Our daughter has been part of this gym family for over 6 years, and we couldn't be happier. The coaches are incredible -their talent, dedication and genuine care are unmatched. They've helped our daughter grow in confidence, discipline, and respect. We absolutely love 1802 and we are so grateful for everything they've done. read more

My daughter has been doing jiu jitsu for about a year now. We're seeing tremendous growth in her skills and confidence. We absolutely love the professors and coaches at 1802. They truly care about the kids and foster a great learning environment. As others have said, there is a warm welcoming vibe and a strong sense of community. read more

Amazing highly skilled professors that will push you to the limit. Great with kids and adults. Very well run gym making it more enjoyable cause the atmosphere is like building a family/community. read more

1802 BJJ is a great place to train for adults and kids of all levels. 1802 provides a great family atmosphere, and the Professors and Coaches make everyone feel welcomed. I highly recommend training at 1802 BJJ. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this gym. The coaches, the camaraderie, the families that come here; everything about this gym is amazing. If you are looking for a gym that not only dedicates their time and energy into properly training you or your kids in the art of BJJ, but also into making you feel like family, this is the place for you! The coaches have instilled good technique, confidence and discipline in my kids. They both started when they were 3 and are now 6 and 8. The progress they have made in those years is incredible! If you are on the fence, try out a class. This gym will quickly show you what they are made of- genuine respect for the art, patience teaching those willing to put in the dedication, and a welcoming spirit that makes you feel like you are with family. OSS! read more

Review from the previous location: After 27 check ins, I think it's obvious to say that WE LOVE Stronghold Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. My hubby's coworker recommended this place and I wasn't sure what to expect. So, of course the first thing I do is check them out on Yelp. After reading only 2 reviews and it's from 2013, I was a little hesitant to try this place. Well guess what....I was so impressed and amazed of how many kids goes to this class. It just goes to say that; what they're doing here is accurate and they don't need a lot of reviews to prove it. FAMILY is the first word that I can truly say about this place. From the very first day we walked in Coach Derryck welcomed us and made us feel right at home. My 3 year old at first was all about it but after 15 minutes he had enough, 2nd day he was scared and crying, 3rd day it showed that my son was not ready and way overwhelmed. No worries, Coach Derryck said; no preasure, just keep bringing him in, let him watch and most of all have fun and my son will eventually join the class. Sure enough, after one week my son joined on his own. Overall, it's all because of everybody that's in the class, parents that are very kind and understanding because they knew what it was like being new. We're also thankful to the other coaches that are always there to help. Every single kid here is treated fairly, disciplined correctly, and they motivate/compliment accordingly. This place should have and deserves a 1000 plus 5 star reviews but then again, they don't need it. Word of mouth does it for them and that's all they need. read more

1802 Jiu-Jitsu - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great place for both adults and kids! I train in the early AM and my 8 year old son trains at other times throughout the week and he cannot wait to go to the gym and train with his friends. This place is great for everyone from beginner to advanced practitioners. Professor Henry and all the coaches are very detailed are able to teach all levels. Everyone at the gym has a great attitude is very welcoming. read more

1802 Jiu-Jitsu - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - San Diego, California

My 6 year old has been training at 1802 for almost 4 months and I couldn't be happier with the instruction she has received and the progress she has made. The coaches prioritize safety and learning proper technique and I am so grateful my daughter is learning such valuable skills. I also started training in January and have always felt welcome and accepted, which is significant as a plus sized woman. Additionally, there is a great gym culture where higher ranking members are so helpful and encouraging. No drama here! This is a family owned business and you can really tell how much they love what they do. Professor Ric, Professor Henry, Coach Derryck, Coach Leslie and the rest of staff are an absolute pleasure to train with and I look forward to many years as a part of the 1802 family. read more

Drama free gym! If you're looking for a safe place to train, without worrying about affiliations and bjj politics, come to 1802! Coach Henry, Derryck and Rick are easy going and friendly. Their kids classes are massive. It's family friendly with a welcoming vibe. Plus, their weekly curriculum is focused on making sure you understand and practice the same fundamental moves to transition to the next. I highly recommend this place. read more

As someone who's trained at multiple gyms, I can confidently say this is my favorite. Everyone is extremely helpful, encouraging, and welcoming. The gym is always clean, and I've never had any problems with anything here. I highly recommend this gym to anyone regardless of age, experience, background, etc. read more

