Fairtex Muay Thai Fitness
Categories: Martial Arts, Trainers [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA132 Hawthorne St
(at Folsom St)
San Francisco, CA 94107 (888) 324-7839
- Hours:
Mon, Wed 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Tue, Thu 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. - Good for Kids: No
29 Reviews for Fairtex Muay Thai Fitness
One of Fairtex Muay Thai Fitness' Favorite Reviews
I used to train here (when they were on Clementina and 5th) until I got punched in the face a few times. Then I realized I didn't like getting punched in the face so I quit going.
Plus I hate doing 8 million sit-ups and 4 million jumping jacks before warming up. One less star. But add a star for helping me with my "stance".
I also don't like the idea of my shins and arm parts getting all calcified.
Other than that, an amazing workout. I have never been sweatier in my life. You get what you pay for here, a great work out for a good price.
Did I mention the face punching?
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If you want to work on your cardio and get a good sweat just buy the Billy Blanks tai bo series or sign up at Curves fitness and save yourselve the highly inflate price, a month-to-month membership is $199/mo but if you act now and pre-pay for a year then it comes out to just $149/mo! You will never be corrected or instructed in the muay thai class, well maybe if you are a cute girl - that's how you know this is a serious fight camp.
The jiu-jitsu is much better and probably has the most skilled students of any gym in the city. However, instructors are also fighters so miss about 1 out of 3 classes to train or travel, that doesn't mean you get to pay 1/3 less membership though. If you want top competitors and need no instruction I recommend Fairtex - if money is no object.
Also, this place is filthy and a lot of the equipment is run down. There is usually at least an inch of standing water on the locker room floor and the wrestling mat has so much pubic hair on it ever time you get on the mat you come out with a mouth full. Several students have also gotten staph infection here. There are plenty of martial arts gyms, pass on this one.
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Fairtex is just a shell of its former self from over a year ago. I trained here before, but can't justify paying the outrageous membership fees anymore for what they have to offer today.
You will not be getting top level mma training from the likes of Jake Shields & Gil Melendez as they are no longer trainers here - contrary to what the website reflects. Yes there is a nice boxing ring, but hardly any boxing classes. A modern yoga studio which I would guess is best used for their Credit & Collections department since they no longer offer yoga classes. Don't be surprised to see a student teaching a class every now and then either. Fairtex is quick to post the latest Fairtex Tshirts & hats for sale on their website, but they fail to post these more significant staff & class updates.
Down to some of the positives. Trainers are cool. The facility is large and convenient if you work in the area - hence the 2 stars. You will be great at jumping rope. If you like the smell of Pastrami, you're in luck because that is how your hands will smell after holding their filthy pads. You will have good training partners in BJJ, but that may not last long now that Jake & Gil are no longer teaching. Similar to what Ryder M. mentioned below about the mats, if you are balding you might expect to end class with a full head of hair as the mats seem to have a perennial layer of pubes on them. Excellent during the cold winter months.
With the recent popularity of mma, there have been fighting gyms sprouting up left and right - many by active pro fighters as well. Most are owned and operated by the trainers themselves, which means more attention to customer service during classes. They have a vested interest in growing their client base and it will show in their prices and services. With the increase in membership fees and decrease in quantity/quality of classes at Fairtex, you will "Be Inspired" to look elsewhere.
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I have been here for over three years. I have also trained at Fight & Fitness and K-1 so I have some perspective.
It gets 3 stars for the trainers, who I love!
The minus 2 stars are because of the sky rocketing price of this place (far exceeds the cost of any other muay thai gym in the area--$200 a month if pay by the month). Also, they recently started a ridiculous "star" system such that you must be certified at certain levels to take any class beyond the intro class, and of course each additional certification is more $$$. And, they cancelled the yoga program, which they told those of us who had prepaid for the yoga program as part of the year long membership that the replacement benefit was (some seriously shoddy) cardio equipment . . . if I want a treadmill, I'll go to 24 hour, thank you very much.
If you are just so pumped from watching all the MMA on tv and convinced you want to be the next UFC Champ, this is THE place for you. Oh yeah. . . your pockets should run pretty deep too.
I suppose if you have never taken any martial arts or boxing before than you can stand to learn some good things here for the already inflated base price of membership. Otherwise you are looking at a glorified cardio kickboxing class. You want to actually get some instruction from one of the instructors, no problem. . . . just shell out the extra $100/hr.
As for the Jiu-Jitsu, the exact opposite is true. Come with a solid base of knowledge in the art. This is the secondary training spot for some some very serious guys, they are not there to teach, they are there to train. And with the no Gi and the clothing optional approach to rolling out, expect to leave drenched with the sweat and stench of several other men.
