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New England Kudo

5 ★★★★★ 10 Google reviews · Kickboxing gym in Hamden, Connecticut

Free trial Beginners welcome Cardio kickboxing

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all fitness levels welcome, including total beginners — no experience needed, and you get in shape by training, not before
  • Cardio kickboxing classes high-energy cardio kickboxing on the bags and pads — a fun, sweaty workout built for fitness and weight loss, at your own pace
  • Sparring sparring and partner work for members who want it — always optional, eased in gradually, with the coach controlling the contact
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule newenglandkudo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (475) 209-7008

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 6:30–8:30 PM
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 5:30–6:30 PM
Friday Closed
Saturday 9–10 AM
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays and class-schedule changes — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Kickboxing classes on the schedule at New England Kudo, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“Kudo is a very fun martial art for both beginners and advanced practitioners looking to learn something unique.”

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🤜 Sparring 4 mentions

“The instructor: Sensei Jim, is tough yet encouraging, always promotes good technique, and focuses on pragmatic solutions in sparring.”

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🦵 Muay Thai 2 mentions

“But Kudo also includes Jiu jitsu, elements from boxing, and Muay Thai/Dutch Style kickboxing as well.”

All gyms that run muay thai →

🥊 Boxing

“But Kudo also includes Jiu jitsu, elements from boxing, and Muay Thai/Dutch Style kickboxing as well.”

All gyms that run boxing →

🔥 Cardio Kickboxing

“The facilities are great, spacious clean mats, heavy bags, and showers.”

All gyms that run cardio kickboxing →

Other martial arts here

Kickboxing gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at New England Kudo — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Muay Thai

“But Kudo also includes Jiu jitsu, elements from boxing, and Muay Thai/Dutch Style kickboxing as well.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🥊 Boxing

“But Kudo also includes Jiu jitsu, elements from boxing, and Muay Thai/Dutch Style kickboxing as well.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3 mentions

“But Kudo also includes Jiu jitsu, elements from boxing, and Muay Thai/Dutch Style kickboxing as well.”

Other gyms that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu →

🥋 Karate

“Kudo is a hybrid martial art combining mainly elements of Kyōkushin Karate and Judo.”

Other gyms that also teach karate →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want muay thai, boxing, or MMA alongside your kickboxing, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 10 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“The community and instruction was by far the biggest stand out quality, everyone was extremely welcoming and made the gym feel like a second home.”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 3 mentions

“The facilities were wonderful with clean equipment, mats, and a designated shower area.”

🧠 builds confidence & relieves stress 2 mentions

“A stress tested martial art with a lot of sparring, but the ability to control how intense said sparring is.”

🤝 friendly, family gym 3 mentions

“The community and instruction was by far the biggest stand out quality, everyone was extremely welcoming and made the gym feel like a second home.”

From the reviews

I've been training at New England Kudo for almost 2 years now. The facilities are great, spacious clean mats, heavy bags, and showers. It’s every martial artist’s dream gym! The instructor: Sensei Jim, is tough yet encouraging, always promotes good technique, and focuses on pragmatic solutions in sparring.

★★★★★ — Tabree, Jan 2026

Kudo is a hybrid martial art combining mainly elements of Kyōkushin Karate and Judo. But Kudo also includes Jiu jitsu, elements from boxing, and Muay Thai/Dutch Style kickboxing as well. New England Kudo is a branch of a greater organization.

★★★★★ — Jacob, Jan 2026

Wow, what an incredible studio. When you're looking for a good martial arts studio, you want to find: 1. A patient and capable coach/sensei. 2. A community of people who want to work hard together, but also treat each other with kindness and respect. 3.

★★★★★ — Christian, Sep 2024

This place is a truly unique place not only because Kudo is a fairly rare martial art in the US, but also because the culture of training here is something that’s rare. It’s all about experimenting, having fun, and truly developing your own techniques and style that suits you.

★★★★★ — Benjamin, Jan 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 10 reviews →

New to kickboxing? Start at New England Kudo

New England Kudo comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners class is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or coordinated to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale every drill to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable gyms build the basics (stance, footwork, and punches and kicks on pads and bags) first, and any contact eases in gradually under a coach's control. Third, all fitness levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

See their beginner class info

Your first kickboxing class at New England Kudo

Nervous about walking into a kickboxing gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics — stance, footwork, and punches and kicks on pads or a heavy bag — not hard sparring. Go at your own pace and rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: comfortable athletic clothes you can move and sweat in, and supportive trainers. What to bring: water, and hand wraps and gloves if you have them — many gyms lend loaner gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves and wraps (and shin guards once you start sparring). Sparring is optional and eases in gradually, once your basics are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Kickboxing is a contact sport. Warm up, pace yourself, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find New England Kudo

1125 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, CT06514

Get directions

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.