15 of the Best Muay Thai Gyms in the UK to Train At

The standard of Muay Thai gyms in the UK has never been higher.

British fighters are now competing successfully at the highest levels of Muay Thai around the world, while the UK has developed an extraordinary depth of experienced coaches, world-class fighters and established gyms.

Through my work with Warrior Collective, I've spent years travelling around Britain visiting, training and filming inside many of the country's leading Muay Thai gyms.

Some are internationally recognised fight teams. Others have developed generations of fighters over several decades. Some stand out because of a particular coach or technical approach, while others combine elite competitive success with thriving recreational and junior programmes.

These are 15 of the best Muay Thai gyms in the UK that I believe are particularly worth visiting – and what makes each one different.

This isn't intended to be a definitive ranking from one to fifteen. There are many excellent UK Muay Thai gyms that could justifiably be included. Instead, these are gyms I believe offer something particularly interesting based on their coaching, fighters, competitive pedigree, training environment and my own experiences visiting and filming within British Muay Thai.

 

 

15 of the Best Muay Thai Gyms in the UK

1. Bad Company – Leeds

2. All Powers Gym – Stockport

3. Keddles Gym – Dartford

4. The Griphouse – Glasgow

5. Wicker Camp – Sheffield

6. Kiatphontip – Leeds

7. K-Star Legacy – Birmingham

8. The Knowlesy Academy – London

9. Team Tieu – London

10. 2 Technical Muay Thai – Greater Manchester

11. Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy – Glasgow

12. Lumpini Fight Academy – Crawley

13. Kiet Muay Thai - Liverpool 

14. Masda gym - Liverpool

15. 2 Brothers Muay Thai - Birkenhead

There is no single “best” Muay Thai gym in the UK for everyone. Your ideal choice depends on where you live (and how far you are willing to travel), your experience, whether you want to fight and the style of Muay Thai you want to develop

I've travelled around the UK repeatedly, walked into these gyms, trained there, filmed their coaches and fighters, and built relationships with people along the length and breadth of UK Muay Thai. Here's what I learned and which gym might suit you.

 

What Makes a Great UK Muay Thai Gym?

This is not a ranking from first to fifteenth.

There are too many variables.

A gym that's ideal for a professional fighter looking for elite sparring isn't necessarily the best place for someone who's been training for six months.

Likewise, one coach might specialise in highly technical Muay Thai while another builds aggressive pressure fighters or has particular expertise in clinching, Boxing, kicking or fight strategy.

I've therefore considered:

• Quality and experience of coaching

• Competitive pedigree

• Quality of fighters and training partners

• Technical identity

• Training environment

• Facilities

• Accessibility to visiting practitioners

• History within British Muay Thai

• Current relevance

• My own experiences with the gyms, fighters and coaches

Most importantly:

Would I genuinely recommend someone travel specifically to train there?

For these gyms, the answer is yes.

 

Bad Company – Leeds

One of the Great Institutions of British Muay Thai

You can't have a serious conversation about Muay Thai in the UK without talking about Bad Company.

Founded by Richard Smith in 1992 (and co-run alongside Lisa Houghton-Smith), the Leeds gym has spent more than three decades producing outstanding fighters.

Liam Harrison.

Jordan Watson.

Andy Howson.

Richard Cadden.

James France

Joe Craven.

And many more.

But simply listing champions doesn't really explain what makes Bad Company special.

 

 

The Bad Company System

I've filmed with Richard extensively over the years (and with Lisa, Liam, Jordan, James and Joe), and one of the things I've always appreciated is that there is a recognisable coaching methodology behind the gym.

This isn't simply a collection of talented individuals who happen to train in the same building.

There are ideas around how fighters should be developed, how techniques connect, how pressure is applied and how Muay Thai should actually be fought.

And that system has repeatedly produced results.

Just as importantly, Bad Company has always maintained the feeling of being a team.

Complete beginners, juniors, recreational adults and elite fighters all exist within the same wider culture.

 

 

Bad Company is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Want to experience one of Britain's most successful Muay Thai gyms

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want strong sparring partners

• Want structured technical coaching

• Want to understand how fighters are developed long-term

• Are a coach looking for ideas

• Want an authentic fight-gym atmosphere

 

Why it makes my list: Very few UK gyms can combine longevity, coaching pedigree, competitive success and culture in quite the way Bad Company has.

