So about a month ago I headed down to Arete BJJ gym, located in Thong Lo. I come from a fairly strong MMA background and have done Muay Thai for several years and dabbled in wrestling and BJJ. One of my biggest annoyances with Bangkok is the lack of MMA gyms that are fairly priced. Whether you want to do boxing, Muay Thai or BJJ in Bangkok you’re looking around 500 baht a lesson upwards. If you get a membership it still works out to 450 baht or so, which for me is a total rip-off.
Arete BJJ gym is really fucking cheap compared to anywhere else in Bangkok, with a one month membership only costing 3,000 baht for unlimited lessons. They have lessons 6 times a week, twice a day.
The lesson
Most of Arete BJJ gym lessons are Gi based, if you haven’t got one they will provide you with one. I’m not really a huge fan of the Gi myself, mainly because no-gi is harder (I think) and I find it more fun, but each to their own. The lesson was 2 hours long and I got taught some nice techniques and the instructors seemed friendly enough. Did a bit of sparring in which I got totally owned but had a blast doing it.
I was totally fucked like a kunt after the lesson, I forgot how much energy it takes doing a BJJ lesson. For anyone who’s looking to do marital arts in Bangkok, I think Arete BJJ gym is your best bet if you don’t want to overpay, get a decent workout and get taught some serious skills. It’s pretty fucking cheap compared to other places in Bangkok, the gym is decent and has shower facilities.
There’s three instructors, two spoke perfect English, while the other struggled but I believe was fluent in Thai.
How to get to Arete BJJ gym
Get the BTS to Thong Lo and then keep walking up for about 6 minutes, then turn left when you see Panjit Tower. If it’s your first time going there, I suggest paying a motorcycle driver 10 baht (maybe it’s 20 baht) to drop you right outside so you don’t get lost. Arete BJJ gym website can be found here :