There was me, that is Lou, and an extra 30lbs of fat living on me. I join Pit.Fit to shed the…read moreweight because running, bicycling, and all the other "cardio" stuff isn't any fun! I decided on their jiu-jitsu (I always spell that wrong!) program because I looked up what would burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time, and it was very close to the top. Little did I know, the workout would fly by, unlike running where I would check my watch every 5 mins to see if I was done! My first class was with coach Fraser, and I learned very quickly that he was very good. Not only a great technician, but also a great instructor. After a few months, I dropped the 30lbs (they literally melted off) and developed a solid background in self defense (something you wont get by bicycling!). A great place to get in shape, learn self defense, meet awesome people, and have fun!

I've been working out in various forms for more than 20 years - traditional gyms, at home,…read morecrossfit, etc. The Pit cardio kickboxing classes are by far my favorite and I go every chance I get. You get an unbelievably good workout, have fun, and get to learn/practice technique at the same time. The classes never get stale as each workout is different. The instructors are very knowledgable and supportive. I highly recommend taking a free class!

We stayed at the hotel across the parking lot and the fact that entry to the gym was included was a…read moredelightful surprise. This place is a real gym- not a hotel gym by any means. We went once during our stay and took advantage of the circuit and cardio machines. We would have liked to do more, but the classes didn't fit into our schedule. The only thing that wasn't very pleasant was the vibe. I got the impression that the people working there don't really enjoy hotel drop in guests. They weren't very welcoming.

I have lived most of my life in the Bay Area and have found an amazing gym upon moving to the…read morecentral coast. PBAC has an excellent weight training room. Though the club has swim pool, pickleball courts, racquetball courts, aerobic equipment room and countless instructor lead classes we have currently focused on weight training. The staff is knowledgeable, courteous... and always accommodating.... definitely worth trying out as you will not be disappointed!!

I've dropped in here now about 10 times to train BJJ while visiting family in SB. This place is…read moreworld-class. I currently train at Renzo Gracie Fight Academy in Brooklyn, have trained with all sorts of elite names, and this place is right up there with them (if not better in some respects). Instructors: Top notch. I've had classes w/ Adam, Adam, and Sean. They are all very detailed oriented, but more importantly teach with concepts (on top of technique) and give feedback lots of feedback to students. Each one brings their own BJJ flavor, with wrestling concepts and techniques integrated -- a great approach to grappling. I like the approach to teaching a series of techniques built around specific positions for a couple of weeks at a time, e.g. a variety of side control escapes for a couple of weeks, then side control attacks, etc. It's a lot better than the "traditional" BJJ random-technique-of-the-day approach: "OK guys, so today we gonna cover [move you'll only see once and likely never use]" Facility: Clean and well maintained. Lots of (clean!) mat space. You won't walk away from a training session with other peoples' tiny body hairs all over you. Locker rooms are clean and spacious enough, with showers (free soap!) and water (why is this a luxury at martial arts schools?!). Also, a separate area for kickboxing so those punchy/kicky folk don't get all up mixed up with the sweaty pajama huggers. There's a ring if you're into that, along w/plenty of heavy bags and ropes for rope climbs. Also, there's a nice little strength and conditioning area with barbells, dumb bells, kettlebells, and... a freakin' Olympic weightlifting platform and bumper plates. Get your clean and jerk on. Dreamy. People: Everyone I've trained with here has been super friendly, especially the salty dogs at the noon classes. They're always happy to share techniques, show you the error of your half guard ways, and demonstrate why the chin strap is super effective at choking you, over and over again. Bottom line: this is an amazing place to train, especially within the smaller town vibes of SB. If you're looking to learn BJJ this is the place.

While visiting Santa Barbara for a week, I was fortunate enough to train at Paragon's main location…read moreand it lived up to its legendary reputation. I had the honor of taking a class with Franjinha himself, as well as one with James. Both are phenomenal instructors who teach with incredible clarity and precision. You can tell they have a deep understanding of the art. I enjoyed the more intimate classes at noon. It created a great "good vibes" atmosphere where it was easy to connect with training partners. Everyone was super friendly and eager to roll. The training was challenging and technical. It's an amazing place to learn and grow your jiu-jitsu, and I felt very welcomed as a visitor. Can't wait to come back on my next trip!

Small group setting and hands on coaching. Real experience and knowledge to share. A unique…read moreopportunity to learn from a coach and veteran of the sport that spent years dedicated to evolving his skills. No gi subs dominate. Strong stand up. Aggressive nature. One powerhouse coach that's on the mat teaching and training every day.

where else would you train in the 5 cities area. instructor sharp is a seasoned MMA vet, and…read moreprolific BJJ black belt. the 5 cities area finally has a legit MMA training facility.

Highly recommend, very open yet competitive. With all of the experienced instructors making proper…read moreaccommodations to new students, it makes a better experience for anyone who is getting interested in the sport.

I don't review stuff very often, but I wanted to say a few words about SMBJJ and how it's changed…read moremy life, and hopefully give anyone who hasn't been to the gym a good idea of what to expect. I've been training here for about 5 months now and I've absolutely fallen in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I've always been kind of a skinny nerd, into computers and never did any real sports throughout my life, but I was encouraged by a close friend to come check out SMBJJ sometime and I'm glad I finally took him up on it and dragged my butt out of bed and made it here for the 5am class. I had no idea what to expect coming into this gym, but I realized right away that the camaraderie and humility demonstrated by everyone who trains here is absolutely fantastic. These guys are here to train and keep the drama out of the picture. No egos, no bullying, no BS. I've improved my BJJ game from knowing absolutely nothing to holding my own against guys almost twice my size in the matter of 5 months. Not only that, this sport has taught me discipline and given me an incredible amount of confidence that I never had before. I constantly find myself watching videos online to learn new techniques and methodologies of BJJ and I love trying and learning new things every morning. Oh, and I've never been in better shape, which is fantastic for someone almost in their 40s! Though I've only interacted with Chris a handful of times since I started here, I know he is an amazing stand-up guy who takes his gym seriously and constantly demonstrates his commitment to making every person here feel welcome and part of the SMBJJ family. He's always quick to respond if I ever need help with anything and his dedication to making sure everyone grows together here is great. I love that he puts on BBQs and does fun stuff for everyone in the gym from time to time too. I usually train with Ethan Brown in the 5am class (yes, I know that sounds way too early, but it's worth getting up for) and it has been fantastic. His dedication to the art and excellent teaching skills have can brought me to a very high level understanding of the art of BJJ in a very short time. I love how he focuses on the critical fundamentals in order to create a more effective jiu jitsu game instead of just teaching "move 1 into move 2 into move 3." He also keeps it fun by sometimes throwing in some sneaky techniques or new ways to pass guard while keeping his overall teaching method laser-focused and pushing everyone to be their best. Aside from the fantastic community, the gym itself is great- the mat area is HUGE and very high quality. Parking can be a bit crowded for some classes, but there's always a spot somewhere. There are no showers, but that's fine- I prefer to shower at home anyway. TLDR: gym is 5/5, people are 5/5, you will learn a lot very quick and it will change your life for the better! Come check it out!

I was visiting SLO and wanted to get some cross training in. Luckily, I was able to drop in at this…read moregym. The mat space is huge and the coaches are extremely knowledgeable. I had some great rolls with the students and really enjoyed the training. Both the instructors and the members made me feel very welcome. I definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Awesome! Everyone was great and helpful, I enjoyed meeting and rolling with everyone.read more