I've visited and filmed there numerous times and it remains somewhere I would recommend without hesitation.

 

 

Learn the Bad Company System Online

If you can't get to Leeds, you can also study Richard Smith's coaching in depth through his full-length Warrior Collective instructionals:

The Bad Company Style of Muay Thai

and

Muay Thai 101 – A Framework for Developing Fighters

These go considerably deeper into the coaching methodology behind one of Britain's most successful Muay Thai teams.

→ Explore Richard Smith's Muay Thai Instructionals

 

WATCH: RICHARD SMITH MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

WATCH: INSIDE BAD COMPANY GYM

 

→ Visit Bad Company Muay Thai Gym

 

All Powers Gym – Stockport

Technical Muay Thai with Panicos Yusuf

All Powers Gym has been one of my regular training destinations over the years, largely because of the quality of coaching provided by Panicos Yusuf.

Panicos is an accomplished World Champion himself, but being a great fighter doesn't automatically make someone a great coach.

Panicos is both.

His understanding of Muay Thai is extremely technical and, crucially, he has the ability to communicate that understanding to other people.

 

 

Why Train at All Powers?

The technical level is one of the main attractions.

Panicos doesn't simply show combinations.

There's usually an underlying reason why something works.

Position.

Distance.

Timing.

Reaction.

Balance.

And what the opponent is likely to do next.

That creates the kind of training environment that particularly appeals to people who like to understand Muay Thai rather than simply memorise it.

I've personally spent a considerable amount of time training with Panicos, so this is one of the easiest recommendations for me to make.

 

 

All Powers is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Love technical Muay Thai

• Want to improve fight IQ

• Want high-level sparring

• Are a competitive fighter

• Are a coach looking for new ideas

• Want to understand why techniques work

• Are based around Manchester or the North West

 

Why it makes my list: Panicos is one of the most technically knowledgeable Muay Thai coaches I've personally trained with and one of my favourite people in life.

 

 

Learn with Panicos Yusuf on Warrior Collective

You can also study Panicos' approach through his full-length Warrior Collective instructionals, including:

Tricks for Elite Muay Thai Training

Learn Muay Thai – Training to Become Elite

The Muay Thai Training System – Drills for Fighters

How to Clinch in Muay Thai - Training for Fighters

Muay Femur Training - Technical Mastery in Muay Thai

These allow you to explore the systems behind his coaching rather than simply watching isolated techniques.

→ Explore Panicos Yusuf’s Muay Thai Instructionals

 

WATCH: PANICOS YUSUF MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

WATCH: INSIDE ALL POWERS GYM

 

→ Visit All Powers Gym

 

Keddles Gym – Dartford

Decades of Fight Knowledge with Alan Keddle

Alan Keddle has been involved in combat sports for an extraordinary length of time.

A former European Muay Thai Champion himself, Alan subsequently developed a reputation as a coach working not only with Muay Thai fighters but also with high-level MMA athletes.

That crossover makes Keddles particularly interesting.

Muay Thai for Muay Thai and Muay Thai adapted for MMA aren't always the same thing.

Distance changes.

Stance changes.

Defence changes.

The threat of takedowns changes how strikes can be used.

A coach who has spent decades working across those environments develops a perspective that is difficult to acquire from one ruleset alone.

I've filmed with Alan over the years and his depth of knowledge is immediately apparent.

 

 

Keddles is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Want experienced Muay Thai coaching

• Train MMA

• Are interested in adapting striking across rulesets

• Want an old-school fight-gym atmosphere

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want access to decades of coaching experience

 

 

Why it makes my list: Experience matters, and Alan has accumulated an extraordinary amount of it.

 

WATCH: ALAN KEDDLE MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit Keddle's Gym

 

The Griphouse – Glasgow

One of Scotland's Great Combat Sports Gyms

Scottish combat sports consistently punch above their weight.

And The Griphouse has played an important role in that.

This Glasgow gym has produced and housed talent across Muay Thai, MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for years.

That's one of its biggest attractions.

The cross-pollination of knowledge between high-level strikers, grapplers and MMA fighters creates a training environment that's difficult to manufacture artificially.

 

 

More Than a Muay Thai Gym

Although we're talking specifically about Muay Thai here, I'd recommend The Griphouse even more strongly if your interests extend across combat sports.