I highly recommend this school! I've been to so many schools that do not even come close to the instruction at this school. They are super detailed and they make sure you actually understand what they are teaching. read more

1802 is something I wish everyone could experience. It feels special to find a place that provides fulfillment the way it is realized at 1802 and I am grateful for it. Whatever your personal goals are you will be supported by your coaches and then some. The environment is safe, clean, and fun. There aren't downsides read more

I brought my kid here after covid opened up again and she has loved going ever since! She has new friends and the coaches keep these kids and parents involved in every aspect. I can see the confidence this school has given my child and I recommend 1802 Jiu Jitsu to anyone who wants to give it a try. They are very welcoming and have a family style atmosphere! I went to a few competitions just as a spectator and they are top notch if that is what you are looking for! Overall if you just want your child or yourself to be part of a great team and gain confidence from learning Jiu Jitsu or just to get in top shape, this gym is legit! read more

This BJJ gym is a family. Everybody who comes to learn and train is made to feel welcome regardless of background, skill or age. I cannot speak highly enough about our experience here. My kids have been going here for 3 years and started as toddlers. Like any martial art, there is a discipline aspect that is tough for little ones to get accustomed to at first. However, Coach Derryck, Coach Rick, and Coach Leslie were great at easing them in and making them comfortable. As the kids progressed, the coaches adjusted their techniques accordingly and it certainly is effective. My older kid is starting to understand not just how to execute moves, but the strategies behind them. My younger toddler is having fun and learning moves she loves to try out on me and her brother. Her body control and coordination have greatly improved during her time with the coaches. Derryck and Leslie's kids also assist the younger kids on the mat and that makes a really big difference in getting the kids both comfortable and providing extra hands-on instruction/practice. Recently, Coach Henry,, a new black belt has joined the gym and is leading the instruction for not just the advanced members, but also works with the youngest beginners. Coach Henry's teaching style is great and fits in with what Derryck, Rick, and Leslie have been doing. Usually my kids are resistant to change, but they haven't missed a beat and have taken to Coach Henry just fine. All the coaches here are patient and motivating. They explain not only technique, but strategies on when to use them. This is done in a way that all skill and ages can understand. I highly recommend this gym to anybody who has a desire to learn or advance their BJJ skills. As an added bonus, my kids come home tired from the work out which leads to great sleep. read more

First off I would honestly like to say that I knew no one from this gym. My kids do not go to school with anyone here that I know of yet. Contacted the school via text and got a reply from one of the head coaches and I believe one of the owners. I was impressed with how fast I was getting replies and felt very welcomed! Just moving into the area I needed to find a new school for my 13yo daughter. I've checked out a few schools and didn't have much expectations as each school will have their pros and cons. We had a few bad experiences with a previous school so going into this I knew exactly what we did not want. Dyrreck,his brother in law, and the whole family was actively involved with the classes and that for me was a huge plus. I really like the way that the classes are teached and I say this because it didn't feel rushed. When I say rushed it means trying to teach too many things in a short amount of time. The explanations during the demonstrations helped these kids understand the fundamentals on each of the moves and how each step is important. That should some it up for a lot of parents finding a school for their kids. There were many instructors per class and that helped with the amount of kids. There was a lot of respect. That I do know! The owner offered my daughter a free week so that she can get a feel for it and he told me he wouldn't have it any other way! Wtf? Really? Lol. I'm gonna leave it there so I don't sound like a commercial but honestly I have zero ties to this school or anyone here. Just my honest opinion! read more

Great coaches and overall wonderful, clean gym. My daughter loves taking classes here and many classes available that work with your schedule. Highly recommend. read more

The gym is family owned and operated and you certainly feel like family here. The coaches are very approachable and are really there for you. They encourage you to ask questions and that makes the environment more open and friendly. I like how technical and detailed oriented the coaches are when it comes to teaching the move of the day. I totally gained a second family here. I'm grateful to have found my home gym. read more

