Verified directory · Updated 2026-08-24

Muay Thai Rio de Janeiro

Rio is where muay thai first took root in Brazil, and the scene still shows it: old lineages, prajied gradings, and dozens of gyms scattered across a very large city. Find your ideal gym below.

49
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Muay Thai in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro

Rio has one of the biggest muay thai scenes in Brazil, but it is spread thin across a city where the far west sits more than 50km from the centre. Most gyms are in the north and west zones, in neighbourhoods like Grajau, Realengo, Bangu and Campo Grande, where classes cost less and the crowd is local. The south zone, where most visitors stay, has a smaller but solid cluster in Botafogo, Humaita, Catete, Laranjeiras and Copacabana. Distances here are real, so pick a gym near where you are staying rather than one across town.

Best Muay Thai gyms in Rio de Janeiro

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01

Muay Thai Assawin

5 (103) Barra da Tijuca

Kadu Andrade's Muay Thai programme, run inside the Gracie Humaita academy in Barra.

Price on request
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02

Centro de Treinamento Tríade Muay Thai

5 (63) Rocha Miranda

The Triade team's main training centre in Rocha Miranda, with boxing and conditioning alongside the Muay Thai.

Price on request
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03

Jaber Muay Thai

5 (73) Laranjeiras

Small group classes with Gabriel Jaber in Laranjeiras, taught in Portuguese and English.

Price on request
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04

Escola e Estúdio de Muaythai - Matilha Thai

5 (42) Estácio

A studio format school in Estacio with women only classes and app based booking.

Price on request
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05

CT FAMÍLIA MUAYTHAI/FMT

5 (78) Freguesia (Ilha do Governador)

Family run training centre on Ilha do Governador, with classes for kids, women and mixed groups.

Price on request
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06

MUAY THAI CIDADE JARDIM

5 (44) Barra Olímpica

Private and small group sessions with Maguilla and Kelry in Barra Olimpica.

Price on request
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07

TEAM MACEDO MUAYTHAI

5 (29) Imperial de São Cristóvão

A newer gym in Sao Cristovao with flexible hours and one head instructor.

Price on request
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08

SPM Muaythai

5 (14) Centro

Central Rio gym run by two coaches who work around injuries and physical limits.

Price on request
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09

Muay Thai - Arena The Trooper

5 (42) Bangu

Alexandre Bandeira's gym in Bangu, run with a disciplined, military flavoured approach.

Price on request
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10

Muay Gao Muaythai

5 (25) Catete

Professor Diogo's team in Catete, mixing competing athletes with complete beginners.

Price on request
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11

Thai Boxing Warriors- Prof. Wallace

5 (50) Realengo

Professor Wallace's team in Realengo, focused on close technical correction.

Price on request
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12

Suk Mangrk • Muaythai

5 (31) Centro

Marcelo Cunha's team in central Rio, with a competitive edge to the training.

Price on request
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13

Arca Muaythai Bangu - ROBSON CARLOS

5 (143) Bangu

Price on request
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14

Jorge Tadeu Muaythai

5 (47) Botafogo

Jorge Tadeu's team in Botafogo, with morning, afternoon and evening classes for all levels.

Price on request
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15

Team Maia Muay Thai

5 (13) Santa Cruz

Price on request
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16

Órion Muay Thai Gym

5 (21) Pavuna

Price on request
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17

Baan Suea Fight Center

5 (84) Méier

Price on request
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18

Brazilian Black Belt

5 (303) Ipanema

Price on request
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19

RD Champions CT - Academia de Luta - Jiu-jitsu - Boxe - Muay Thay - MMA - Musculação - Treino Funcional

5 (154) Colégio

Multi discipline centre in the north zone with a weights room alongside the classes.

Price on request
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20

Thai Company Fight Sport

5 (22) Osvaldo Cruz

Price on request
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21

Fight Brothers Muay Thai - Assessoria em Lutas

5 (14) Marechal Hermes

Professor Bruno's gym in Marechal Hermes, geared towards people starting from zero.

Price on request
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22

PSICO FIGHT TEAM KICKBOXING E MUAYTHAI

5 (13) Inhaúma

Kickboxing and Muay Thai in Inhauma, built around one instructor.

Price on request
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23

DC Fighters

5 (131) Jacarepaguá

Price on request
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24

Academia de Lutas União Fight - Kickboxing | Boxe | Muay Thai | Jiu-Jitsu

5 (214) Ricardo de Albuquerque

Price on request
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25

Muay Thai Maru

5 (10) Copacabana

A small private training space in Copacabana run by Alexandre Maru.

Price on request
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26

Centro de Treinamento Master Team Monteiro

5 (23) Campo Grande

Price on request
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27

Kazulu Fights club

5 (327) Copacabana

Price on request
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28

KOH TAO MUAY THAI

5 (27) Grajaú

Large open training space in Grajau with instructors who have competed internationally.

Price on request
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29

Onça Muaythai Fight Team Brasil - OMT

5 (40) Vidigal

A community rooted project in Vidigal, started by Airton Barbosa.

Price on request
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30

Tropa Thai - Rio das Pedras

5 (8) Jacarepaguá

Price on request
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31

Team Vicente Artes Marciais | Muay Thai | Jiu-Jitsu | Boxe | Grajaú RJ

5 (13) Grajaú

Muay Thai with Vicente and jiu-jitsu with Felipao, sharing a space in Grajau.

Price on request
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32

ROCKY MUAYTHAI

5 (16) Recreio dos Bandeirantes

Small group traditional Muay Thai in Recreio, with an instructor who trained in Thailand.