I've visited and filmed there numerous times and there is a very particular atmosphere.

Serious training.

Very little pretence.

Plenty of humour.

And a deep pool of experienced coaches and athletes.

 

 

The Griphouse is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Train Muay Thai and MMA

• Want experienced sparring partners

• Want a genuine fight-team environment

• Train BJJ or grappling as well

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want to experience the Scottish combat sports scene

 

Why it makes my list: It's the kind of gym where having talented people across multiple disciplines under one roof raises everyone's level.

 

WATCH: THE GRIPHOUSE MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit The Griphouse

Wicker Camp – Sheffield

One of the Foundations of British Muay Thai

Some gyms belong on a list like this because they're currently producing exciting fighters.

Wicker Camp belongs here for something bigger.

History.

Founded in Sheffield in 1977, Wicker Camp has played an important role in the development of Muay Thai in Britain.

At the centre of that history is Mick Mullaney.

Mick has dedicated decades to teaching Muay Thai and has influenced generations of fighters, coaches and students.

 

 

Why Visit Wicker Camp?

Training somewhere with this kind of history gives you something different.

You're not simply visiting another modern Martial Arts facility.

You're stepping into a gym that has been part of British Muay Thai for nearly half a century.

I've always enjoyed visiting Mick and the team.

The coaching is excellent, but equally important is the community surrounding the gym.

Wicker Camp is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Are interested in British Muay Thai history

• Want highly experienced coaching

• Prefer traditional Muay Thai gyms

• Are a coach yourself

• Want a strong community environment

• Appreciate old-school Martial Arts culture

 

 

Why it makes my list: Few gyms have contributed more to establishing Muay Thai in Britain.

 

WATCH: MICK MULLANEY MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit Wicker Camp

 

Kiatphontip – Leeds

Thai Muay Thai Knowledge in the Heart of Yorkshire

One of the advantages of British Muay Thai today is that you can access genuine Thai coaching without travelling halfway around the world.

Kiatphontip is an excellent example.

At the centre of the gym is Jompop Kiatphontip, an extremely experienced Thai fighter and coach with an exceptional understanding of Muay Thai. He, alongside Simon Chu and Maria Chu make up the main coaching team at Kiatphontip.

I've known and filmed with Jompop for years and his technical knowledge is outstanding.

But there's something else he possesses that's much harder to quantify:

Fight IQ.

Jompop understands how to win fights.

 

 

The Thailand Connection

Kiatphontip's connection to its Bangkok camp also gives the gym another dimension.

Students aren't simply learning Thai-influenced Muay Thai in Britain.

There is a genuine connection between the UK team and a working Thai fight camp.

Numerous outstanding British fighters have spent extended periods training within that system over the years.

 

 

Kiatphontip is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Want authentic Thai coaching in the UK

• Want to improve fight IQ

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want technical Muay Thai

• Want links to training in Thailand

• Want strong sparring and clinching

• Are interested in traditional Muay Thai

 

Why it makes my list: Jompop combines authentic Thai experience with years of understanding how to coach fighters in the UK.

 

WATCH: JOMPOP KIATPHONTIP MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit Kiatphontip Gym

 

K-Star Legacy – Birmingham

World-Class Striking Knowledge with Damien Trainor

Regular Warrior Collective viewers won't need much introduction to Damien Trainor.

I've filmed with Damien extensively over the years and he remains one of the coaches whose knowledge I return to again and again.

A multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion during his own fighting career, Damien subsequently developed into an outstanding striking coach.

And importantly, his knowledge isn't restricted by labels.

There are strong Thai influences.

Dutch Kickboxing influences.

Boxing.

Footwork.

Fight strategy.

Sparring methodology.

Bag work.

Clinch.

And an enormous amount of accumulated experience about how all those elements actually fit together.

 

 

Why Visit K-Star Legacy?

For me, Damien's biggest strength is the depth behind what he teaches.

A simple technique often leads into a much bigger conversation about positioning, reactions, counters or strategy.

That's exactly the kind of coaching experienced practitioners benefit from.

 

 

K-Star Legacy is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Want technically detailed Muay Thai

• Train Muay Thai and Kickboxing

• Want to improve sparring

• Want better fight strategy

• Are an experienced practitioner

• Are a coach

• Want to develop a more complete striking game

 

Why it makes my list: Damien is one of the most knowledgeable striking coaches I've personally worked with and is easily one of my favourite people to spend time with.

