Charlotte, North Carolina, is a hotbed for mixed martial arts enthusiasts, boasting an impressive array of gyms that cater to all levels and interests.
Whether you’re drawn to specific disciplines or looking for a well-rounded MMA experience, you’re in the right place.
Inside this guide, we dive into Charlotte’s top MMA gyms, ensuring you find the perfect fit to meet your training goals. Keep scrolling to explore your options.
Table of Contents
Top Tiger Team Boxing
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Boxing
- Location: 2417 N Tryon St Charlotte NC 28206
- Phone: (704) 998-1961
Top Tiger Team Boxing is a pure Boxing gym founded by Andre Miguel.
He is a former Brazilian Boxing Heavyweight champion. He is also experienced in Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, and Judo and has been coaching for 30 years. You can’t question this man’s experience.
Despite being proficient at multiple combat sports, he stayed loyal to Boxing the most.
In this gym, they try to train as a group to promote camaraderie. However, you can contact them to book a private session if you want some direct training.
Top Tiger is ready to train you from Monday to Sunday. From Mondays to Fridays, they do their classes from 6 pm to 7 pm. At the weekends they start their class at 5 pm.
Hayastan MMA
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 1307 Matthew-Mint Hill Rd Unit B, Matthews, NC 28105
- Coaches: Sensei Kevin Forant, Tony Tan, Jared Robinson
Hayastan MMA is a premier mixed martial arts school in Charlotte, North Carolina.
It’s well known for its diverse martial arts styles used to train fighters.
The gym offers a blend of traditional Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, Russian Sambo, and modern self-defense.
Sensei Kevin Forant is the head coach, a former 3-time Amateur MMA Champion, and retired Pro MMA fighter, bringing his fighting experience to training students.
Tony Tan is another coach, a former undefeated Amateur MMA Champion, and a retired Pro MMA Fighter. Finally, Jared Robinson, a retired professional boxer, brings his boxing expertise to finish the team’s dynamic offering.
Hayastan MMA offers a range of programs, including MMA Grappling & Wrestling, Kickboxing, Strength & Conditioning, and even programs for kids.
They also offer private lessons for all of their programs if you want to specialize. Women and children are welcome to train themselves to have increased confidence in their daily lives.
This gym is different from most because they commit to your continued improvement, known as “Kaizen.”
It’s clear that they care about you hitting your goals — whether it’s weight loss or competition.
So, whether you’re looking to become a pro fighter, learn self-defense, increase your physical fitness, or get your kids involved in a fun program, Hayastan MMA is a fantastic choice.
Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Location: 1636 Sardis Rd N A-170, Charlotte, NC 28270
- Phone: (704) 937-1606
Lucas Lepri BJJ is a Jiu-Jitsu specialized gym. They have programs you can join at whatever age or skill set you have.
You can enroll in adult BJJ, Kids BJJ, and Submission Grappling. Sub Grappling is more or less like No-Gi BJJ, with the focus on submitting people.
What makes this gym stand out is its online training, where you can get instructional videos containing BJJ lessons taught by their coaches. It might be worth a try if you can’t get there physically regularly.
Private lessons are also available. This is perfect for students who want to have a one-on-one session with their instructor. If you want a taste of the experience, you can visit the gym to watch a class.
Checkmat Charlotte
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Location: 3415 Westinghouse Blvd Suite 10, Charlotte, NC 28273
- Phone: (980) 307-9608
Checkmat Charlotte is a gym that aims to improve your ground game. They offer BJJ classes for everyone, including kids, adults, and women.
The gym is owned and headed by Michael Allen, a 2nd Degree Black Belt.
They are open from Monday to Sunday. They have a systematic schedule for all their classes.
For example, they consider Sunday as a ladies’ training day. They also do white-belts-only classes every Thursday.
Checkmat has a reward system. They award Student of the Month and more to outstanding practitioners.
If you’re a martial artist who loves to checkmate opponents on the ground, you should consider Checkmat.
Leadership Martial Arts
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 9928 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28273
- Phone: (704) 532-3371
Leadership Martial Arts is an MMA gym that offers unique programs.
They have classes on BJJ, Fighting Fitness, and MMA.
They incorporate Kickboxing, Boxing, Judo, Krav Maga, and BJJ inside their mixed martial arts training. Fighting Fitness requires no uniforms, so you can just get involved fast.
Leadership also administers summer camps. Students of all ages are welcome to join.
It’s where martial artists will get the chance to enjoy the summer with new faces while at the same time learning new skills.
Above all that, students will also get to use their high-quality facility.
With over 2,300sq ft. of mats, you have the space for improvement. They also have a cafe with free wifi for guests and parents.
Fight to Win
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 8230 Poplar Tent Rd #102, Concord, NC 28027
- Phone: (704) 921-1028
Fight to Win is an MMA gym that provides ground-focused self-defense and is run by Professor Steve Hall, who earned his stripes under Royce Gracie.
