continuing to train with him and seeing how much I can improve.

Eddie is an excellent coach. He is super encouraging but still pushes you to challenge yourself. I…read morewas nervous to get back to boxing after a long hiatus but Eddie made it totally comfortable, motivating, and fun! I definitely recommend him to anyone looking to have a positive and supportive experience.

I had received promotional material twice from this place within the span of a week, so I took it…read moreas a sign that I should give it a try. I had been itching for a while to learn a new fighting style as well. First, I have to mention that the place is kind of tucked away in the back of a complex. I wish it was more visible from the street, as I probably would've come in sooner. The facility is a good size, and a lot cleaner and more orderly than I've seen at other martial arts gyms. There's plenty of space in the back to store any belongings, and the area for parents and spectators is positioned strategically in the corner as well, so there isn't too much congestion at the front where people have to check in. There's a small mat for beginners and a much bigger mat for the more experienced fighters. There's also a fighting ring for the fight team. The coaches were very welcoming on my first day, and Coach Ash, the owner, even took note that I had previous experience in another style. He used that knowledge to personalize my learning track, which I appreciate a lot. I had come in with several people from my work, and in seeing that we were a group, he even customized a pricing structure to incentivize us to all sign up together. While I know that isn't at all what he is obligated to do as a business owner, it's refreshing to know that someone will try to meet you somewhere in between versus just waiting for you to come to them. In the teen and adult class, so far it feels like it leans more on the teen side (I'm 34), but I hope that will push me to keep up. I've already signed up for a year (great deal per class, and they work with you in case you can't make some classes) and have gotten bruises on my leg. Looking forward to more!

My daughter had her very first class at Blue Lion Muay Thai, and the experience was amazing…read more Everyone was incredibly welcoming and made her feel comfortable from the moment we walked in. The coaches were patient, encouraging, and created a great environment for someone just starting out. The facility was clean, organized, and clearly well cared for. It also has a strong community feel, with everyone supporting and encouraging each other. And their merch is badass.

I visited this gym and was really happy with how welcoming and friendly everyone was. The staff was…read morevery attentive and helpful. I had been away from training for a while, and they made me feel comfortable getting back into it. Great atmosphere and great people. I highly recommend this gym!

Reading my old review makes me sad because the overall vibe of this gym took a turn for the worse…read morestarting in late 2025/Jan 2026. The usual cleanliness of the mats took a decline. The family business vibe that kept me for 6 years was minimal. The owner (Patrick) turned into a MAGA keyboard warrior. I avoided Patrick's classes because it was 45 min of stretching and 15 min of workout. Coach Kirby's classes kept me going since my strength gains were worth it (and you don't need to take your shoes off for strength training lol). There was no point in coming here after the last certified personal trainer quit their strength program and more women gradually left. I would rather drive more to train at a different gym (more than one Muay Thai & strength gyms exist in Sacramento) than come here. I don't mind the cost as long as I am in a clean facility and the vibe is worth it. The only reason they have one star left is for Coach P. - he is a good Muay Thai coach and a rockstar. I didn't really go to Coach Rocci's classes until last year, but the few times I did his music was the best for sparring. Pro tip: use a different personal FB account to post political content where gym members can't see them. Regardless of whether people agree/disagree with your views, there is a level of professionalism needed if you want to be a successful business owner.

If you want your child in Taekwondo, you want them to start here! The program is wonderful, the…read moreteachers and owners are wonderful! Not enough good things to say about them, except thank you!

This review is a long time coming. Two of my children attend the studio and both are on the cusp…read moreof earning their Black Belt. I mean it when I say "earn". They don't just promote everyone automatically like some places do. My son is mildly autistic and this is the sport that he thrived at because of the structure and orderliness of it. The teachers are both patient and work with my kids while still firmly insisting on execution and respect. They understand that kids have different learning styles and different levels of motivation and are able to make it work for everyone. The kids really enjoy all the instructors and respond well to instruction and even discipline when it is warranted. I can't speak to cost / value because I have nothing to compare it against but for us it is affordable and all the costs related to uniform, tournaments, and belt ceremonies have good value. I would recommend this place to any child or adult looking to enter the world of martial arts.