 

Learn with Damien Trainor on Warrior Collective

Damien also has one of the most comprehensive coaching libraries on Warrior Collective.

His full-length instructionals cover areas including:

• Muay Thai fundamentals

• Sparring

• Clinch

• Bag work

• Fight strategy

• Counter striking

• Training methodology

Rather than isolated techniques, together they create an increasingly complete picture of Damien's approach to developing striking.

Fighting Concepts for World Class Striking

The Fight Game - Strategies for World Class Striking

Solo Training - Bag Work for World Class Striking

Muay Thai Training - Developing World Class Striking

Muay Thai Sparring - Developing World Class Striking

Muay Thai Bag Work - Developing World Class Striking

Muay Thai Clinch - Developing World Class Fighters

These allow you to explore the systems behind his coaching rather than simply watching isolated techniques.

→ Explore Damien Trainor’s Muay Thai Instructionals

 

WATCH: DAMIEN TRAINOR MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

WATCH: K-STAR LEGACY MUAY THAI GYM

 

 

→ Visit K-Star Legacy Muay Thai Gym

 

The Knowlesy Academy – London

A Proven Pathway from UK Muay Thai to the World Stage

If you're looking for evidence of how far British Muay Thai has progressed internationally, The Knowlesy Academy provides plenty.

Run by the Knowles family and associated particularly with Christian and Lyndon Knowles, the academy has developed an exceptional roster of fighters.

The most internationally recognisable example is Jonathan Haggerty.

His rise from the British Muay Thai scene to World Championship success on ONE Championship demonstrates just how high the ceiling now is for fighters emerging from UK gyms.

But the depth doesn't end with one athlete.

The academy continues to develop fighters competing internationally while also teaching recreational students and beginners.

 

 

Why Visit Knowlesy?

Christian is another coach I've been fortunate enough to film with for Warrior Collective.

His coaching is particularly interesting because it bridges traditional Muay Thai with the evolving demands of modern competition at elite level.

Small gloves.

Different scoring environments.

Faster exchanges.

Different defensive requirements.

Modern Muay Thai is evolving, and coaches who understand both its traditions and where competition is heading are increasingly valuable.

 

The Knowlesy Academy is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want elite-level sparring

• Want modern Muay Thai coaching

• Are interested in small-glove Muay Thai

• Want to train in London

• Are an aspiring professional

• Want to see how a high-level fight team operates

 

Why it makes my list: The results being produced by the gym at international level speak for themselves.

 

 

Learn with Christian Knowles on Warrior Collective

Christian's full-length Warrior Collective instructional:

Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves

explores how traditional Muay Thai needs to adapt when glove size, defence, distance and tactical priorities change.

It's particularly relevant to the direction elite Muay Thai competition has taken in recent years.

 

WATCH: CHRISTIAN KNOWLES MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit The Knowlesy Academy

 

Team Tieu – London

A London Muay Thai Network Built Around Competition

Team Tieu is slightly different from most of the gyms in this guide.

Historically, it has operated less like one isolated location and more like a network built around Philip Tieu, his coaching and the wider team.

Phil's influence also extends beyond coaching into promotion through his involvement in Muay Thai Grand Prix.

That creates an interesting environment for competitive fighters.

There is an understanding not simply of how to train but of the wider competitive ecosystem surrounding Muay Thai.

 

 

Why Visit Team Tieu?

I've filmed with Phil over the years and have always been impressed by both his technical ability and the standards he expects.

For fighters based in or visiting London, the wider Team Tieu network can also expose you to a varied pool of training partners.

 

Team Tieu is particularly worth considering if you:

• Are based in London

• Want high-level sparring

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want experienced coaching

• Want exposure to a wider fighter network

• Are interested in the UK competition scene

 

 

Why it makes my list: Competitive experience extends beyond what happens between the ropes, and Team Tieu understands the whole environment surrounding fighters.

 

WATCH: PHILIP TIEU MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit Team Tieu

 

2 Technical Muay Thai – Greater Manchester

One of the Most Creative Muay Thai Coaches You'll Meet

There aren't many people in Muay Thai quite like Paul Karpowicz.