A+ Was in San Diego for just two days and struggled to find a place to train that would not mean having to train in the middle of the day on a Saturday. Lots of 10, 11 and noon classes, but The Stronghold had a class at 7am which was perfect! Class started promptly, the instructor was very knowledgeable/helpful, everyone was friendly and the technique taught was good for all levels. #BJJWanderer highly recommends The Stronghold for both locals and travelers who need a full schedule of training sessions. #BewareTheOldGuyWhoTrainsBJJ #IAmTheNail #BJJWanderer #JasminesDad #OldManStrength #CarlsonGracieHenderson #Whitebelt read more

Stronghold RB is the best! When my son was younger, we had him in Taekwondo and yeah they do the punching of the breakaway boards and all that to help the kids build confidence but it then became more of a money making business where belt promotions for the kids was too constant and I was basically paying for a new colored belt every month or so. Sure that's nice to post on social media but I didn't feel my son really earned those advancement belts. Anyways, we stopped going there but I wanted to still keep him in some sort of martial arts program. My cousin told me he enrolled his son into Jit Jitsu because he was being bullied in school and wanted to help him build some self-confidence and learn how to defend himself. I thought that was a great idea and looked into a Jiu Jitsu gym close by. I came across Gracie Jiu Jitsu which I don't recommend because they only offered me a one day trial for my son while Stronghold offered me a week trial. Gracie enforces you to use their Gi with has their branding while Stronghold allows you to wear whatever Gi you have. As parents, of course we're going to do our bargain shopping for a Gi and don't care what brand it is so a BIG thumbs up to Stronghold on that. Gracie kids classes was 3 days a week while I can bring my son to Stronghold for up to 6 days a week. Also, Gracie's monthly cost was much higher compared to Stronghold! Overall, a BIG WIN for Stronghold! Another thing we love about Stronghold is the family atmosphere. Coach Derryck and the other coaches are all about family and respect. They know every kids name in there (and trust me, there are A LOT of kids) and their parents name. They really go above and beyond at Stronghold RB. They hold summer potlucks where everyone is invited. They put on Halloween events and Christmas events. Coach Derryck even provides donuts for the kids that make it to the Saturday morning class. They've grown so much and it's all through word of mouth. They've grown so much where they had to expand into a bigger area. The facility now has a lot more space for the kids to practice. They have a nice lounge area for the parents to relax in. They even have a small gym area for those that want to do some light work outs. I definitely would recommend Stronghold RB to any parent that has a child that is showing some interest in this sport. read more

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My son is 11 years old and has been training here off and on for over a year. We have been to many schools over the last 5 years due to job relocation and Stronghold is the best. The instruction and instructors are top notch. They will challenge your child but still make learning fun. They have all levels for kids and adults as well as fitness classes. Everyone who trains here has a great attitude and I highly recommend coming in for a class. read more

From the moment we walked in, I felt comfortable having our son train here. He had taken karate at a couple of places, and we just didn't feel like it was a good fit. Coaches Deryck and Jason are strong leaders, along with several other coaches, all of whom are family. Our son has quickly learned a lot about respect on and off the mat, as well as about Jiu Jitsu. I couldn't be happier! read more

My family has been training with The Stronghold since 2007. One of the things that makes this gym stand out is the family/friendly atmosphere. Everyone is so kind and welcoming, you feel "at home." The instruction is top-notch. Coach Henry is amazing with the kids. He explains things in a way that even my 3 year old and 5 year old can understand and they absolutely enjoy every class. I'm so happy that they opened this location in the North County as it's closer to our house! read more

I honestly can't say enough good things about this place. Coach Derryck has really set up an amazing gym and the coaches there are really fantastic. The previous location (above KidVentures) was a bit cramped, so it's really nice that they were finally able to find a new location. Their new gym has a lot more space so the kids can spread out and they even put in some gym equipment so parents can work out while their kids are rolling. Coach Derryck really cares about the kids and works hard to instill a love for the sport in them. He is also very safety-conscious and teaches the kids how to do techniques in a safe way and never to cause any harm to their teammates. Coach Ric is also a fantastic addition and is so patient with the kids. They also have a fair promotion system and give stripes/belts out during promotions once a quarter, if you earn it. We've been members of this gym for over 1.5 years and our son has developed a love for the sport. read more

These guys are truly professional and run a great programs for adults and children. We are lucky enough to be one of their partners (and soon to be customers) and are just so impressed with how much they care about their business and the customers they serve. The best Jiu Jitsu program we have seen in San Diego and looking forward to making Stronghold a New Year's resolution for my son and me. read more