And yes, the place is completely filthy. You are just about guaranteed to catch something funky. My foot got eaten alive by some real nastifunk (of course thats a medical term!). Not a reason to stay away though if you are serious about training.
Honestly though, if you don't see yourself trading blows in a ring or octagon until submission or knockout and just want to learn "martial arts". . . this is not the place for you.
If you want to TRAIN to FIGHT, this is most definitely where you want to be. This place is the home of some incredible fighters.
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This place is FILTHY!!! I had a membership here, tore my knee kickboxing that needed surgery and not only did I have to pay $200 to cancel my contract, they also charged me for another month! For $130 gym membership they should at least clean the place. There was a raging staph infection that kept going around there, because they never cleaned the mats or locker rooms. I loved the instructors there, but the place is more geared toward taking your money, than actual one on one training.
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GO! GO RIGHT NOW!
Seriously, If you're thinking about training some where go to Fairtex. Go for Jiu-Jitsu with Jake. Go for boxing with Taraq (seriously he'll teach you a shit load of you ask questions) and go for Muay Thai with whoever is there. They're all great.
I fucking loved this place. I was just starting to getting semi-OK at fighting and boom my 6 months was up. The only thing I don't like about Fairtex is the price. i wish I could just in there and fight for $50 bucks a month I'd be there all the time. But all fight gyms are expensive (especially since the MMA boom) so you gotta be willing to pay to play.
It's the best workout I've ever had, and it's uper addicting. But you gotta be serious about the shit, you can't give some half ass effort. I mean, you can, but where is that gonna get you. I was practically living there when I had to leave.
You gotta make the progression from regular classes to sparring becuase IMO that's where you really start to conquer your fears and make progress. I didn't even get into real matches and i was already learning a shitload. Oh, and you can't be afraid to get hit in the face!
I plan on going back for the 3 months before summer. i lost 20lbs. in 2 months going to Fairtex. One of the best camps in the Bay area.
I got beaten up by some guy who was wearing a shirt from this place. I am pretty good at fighting, hell I took on a pack of cougars single handedly. I was no match for the fairtex guy.
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If you're serious about taking your martial arts training to another level this place is where champions are made. Some of the most intense teachers & students that I have ever been around.
Working out over there only makes you want to work harder just because of the people around you.
I now understand why so many champions come from Fairtex just based on how they're set up. I found it a little bit pricey but, well worth the money because of the quality equipment and instruction.
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Every time I am in SF I stop by to pick up product. While I have never gotten to train at the facilities, the store is great. They never have very much in stock, but everyone is super friendly and I get to save a little bit of shipping on my gear (which holds up phenomenally).
Pros: Great facilities, probably the nicest gym in the Bay Area. Great trainers with real ring experience in Thailand.
Cons: Parking is horrible. They are known as "FAIR TAX" for a reason so be prepared to pay to play.
A great gym for anyone from the beginner to the serious practioner. A little too upper crust for my tastes. I like going to a gym that looks like an old school gym, but to each his own. I'd still probably train here if I lived in the city though =)
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When some random prick shouts, "hey, whose the big Black guy!", I'm usually the only one to raise my hand. At Fairtex however, I was pleased to find other Black guys who were just as big as me if not bigger. Not only were there big Black guys, but there were big White guys, big Asian guys, big Samoans, big Namimbians, you name it..
Once my cardio's strong, I'm pretty good with Muay Thai, so I've chosen to attack my weakness by focusing on groundfighting and jiu-jitsu. From the start, everyone was friendly and helpful, and the egos were checked at the door. A good omen occurred when legendary UFC fighter Joyce Gracie walked in to participate in some Muay Thai classes. If you dont know who this guy is, do a combined Google search for " Brazilian Jiu-jitsu", "kick-ass", and "carotid occlusion" and you'll see this guy's picture.
Towards the end of the class, these guys roll for about a half an hour. 10 minutes into it my heart is like "what the f@%$ are you doing" and at 20 minutes my freaking kidneys wanna chip in with their two cents. I'm covered in some guy's sweat, mucus, saliva, and pubes, but I'm loving it. (Let us never speak of this again.)
Fortunately, I was able to kick in an adrenaline rush by getting a kimura on an advanced guy and a triangle choke and a guillotine on a beginner, but for the most part I was completely dominated. Some guy who looked like Jim Morrison kept slamming me and going for armbars and the aforemetioned "big Black guy" kept pulling me into his guard, rolling into side mount, and using me as a guinea pig to practice his various wicked submissions. They were both awesome.