If you've followed Warrior Collective for any length of time, you've probably seen him.

In fact, some of the most watched training clips I've ever published feature Paul.

There's a reason for that.

His movement and technical creativity immediately look different.

 

 

Muay Thai Outside the Box

Paul's Muay Thai combines traditional Thai foundations with his own understanding of:

• Movement

• Boxing

• Angles

• Speed

• Athleticism

• Timing

• Unorthodox attacks

• Creative problem solving

That doesn't mean being flashy for the sake of being flashy.

There's a functional purpose behind what he teaches.

I've spent a considerable amount of time filming and training with Paul and he still regularly shows me things I haven't seen before.

That's increasingly difficult to do after spending years travelling around the world filming Martial Arts.

 

2 Technical is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Want to become less predictable

• Love technical Muay Thai

• Want better movement

• Want to improve speed and timing

• Enjoy creative striking

• Are an experienced practitioner looking for new ideas

• Want a different perspective on familiar techniques

 

Why it makes my list: You will almost certainly leave with ideas you didn't arrive with.

 

 

Learn with Paul Karpowicz on Warrior Collective

Paul's full-length instructionals include:

Unorthodox Muay Thai - Fighting Outside the Box

Muay Thai for Speed and Power - Advanced Training Drills

2 Technical Muay Thai for Sparring and Fighting 

The Technical Nak Muay - Creative Striking in Muay Thai

Each captures the creative approach that makes training with Paul so distinctive.

→ Explore Paul Karpowicz’s Muay Thai Instructionals

 

WATCH: PAUL KARPOWICZ MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit 2 Technical Muay Thai

 

Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy – Glasgow

Home of One of the World's Leading Muay Thai Fighters

This is one of the major additions I'd make to my original list.

Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy in Glasgow has become impossible to ignore when discussing elite Muay Thai in Britain.

And one name provides the most obvious reason:

Nico Carrillo.

Carrillo's rise through international Muay Thai has taken him from the Scottish scene onto ONE Championship and ultimately to the top of the featherweight division.

That kind of success doesn't happen accidentally.

Behind elite fighters are training environments, coaches, sparring partners and cultures capable of continually pushing them forward.

 

Why Deachkalek Matters

For someone interested in competitive Muay Thai, the attraction is obvious.

You're looking at a gym operating at the sharp end of the modern international sport.

But the wider value is studying the environment that produces fighters capable of succeeding at that level.

How are they conditioned?

How do they spar?

How is pressure developed?

How do they prepare tactically?

How is a fighter progressed from domestic competition towards the international stage?

Those questions matter just as much as individual techniques.

 

Deachkalek is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Are a serious competitive fighter

• Want high-level sparring

• Want a modern fight-team environment

• Are based in Scotland

• Want exposure to international-level Muay Thai

• Want to understand how elite fighters are developed

• Aspire to compete internationally

 

Why it makes my list: Producing a fighter capable of reaching the very top of modern international Muay Thai tells you a great deal about the standard of the environment around him.

 

→ Visit Deachkalek Muay Thai

 

Lumpini Fight Academy – Crawley

A UK Gym Producing Fighters for the International Stage

The second major addition I'd make is Lumpini Fight Academy in Crawley.

Again, there is a very obvious current example of why:

George Jarvis.

George came through the Lumpini Crawley system and has subsequently competed successfully at the highest levels of international Muay Thai.

But the gym isn't simply somewhere for professional fighters.

It has spent decades developing students from complete beginners through to competitive athletes.

Its current facility includes multiple rings, bag areas and conditioning equipment, while dedicated fighter sessions provide a pathway for people who want to progress towards competition.

 

 

Why Lumpini Crawley?

I think gyms that successfully bridge recreational Martial Arts and serious competition deserve particular credit.

Not everyone walking through the door wants to become a professional fighter.

But those who do need a genuine pathway.

Beginner.

Interclub.

Novice fighter.

Experienced fighter.

Professional.

International competition.

Having that pathway already embedded within a gym can make an enormous difference.

 

Lumpini Fight Academy is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Want a clear progression towards competition

• Are a competitive fighter

• Want experienced Muay Thai coaching

• Want good sparring

• Are based in southern England

• Are a beginner with ambitions to eventually fight

• Want a gym with proven international-level development

 

Why it makes my list: The development of fighters such as George Jarvis demonstrates that UK gyms can now provide a pathway all the way from learning Muay Thai to competing on the world's biggest stages.

