Ronin Athletics

I have been going to classes at Ronin for about 6 months and I am so happy I found this gym. I had been training with a different Kickboxing/​MMA class for about 2 years when my instructors moved to another city– leaving me in search of a new class. I went to 5 other gyms that I disliked for various reasons before I found Ronin.
I started with one of their free intro classes and signed up that same day for continued training. The instructors here are great, they treat me with respect and know how to motivate without yelling. I got to their kickboxing class 2 days a week and find each class challenging in a good way. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great MMA/​Kickboxing experience.

I’ve been going to Ronin for a year and a half and I’ve never been in better shape (and I’m 35 y/​o). I take both group classes and privates with Coach Dom (boxing). I love all the staff and the fellow members. It’s judgement free. I also love that there are many more women here than any other martial arts gym I’ve been too. In fact some of the best fighters are female!
Training at this gym is the highlight of my week (and I am NOT a fitness freak, I’m the woman who would rather eat Doritos and play video games than work out)!!

I’ve trained at Ronin for 5+ years and I highly recommend it. It’s a great group of athletes to learn from and train with.
Christian and the other instructors really take an interest in your progress.
There are people at all skill levels and levels of training, from once-​a-​week to serious MMA/​BJJ competitors who train every day.
There’s always someone there who’s better than you, which you need in order to improve, but afterwards they will EXPLAIN how you can do better next time, or show exactly how they did that cool move.
Everyone is super friendly and very respectful. They take their jiu-​jitsu very seriously but there’s such a cool attitude at the same time. Great place to train in NYC!

I can honestly say that Ronin should be considered a hidden NYC gem. Its not a «fight club» or a place where wanna be tough guys go to pose and act badass. Its rather an MMA gym that still holds the values of the martial arts in as much a premium as it holds the techniques.
The training is of the highest level and the instruction is patient, progressive and focused on bringing out the very best in the students and whether your goals are to lose a few lbs, learn to defend yourself or step into the ring and compete, there is something for you here.
If you’re thinking of training BJJ/​MMA (and especially if you’re new to the game), I couldn’t recommend a better place to get started.

This place is excellent for all those interested in MMA. I have been training at Ronin for about a year now. The Instructors are extremely knowledgeable, patient and able to break different techniques down so everyone can understand them better. Whether you’re trying something new or are fully seasoned this is a great place to be.

Coach Christian and the rest of the instructors at Ronin run a great gym. There’s a nice balance of members from beginners to experts — some members compete regularly in jiu jitsu tournaments and some MMA, while others just come for the serious workout. There’s a good, friendly vibe and everyone’s very supportive.
I love coming to the gym and get mad when I have to miss classes for whatever reason. Highly recommended!

This is a great gym for MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitzu and Intro to intermediate Muay Thai. What makes it unique is a culture of mentorship, where more advanced students help out more inexperienced ones, and where everyone, coach or student is constantly improving their game together. Everyone is welcoming and supportive of each other. Which is contrary to my experience at boxing gyms that I have been in so far, where the only way to learn is to get your butt kicked, or to find a superstar coach. If you’ve never touched martial arts, this is the place to learn, whether you want to become a pro one day or whether you want to just keep in shape while learning the art. Going to the gym used to be a pain for me – now its one of my favorite things to do! And I’ve lost about 20lbs. :-)

Excellent gym! I’ve been training here for a year and a half and it’s really changed my whole life. Friendly people, great staff, and overall a bunch of great men and women who train and teach here. Ronin really feels like a second home to me, it’s just a fantastic gym overall.

We used Unilocal reviews to select this gym. I had high expectation after seeing that Ronin Athletics had all 5 star reviews (very impressive). And reading all the great things that people had to say about this place. I was not disappointed. Ronin Athletics is awesome, worth the price, very friendly staff and perfect location. I cannot say enough good things about this gym and the staff! 5 would be my rating too. It lives up to the hype, simply fantastic! Yes, the reviews are true, everything is good here. Unique place. What an amazing find! Very nice people, everybody seems genuinely nice here. Everyone was so nice and helpful. 5 stars does not give justice to this place. This place is bliss!

If you’re looking for an MMA gym in the city, your search ENDS NOW! And yes, that includes all levels!
Joining this gym was perhaps one of the best decisions I’ve made in my entire life, and this is not an exaggeration.
Aside from the fact that this gym will teach you all you different styles of martial arts and ways to integrate them flawlessly, you’ll get one hell of a workout while doing it. I’ve actually considering dropping my normal gym membership and I’m only going to ronin now… That’s how amazing of a workout you’ll get there. I’ve been lifting weight all my life and now I barely do it and I’ve never been in a better shape!
On top of that, the staff is extremely friendly and professional and I’m honestly surprised that their rates are so low. If I was the owner, I’d charge double the current rate… They’re THAT good!
Also, the place is ridiculously clean considering the amount of sweat being squeezed out of its members on a daily basis.
Long story short, this is the place to be!