They teach Gi and No-Gi BJJ and Judo. They also have a program called Gracie Self-defense. This course is designed to put BJJ into more “real-life” situations.
FTW’s belt ranking system is strict. They make sure that you truly deserve the promotion before you level up. According to them, it will take you 6-15 years to reach a black belt.
They also have a separate toned-down program for the kids. If you’re not a fan of gyms that will make you pay your way up the belts, you should put FTW at the top of your list.
Great Grappling Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
- Location: 2040 Carolina Pl Dr, Fort Mill, SC 29708
- Phone: (803) 402-4142
Great Grappling is a gym that concentrates on BJJ.
They offer student programs for Adults and Kids BJJ, and Ask The Professor.
Ask The Professor allows the students to ask specific questions about BJJ that they may not have had the opportunity to do during usual training.
It doesn’t matter if it’s about a particular strategy, BJJ current events, or tips on overall improvements. This allows you to learn directly from a black belt.
The gym is headed and owned by Professor Jeremy Arel.
Aside from BJJ, he also has a background in Isshinryu Karate, Jeet Kune Do, and Taek Won Do. He will also cater to all your martial arts-related questions.
SMA Academy Martial Arts
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 11914 Elm Ln #160, Charlotte, NC 28277
- Phone: (704) 931-8629
SMA Academy is a mixed martial arts gym that revolves mostly around Kickboxing and BJJ.
SMA is headed by Sensei Sparks. He has over 29 years of Martial Arts training, including Karate, Kickboxing, Aikido, Boxing, Gi, and No-Gi BJJ.
Students under 15 years old can join the Kid’s Martial Arts class. Kids can learn Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals to prepare them to enter adult classes later.
Adults’ classes include Kickboxing and BJJ. You can also get private lessons with a coach.
Aside from having a healthy training environment, they also offer great deals for new customers.
Rookies can pay a small fee to get five training sessions. After this, it’s up to you if you’ll continue training with them. Worth a try?
Dyme Boxing & Fitness
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Boxing
- Location: 4560 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
- Phone: (704) 584-7731
Dyme Boxing & Fitness is a Boxing gym that offers boxing programs for adults and minors.
It’s a place where you’ll be guided by skilled coaches such as Rick Zwicknager. Boxers 18 years and under can join Youth Boxing. Older boxers will train altogether.
Despite being a Boxing-focused gym, Dyme also mixes Boxing with overall body workouts with dumbells and barbells under the F.I.T Boxing class.
F.I.T is a program designed to improve the boxer’s cardio, endurance, and strength with a 1-hour intense workout.
The gym also gives nutritional tips to promote healthy eating habits. They are open from Monday to Friday.
Unfortunately, Dyme is closed every Sunday. If you want to incorporate Boxing skills with fitness, try Dyme.
Gracie Barra Charlotte
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
- Location: 4128 South Blvd Unit. A-1, Charlotte, NC 28209
- Phone: (704) 352-9694
Gracie Barra Charlotte is a gym that teaches BJJ to everyone. They specialize in Gi-BJJ.
They have separate programs for specific age brackets—one for kids, teens, and adults. However, you can schedule a private lesson.
They also have a specific Fitness BJJ course. This class has a non-competitive environment.
BarraFIT is focused on aerobic exercise and strength training. This program aims to help people lose weight and improve overall physical well-being.
Gracie Barra BJJ administers its classes every day of the week. So, if you’re the type of person who’s interested in Gi-BJJ and overall physical workouts, we recommend Gracie Barra.
4M Fitness & MMA
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 2021 Van Buren Ave, Indian Trail, NC 28079
- Phone: (704) 248-1529
4M Fitness & MMA is an MMA gym that teaches BJJ, Muay Thai/Kickboxing, Boxing, Wrestling, MMA, Wing Chun, and Kali.
Group Fitness is also available if you want to train with people with the same goal; to be more physically healthy.
4M allows their students to use their top-notch equipment. These can be Punching bags, Boxing gloves, and Focus Mits. They also have a Boxing ring for scheduled sparring of the students.
They also conduct women’s only BJJ classes where women will get to roll and learn from high-skilled BJJ instructors.
hey also organize testing programs for BJJ practitioners aspiring to increase their ranks.
Charlotte Martial Arts Academy
MMA Hive Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 3420 St Vardell Ln Suite E, Charlotte, NC 28217
- Phone: (704) 333-4155
Charlotte Martial Arts Academy is an MMA gym.
They have Little Dragons Martial Arts for ages 4-6 and Beginners Martial Arts for seven and up. You can also enter Fitness Kickboxing which focuses on Strength and Conditioning.
Fitness Kickboxing welcomes everyone. This program is not all about kicks and punches. It teaches students to set specific goals and achieve them with dedication.
They will use punching bags, dumbells, and other equipment for training workouts.
They have a lot of programs for kids. Summer camps, after-school activities, you name it. They also organize birthday parties. This is for people who want a unique, martial arts-themed celebration.