 

WATCH: LUMPINI FIGHT ACADEMY MUAY THAI TRAINING

 

 

→ Visit Lumpini Fight Academy

 

Kiet Muay Thai – Liverpool

Home to One of the UK's Leading Current Muay Thai Fighters

If we're updating this article based not only on reputation and history but also on what is happening in British Muay Thai right now, Kiet Muay Thai deserves serious consideration.

The most obvious reason is Anthony Deary.

Deary has developed into one of the leading fighters in British Muay Thai, accumulating an extraordinary collection of titles while competing against increasingly high-level international opposition.

His recent achievements include World Championship success under WBC Muay Thai, WMO, ISKA and YOKKAO, establishing him firmly among the leading British fighters of the current generation.

And that makes the environment developing him particularly interesting.

 

 

Why Kiet Muay Thai Makes the List

When looking for gyms worth travelling to visit, I don't think we should focus exclusively on famous names from previous generations.

One of the best indicators of a strong gym is what its fighters are doing now.

Are they competing?

Are they progressing?

Are they beating good opposition?

Are they moving from domestic competition onto the international stage?

Kiet currently has a particularly strong answer to those questions through Deary.

For serious fighters and coaches, visiting environments producing athletes at this level gives you an opportunity to study far more than individual techniques.

You can look at:

• How fighters are developed

• How training is structured

• How conditioning is approached

• How sparring is used

• How athletes prepare tactically

• How fighters progress towards international competition

 

Kiet Muay Thai is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Are a competitive Muay Thai fighter

• Want a serious fight-team environment

• Want high-level training in the North West

• Are interested in modern British Muay Thai

• Want to understand how international-level fighters are developed

• Aspire to progress from domestic to international competition

 

Why it makes my list: The current results speak for themselves.

Anthony Deary's progression from the British circuit to winning multiple World Championships against international opposition makes Kiet one of the UK gyms particularly worth paying attention to right now.

 

→ Visit Kiet Muay Thai

 

MASDA Gym – Liverpool

One of the UK's Strongest Current Muay Thai Fight Teams

If we're updating this list to reflect where British Muay Thai is right now, rather than simply relying on the historically biggest names in the sport, MASDA Gym in Liverpool deserves its place.

Established in 2010, MASDA has developed into a major combat sports academy with an increasingly impressive Muay Thai fight team.

That work was recognised when MASDA was named Thai Fighter UK's Gym of the Year in 2024.

And when you look at the depth of fighters now coming through the gym, it's easy to understand why it has attracted so much attention.

 

 

A Deep and Active Fight Team

One of the things I look for when judging a competitive Muay Thai gym isn't simply whether it has one successful fighter.

It's depth.

Are there fighters at different stages of development?

Are juniors progressing?

Are experienced fighters competing internationally?

Is the next generation already coming through?

MASDA currently has a substantial roster of active fighters competing across numerous weight divisions, while its athletes have increasingly travelled internationally to compete.

That makes it particularly interesting for someone looking for a serious competitive training environment.

 

 

Why Visit MASDA?

For me, the biggest reason isn't the facility.

It's the combination of facility and competitive results.

A beautiful gym doesn't necessarily produce good fighters.

MASDA has increasingly demonstrated that it can provide both.

That's particularly relevant for competitive practitioners who want to visit another gym for sparring and experience a different fight-team environment.

MASDA is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Are a competitive Muay Thai fighter

• Want high-level sparring

• Want access to a large active fight team

• Want modern training facilities

• Train MMA or Boxing alongside Muay Thai

• Want Strength & Conditioning alongside technical training

• Are based in or visiting Liverpool and the North West

• Want to experience one of the UK's leading current competitive Muay Thai environments

 

Why it makes my list: MASDA isn't here because of what it achieved 20 years ago.

It's here because of what the gym and its fighters are achieving now.

The combination of a deep competitive roster, international activity, excellent facilities and recognition as Thai Fighter UK's 2024 Gym of the Year makes it one of the UK Muay Thai gyms particularly worth paying attention to in 2026.

 

→ Visit Masda Gym

 

2 Brothers Muay Thai – Birkenhead

A Gym Capable of Producing World-Level Fighters

One of the reasons I wanted to expand my original UK Muay Thai gym list was to recognise gyms whose results have become increasingly difficult to ignore.

