Muay Thai
Checkmat Knoxville is excited to introduce our Muay Thai program, bringing one of the world’s most effective and respected striking arts to our Knoxville martial arts community.
Our Muay Thai program is designed for beginners, recreational students, martial artists, and athletes looking to develop real striking skills, improve their conditioning, build confidence, and challenge themselves in a positive team environment.
No previous martial arts or striking experience is required. Students will learn progressively and safely while developing strong fundamentals from day one.
Train Your Body, Sharpen Your Mind, And
Build Real Confidence
Age Groups
Our primary Muay Thai program is designed for:
- Teens ages 13 and older
- Adults of all ages and fitness levels
- Beginners with no martial arts experience
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students interested in becoming more complete martial artists
- Experienced martial artists looking to improve their stand-up skills
- Fitness-focused students who want an exciting alternative to a traditional gym workout
Students do not need to be in shape before beginning. Training itself is designed to help improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, coordination, mobility, and endurance over time.
What Students Will Learn
Students will be introduced to the fundamental techniques and principles of authentic Muay Thai, including:
- Proper fighting stance and movement
- Footwork and balance
- Punching fundamentals and combinations
- Elbows
- Knees
- Round kicks and other kicking techniques
- Defensive movement
- Blocking and checking kicks
- Counterattacks
- Pad work
- Heavy-bag training
- Partner drills
- Clinch fundamentals
- Distance and timing
- Combination striking
- Situational self-defense
- Conditioning and cardiovascular training
Beginner Friendly
One of the most important things we want potential students to know is:
You do not need any experience to start Muay Thai.
Our instructors will introduce the fundamentals step-by-step. Beginners will not be thrown into uncontrolled sparring or expected to know what they are doing on their first day.
Training is progressive, structured, and designed to allow students to develop confidence before moving into more advanced drills.
Do I Have to Spar?
No.
Students can receive tremendous benefits from Muay Thai without participating in full-contact sparring.
Technical drills, pad work, bag work, controlled partner exercises, and conditioning make up a large portion of training. Students interested in progressing toward controlled sparring or competition can do so as their skills and experience develop.
Safety and respect for training partners always come first.
Class Focus
Our Muay Thai program is built around five major areas:
Technique
Students learn proper striking mechanics from the ground up so they develop good habits and effective technique.
Fitness & Conditioning
Muay Thai provides an outstanding full-body workout that develops cardiovascular endurance, strength, coordination, balance, and athleticism.
Confidence
Learning how to strike, move, defend yourself, and perform under pressure can create tremendous personal confidence both inside and outside the academy.
Practical Skills
Students learn legitimate martial arts techniques that can be applied in sport, competition, cross-training, and real-world self-defense situations.
Community
Just like our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program, we want our Muay Thai classes to create relationships—not simply memberships. Students train together, encourage one another, and become part of the larger Checkmat Knoxville family.
Muay Thai + Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
For our existing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students, Muay Thai provides the perfect opportunity to add a high-level striking component to their martial arts training.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu develops grappling, control, submissions, and ground fighting.
Muay Thai develops striking, distance management, footwork, kicks, punches, knees, elbows, and clinch skills.
Together, they provide students with an exceptionally well-rounded martial arts foundation.
What to Bring
New students should bring comfortable athletic clothing and water.
As students continue training, recommended Muay Thai equipment may include:
- Boxing gloves
- Hand wraps
- Shin guards
- Mouthguard
- Muay Thai shorts or athletic clothing
Our staff can help new students choose the appropriate equipment.
Who Is This Program For?
Our Muay Thai program is for the person who has never thrown a punch as much as it is for the experienced martial artist.
You don’t have to be a fighter to train like one.
Come learn new skills, improve your fitness, challenge yourself, and become part of the growing martial arts community at Checkmat Knoxville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
Our Philosophy
At Checkmat Knoxville, we believe martial arts should make people better—not only better fighters.
We want students to develop:
- Discipline
- Confidence
- Physical fitness
- Mental toughness
- Humility
- Respect
- Self-control
- Strong relationships with their teammates
Whether your goal is to get in shape, learn how to strike, improve your self-defense skills, complement your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, compete someday, or simply try something new, you are welcome here
Family First. Relationships, Not Memberships.
Ready to try Muay Thai? Contact Checkmat Knoxville today and come experience a class.
$99 Muay Thai Intro Special
Saturdays 9 – 10am – Spaces are Limited
Contact Us!
We are proud to provide Knoxville Jiu-Jitsu, as well as everyone within a 50 mile radius. You can find us perfectly located off the I-40 Rutledge Pike Road!