Top Self defense schools in New York, United States

An excellent Muay Thai gym. A very good level, good ethics, very healthy friendly environment. Strong sense of community. Snowflakes not allowed - Brandon Levi makes non-PC jokes pretty often. The advantage - no one gets spared.

Came here more than 10 years ago, and realized I haven't left a review.
The head instructor Brandon is fun, and humorous, and has been the entire time I've trained here. I've seen him handle varieties of situations inside and outside the gym in an exemplary manner, eg. recently he saved some unconscious drunk young fellow from choking out in Korea town. And like this, there are other characters in the gym that are exceptional in other ways. It's nice to be around people who make you want to be better.
The other instructors have all competed and are able to give different perspectives to the basics.The fight team's training routine/style has changed over the years as well, its nice to see everything grow over time, and how the new stable of fighters develop.
The new location has showers, 2 of them. The gym is remarkable clean and vibrant. Good people and food training.

I've been a member of countless MMA / Muay Thai gyms and Evolution is by far THE BEST I've been to. There is always a friendly and positive atmosphere, and all members encourage each other to work harder and become more technically savvy. Kru Brandon Levi has a vast amount of knowledge and experience and is with you every step of the way. Deirdre keeps the back end very organized, monthly fees are fair, and booking classes is a breeze.

Overall, this is a no-nonsense, authentic Muay Thai / MMA gym that is always kept clean and tidy. Brandon and Deirdre have established a unique atmosphere of respect, hard work, and humility that makes you want to keep coming back for more. Whether you are a serious MMA fighter or someone who wants to get / stay in shape, there is a place for you here.

There is simply no place like Evolution. I look forward to all the years of training to come.

Evolution Muay Thai is an amazing gym. Kru Brandon is passionate and dedicated but also has a great sense of humor. Brandon has produced very high-level athletes, including UFC competitor and Muay Thai champion Angela Hill . I’ve also seen Brandon transform students whose goals were more health and fitness driven. After a few months of training, some of these individuals looked like different people, healthier, happier, and younger. After I started grad school and stopped training at Evolution, Brandon remained a loyal friend and mentor showing that he genuinely does care for his students. I look forward to training here again someday.

An adventure led by Thom in Central Park is becoming a birthday tradition for my daughter. For the past 3 years, Thom has created a memorable (and educational) party for her and her friends that includes navigation, archery, team puzzles, even constructing a device called a “litter” to carry one another! Parents always come up to me for weeks later saying that every year we have the coolest birthdays.

As a former teacher, I appreciate Thom’s rare ability to impart so much knowledge even as the kids are having an incredible amount of fun.

I only did around 8 classes at Evolution before I accepted a job offer in Miami.

During my time there, I felt so welcomed, enjoyed Brandon's teaching style and the culture he had promoted so much.

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or a pro, everyone will treat you with respect here and you will learn proper Muay Thai technique in every session.

I have to reiterate, this is not a BS workout class - you are actually learning real Muay Thai and it is fantastic. You get a real sense of achievement learning a true martial art rather than doing heavy bag and some burpees like at those chains.

Anyway... I want to thank Brandon for getting me hooked on the sport and I look forward to rejoining Evolution when I invariably move back to NY.

Tom pretended to like me and my friend and took us to learn how to light a fire out of a mushroom and we had a cool time but I would not recomend him because he YELLED at my Mom in texts and was disrespectful to my Mom. now I do not want to even go camping with him anymore because I was waiting all summer to go on the camping trip but he was not nice at all it turned out.

This program is unique and invaluable!! My son has participated in it for 7 years and continues to grow, loving every minute!

UKA has been the most wonderful opportunity for our son to be exposed to so many things he normally would not have the opportunity to, living in NYC. Thom makes every class and trip a learning as well as a joyful experience as he is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about nature, and he instills an understanding and appreciation of the natural world in all of his students. I cannot recommend highly enough!

I've been visiting Evolution for about four years now, and I couldn't be happier. Before Evolution I trained at another local gym that can't even be compared to this place. Kru Brandon is extremely knowledgeable and cares about all his students. Classes are always level appropriate and friendly. The overall atmosphere is awesome too, never too serious but everyone is there to get better. Still you never feel pressured to perform above your comfort level, while still being encouraged to improve. The facilities themselves are always clean, and the staff is always concerned about member's health. They take many precautions to make sure you are unlikely to catch any skin infections. Really happy with this place, and looking forward to many, many more great years with Evolution.

I started training at this Facility because I was looking for a top notch Muay Thai program in the City. Not only are the classes great, but it's an affordable gym with a flexible schedule. The community is great and Evolution is always evolving. They now offer Judo, Grappling, Conditioning, and Wrestling classes with world class coaches. Brandon Levi is the head coach and he teaches most of the Muay Thai classes. He is very detailed and gives individual attention to everyone. If you are interested in coming here for the first time you can try a One Day Pass which is FREE. Most people take classes back to back on their first day.

Evolution is a great gym with top notch training but without all the ego and price that usually comes with it.

Beginner classes are a great workout and good for all levels. Kru Brandon makes sure to critique everyone while their training to really help them improve. Advanced students are friendly and always ready to help as well.

The gym has a great relaxed atmosphere and good community. It's great for everyone, whether you're just looking for a good workout or want to start fighting professionally.