Christian is the man. Excellent teacher, patient, and has legs made of titanium
If you’re looking for a great workout, and learn some amazing stuff, I highly recommend
Best part of my week I wish I could do it more

Currently training MMA there. Great place though a little bit small (where isn’t in NYC?) ! People are super friendly. Coaches are patient. I was new to BBJ when I joined. They made the learning experience fun and they really teach you hand by hand. Worth checking out, you’ll love it!

The main thing that elevates Ronin above other gyms, in my opinion, is the quality of the instructors. They are highly enthusiastic, great at working with new entrants to the sport and are all very laid back characters. Christian, the head guy is pretty self deprecating (claims he is not a natural athlete — although it’s hard to believe when you see his moves) and his instructors are cut from the same cloth. I felt that the other gyms seemed more focused on their «stable» of fighters than working with beginners and intermediates. Ronin is more of an all inclusive atmosphere. They are serious about their work but you won’t find yourself drowning in testosterone in this gym. If you need a marine drill sergeant to shout into your face to reach your goals then this gym probably isn’t for you.
Also, given the gallons of sweat that are excreted in the place on a daily basis in MMA training, the gym is extremely clean.

I’ve been taking the kick boxing classes here now for about ⁵⁄₆ weeks. Combined with 8 weeks of healthy eating I’ve dropped 14 pounds. I look and feel better than I have in years.
All the people that go here are friendly and welcoming. It’s nice to go some where where everybody knows your name.
The coaches (Christian and Ryan) are great and the speed at which they bring you on is just right.
Just wish I wasn’t going back to Europe so soon.
Would have loved to get into the mma and bjj they have here. Looks fun.
They have an unlimited membership for a fixed price as well.
The place gets hot and you sweat loads. But I like that.
Go for a free first lesson. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.

This place does not deserve a 5 star but 10 stars! If you are a novice DO NOT be intimidated, the instructors here are very very friendly knowledgable and patient. ABSOLUTELY no egos here! And if you are a intermediate or advance level you’ll get advance level training as well. I I Love the place.

I have watched MMA since blockbuster video and would rent out VCR tapes of UFC 1, 2, and 3. I last wrestled over 10 years ago. A friend of mine showed me some basic punching combo’s when I was 17, but that was the total extent of my background. I never kicked a thai pad (though I have tried Pad Thai — they are not the same, trust me). I have never grappled nor competed in BJJ, though I have tapped people out in the XBOX video game.
After careful review I narrowed my search down to Ronin Athletics. I wanted to join a real MMA gym so I weeded out the schools that seemed to venture into MMA «on the side» since it has exploded in popularity.
(Initial Class)
I made an appointment for a free trial class online. I never went. Two weeks later I made another appointment. Again, I never went. I then created another email address and made another appointment. This time I called Jasper and spoke to him. He was very friendly and fully explained the Program without being pushy. I was very worried about my first day of class. Although I lifted weights all my life (yes, even as a baby) I was horribly out of shape. It’s bad when the Marlboro Man is running laps around you on the track. I was also worried about looking foolish. I am sure there are many activities that people would love that they never try because they are worried about «The Learning Phase». Dancing, MMA, Karaōke, Yoga, and skiing are some activities where starting out can be intimidating, yet participating is extremely rewarding.
I walked into class and there were many students grappling. I met Jasper and he was very friendly. We stretched and he took me off to the side. This was my first private class and he went over Everything; Stance, hitting pads, and Grappling technique. I always thought a guillotine was simply a reverse headlock. Simply grab the head and squeeze. He showed me how wrong I was; It is truly about positioning and placement and was fun when I learned how to use the correct technique.
After the class we spoke about joining. I was expecting a Hardcore sales pitch, but I could not have been more wrong! The rates were extremely reasonable and there aren’t any long drawn out contracts. I had heard horror stories about a nearby school and thankfully Jasper/​Ronin has a totally different approach than that.
(Second Class, Wrestling)
The schedule has 6 days per week with many different times. My next class was Saturday; Wrestling. I attended class and drilled technique. I was horribly out-​of-​shape but it is fun to learn. Damien was very helpful and also extremely nice. Another coach (who is a wizard on the mat — I’m bad with names) was extremely patient with me as I continued to butcher the particular technique. Since I had wrestling training it was somewhat comfortable to me, yet the coach was going over techniques that were beyond my experience which was very rewarding for me.
(Third Class, Muy Thai)
Jasper explained that I should «Step out of my comfort zone» and attend the Muy Thai class. It is really hard to argue against that as it makes perfect sense. The coaches took the time to show me how to wrap my hands and how to put the gloves on. I was partnered up with someone who was very knowledgable — the coach made sure that I was with an advanced member. As we went over combo’s I was learning as class went on, but of course was behind the rest of the class. I was learning the combo’s, but when it came time to hold the pads for my partner to hit them, my hands were in the wrong areas! I was embarrassed, but he was very patient with me and took the time to correct my flaws. I wanted to accomodate him by showing him more flaws, which I figured he might react with a Hurricane kick to my temple. NOPE, he was very patient, smiled, and showed me again how to do it correctly. One thing I learned is how to throw your hip into the kick. When it was my time to hold the pad I could not believe the speed and velocity at which those kicks come in at! Wow, it is impressive!
I will continue to attend class, and if anyone has any questions feel free to email me at
. Class has been very rewarding. There’s a lot of nice people there. If you are thinking about joining or on the fence, I highly recommend taking a Trial class and giving it a shot. It is a great environment even for someone just starting out, and the coaches have patience and encourage you to learn. It’s a positive environment and will only help you reach your goals.

