Looking for martial arts in Grand Baie usually means facing a short list of clubs and a long list of unknowns: who teaches, how hard it is, whether a beginner is welcome, what you have to buy. This page is a way of sorting that out — the criteria that actually separate a good club from a bad one, then what Team Boom, the muay thai club on Casse Ghoon Road in Pointe aux Canonniers, answers to them.
Six things to check before you sign up
- Who the coach is. A name, a face, and the same person from one session to the next. A club where the class is run by whoever is available teaches nothing consistent.
- Groups split by level. A beginner in an advanced class learns fear; an advanced student in a beginners' class learns nothing.
- A clear rule on sparring. Any serious club can tell you exactly when a newcomer starts taking contact, and why.
- Published prices. Membership, monthly rate, everything visible before you commit.
- Gear lent at the start. Nobody should buy equipment before knowing whether they like the sport.
- A schedule you can keep. Fixed days and fixed times beat a flexible timetable you will renegotiate with yourself every week.
The two questions people forget are the most practical ones: how far it is from home, and what happens if you have never done any sport at all. Distance decides whether you are still training in month six. The second one decides your first evening.
What Team Boom answers
The club teaches muay thai — Thai boxing — which uses fists, feet, knees and elbows, plus the clinch. It is led by a single coach, Jonathan Gabriel, so the technical line is the same from one evening to the next. Training runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday: group A at 5:45 pm for advanced members and the competition team, group B at 7:00 pm for beginners and intermediates. There is a beginners' group, on fixed days, at a time that survives a working week.
On contact, the rule is written down: no sparring during the first month, whatever your background. On gear, gloves are lent for your first sessions, so your first evening costs you a t-shirt and a water bottle. On money, the rates are public and there is nothing to discover along the way.
What your first session looks like
About an hour, always the same architecture: skipping rope to warm up, joint mobility, technical work, pad rounds, core work, stretching. The pads are the heart of the system — a partner holds the targets, you hit them, and nobody hits you back. A beginner spends that first hour on four things: stance and guard, footwork, the jab, and the low kick. You will be out of breath in the first ten minutes and alive again by the end; everyone is.
Training is barefoot on the mats. You bring shorts, a t-shirt and water; the club lends the gloves. Nothing else is needed on day one — the order in which to buy your own kit later is set out in the beginner's kit bag, and the first-class guide tells the whole evening in order.
Where it is, and why that matters
Casse Ghoon Road, Pointe aux Canonniers 30522, on the north coast, along from Grand Baie and within reach of Pereybère, Trou aux Biches and Cap Malheureux. Which means training at 7:00 pm and being home shortly after, rather than driving back up from Port Louis at night. Consistency is mostly a logistics problem, and short journeys solve it.
The club also trains outside the gym: beach sessions and sparring sessions are added to the calendar and announced at the club. Sand is a surface most martial-arts clubs never get under their feet, and it works ankles and balance in the most useful way there is.
Rates and booking
Membership is Rs 1,200, paid once, then it is Rs 1,400 a month for an adult, Rs 1,000 a month for an under-18, or Rs 1,500 for a private session. The pricing page has a calculator if you want the total before deciding. To book a first class, send a WhatsApp message to +230 5981 9849 and come on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 7:00 pm.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a martial arts club in Grand Baie?
Check six things: an identifiable coach who is always the same person, groups split by level, a clear rule on sparring, published prices, gear lent at the start, and a fixed schedule you can keep. Add the distance from home.
Which martial art does Team Boom teach?
Muay thai, Thai boxing: fists, feet, knees and elbows, plus the clinch. The club is led by a single coach, Jonathan Gabriel, on Casse Ghoon Road, Pointe aux Canonniers.
What does a first session look like?
About an hour: skipping rope, joint mobility, technique, pad rounds, core work, stretching. A beginner works on stance and guard, footwork, the jab and the low kick, barefoot on the mats.
Is there a group for complete beginners?
Yes, group B, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 pm; group A at 5:45 pm is for advanced members and the competition team. No sparring during the first month, and gloves are lent for your first sessions.