Price on request
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33

Golden Heroes Muay Thai

4.9 (76) Botafogo

Traditional Muay Thai in Botafogo with English speaking staff, air conditioning and a staffed reception.

Price on request
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34

Rio Fighters - Jiu-Jitsu - Muay-thai - MMA

4.9 (106) Humaitá

Milton Vieira's multi discipline academy in Humaita, well used by visiting foreigners.

Price on request
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35

MBK Muay Thai Brazilian Kickboxing

4.9 (81) Vila da Penha

Price on request
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36

Soul Combat - Muay Thai Kickboxing Boxe Jiujitsu Judô - Vila da Penha

4.9 (104) Vila da Penha

Price on request
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37

Davi Thai Combat (Muay Thai Academy)

4.9 (31) Marechal Hermes

Price on request
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38

Champions Factory Parque das Rosas - Muay Thai

4.9 (38) Barra da Tijuca

Part of the Champions Factory network, training at Parque das Rosas in Barra.

Price on request
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39

CTAM Arena Fight

4.9 (101) Centro

Multi discipline centre in central Rio with showers, changing rooms and classes through the day.

Price on request
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40

Gold Fighters

4.9 (30) Jardim Botânico

Flavio Almendra's academy in Jardim Botanico, covering several disciplines.

Price on request
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41

Equipe Kobra Thai

4.9 (56) Caju

Muay Thai team in the port area with a well established children's programme.

Price on request
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42

CENTRO DE LUTAS R SANTOS

4.9 (85) Curicica

Price on request
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43

New Fight Center

4.8 (26) Botafogo

Botafogo gym where the Muay Thai coach speaks strong English, alongside karate and conditioning.

Price on request
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44

CT Rio Fight Club

4.8 (113) Pechincha

Price on request
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45

Centro de Lutas Manifight - muay thai - jiu jitsu - boxe - kickboxing

4.8 (13) Taquara

Price on request
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46

ACADEMIA DE LUTA LEGIAO THAI

4.7 (34) Vista Alegre

Price on request
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47

BTT Lagoa - Brazilian Top Team

4.7 (52) Leblon

A Brazilian Top Team branch in Leblon where jiu-jitsu is the main draw and Muay Thai runs alongside.

Price on request
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48

VA Muay Thai

4.7 (16) Grajaú

A Grajau gym with roots in the Luis Alves lineage, now taught by Professor Vinicius.

Price on request
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Muay Thai gyms in Rio de Janeiro on the map

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best muay thai gym in Rio de Janeiro?

There is no single answer, and nothing on this site is ranked by payment. Golden Heroes in Botafogo has the most recent and most consistent reviews, along with English speaking staff and air conditioning. Jaber Muay Thai in Laranjeiras teaches in Portuguese and English and lends gear. Koh Tao Muay Thai in Grajau has instructors with international titles and a large open training space. Muay Thai Assawin in Barra is run by a coach who trained in Thailand. Rio is enormous, so in practice the best gym is usually the good one you can actually get to.

Can I train muay thai in Rio de Janeiro as a visitor?

Yes, though it takes more effort than in Thailand. Few gyms publish drop-in rates and most have no website, so message ahead on WhatsApp or Instagram. Gyms used to visitors include Golden Heroes and New Fight Center in Botafogo, Jaber Muay Thai in Laranjeiras and Rio Fighters in Humaita. Bring your own wraps if you can, although several gyms keep gloves and shin guards to lend.

Do muay thai gyms in Rio speak English?

Not widely. Portuguese is the working language almost everywhere. The clear exceptions in this listing are Jaber Muay Thai, Golden Heroes, New Fight Center and Rio Fighters, where reviewers specifically mention being taught in English. Elsewhere people tend to manage on gestures and pad work, which visiting students describe as working fine, but do not expect a translated class.

How much does muay thai cost in Rio de Janeiro?

Prices are rarely published, so you will need to ask. What visitors consistently report is that gyms in Centro and in the north and west zones cost noticeably less than the equivalent in Botafogo, Copacabana and the rest of the south zone. Several gyms charge one monthly fee covering unlimited classes rather than billing per session, which is worth asking about if you are staying a while.

Is Brazilian muay thai different from Thai muay thai?

Yes, and it helps to know before you arrive. Brazilian muay thai grew out of taekwondo in the late 1970s, so the style has traditionally put more weight on kicks than the Thai approach, and it uses a coloured prajied grading system that Thailand does not have. Many Rio coaches have since trained in Thailand and teach closer to the Thai model. If this matters to you, ask before you commit to a month.

Where are the muay thai gyms in Rio concentrated?

They are spread across the whole city. The south zone, where most visitors stay, has a cluster in Botafogo, Humaita, Catete, Laranjeiras and Copacabana. Centro has a few, useful if you work downtown, since several run classes through the day including at lunchtime. The north zone around Grajau, Meier and Vila da Penha, and the west zone around Jacarepagua, Bangu, Realengo and Campo Grande, hold the majority of gyms but sit a long way from the beaches. Ilha do Governador and Barra da Tijuca each have their own small scenes.

Is it safe to train muay thai in Rio de Janeiro?

Most of the gyms here are ordinary neighbourhood academies on residential streets, and the training itself is not the risky part of a Rio trip. The sensible advice is the same as for anything else in the city: ask the gym how people usually get there, keep what you carry to evening classes minimal, and use a ride app after dark rather than walking unfamiliar routes. One listing, Onca Muaythai in Vidigal, sits in a hillside community above Leblon, so message them first about the best way up.

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