2 Brothers Muay Thai in Birkenhead is a perfect example.

This isn't a new gym to me by any means.

Around ten years ago, a very young Joe Ryan was selected as the Warrior Collective Young Martial Artist of the Year, which led to me travelling over to meet and film with Joe alongside his dad and head coach Karl Ryan.

Even then, it was obvious that Joe was an exceptional young talent.

He had been competing from an incredibly young age and was already building the sort of junior record that made people within British Muay Thai take notice. By the age of 13, Joe had accumulated 33 consecutive victories and won gold at the IFMA Youth World Championships in Bangkok.

 

 

Karl Ryan and the Development of 2 Brothers

The story of 2 Brothers can't really be told without talking about founder and head coach Karl Ryan.

A former fighter himself, Karl began coaching in 2009 and has subsequently developed fighters from complete beginners through to English, European and World Championship level.

His coaching experience has also extended far beyond Birkenhead.

Karl has represented Team GB as an IFMA coach at international events around the world, coached on behalf of Next Generation MMA and worked corners against opposition from Thailand, Europe and considerably further afield.

In 2016, he was recognised for his contribution to Martial Arts with a Martial Arts Hall of Fame award.

But perhaps the strongest endorsement of Karl's coaching isn't an award.

It's the development of the fighters around him, and in particular, his sons Joe and Karl Ryan.

 

 

More Than Fight Results

There's another side of 2 Brothers worth mentioning.

The gym operates as a charitable organisation and has a strong community focus, particularly around giving young people access to Martial Arts.

That's important.

We naturally judge fight gyms by belts, rankings and competitive results.

But some of the best Martial Arts gyms also have an impact that never appears on a fight record.

Creating an environment where young people train, develop discipline, build confidence and potentially progress from their first class towards competition is equally significant.

 

2 Brothers is particularly worth visiting if you:

• Are a competitive Muay Thai fighter

• Want to train around World Championship-level experience

• Want strong sparring

• Are a developing junior fighter

• Want experienced competitive coaching

• Are based in Liverpool, Wirral or the wider North West

• Want Strength & Conditioning and recovery facilities

• Appreciate a strong community-based gym culture

• Want a gym with a proven pathway from junior development towards elite competition

 

Why it makes my list: 2 Brothers demonstrates that world-class fighters don't have to emerge from enormous internationally famous academies.

Developing a fighter through the British system to World Championship level is one of the strongest endorsements a Muay Thai gym can receive.

And now that experience can be passed directly back into the next generation training on the same mats.

 

→ Visit 2 Brothers Muay Thai

 

Which Is the Best Muay Thai Gym in the UK?

There isn't really a single best Muay Thai gym in the UK for everybody. The better question is what type of training environment, coaching and experience you're looking for.

If you want elite fight-team experience and the opportunity to train in gyms with a proven record of developing international and World Championship-level fighters, your shortlist might include Bad Company, Knowlesy Academy, Masda gym and Lumpini Crawley.

If you're particularly interested in highly technical coaching and developing the finer details of your striking alongside the ability to spar with high level fighters, All Powers, K-Star Legacy and 2 Technical Muay Thai each offer their own distinctive approach to developing Muay Thai.

For those wanting authentic Thai knowledge and a strong connection to the traditions and technical depth of the sport, Kiatphontip offers something particularly difficult to replicate in the UK, while Kiet Muay Thai provides another strong option for those looking for experienced, technically focused Muay Thai coaching.

If you want to experience decades of British Muay Thai history, Wicker Camp is impossible to overlook. Few gyms have played such a long-standing role in the development of the sport in this country.

Keddles Gym brings its own considerable history and pedigree, combining Alan Keddle's extensive experience in Muay Thai with years spent coaching fighters at the highest levels of combat sports.

Team Tieu offers another perspective again, with Philip Tieu's experience as a fighter, coach and promoter helping to create an established London Muay Thai environment for everyone from recreational practitioners through to competitors.

Deachkalek is another example of the strength of Muay Thai outside the UK's most obvious major fight centres, building a strong reputation through its coaching, fighters and competitive success.

