Watson Martial Arts

I have been training Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai for a little over two years now and have been fortunate enough to train at a number of academies across the country when traveling for work/pleasure. Watson Martial Arts is without question one of the best academies in the country. The space is huge and immaculately clean, the students are technically adept and incredibly friendly, and the instructors are not only attentive and kind, they are remarkably skilled. It’s one of the few martial arts academies Ive attended where I learn something new every single time I visit. I would encourage anyone in the St. Louis area who is interested in starting jiu jitsu or Muay Thai to look no further than Watson. It’s THE place to train in St. Louis.

Absolutely one of the best gyms I have trained at. I train every time I go TDY across the last 22 years. Seen quite a few. Fantastic methodology for teaching and a great wrestling base. Paired with fantastically clean facilities and a friendly cohort of students. This is THE place to train if you’re in the area.

I had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful facility in St Louis as a guest instructor and was not disappointed. Owner Kyle Watson has built a massive professional gym. From striking to fitness to grappling it's all under one roof in a laid-back environment. His students are fun and welcoming. There are all levels from beginner to expert with a large number of black belts on the mat. I enjoyed my visit especially my roll with Kyle and hope to be back soon.

Great gym culture. I can only speak for the Muay Thai program but it is run very well. The instructors are experienced and are able to work with practitioners of any level. Highly recommend this gym! I am glad that I joined.

Probably the best combat sports academy in St Louis. The facility is spacious & clean, students are friendly & welcoming, and the instruction + curriculum is top notch. Kyle is a great instructor & an all around good person. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a place to train in the St Louis area.

Disclaimer I'm a total newb. And that's okay here! This place is awesome. Kyle the owner went out of his way to introduce himself on my first day and has remembered my name since. The entire establishment is very down to earth and has a welcoming and aproachable atmosphere. There is no pressure to buy a membership or gear or anything, but they have everything you could want/need to get started and continue your journey. I was a little worried about getting a partner that goes too hard, but I have not experienced that yet, I can only assume that those people find each other on the mats. The instructors have been great so far, including the muay thai classes! I'm very much looking forward to spending a lot of time, effort, and sweat here. Thank you so much for having me!

I was in St. Louis for my son’s soccer tournament and visited Watson Martial Arts. They were very kind and welcoming. The gym was nice and clean with lots of space. The instruction was great and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Highly recommend them!

I was visiting St. Louis on business (coming from North Chicago), and I asked my coach if he had a gym recommendation in the area. Without hesitation, he recommended Kyle Watson’s gym. I got in touch with Kyle, and he invited me to join in any of their classes while I was in town, without requiring a mat fee.

The gym facilities are very nice and kept clean. The culture of the coaches and students is very healthy and respectful, with no egos at all. Everyone is there to learn, to help, and to have fun.

I attended two classes and learned a lot I did not know about collar-and-sleeve open guard. I got to train and roll with quite a few excellent folks, and picked up several good tips from Kyle as he walked around the gym.

If you are ever in St. Louis and looking for a place to train, I give Watson Martial Arts my highest recommendation!

Excellent MMA gym! I started 2 years ago with zero experience. Best decision I’ve made in my life was coming to WMA. The atmosphere is incredible. Everyone, including the coaches and trainees, want each other to get better at the sport and become stronger mentally.

Kyle was fantastic. The place was immaculate. The people were super friendly. I just jumped in for a drop in session as I'm traveling on the road and I'm always looking for places to roll and learn. Would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this beautiful dojo. 🥋🙏🏽

I was visiting St. Louis and dropped into a couple classes at Watson Martial Arts. Everyone was very kind to me and their fellow teammates. Not only is the gym enormous, full of amenities and very clean, but the instruction here is unmatched. I enjoyed the gamification of learning and personalized approach to gaining new skills. If I lived in within an hour of St. Louis it would be a no brainer to train here.

I joined the free Muay Thai lesson yesterday and wow - what a great experience. Kyle was extremely nice & helpful. To say it was a great workout is an understatement! I’d highly recommend this gym - this is such a great place to be introduced to the huge world of martial arts. You will not regret learning these valuable lessons and you get a great sense of accomplishment when you’re done. I’ll be trying out BJJ next week and I cant wait. Props to everybody involved! Very beginner friendly gym.

I visited Watson Martial Arts while traveling to St Louis for work. From the first time I spoke to Kyle, I knew this was going to be a great experience. Great facility, great instruction, great people. I can't wait to visit Watson MMA again.

Kyle and team make you feel at home when you walk in the gym. The facility is clean and well maintained. There’s a culture of making the place feel like a team environment, so everyone helps each other get better.

Visiting St Louis for work and was honored to train with Professor Matt! Awesome gym, great vibes, great training, highly recommended!! Thanks again for having me 🙏

I was on a business trip to St. Louis and I was looking for a place to train. Kyle Watson was excited to have visitors and invite me to bring other folks from the conference too.

His instruction was excellent, the classes were large and well organized, everyone was eager to be as helpful as possible. The gym is huge and then after the excellent classes some people stayed for open mat rolling upstairs.

My experience was awesome and I can't wait to go back for another visit!! Thanks very much Kyle and Watson Martial Arts for being so welcoming and for your expert instruction! I'm looking forward to next time.

I was visiting St. Louis from Vancouver and looking for a place to train while I was in town. Kyle and the team at Watson couldn't have been better hosts. They have built a fantastic gym and culture and I would absolutely recommend Watson to anyone regardless of skill level.

I have been a part of Watson’s martial arts for about two months now. It is such a welcoming and encouraging environment. My favorite thing about the studio is the great amount of different classes available. You can come and stay there all afternoon if you would like! Professor Kyle takes his time to personally get to know every student and it is clear that he is very knowledgable in martial arts. Other students are also very friendly and I have never encountered any issues. If you are thinking about trying it out: Stop thinking about it and come check it out!

Incredible culture, incredible coaches, incredible gym. You won't find a better place to learn jiu jitsu.

While traveling to the area from Florida I was able to drop in for a class while in town. Friendly group of people and nice facilities. Great instructor’s, nice details while teaching and very helpful. I had a great experience. Thanks Kyle for letting drop in.