“ When I met Jay, I was physically mentally and spiritually beaten down. I was searching for something to occupy my mind and my soul. I was looking to find a new community of people to engage with. There were several ways that I put myself out there during this time. I started taking yoga lessons at multiple yoga studios around Berkeley and Oakland. I began taking guitar lessons. I joined different Meet Up groups. And most importantly, I walked into Pacific Ring Sports and tried a Muay Thai class. Now I’m not new to exercise or hard work. I spent three years playing in the WNBA and played in 3 Final Fours during my collegiate days at Stanford. So, I needed something more than an elliptical machine with a TV screen.It wasn’t long before Jay noticed me hitting the bag and the pads with lots of energy but absolutely no technique. When he first corrected me, I was even reluctant to change. I remember saying, “I just want to sweat and get a workout in.” Jay was always polite and respectful. He let me swing away, but he didn’t go away. He continued to subtly critique and coach me. It wasn’t long before I became hooked on the art of Muay Thai and hooked on learning from Jay. Jay is a coach that requires his students to be disciplined and I have a lot of respect for that. His classes weren’t enough. I began paying for one-on-one sessions with him weekly. Because of my time training with Jay, I am now 44 years old and back to my WNBA playing weight. I am physically, mentally and spiritually in a better place with Jay in my life. I am currently the Head Coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of California, Berkeley. Being that I am a coach myself, I took notice of Jay’s presence in the gym perhaps through a different lens. Great coaches connect with their players in order to get the best out of them. Jay seemed to be on a first name basis with EVERYONE. From the guys who were preparing for a fight that coming weekend to the gym members like me who would never even think of getting in the ring, Jay had a way of making you feel like you belonged. And that is why I have continued to learn the art of Muay Thai under Jay’s tutelage. I now have the confidence to live spar and clinch and will, next Spring after my own basketball season is over, attempt to participate in my first amateur fight with Jay in my corner. Another testament to the impact Jay has on lives is that fact that for two consecutive years we have brought the entire Women’s Basketball Team to the gym to have a two-hour Muay Thai session with Jay. ” This speaks to how much we trust him to keep our team safe and how much we respect his ability to inspire and empower people. Our university is very thoughtful and intentional when it comes to who we allow to have contact with our student-athletes. Jay is in a very small group of people who fit our criteria. My players gain strength and confidence during the workout with Jay. They are empowered and absolutely love their interactions with Jay and the Muay Thai family members who help him with our sessions for the team. And of course, Jay asked me for a link to our roster so that he could make sure he remembers all the players’ names. He makes sure to attend games when he is not in the gym teaching a class.Jay is a motivator, a teacher and a friend to many of us. I left Pacific Ring Sports when Jay left. And I, along with the rest of the #muaythaimindedfamily, will follow Jay to his next gym. He will never lack for members because he is talented, skilled, extremely knowledgeable about his craft and most importantly, he is authentic. We are all so fortunate to have a coach like Jay in our lives. Read More...

“ Words cannot and do not articulate Jay’s magic! Working with Jay has changed my life in every facet. There was a lot I did not know both about myself mentally and physically prior to training with Jay. I lacked any semblance of personal confidence and could not find my way around a gym if my life depended on it. Fast forward two years later and the gym has become an integral part of my life. Not only have I learned how to take care of my body, I have made it a part of my daily routine. Working with Jay helped me get off medications that I had been struggling to quit for over 6 years. Through patience and persistence, Jay helped me foster my self-confidence and determination. He built both my body and spirit. He is an absolute wealth of knowledge both in the gym and out. He can modify any workout and no matter what you will have had one of the toughest workouts of your life. While Jay has an acute understanding of what kind of work each body needs to thrive, he excels at encouraging people’s sense of self. Jay knows how to target both the body and the mind, a unique, but exceptional symbiosis, generating the most impressive results.” While Jay is undoubtedly a gym master, he has a particular knack for interpersonal interaction. Never have I met a more inspiring, generous, kind and charismatic person. Jay gives himself to his work and it shows. I am forever indebted to Jay for the changes he has made to my life and all that he has given to me and my community.LOVE YOU!" Read More...

“ I have had the pleasure of knowing Jason Joseph for the last three years as a friend and trainer. Jason is a vibrant person, who people are drawn to by his positive outlook on life. Jason is the kind of person who will always have smile on his face, with words of encouragement, regardless of how hard of a day he may be having. Jason is also a very selfless and honest person. Jason is always putting others first and never breaks his promises. During the years I have known him, Jason has helped many people, including myself, grow into better versions of themselves. Jason brings out the best in people and never gives up on them. Jason can raise spirits in people who are at their lowest and instill self-confidence in people who have none. As a trainer, Jason has not only pushed me to my full potential by sharpening my techniques and conditioning as a Muay Thai fighter, he has also improved my mental strength. Jason taught me about tenacity, having the right attitude toward setbacks, and changed my overall perspective on life in a powerful way. Jason is very passionate about the art of Muay Thai and is willing to share it with anybody who wants to be a part of it. Despite how busy he is or how much physical damage he takes training people, he gives it his all for the love of the art and giving back to people. ”