Draft story
Saekson Academy
On Sherman Way in Van Nuys, Saekson Academy appears to have grown from a father-and-son Muay Thai project into a neighborhood training home for kids, fitness seekers, and fighters alike.
The Story So Far
On Sherman Way in Van Nuys, the address 17646 points toward a place that, according to the public record, began as a small Muay Thai class and became a neighborhood training center. The website and listings say Saekson Academy was started by Julio Trana Jr. and Sr. in 2010. From that origin the gym appears to have expanded into a community that hosts regular classes, weekend open-gym hours, and seminars with visiting fighters.
What the online trail makes clear is partly practical and partly a reputation: a weekday rhythm of classes, a Saturday open gym, and a second outpost in Simi Valley. Review counts and a high average rating in public data suggest people who train here return and recommend it, but the fuller, human story — how the founders kept going through early days, who the regulars are, and what the place feels like at 6 a.m. or at the 7 p.m. sparring session — still needs voices from inside.
What This Place Seems To Offer The Neighborhood
The programs listed on the site — Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, and kids classes — imply a mixed crowd: early risers looking for conditioning, parents dropping off after-school classes, and fighters preparing for competition. It is easy to imagine weekday mornings filled with drills and evenings that move toward sparring and preparation for weekend seminars.
The public record names a few milestones that shape the gym’s identity: early competition invitations, training work with fighters who reached bigger stages, and seminars that bring outside instructors. Together these details point toward a gym that balances everyday fitness with a competitive edge, and that positions itself as both a local exercise option and a way for serious students to pursue fight-level coaching.
Practical Details
- Address: 17646 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91406
- Phone: (818) 855-0273
- Website: http://saeksonacademy.com/
- Programs noted online: Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Kids classes; Saturday open gym; Sunday closed
- Secondary location listed: Saekson Muay Thai Simi Valley, 1677 E Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley, CA
Follow-Up Questions
- How did Julio Trana Sr. and Jr. decide to open a dedicated gym after teaching in a fitness center? What were those first months like?
- Who are the regulars who shape day-to-day life here — parents, competitors, early-morning commuters? How does the schedule serve them?
- How do the Van Nuys and Simi Valley locations relate operationally and culturally?
- What does the team consider most important when teaching kids versus preparing a fighter for competition?
- What would the owners want neighbors or first-time visitors to know before they step inside?
Claim This Page
If this is your gym, Pang Local can help correct or expand this draft. Email info@pang-app.com to claim the page, add voices from trainers and students, and share the details that matter most.