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Boston's Best MMA Gyms

MMA
(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Mixed martial arts, or MMA for short, is one of the most popular forms of fitness in the U.S. It combines fighting styles from a range of disciplines for a more robust take on historic and modern martial arts. With grappling, kicking, boxing and aerobic training, martial artists are developing their skills for the ring or for their own personal fitness goals all over Boston. The city has numerous gyms dedicated to a variety of styles.

Redline Fight Sports
614 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 868-2275
www.redlinefightsports.com

Redline Fight Sports is a training facility that offers coaching and its own fighting team. It's a great gym for those who are serious about getting into the ring, but anyone can train here. In fact, Redline Fight Sports offers a free lesson for newcomers. Lessons and the gym's brand of MMA include Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing and even workouts for kids. Visitors will find all the bags and gear they will need to train, as well as a ring for practicing skills.

Related: Boston's Best Local Gyms That Provide Child Care

Wai Kru Mixed Martial Arts
236 Brighton Ave.
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-2222
www.waikru.com

Wai Kru is a favorite gym for serious local mixed martial artists. It has kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling and more. All of these disciplines will help fighters stay in peak physical condition, as well as hold their own in a fight. Take classes in everything from boxing to MMA, or come in for personal training in the fully-equipped gym. Gym members are welcome to hop in on a class any time the gym is open. There is no limit, and there are always instructors available.

Combat Sports Boston
261 Friend St.
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 720-2422
www.combatsportsboston.com

Combat Sports Boston is a pretty big gym with everything from elliptical machines to an MMA training area. It's the kind of place where an MMA fighter can take a friend who likes to run, and both of them will get a satisfactory workout. When it comes to training, Combat Sports Boston offers Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and various techniques from the Philippines. Members also have access to a boxing ring and MMA cage for hands-on fight training.

Hard Knocks Boston
98 Business St.
Hyde Park, MA 02136
(781) 854-8895
www.hardknocksboston.com

Hard Knocks is a gym focused on Muay Thai and MMA training and fighting. Newcomers can sign up for a free Muay Thai class through the website to get a taste of what the gym is about. Hard Knocks is home to a few pro and amateur fighters, as well as a crew of talented instructors, including owner Bill Newcomb. It's not the city's biggest gym, but there is plenty of room for stretching and sparring, as well as plenty of bags for practice.

Sityodtong
100 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 627-9678
www.sityodtong.com

One of Boston's most talked about fighting gyms, Sityodtong is appropriate for anything from self-defense to sport fighting. Classes and private instruction are centered around Muay Thai and MMA. Instructors at the gym are a diverse mix of coaches, professional fighters and martial arts enthusiasts. The gym is clean, professional and well-equipped for fighters of all levels. Check out a free class to learn more.

Related: Boston's Best Gyms For Kickboxing

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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