I was concerned that Fairtex would be too commercial, too impersonal, too "fitnessy", but from the trial class I took I was pleasantly surprised. I've tried all the big schools around here and so far this is the most impressive.
Now I gotta go wash off Jim Morisson's pubes.
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Home of rising MMA super stars Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, legendary Enn Fairtex, Jongsanan Fairtex, and Ganyao. To who has come and gone through the doors the list can go on and on but one thing is for sure staff and facilities are World Class.
This place is huge compared to Fight and fitness. The night classes gets packed but very diverse. You do get to train with different people. To get a more one on one feel do go to the morning classes. I've chosen this gym cause its closer to work and the members and staff are very warm and accommodating to all levels. The work outs are hard and very positive.
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Intense place to work on your skillzz. I spend lot of time here.
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Fairtex is one of the most well-known names in the sport, for good reason. The San Francisco site has direct ties with the Fairtex gym in Thailand and the fighters will help you train overseas if that is your goal. I fought with some Fairtex students on the East Coast and learned that they were the best around. It was no surprise that the source is legit.
The Gracies pop in to train Muay Thai here, and the MMA coaches include accomplished Pride fighter Gilbert Melendez and UFC fighter Jake Shields. Most of the Muay Thai trainers are from the Fairtex family and are champions of the sport. The boxing trainers are top notch, as well.
Classes run just about all day, and run the gamut from fitness to competitive sparring - it depends on your approach. Either way, the gym can cater to your needs. The people who train are excellent and will help you if you ask. Their attitudes are great and it's a tight and welcoming community.
The membership is a bit expensive, but they have a number of options so it is definitely worth exploring. Also, the more commitment you make, the more you get out of it.
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Ever seen a Muay Thai fight? The first thing you think is, 'Damn those guys are beating the hell out one another...'. After watching them do this round after round you find yourself wondering what kind of training it takes to get you into that kind of shape. It is at this point that you are hooked (good for you!)...
Well at Fairtex you can get a taste of what it takes to get into that kind of shape. Yes, it can be intense but the reality of it is that it's only as hard as you make it (Caveat - If you have been gorging yourself on Six Dollar Burgers from Carl's Jr. and find that you are out of breath going up a flight of stairs, you might want to commune with Mr. Stairmaster for a little bit before coming down to start training...you don't have to be in top physical shape but if you're pushing maximum density you may want to prepare yourself a bit since doing Muay Thai should be an enjoyable experience and not like getting teeth pulled without anesthetic.) - If your goal is to find something that is the cure to fat-ass-itis this may be just the ticket (It worked for me). The staff of Trainers are some of the best people it has been my good fortune to train with and the facilities are top-notch.
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Fairtex Muay Thai is AMAZING. This is NOT a jazzed up kick boxing class. You have real master Thai boxers teaching you a great skill set. First you get a great aerobic warm up jumping rope and then you get to spar in groups based on your skill level. I have to admit I never realized how high the curbs were in San Francicso until after my first workout there- stepping down killed, my calves were super-tight and sore. But it was the best workout I have ever had and fun to boot! They also have yoga and other martial arts classes there. You can find a link to the schedule of classes here:
http://www.fairtex.com...
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a whole life time ago, i was actually somewhat in shape.
i trained here for a bit when alex was leading the classes (rip). i remembered he really liked our trance music to train to. hahahha that was funny.
for anyone that wants to get whipped into shape fast, come here.
i remember i was *in shape* when i joined, but i threw up after the first session.
i think its about time for me to get back into shape. first run a bit....then head over to fairtex, get my ass handed to me a few times a week...i should be right back at it.
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Had my induction this morning and it was fantastic. An amazing workout but most importantly the instructor took genuine interest in what I was doing - it was as near as you can get to dedicated one on one training. I find that's something usually quite rare at boxing gyms, a lot of them would rather ignore anyone who just wants to get fit and learn a new skill in favour of the competitive fighters. The other more experienced people who were training at the same time were also very friendly and helped explain what was going on.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is that it seems slightly on the pricey side ($149 per month) but I'm from London and haven't checked out other gyms as I know Fairtex has a huge reputation and name in the world of muay thai.
I also don't think you need to be in amazing shape to start training. I'm definitely not in great shape but I plan on getting into great shape and though it was tough keeping up today it's the only best way to quickly get fit there is.
UPDATE: I'm still going four weeks later and loving it!
The atmosphere at Fairtex Muay Thai SF is intense and motivated, yet friendly. Great facility and knowledgeable staff. Arthur, Enn, Jongsanan, and Ganyao will kick your ass into shape - be prepared to push yourself. The workouts are physically strenuous, addictive, and rewarding.
