I dropped in to train at The Void mid December and had a great experience from start to finish. One of the ladies training there (the amazing Lex) actually beat me at a jiu jitsu tournament. We hit it off while competing and became friends through that experience, which says a lot about the kind of supportive, women-forward culture that exists at The Void. When I shared that I was looking for a new school, she invited me to come try out. On my first day, Mars (the owner) gave me a full walkthrough of the facility. The school is located inside a larger facility that includes showers, a full workout gym, a sauna, and more. The fact that The Void members have access to all of these amenities honestly blew my mind. All of the perks, along with the schedule and membership details, are clearly laid out on their website. I also really appreciated that there is no contract and that pricing is very affordable, especially for downtown Austin. I tried MMA sparring, jiu jitsu, and kickboxing. Jiu jitsu is primarily no gi, but you can bring a gi if you want. Every coach I interacted with was knowledgeable, respectful, and patient. Any time I had concerns around safety or technique, they listened and offered modifications when needed. As a woman training in combat sports, this made me feel genuinely respected and well taken care of. On the MMA and kickboxing side, it's worth noting that they have heavy bags in house. The kickboxing classes (led by Christian) also had a strong women presence which I loved. There is no uniform requirement for any of the classes, so you have a lot of flexibility with what to wear. I recommend wearing comfortable clothing and bringing gloves and shin pads if it's your first time. They also have a in house videographer and photographer who captures amazing photos and videos. You can check out his work on Instagram at @donpablo.arw !! I live up north in the suburbs about 30 to 40 minutes away so if it were not for the distance, I would have signed up in a heartbeat. I made a lot of friends in the short time I spent at The Void, and that really speaks to the training environment and culture they have built. The location itself is great with plenty of parking. There is cold water available, a vending machine nearby, and very clean bathrooms. Mars was communicative, and since I tried out during a weird time with the holidays, I was especially grateful for their generosity in allowing me to train through the end of the month. The Void also hosts free community events, such as the upcoming Couple's Self Defense Date Night. All of their information can be found on their website or Instagram at @thevoidmartialarts. I highly recommend The Void to anyone interested in jiu jitsu or MMA in the downtown Austin area! read more

The coat is excellent and well knowledge the gym is perfect size and the existing team is welcoming and friendly, and very open and welcoming to share knowledge and teach. read more

Well over a decade I have been coming here and definitely one of my favorite gyms to train at in the world! When I'm in Austin this is the only gym I've trained in or will! Bart is a true martial artist and student of the game and all the students here are lucky to have such an amazing instructor! Ask him about pool training!!! *side note Bart is an amazing drummer! read more

The Void Martial Arts - Kickboxing Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great training space, high level jiu jitsu coach here. My daughter seemed to really enjoy the vibes here and Lin who is one of the coaches. I would recommend for any females looking to train or roll! read more

The Void is great for somebody who is looking to get into martial arts and doesn't know where or how to start. Everybody gets their own unique coaching depending on their skill level and it's a tight knit group. Love it here!! read more

Legit teaching, legit training and legit fun!! My six year old son and I both train here, great family friendly environment. Highly recommended read more

Awesome gym, great teachers. You will learn new workouts and self defense techniques. The staff here rock!

I absolutely love this place! I bought a 10 pack of kickboxing classes on Groupon and have fell in love since day 1! I can't wait to join monthly. The owner, Bart, puts his heart into this facility. From the incredible instructors (shout-out to Sabrina) to Michelle at the front desk, I highly recommend this place. Such a welcoming environment for all skill levels. read more

What first jumped out at me was how involved the owner was - I'm not going to lie, I shopped around for a couple of weeks and did my due diligence before signing up, but Bart was answering phones, emails and always at the gym, which I really really impressed me. There were other gyms that had owners there but for the most part it was other folks selling me which was fine, but at the end of the day their "MEH" enthusiasm was rubbing off on me. So then I signed up and Bart is still running the classes - OK COOL! He really takes the time to mix it up while making sure you stay moving. I've been at other gyms where they just kind of put you on a bag and walk away, which again is fine, but I just really appreciate him showing up day after day and giving us that level of attention. One of the best parts is their availability - other gym offered Kickboxing classes like once a week, open at 4PM on Tuesday and Thursday... just almost an arrogant lack of options for someone who cannot base their life around one static time. As a new dad their availability for classes is unmatched, so I'd say if you are new, seasoned or just need a couple of options on when you can drop by, The Void is a solid option to check out! read more

Good martial arts gym. The instructor is knowledgeable and it's a very friendly atmosphere. Different levels of practitioners but it doesn't seem that there are many 10 or 15 year guys if that's what you're looking for. read more

I purposefully waited until I moved out of Austin to write this review. I really wanted to think about what to say and how to say it. So I'll keep it short and simple. AFMA totally changed my life. Even though I'd taken martial arts in middle school, and sporadically joined various gyms throughout college, AFMA is where I found my home. The people at the gym (both instructors and members) make it a home away from home. I spent a year taking Kickboxing and Crosspit, and now that I've moved I miss it everyday. Because of my experience there, I now look forward to going to the gym everyday, improving myself, and making new friends. I highly recommend AFMA for both advanced students and newcomers. Sifu Hughes and Sifu Graham are qualified, responsible instructors who will work with you to meet your goals. Go try it! You might surprise yourself and love it. read more

