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Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training

5 ★★★★★ 565 Google reviews · Kickboxing gym in Durham, North Carolina

Kickboxing gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Cardio kickboxing Private lessons

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
  • Kids & teen classes kids and teen kickboxing classes — built around confidence, focus, and fun
  • Private lessons one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule triangleself-defense.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 919-584-8325

Hours

Monday 5–9 pm
Tuesday 5–9 pm
Wednesday 5–9 pm
Thursday 5–9 pm
Friday 5–9 pm
Saturday 10 am–12 pm
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 Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginners 6 mentions

“Don't worry if you have experience or beginner, everyone was treated equally and instructors on the shooting range to help guide you step by step on what to do.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

Kickboxing gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 2 mentions

“If my first encounter to BJJ hadn't been TST I probably wouldn't have kept going.”

Other gyms that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu →

🛡️ Self-Defense 9 mentions

“He had (in my opinion) a very real world perspective on self defense that was somehow different and more educating than the other two in an eye opening way.”

Other gyms that also teach self-defense →

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 565 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, motivating coaching 2 mentions

“The instructor, Stewart, is knowledgeable, experienced, helpful, and funny.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“Don't worry if you have experience or beginner, everyone was treated equally and instructors on the shooting range to help guide you step by step on what to do.”

From the reviews

This was a great experience. The class is one full day. The written exam was easy IF you pay attention and take notes. The instructor, Stewart, is knowledgeable, experienced, helpful, and funny. He keeps you engaged during the class. The written part of the class is in Durham.

★★★★★ — Roslyn, Feb 2025

I have taken 3 concealed carry classes over the course of my lifetime (on account of my letting them expire) and each one has been through a different company and instructor...

★★★★★ — Alex, Jan 2026

I started TST in the fall of 2019. I practiced there until I moved back to Tokyo in 2022. I really appreciated and enjoyed the balance of physical training and logic behind them. I learned at TST for the first time how to control my body better, and how to be safe and aware of my surroundings.

★★★★★ — Keiko, Sep 2025

I really enjoyed the class. Stewart and Ethan were very helpful and they want you to win. If you are a beginner, they don’t make you feel bad for not being as experienced. They explain everything very well, and the videos are a great touch to class.

★★★★★ — Ashley, Mar 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 565 reviews →

New to kickboxing? Start at Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training

Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first kickboxing class at Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training

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 Triangle Self-Defense & Tactical Training

3742-A3 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC27707

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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.