I am a former Div 1 athlete in my late forties, I have missed my hard core training days in college and sought to find a gym where I could once again find community that shared common health goals; work hard, enjoy the mobility and endless function of the body, and bond w solid people. I dabbled w F-45 and CrossFit, ect looking to find a place to fit in. My search is done after years.., my home is here at Alliance Carlsbad. Jiu Jitsu (JJ) has changed my life- first I just love being on the mat rolling w strong athletes that are wise and safe hence rolling is fun and cerebral while my cardio gets hit hard. Alliance is the perfect place because it is clean, professional, has a fantastic supportive Women environment, and most of all there are so many bad ass instructors! Each one comes w his/her own unique style and skill set; hence your JJ game will be so diverse and sharp. Lastly they have so many classes to indulge in throughout the entire day, even yoga to stretch out and keep the longevity intact! JJ gets every joint and muscle to active so the heart glows n grows w love- I have been here for over a year n I simply love it. If you want to find community that will push you to new limits physically n mentally welcome. If you just want to start moving your body n try it out, welcome. JJ is a lifestyle that will roll w you till the end. See you on the mat! Tap tap read more

See all

I was able to drop-in on the 6 AM gi class. I reached out via e-mail and got a response very quickly. The person taking care of the waivers and fees would not be there, when I inquired about dropping in. I was able to pay and fill out the waiver prior to going to the gym. Class was structured in warm ups, partner drills, techniques, and live rolls. Thank you for allowing me to drop in to your academy! read more

My daughter has been going here for a little over 2 years and my son just started jiujitsu a month ago, along with my husband and myself. This community has done AMAZING things for my childrens confidence and drive. They teach discipline, love, technique and most importantly inclusivity. We have all grown as a result of being a part of this team/ gym. I recommend this place to everyone I know simply because of the people here and the environment they have created. Best coaches, best families, best results read more

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Carlsbad - Little Ninjas - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Come to learn Jiu Jitsu, stay for the culture, friends and family you make. Can't say enough about the place that has become my playground, my hang out spot and my second home. I have no other gym to compare it to as it's been my gym from the beginning...however I've taken note on the amount of people who have commented on how special Alliance Carlsbad is. Come try it it out, the team welcome and take care of you. read more

I may be biased but I love this gym, the students, instructors and culture. We have a great mix of competitors, hobbyists, and world champions. read more

For young kids, the classes are great for them to learn self-defense through friendly competition. (Although, parents cannot watch anymore. Alliance says that's to benefit the kid, but the data isn't super clear on that, maybe there's another reason. More on that later...) The female professors here are all superb. For women starting out, it will be great! There's other women here to learn and roll with. For guys starting as a white belt, there's definitely a "boys' club" vibe at first. The people who train here are all awesome people. I can't stress that enough, you will meet salt of the earth people here. The adult students are simply fantastic. They have families, careers, and humble personalities. But, they can't help it if there is favoritism from the professors. It makes sense because if the professors have trained with someone for years, they will like them more than a new person. Again, that makes sense and I am OK with that. However, going out of their way to direct confusing, non-constructive, feedback toward a new person or support one of their favorite members against a new person is not OK. Black belt professor Mark is the best for a brand new white belt. He will praise you when deserved and he will directly tell you you're doing something wrong. Once you correct your mistake, he will confirm you corrected your mistake. Mark remains equal no matter who his recipient is. The professor who made my son want to quit was actually a purple belt, an old guy named Brandon. He will give directions to my son to complete a submission, my son will do it as taught, then he will get mad at him for doing it. When I talked to other members at this studio "Should my son let go of a submission or should the other person tap?" Other members, including black belts, say the opponent needs to tap. My son has never injured someone and when a submission is locked in, he has told me "I just slowly apply more pressure until they tap." If the person never taps because maybe they are new or just trying to be too strong, of course my son will let go. When my son is being submitted, Brandon never told opponents "Just let him go." He helps them finish the submission. One time, after drilling the move all class, the students did a roll. My son had the other student in a submission literally at the feet of Brandon. After the opponent tapped and they shook hands, Brandon criticized my son. "You should have let him go. You're going to hurt someone." The opponent said "Oh, I was fine, I tapped." But Brandon continued his lecture. Brandon could have stopped it if he really wanted to, but he didn't until after the tap. When my son received a stripe on his belt, the black belt professor said "Keep it up." When my son bowed to Brandon, he said "You're still a little too crazy, but... good job." Maybe this is why parents can't watch? Brandon had an idea of my son after their first class and held that against him for the rest of his time. When rolling with others, my son would have to compete against his opponent and Brandon coaching against him. When drilling, it always seemed like my son could never do anything right because Brandon always watched him like a hawk. Did he see potential in him as a star pupil? I think not because there was never any praise when he did something successful, just more ridicule "Don't hurt people. Don't be crazy. That doesn't count, keep going." I am not a helicopter parent, I want my kids to be tough with thick skin. My kids don't argue. They don't complain. They don't pout in class. They keep moving forward. But, I also don't want them to be doormat and they should notice when some purple belt has a superiority complex and is enjoying authority too much. All in all, if you're going to join here, you will love the fellow members. It is a great community. Just don't take it personally if the professors single you out and maybe this review will help prevent it from happening to you. {One last note: As a beginner, my son never learned defense here. Obviously I don't know anything, but I read John Danaher, who most agree is the greatest mind/coach in jiu jitsu history. Danaher starts all of his students on the ground with defense for their whole first year. At Alliance there were many standing judo style takedowns/throws and no emphasis on defense. There were basic warm-up exercises like shrimp and hip escape, but every class was offense oriented. My son had a lot of trouble starting off with standing up attacks and didn't know basic defensive framing and escapes until he started watching Danaher BJJ Fanatics YouTube videos. Danaher says it's much more comfortable for a new person to learn the movements and become familiar with the mats by progressing from the ground up to the feet without rushing. Even though I don't know anything, that makes logical sense to me. This is just a note in case you have a preference on how to learn. Maybe ask the studio you are checking out how they teach) read more

