KOA Fitness

Very friendly staff. Classes for all ages and skill levels. Trainers are very experienced and knowledgeable in ther craft. Highly recommended.

This gym strives for perfection. They have top notch trainers in all disciplines, they offer a variety of times and classes to fit anyone’s schedule, and the staff and front desk are always friendly and make you feel right at home. If you’re looking for fitness, to learn a martial art, or to find a new gym to train/​spar at… try KOA. I’d be really surprised if you were disappointed.

Cool and friendly instructors and great facility. They have a lot of classes and a schedule that works even with the busiest schedule.

Who knew that KOA would be so great? My crew & I trained here. We learned SO much about Muay Thai & Jiu Jitsu.
Love this place!!!

I love this place.
I’m sure there are many a people who wouldn’t dare step into KOA because they are intimidated, but I was able to build up the courage to step in there and see what it is all about, even though I was so out of my element. After talking with Chris (one of the many Chris’s that works there… lol), I was a bit more comfortable, he was very thorough, and was not at all pressuring me to make a decision right there and then. Since I wanted to experience something new, and lose weight at the same time, I decided to sign up. Joining KOA Fitness, is definitely one of the best decisions I made this year! This was a very «out of my box» decision; because I am awkward as hell, no rhythm whatsoever, and truly out of shape. I was so nervous and so very intimidated on my first day, but I was worried for nothing. All the instructors I have worked with are all very welcoming and patient. They will definitely put you to work, and at the end of each class, you can’t help but feel that wonderful sense of accomplishment.
It has been an ass-​kicking and enjoyable 3 weeks. Although, I still get a bit nervous and awkward, I look forward to going to class each night. A+++ KOA Fitness Team!

I really like this place. Training here provides me with the most consistent and intense workout that I’ve ever done. It feels great to leave the gym drenched in sweat and proud of the hard work accomplished. The gym is pretty clean and the people are friendly. When I tell other people in the class that I am a beginner, they drop the level down a notch and really take the time to help me out. They offer introduction Muay Thai classes for absolute beginners so it is easy to get started with a trial period. They also offer a lot of other classes like HIIT training, Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The membership can look a bit pricy compared to a standard gym like 24, but you’re paying for a great facility and exceptional instructors. This is no «McDojo» by any means – the instructors like Naruepol and Mauricio are backed by impressive professional careers.

I tried out Muy Thai, BJJ, Boxing, and HIIT classes at this gym. The Muy Thai classes are taught by several different coaches and each brings a different styles of training. Each coach brings a different level of intensity, areas of focus, and culture to the class. They are a lot room to train and the groups are large enough to find the idea training/​sparring partner. I always have a great time pushing myself to my limits, learning new combos, and making great friends. The BJJ class is taught by Mario. The coach well respected and tough. They’re Gi and no Gi classes. Each class I learn new techniques from the coach and the students. For boxing Pops is best coach I’ve met. His class trains a lot to built that powerful punch combo. HIIT class is taught by Peter. Peter has a unique training style that focuses on everything. By the end of class you wonder how you even finished and than the next day you just sore everywhere and than wonder why your back again training. I love this school and if I can I would go every day. I started this school because I wanted to lose weight and become stronger. I’ve started in February and I was 250 pounds. I used to train everyday starting from 430 till 830, but work and school are priorities. It’s July now and I’m at 220. I hope to get down to 200 and be more confident in the ring and myself. I hope you try it out and see if it’s for you.

This is a nice gym plenty of parking in a nice neighborhood, the staff is great. I walked in and was greeted by one of the trainers (Jake). I went through the free trial and I am exhausted these guys know how to make you sweat, needless to say I came in this gym for a reason and found the gym without the sales stress. I signed up! Thanks KOA!

They dont accept my groupon… the whole deal on groupon is just a scam to make money
I bought the groupon n attempted to register but they were closed those days… but when i visited again i was bounced between them n groupon until i got tired

Inspiring place. I love the open gym access, as well as the partner training. Never just punching bags. Real welcoming and family friendly place. Gotta love the «Championship Round!»

I have been going to Rattana Manalo’s Rattanafit Body Conditioning class at Koa twice a week for about 4 weeks now. The results are amazing! I’ve lost 16 lbs since I started! Her workouts are highly effective and she switches the exercises up each time to engage different muscle groups and keep your body guessing. She is very motivating and supportive, and she wants to see all of her students meet their fitness goals. I go every Tuesday night at 7:30 and every Saturday morning at 11:30 and I am always looking forward to the next class. Like Rattana says, sore today strong tomorrow!

This place is awesome! period.
I am here 4 times a week and 2 of my kids are here as well for their BJJ & muay thai training. After coming here for a few weeks, I can really feel my body condition is greatly improved and as well as my fighting skill (eventhough I don’t think I will ever fight anyone).