Great place to train whether you’re there for the fitness aspect or competition aspect. I’ve been to a few schools across the US over the years and this place makes you feel at home and egos are checked out the door! Guys and girls alike, good place to start!

If you want stellar BJJ training, this is the place. Everyone says their school has the friendliest/​chill instructors (Christian & Dom) and students but it can’t compare to Ronin. They also have good classes such as wrestling and conditioning (saturday).
While their weekday schedule is diverse enough, I am a big fan of their Saturday classes. Kickboxing followed by conditioning and then wrestling will have you walking out the door ready for a nap and then a night out.
Also, their prices are a LOT better than gracie or any of the other gyms. In regards to another poster who complained about the ventilation:
All martial arts gyms are like this. It’s hot on purpose to make you sweat. If you want A/​C go do some cardiokickboxing at crunch or something. lol.
Also, the gym had moved so they were still in the process of setting up. All the bags are up now and mats placed. In regards to size, its NYC and a lot of gyms are small… Still, there is plenty of room to train even with 20 people in the class. I never had an issue. I’m not sure what you are expecting to do with more space… Run laps around the gym? Wait, we do run laps around the gym.

SUMMER IS APPROACHING!
…And I’m still carrying holiday weight and happy hour calories.
In comes Ronin Athletics to save the day (and slim my thighs)!
I’ve gone to their 11am kickboxing Saturday classes these past two weekends and I can honestly say, it was one of the best workouts I’ve had in a while. The instructors seem very knowledgeable and are extremely accommodating to beginners, like myself.
The school itself has been recently renovated. It didn’t seem like they any ventilation issues, like other Unilocalers have said. Mats and other equipment look brand spanking new.
Right now, my thighs are sore, my abs hurt, and my arms are killing me… but as the saying goes «No Pain, No Gain». Ronin definitely worked me out.

Holy jesus I’m gonna feel that one tomorrow…
If you can walk out of any type of gym/​physical activity thinking that to yourself, you’ve probably struck gold in your selection. I just attended my first «Fit-​to-​Fight 101: Strength & Conditioning» class this morning, and it was INTENSE. The instructor, Derek, is a really nice and a really laid back dude, and that was certainly appreciated. I have a slight allergy to the Manhattan gym scene, and overly-​pretentious, over-​priced BS complete with ginseng protein shakes turns me off in about 0.02 seconds.
I’m already in good shape, but I wanted something to just keep the edge up and allow me to explore martial arts again (something I haven’t done since I was a kid). When I emailed the gym about their class schedules and rates, I explained what I wanted and what my schedule was. They sent me a response back the next day, offered a free trial class whenever it was convenient for me, and quoted me a discounted price since my work schedules makes it impossible for me to attend the evening classes. I was already impressed.
The workout this morning was just awesome, thorough, and ironically relaxed at the same time. Like I said, I’m already in decent shape, and the workout this morning was trying even for me. I loved the atmosphere AND the instructor asked me if I wanted to come to some of the more martial arts/​fighting classes. I did but I work through most of them. The solution? We both looked at the schedule and it looked like I could attend the one they held on Saturdays. When I mentioned that I’d already been quoted a price for the 3 strength and conditioning classes a week, the instructor said it was not a problem. Sold!
5 stars!
Unpretentious = *
Effective = *
Flexible = *
Well-​priced = *
Enjoyable = *