Without any previous martial arts experience but after much research, it was apparent that training…read moreBJJ was the path for me. The search for a place that was friendly to beginners (but provided the opportunity to grow), close enough to home, and affordable for my family was on. Prof. King said, "The hardest thing that folks walking through the door for the first time will do in this building is often stepping onto the mat for he first time." It's important to distinguish here between "hard" and "challenging." Each class (I've taken BJJ and Group Fitness classes) is incredibly challenging both mentally and physically. The absolute hardest thing to do, though, was to step onto the mat for the first time. Like most difficult things, though, my only regret is not having done it sooner. The community is truly amazing. Many are very skilled and accomplished BJJ practitioners. At the same time, I've not run into a single person who wasn't enthusiastic (sincerely) about showing new people some new stuff! I can't say enough great things about AOM.

From the owner: At Art of Motion Jiu Jitsu, we're proud to work with people of all experience levels, helping…read morecomplete beginners master the very basics while challenging experienced students to build their skills each and every day. We offer adult & kids jiu jitsu, fitness, and muay thai classes 5 days a week in the mornings/afternoon/evenings. Stop in today to start a 1 week FREE trial! Art of Motion also carries Charlotte's Web & Mary's Nutritional CBD topicals and rubs.

Incredibly welcoming for first-timers. 11 year old daughter…read morestarted here a year ago and loves it...used to go to a strip mall martial arts and realized that it was just exercise and not truly self-defense. Hayastan is different. This place is hands on and the kids learn true kickboxing, grappling and jiu jitsu. Perfect spot for your children to grow confidence and learn actual technique.

Hayastan MMA has been a great place for my training and fitness needs…read more Kevin and the staff here are focused, driven, and strive to improve themselves and their curriculum on a daily basis. Whether you're looking to simply start training, or seeking to jump into an amateur or professional MMA career, the team at Hayastan have the expertise to deliver quality training and instructions in a safe and professional manner.

Came for the grand opening…read more facilities are nice and clean Mats are same as at Gracie University HQ The staff is very committed to the Gracie University curriculum and methodology would recommend to anyone wanting to start Gracie Jiu Jitsu in this area

I am a head instructor for Gracie University and was invited to teach a Seminar at GJJ Monroe!…read moreFriendly people and a clean professional environment provided a great experience. Paul is doing a great job teaching his extended Gracie Family great self defense. The academy deserves my full endorsement! Keep up the good work.

Great Space, great people, great classes. You feel good…read morevibes from the moment you walk in, and you can tell that Lucas knows what he is talking about whenever he explains a concept. Training is very hard, but at the same time, invites all sorts of people, and not only competitors.

I'm disappointed with the kids' program. There is no real team, no clear training plan, and almost…read moreno communication with parents about their children's progress. Kids come to class and leave, but where is the development? Stripes are given for attendance. I see children with gray belts who still lack basic skills. It's also unclear how students are assigned to groups. Younger children who were good training partners were moved to the older group, while the children who stayed behind are often left training with kids who just lie on the floor instead of participating. We gave this academy chance after chance and did everything we could to make it work. But the attention seems to go to a select few children. More and more kids keep joining, while the quality of training does not improve. To me, this feels like a business focused on enrollment and payments rather than the children's progress. If you want your child to grow and truly learn jiu-jitsu, look for a more serious school.

At Sparks, you always feel like family. Sensei is a great guy, very personable and has a fantastic…read morebusiness frame of mind. He is REAL!! great guy to talk to, and a fantastic teacher. My son has been going here for a few months now, and not only has he enjoyed learning, but he has more focus (he struggles with ADHD) and he is getting in shape. We have been able to stop going to physical therapy, because training here has done so much. I just can't say enough about how great this place is. It's definitely worth coming in and checking it out.

From the owner: Sparks Martial Arts offers the best teaching and training in the area. We are proud to be one of…read morethe only schools offering these specialized programs for our students in one training facility.Personalized Initial Private Lesson to assess each student's Martial Art's needs, level and goals. We have convenient class schedules with unlimited attendance.Sparks Martial Arts is conveniently located in the Stallings/Matthews Area.