You get the whole package here at KOA Fitness.
I’ve been coming here since 2010. KOA Fitness does an excellent job at being able to cater to everyone’s needs from a martial arts gym. Whether it be to get to a higher level of fitness or to be able to compete one day. They got me ready for my first muay thai smoker within 6 months. (Thanks to Anh Fairtex, Daniel Kim, John Laset, and Mauricio Alonso)
Strength and conditioning
Muay Thai
Boxing
Jiu Jitsu
Wrestling
Kid’s programs
There’s also an abundant amount of space able to accommodate each of the classes above training at the same time.
They have a boxing ring, an octagon, and tons of mat space.
A great place to learn something new everyday and meet great people you can hang out with.
There’s not a lot of places out there where even the owner Chris will jump into a class and train with you.
I’ll always be grateful for the friendships and memories I’ve gained from going to Koa Fitness.
Call them up and sign up for a free intro class!

From the moment I stepped into KOA I knew I could call it home. Their trainers are there to help you in achieving your goals. I would recommend this gym to anyone for any goals they have. I would not want to go anywhere else!

If you a re looking for a great place to train in various martial arts and/​or to get into better shape, this is a great place to go. The space is very large and there are various tools to use for training.
I am currently only training in Muay Thai, though I intend to work with Mauricio and the other BJJ crew sometime soon. As far as the instruction goes, it is top knotch. Daniel and Ethan are great instructors and they push you to get better at each class.
I have trained in various styles over the years and this is one of the best locations I have been to. Great instruction, a fun atmosphere, and great people to train with make this a great place to go!
–Tim

This is my first impression of KOA fitness, I wanted to expand my horizons when it comes to getting fit so for a guy who’s never really thrown a punch, I decided to take up boxing or atleast take some lessons so I called this place, they were great, the pricing is not scary, it’ s has a feel of a YMCA type deal, The instructional staff is great as I felt like a fat kid on the first day of school, The instructor put me at ease and made me feel part of the team. I will be going back and taking more lessons for my one week trail before I even give them any money, I like the kick back style and non greedy terms. Very nice

Beautiful facility, super friendly staff and team, I had a wonderful experience here and recommend it to anyone in the area.
As soon as I walked in I was greeted nicely at the desk and made very welcome. I was shown around the gym which is very large, well equipped, and clean. I met the instructor Will who was super friendly and I proceeded to step on the mats for the Brazilian Jiu-​jitsu class. I had a great time meeting the team who were all so friendly and welcoming which I loved. I have been training for almost five years and I learned something new, in addition I got a very challenging workout from the instructor. What I enjoyed most was the vibe from all the people at this gym, I have been to many different gyms and their friendly atmosphere was something that really stood out to me. Five stars for sure.

I have been wanting to get back in the gym and get back into shape. Just honestly didn’t have the motivation or drive to do it. My good friend that is a regular at KOA Fitness talked me into it by getting a week guest pass. I have done Crossfit for about a year and loved every minute of it until i moved back to the bay area and wanted to find something new.
i went into KOA today really nervous and kinda intimidated. I was welcomed in by Natasha. So was so nice and welcoming. Made me feel right at home. Gave me a quick tour of the facility and i was really impressed. Every member was really nice that i came across. I started off with the Intro in Muay Thai. i loved every minute of it. It tested me a lot. The instructors were top notch. I learned so much and was very happy with my first class. I will be finishing every day with this one week guest pass and will be definitely becoming a member.

If you read nothing else in this review, you should come here and give this a try. :D And stay so I can live vicariously through you. It’s an amazing place to learn.
If I were not slaving my brains away on the opposite side of the country for most days out of the year, I would very much love to get a membership here. (I want to learn everything. ;_​;) Since the powers that be have made this pretty much impossible, I pester my brother about joining so that he can learn instead and teach me everything he absorbs. :]
I purchased a Groupon for 5 classes here (either BJJ, Muay Thai or strength & conditioning) in October so that I’d have a place to work out at while I was home for what I believe to be my last winter break ever. My interactions with everyone here – on the phone or in person – have been great. Everyone I’ve met there has been super friendly and welcoming, which is always a definite plus when you know they can all beat the crap out of you. D:
Strength & Conditioning:
I decided to take this first (taught by Anthony!). In theory, it was to ease me back into the world of movement and exercise. (I’m horrendously out of shape due to the fact that I’d been stuffing my face with alarming amounts of food for the past 5 weeks.)
With that in mind, I was pretty much gasping for breath within the first 20 minutes of the class. I haven’t moved (by that, I mean «gone to the gym») in a pretty long time thanks to the never-​ending study-​guilt and poor life choices («But Farrah, there’s food to be had and you’re also really tired!») I forced myself to push through though. The tire flips are my favorite. :D I was really, really flattered when Anthony asked me where I used to train, since I’d like to think that it means I don’t completely suck at life despite the lack of movement.
F: Train? Um, pretty much nowhere.
A: Really?
F: Well, unless you count the fact that I do powerlifting for fun? :O
A: Ohh, that explains it. Your form is really good.
Score! :D!
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:
My experience in BJJ extends to random «Hey, we’re actually both free next Wednesday! Can you help me level up my badassery!?» meet-​ups. They’ve occurred once every couple weeks/​months in the past 1.5 years, and my friend says I learn quickly and am improving by a lot (I always think he’s just being nice, although I would really like to believe that I have the potential to be good if I could, y’know, remember the things I learned). I think what I’m best at, for better or worse, is hanging on like a barnacle.
I did not manage to do all 5 classes this week because of holidays, family, prior obligations and the like, but the classes that I did get to go to were super fun and a great workout. As stated before, everyone I met there was super friendly, supportive and encouraging. The teacher was on vacation, but all the other students were very willing to teach/​explain things to me. :]
I know cost might be a deterrent to some since times are tough, but considering all the different classes they offer and the awesome environment and facilities you get to learn in, it’s a really good deal. (This is coming from someone who’s drowning in student loans. :O)
NOTE: I was a total fail and read the flier incorrectly. They’re currently running a deal where, with a 12-​month commitment, it’s $ 99/​month. (Usually, it’s $ 149/​month.)