Excellent martial arts studio. The attention to detail is what makes this place special. Everyone is friendly and you will feel like you're part of a family right off the bat. read more

I was a member for a while. It is a very vigorous training program and you can expect to see good results. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about martial arts. The only downside is the times they offer the classes I was interested in which was late evening and the cost. It is an expensive venture, but if you have the money I highly recommend their program. read more

Update 2018: I forgot I wrote a review in 2012 so now I've been training at the void (formerly known as The Pit) for over 8 years now. I still love that most of the classes are small/medium (so get personal attention) and all the instructors have been training for over a decade. This is such a great school I would love to share it with everyone. I started at the school just doing cardio/kickboxing to get fit, then Hawaiian Kempo for self-defense, and later Jiu Jitsu which has now lead me to be the Blue Belt no gi World Champion 2017. So whether you're a hobbyist or interested in becoming a competitor come check out the Void. read more

Tried out a free class and had a really good experience! The instructors were knowledgeable, attentive, and helpful and seemed passionate about what they do. read more

I started going to The Pit due to a random Groupon purchase. I'm a runner, who was stuck in a rut. I was never one who enjoyed gyms or lifting weights. I tried yoga, and it just wasn't doing it for me. The Pit had a $39 groupon for 10 kickboxing classes. I figured, why not? I had no previous martial arts experience, so I was very intimidated by all the students dressed in all black with higher ranking belts. I was afraid I wouldn't fit in and that I made a mistake. After the first class I was sore for 3 days, but I was hooked. By my 2nd week, the office manager, Ralph, knew my name. It is a very welcoming environment, even if you're inexperienced. I made it a point to go 2 times a week. Once my Groupon deal came close to ending I was offered pricing to join the school. OF COURSE I JOINED! The instructors are very helpful and encourage you to work hard and have proper technique. They are all knowledgeable and skilled, which you can tell during their instruction. They make a point to individually help students, without making you feel embarrassed. Everyone there wants you to better yourself. After going twice a week for just a few weeks, I could already tell I was getting stronger. Embarrassingly enough, I could barely do a push up before joining. I can successfully say I am way beyond 1 push up now. All their fitness/strength exercises are functional and practical. I am the strongest I've ever been, and I didn't have to lift a single weight. Even when I think a class is easier than normal, I wake up sore the next day, confirming I got in a good work out. For those who are weary or don't know what to expect in the kickboxing class, here's how it typically goes: Warm up, bag work (my favorite), partner practice, and fitness/cardio. Each class typically has a focus of a new skill or combination that you connect from each class. They offer other classes too, including a self defense class, which I attended and found very helpful. Every few weeks they have seminars you can sign up for too. (Ex. Nutrition, Kettle Bell, Boot camp etc...) You can't get a better work out from anywhere else. It's an encouraging atmosphere where you learn the basics of Hawaiian Kempo kickboxing (skills and mentality). I always feel great after each class. It's especially nice when you're stressed or feel like letting out some anger in a positive way. read more

I have not taken martial arts classes at any other Austin schools, but you know what, I don't really want to. You definitely get out what you put in. So, at this school you can get an overall workout and just go when you can and that's fine, you'll still reap the fitness benefits. More dedicated students practially live there and have a chance to learn the art to a fine level of detail. If I had the time to spare I would absorb every single thing Sifu Hughes has to teach. He and his associates are extremely talented and experienced and this is a genuinely authentic place to train. read more

I have been bringing my son to The Pit Austin for a year now and it has made all the difference. They have provided him with a work ethic and sense of discipline that is rarely afforded in today's children. The instructor Miguel is top notch and is a student and teacher at the school. We will continue to bring him for as long as he wants to be apart of he The Pit family. read more

I have been training at The Pit Austin with Sifu Hughes for about 6 years now and absolutely love it! I have experienced dramatic changes in all areas of my life, really, but especially in my conditioning and martial arts. The training at Austin fitness Martial Arts is second to none and I would HIGHLY recommend trying out some classes and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed. read more

I can not say enough about The Void. It is truly a transformational environment. The instructors are incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. Whatever you are looking for, The Void can provide it; better health, exercise, flexibility, discipline, tradition, intensity, fun, comradery, awareness, and much more. I was nervous to make the leap and join, but it's been one of the best decisions I've made. Go for it! read more

i went there yesterday to try it out..i did the 30 min cross fit training..it gave me a good workout--had to stop and take breaks when everyone else was still working out..im not in shape by any means..then after the workout i spoke with someone about the prices and what my goals were..the price was too high for me..$125/month for 3 workouts a week plus the downpayment and the cost of the equipment..if i made more money i would sign up for those classes but its just out of my budget right now..they offer alot of different classes at different times which was nice..my class started at 7:00 pm..there were a few kids on the mat next to their mom who was working out..one of them got in the way during my workout at one point.i thought it was kind of weird to have these kids running around bc it was kinda distracting..but besides that no complaints everyone there was really nice read more

I went to my first class yesterday and I couldn't been happier . I got a great workout in just 1 hour and everyone was so nice and made me feel comfortable . I would highly recommend you check it out ! read more

I love this school! Sifu Hughes and the coaches/instructors have created a fantastic family school where you can discover martial arts at your own pace in a very safe yet fun atmosphere. The teachers are very knowledgeable and professional, and there are tons of classes throughout the week that cater to kids and adults alike. I've never been in better shape in my life, and even after 3 years of training I still look forward to all my classes. Can't ask for more. read more