There are 3 basic levels: Level 1 is for conditioning and basic movements; Level 2 is more conditioning and some advanced combat techniques; and Level 3 is one-on-one sparring with pads. Above that, there's more ring training and conditioning.
Combine the Muay Thai with Jiu Jitsu training, you will have an excellent standing and ground fighting combination.
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This is where I discovered endorphins! I used to train here in high school and it is T O U G H but oh, so Awesome. Be warned, this is a far cry from a regular sports club, aerobic-y, 60-minute kickboxing class but if you like an athletic challenge, you'll love it. The instructors are supportive and kind yet demand commitment from you. I remember lots of jump roping and sparring with the instructors.
I left positively spent but also feeling like I could conquer the world, which is not a bad thing for a 17-year- old.
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Very friendly staff. They dont bad mouth the competition nor other styles (a sign of a good martial arts gym) from my experience there so far. The trainers make sure your technique is up to par, this ensures safety and also effectiveness. Trainers are either current competitors or former champions that know how to teach (being good and being a good teacher are two different things). The workout is not as intense as my experience at Cung Le (they do san shou there and not muay thai there so that might be why its different), but more intense than my experience in other muay thai training. The locker room is a bit small and the floor is a bit wet. Reasonable pricing.
UPDATE: the locker room is disgusting. i refuse to use the sink there. people cringe when their clothes fall on the ground. it is a whole new level of nasty (in a bad way).
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Best place to learn Muai Thai kick boxing, but I must warn you that it is *intense*. Not for anyone who isn't in the best of cardio shape. Hit the gym first.
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Great boxing gloves available here, and the staff seems very professional and hardcore. when i become a real boxer I will come here.
Don't laugh, man. These wiry little guys can brawl . I got kicked in the leg once and next day the back of my head was hurting. Ryu here overloaded my pain circuits.
But they're surprisingly friendly! There are meetups and hangouts after jump-roping and chewing wood nuggets or whatever, and they turn out to be jovial and gentile fellows. It's such a mindfuck.
Conclusion: come to fairtex. Your body will hurt but you will like it.
Ok..I love this place. It's become like my other family almost. Beautiful gym, the best equipment and the best Muay Thai trainers around. Ganyao, trainer of champions and UFC Ultimate Fighter Muay Thai trainer, Jongsannan current World Champ, Enn former champ and other great junior instructors. Ken, Mimy and Rodney working the front will help you get settled.
Oh yeah, It helped me drop a ton of weight.
OH YEAH AGAIN. I've actually been able to become an amateur fighter for Fairtex and fight semi-regularly for them. Come by and spar with me sometime =)
Intense workouts, champion trainers, and top notch facilites...what more could you ask for?
I've been training at Fairtex for just a little over a year. It became a part of my life after day one. Since then I have travelled to Thailand to train and in the process have gotten in the best shape of my life. My whole revolves around training Muay Thai..what I eat, how much I sleep, and all of my cross training activites.
Definitley be in decent shape before you join, at least be able to run a few miles without stopping or else you'll be hurting.
This is my new favorite place! The reviewers below are right, I'm just adding my 5 stars. The instructors are top-notch, both as fighters -- they're pretty much all reigning and former champions -- and as teachers. It was seriously 4 days before I could walk down stairs after all the jumping rope my first day, and I showed up in reasonable shape. But after just a few weeks, I already feel like I've made huge fitness improvements and I'm learning so much. After our first class, my boyfriend and I pre-paid for a year -- we knew we'd found a home!
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Just like most of the people who have written a review about Fairtex, this place is top notch. I trained at their camp in Pattaya, Thailand and loved every second of it. It's true, your body gets beat up, but it gets used to it and the training is VERY addictive. I lost 20 lbs in the six weeks that I trained there. After all the ass kicking and fights(at least 100 fights under their belts) these guys have been through, you'd think they'd be big headed, cokcy jerks, but they're not. Very humble, friendly and down to earth guys. EXCELLENT teachers too. They know how much to push you to your limits without getting you injured. Not only are the fighters great, but so is the administration. I had the honor of meeting the founder of the Company (Philip Wong) and he was very nice and humble. He gave me a lot of encouragement to pursue my weight loss and training. When a company is this big, you'd expect the CEO's and top execs to snub you, but these guys treated me like I was family. I love this gym and will be training to fight next year iN Thailand. Fairtex will be opening a gym in Mt. View, CA fo rthe people in the southbay on June 16th, 2006. Two of my trainers from Thailand will be flying in to teach. These guys are AWESOME. If you're afraid to join for whatever reason...don't be. I WAS scared...but it's probablyone of the best thing I've done in my life. "Just do it!" Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.
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