Yokkao was founded on a simple premise: that authentic Muay Thai training had been diluted by commercialisation in Bangkok, and that a gym in the heart of the city could do it properly.
FOUND editorial desk3 minute readUpdated 9 August 2026
Yokkao Training Center / Muay Thai / Soi 16
Yokkao was founded on a simple premise: that authentic Muay Thai training had been diluted by commercialisation in Bangkok, and that a gym in the heart of the city could do it properly. Since opening on Sukhumvit Soi 16, the first Muay Thai camp in downtown Bangkok, it has become one of the most recognised gyms in the world, featured by CNN and with more than fifty world-recognised fighters in its history.
The name Yokkao derives from the Thai word for white jade: strength and connections. The technical programme was developed with Saenchai, widely considered the greatest Muay Thai fighter of his generation, whose training methodology is built into the sessions alongside the old school regiment brought from northeast Thailand.
The facility on Soi 16 includes the official Yokkao store, where the brand’s gear, gloves, shorts, and apparel, is available on-site. Sessions run for all levels from absolute beginners to competing fighters. Drop-in classes welcome. Private sessions with Saenchai book out fast.
Training here is not a tourist activity. It is the real thing, on a street five minutes from the BTS.
190-190/1 Sukhumvit Soi 16 / Check the official training-centre page for current sessions and booking
Useful before you go
Respectful coaching is the useful review signal
Google Maps and recent traveller reviews repeatedly mention helpful trainers, technique-focused coaching and a demanding session that still welcomes visitors. Heat and workload come up often enough to plan around them.
How to use it
Check the current group schedule and booking rules before travelling. Bring suitable training clothes and ask the gym what equipment is included or available to rent.
Review themes are paraphrased from public Google Maps feedback. They describe guest opinion, not verified fact. Research checked 9 August 2026.