Thanks for reading my epic review of thee family fitness gym: KOA Fitness.
This gym has recently changed its name from Fairtex MuayThai Fitness (Due to business reasons). All reviews from Fairtex Newark stands for KOA Fitness as none of the staff nor instructors have left.
KOA specializes in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Ryan Gracie BJJ), Western Style Boxing, Dutch Kickboxing, Judo, Wrestling, MMA & Strength/​Conditioning. Daniel Kim (Professional Muay Thai Fighter), Lawrence Ward (Professional Muay Thai Fighter), Jenna Castillo (Strikeforce Fighter), Germaine DeRandamie (UFC Women’s 135lb class), Carlos Rocha (UFC Veteran), Coach Joe B. (Boxing Coach), and Professor Mauricio Alonso (Ryan Gracie Black Belt/​KillerBees Brazil).
The gym has had some celebrity appearances by:
Cesar Gracie, Nate & Nick Diaz (UFC), Omar Henry (Professional Boxer), Josh Neer (UFC), Evangelista Cyborg Santos (Strikeforce) and Cris Cyborg Santos (Invicta).
If that doesn’t impress… keep reading.
So what does KOA mean? KOA is a Hawaiian word for Warrior; to be brave, bold & fearless.
This is definitely a family friendly location not an ego centric gym.
If you walk in at 4:30pm, the Tigers Kids classes for Muay Thai is going on. This is not your usual martial arts class. They focus on team work, physical fitness (kids do burpees & have fitness tests) & Muay Thai technique.
Classes are headed up by Professional Muay Thai Fighter Daniel «The Ambassador» Kim. Due to the amount of students, they do have a couple of Junior Instructors to assist with the student to instructor ratio. Kids are matched by age & skill level.
On Wednesdays, they Tigers are treated to one of the few female UFC 135lb Fighters and undefeated Dutch Kickboxer, Germaine DeRandamie. Her class is challenging yet fun.
At 5:30pm, the Tigers are treated to BJJ with Ryan Gracie Black Belt, Professor Mauricio Alonso. Professor as the Tigers call him, instructs kids on Gracie Brazilian JiuJitsu or BJJ for short. Professor is quite a unique person, physically he is indimidating but you will soon find out. He is the nicest guy ever. Literally. He believes in trying your best and loves all the kids like his own.
if Western Style Boxing interests you, then Coach Joe is for you. He is another kind and understanding instructor. Coach Joe is a former Boxer who instructs on how to use speed, power, balance and efficiency in the ring.
Due to the amount of kids that were coming & parents that were observing their kids, KOA asked the parents if they wanted work out. Guess what, the gym created a 430pm class for parents while the kids work out. The class is led by Jake, Junior Instructor. The class is called Strength & Conditioning and this closely resembles Crossfit.
Not only is this a place to work out, there is a overwhelming sense of Ohana (family) here.
One of the kid’s Dad is in the Armed Forces & serving overseas. He lost his training equipment and the gym took donations to replace his gear & send it to him overseas. It was just a little Thanks to a soldier serving our country.
Another student suffered a tragic event and the gym held a fund raiser to assist the family.
If a student has a birthday, you’ll be sure that there will be some kind of cupcakes or cake.
They host movie nights for the kids. (Hint Hint. movie night for the kids = Date Night for Mom & Dad).
They host UFC fight night potluck screenings.
Needless to say, I have 3 kids plus myself training here. Everyday is different. I have been here since they opened in 2010. This is worth every penny. The gym is open 6 days a week with train as much as you want. This cant be beat.
«Be brave, be bold and be fearless…»