If your interests extend beyond Muay Thai into MMA and Grappling, The Griphouse becomes particularly interesting, with high-level Muay Thai, MMA and BJJ all existing within the same Glasgow training environment.

And if you're particularly interested in long-term fighter development, 2 Brothers Muay Thai provides a compelling example of what can be achieved. Karl Ryan has helped develop Joe Ryan from an exceptional junior into a Rajadamnern Stadium Champion and multiple Muay Thai World Champion, with Joe now taking that striking foundation into professional MMA.

Ultimately, that's what makes putting together a list like this so difficult.

Bad Company, All Powers, Keddles Gym, The Griphouse, Wicker Camp, Kiatphontip, K-Star Legacy, Knowlesy Academy, Team Tieu, 2 Technical, Deachkalek, Lumpini Crawley, 2 Brothers Muay Thai, Masda Gym and Kiet Muay Thai are not fifteen versions of the same gym.

They have different histories, coaches, fighters, philosophies and training environments.

So rather than asking “Which is the best Muay Thai gym in the UK?”, I'd ask:

Which gym offers the coaching, training partners, style, atmosphere and experience that best matches what you want from Muay Thai?

That's ultimately the question this guide is designed to help you answer.

 

Why Visit Other Muay Thai Gyms?

I think fighters and coaches can become too comfortable.

You know everyone at your gym.

You know how they spar.

You recognise their favourite combinations.

You know who pressures, who counters and who likes to clinch.

Then you visit another gym.

Suddenly the timing is different.

The rhythm is different.

The sparring partners react differently.

The coach sees something your regular coach hasn't noticed.

That's valuable.

I'm not suggesting constantly moving gyms.

Quite the opposite.

Having a strong home team is hugely important.

But occasional visits to other good gyms can expose you to ideas, styles and problems you don't normally encounter.

 

 

Do You Really Need to Travel to Thailand to Improve Your Muay Thai?

Thailand remains the spiritual and competitive home of Muay Thai.

Every serious practitioner should experience training there if they have the opportunity.

But don't make the mistake of thinking quality Muay Thai only exists there.

British coaches have now spent decades travelling to Thailand.

Thai trainers have settled and coached here.

British fighters compete internationally.

UK gyms regularly produce World Champions.

And the exchange of knowledge between Britain and Thailand has never been greater.

Sometimes one of the best things you can do for your Muay Thai is simply drive two hours up the motorway and spend a Saturday training with someone different.

 

Train with UK Muay Thai Coaches on Warrior Collective

One of the reasons this article fits so naturally on Warrior Collective is that I've been fortunate enough to film extensively with many of the coaches featured here.

That means visiting the gym doesn't have to be the beginning or end of the learning process.

You can study complete training systems from coaches including:

Richard Smith

Panicos Yusuf

Damien Trainor

Christian Knowles

Paul Karpowicz

and many more.

Rather than simply watching random techniques, the full-length Warrior Collective instructionals allow you to understand how these coaches structure and connect their ideas.

You can then take those concepts into your own training.

And if you subsequently get the opportunity to visit their gyms?

Even better.

→ Explore Muay Thai Instructionals 

 

Looking for Muay Thai Gyms Outside the UK?

I've also been fortunate enough to visit and film at outstanding gyms around the world.

If you're planning a training trip, take a look at:

→ 12 of the Best Muay Thai Gyms in Bangkok to Train At

→ Best Muay Thai Gyms in Koh Samui

These guides cover everything from small family-run Thai camps to huge international training centres.

 

 

Final Thoughts

The UK Muay Thai scene has changed enormously since I first became involved in Martial Arts.

We now have gyms with decades of history.

Thai coaches who have made Britain home.

British coaches with enormous international reputations.

Fighters competing successfully on the biggest stages in the sport.

And an increasingly deep pool of talent throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The 12 gyms above aren't the only excellent Muay Thai gyms in Britain.

Far from it.

They're places that stand out to me because of their coaching, fighters, history, training environment or my own experiences with them.

And I'm sure this list will continue changing.

That's a good thing.

It means British Muay Thai continues to grow.

So if you train Muay Thai in the UK, occasionally get outside your own four walls.

Visit another gym.

Meet another coach.

Spar someone new.

Experience another approach.

You don't have to abandon your home team to learn from somebody else.

And you might be surprised by just how much world-class Muay Thai knowledge is sitting a relatively short drive away.