It's really hard to overstate how much my family and I have enjoyed training at BC Kickboxing &…read moreBJJ, and the positive impact it has had on all of us. My five-year-old son is in the Little Samurais program since last fall, my wife attends the fitness kickboxing classes religiously, and I have been doing the adult BJJ classes since early January. It's not an exaggeration to say that the gym has become a second home - and our teammates a second family - to all of us. Professor Ben runs great programs from top to bottom, front to back, and his team of coaches is fantastic. The kids' classes are disciplined, but a lot of fun. The adult BJJ classes are both intense and laid-back at the same time, and I'm having a blast while getting in better shape and learning a new, extremely rewarding sport (and I'll admit that BJJ is quickly becoming an obsession). I have lost more than 40 lbs. over the past 10 months, and that wouldn't have been possible without the positive influence of BJJ (and Professor Ben's health and nutrition coaching). Most important for me is the absolutely stellar team atmosphere that Professor Ben has cultivated in his gym. The atmosphere is the best I have ever encountered, both in the kids and adult programs (I felt like a welcome part of the team from day one, and that's not the case everywhere you go). And on top of that, the quality of training is fantastic. Whatever it is you want to achieve, Professor Ben and his team of stellar coaches will help you get there. Although there is no pressure to compete, there is plenty of support if you want to do so. Despite having no background, either as a kid or an adult, in competitive sports, I am now testing my skills on the competition mats on a regular basis. The same is true of my 5-year-old son and all of our adult and youth teammates, who do really well each time they compete. It's just a great, supportive team, no matter where you want your own personal BJJ journey to take you. If you want to train hard and get in shape, all while having fun and joining a really supportive community of great teammates, I can't recommend BC Kickboxing & BJJ highly enough. Time to join Professor Ben's team in Waxhaw!

Love this place. Ben and his staff do a great job. Our son enjoys coming to classes. They make it…read morefun on top of teaching BJJ and kickboxing.

Professor George Tala is super knowledgeable and happy to share his knowledge - including the all…read moreimportant details. Many BJJ coaches teach very basic instruction during class and then invite the student to sign up for "private lessons" for an additional expense. Price gouging their students! Professor Tala gives ALL details in every BJJ class. His lineage is legit, he has trained with some serious practitioners as well as Champions. You're never too old either. I signed up at 44 and won tournament gold within 6 months!

Zen Jiu Jitsu and Fitness of Monroe is a great Jiu Jitsu school. I have been training there for…read morenearly two years and feel extremely fortunate to have found this gem amongst the multitude of other schools on the area. Professor George Tala is a great guy and top notch instructor. He never passes up an opportunity to share knowledge with his students regarding the art of Jiu Jitsu and life lessons. If you or someone you know has been thinking about training MMA, boxing or Jiu Jitsu; I definitely recommend you reach out to Professor Tala.

After relocating to Charlotte with years of martial arts experience, I did extensive research to…read morefind a gym that realistically covers all aspects of self-defense. That search led me to Ryan Hoover and Fit to Fight--and it exceeded every expectation.This isn't just a 5-star review; it is an open letter of appreciation. Here is what sets them apart: World-Class Leadership: Ryan, Amber, and Riley Hoover are incredible, highly accessible coaches who frequently teach classes themselves. Elite, Consistent Coaching: Every single coach and Black Belt is exceptional. There is no such thing as a bad class here. Complete Combat Curriculum: They train you for reality--covering everything from de-escalation and kickboxing to grappling, street-scenario jiu-jitsu, and weapons defense. Evolving & Relevant: The curriculum updates constantly to address ever-changing, real-world threats. Inclusive Community: You will train alongside everyone from teenagers to impressive 70-year-olds in an environment where everyone knows your name. Genuine Care: They truly care about your safety, growth, and well-being.Though I recently had to relocate back to the West Coast, Fit to Fight remains the gold standard. I fully plan to return for their intensive workshops. To Ryan and the entire coaching staff: keep doing what you do. It matters.

I cant believe I have not reviewed this before. I have been going here infrequently since it opened…read moreor shortly there after. The reason for the infrequency is that it is a solid 25 min drive for me without traffic. Add in week day traffic and that turns into an hour. Otherwise, I'd be here all the time. The staff is super friendly. The bag classes are my favorite and a really tough workout. The intro classes are great as well. The first 15 mins of "warm up" is probably the toughest work out then it is on to learning basic skills. It's such a great work out and the training is great for self defense. They have another location in Gastonia if you live closer to there. I highly recommend them.