Joined Alliance Jiu Jitsu a few days after returning home from deployment to help me relax and get back into my favorite sport after having some bad experiences at other gyms in the area that kept me out of the game for awhile. Felt very welcomed by coach Karol which made me sign up after barely checking out the gym. Very beginner friendly gym, received a ton of support from the members and coach mark at my first tournament, really made the gym feel like a family. I'm super grateful for coaches mark, Johnny, Juan, Karol, and Mike for being supportive, being great coaches who have taught me so much in the short time I've been here. If you want to do Jiu Jitsu this is the only place you should go. read more

The community and culture at Alliance Carlsbad are unmatched. It doesn't matter if you're starting for the first time or if you've been training for awhile, everyone is supportive and encouraging. There are so many classes to choose from and a variety of coaches to help guide you. I cannot recommend this place enough. It truly is the best place to train. read more

Positive , welcoming , family environment. Greatest place to learn and train Jiu Jitsu. All levels welcome! Going on 7 years ! read more

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Carlsbad - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This month marks exactly one year since my 7yo son switched to Alliance from another gym (he's been doing BJJ since 4). We did trial runs at several gyms (Atos, Gracie, Stronghold) before committing here. I can tell you without a doubt Alliance far exceeded our expectations. My son loves it here. Professors Johnny and Mark are quite knowledge and extremely passionate about BJJ/MMA. They take their craft very seriously. This is not one of those fake Martial art schools that are basically taking your money to "babysit" your kids. When you join, not only will your kids learn how to defend themselves, they will develop life skills like decipline, focus, patience and confidence. They'll also have lots of fun as the vibe is very relax. Everyone is like family here. The staff at Alliance is comprised of world class fighters and athletes, yet they are great with kids. I can't recommend them highly enough. If you have kids and are thinking about signing them up, don't hesitate, just do it. You won't regret it -- they have a FREE WEEK trial (and they don't pressure you to sign afterwards). BTW. Alliance has the cleanest facilities out of all the academies we've visited. As a parent, this is important. read more

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Carlsbad - Learning take downs. - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Carlsbad, California

See all

I really can't say enough good things about this gym. Three of my kids started training here over two years ago, and I finally started about a year and a half ago. From the moment we tried the gym, everyone there is welcoming and warm. They not only want the best from you in your Jiu Jitsu journey, but also care about you as a person and your life outside the gym. Johnny Souza (the main black belt professor) exemplifies the American dream; a guy a who came to this country and didn't speak the language looking for opportunity. He is now living his dream and is the main professor. His enthusiasm for life and BJJ is contagious and inspiring. He is always pushing his students to improve and fosters a growth mindset. Similarly, Mark (the owner and the other professor) has a delicate balance of getting the best out of you personally and athletically. If you're the type of parent that wants to foster resiliency, grit, and independence --- all with a splash of warmth and grace --- this is the place for you. If you're an adult looking for a community that cares about you as a person and can help you with self defense and a high level of fitness, this is also the place for you. read more

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Carlsbad - Ethan and I taking gold at a tournament - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Carlsbad, California

My kids have been going here for the past 2 years and they are only leaving because we are moving out of state. Professor Mark and Johnny have become family and have taught our kids so much that will last a lifetime. Great program for kids teens and adults. Family environment and hard training. Great support from Coach Karo and Coach Jacky. Sunny at the front desk is awesome too!! Try this gym!! Great support system for the kids who compete as well. read more

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Carlsbad - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I have been training at Alliance for the last four years and can't even explain how grateful I am for this family! Best training partners and best coaches anyone can ask for! read more

Absolutely love this gym! Mark, Sunny, and the kids coaches are amazing and so refreshing. My son is in the tiny ninjas class and he loves it! He is getting so much out of the class. Each coach I feel watches all the kiddos to make sure that they are safe, learning, Listening, and having fun. I would recommend Alliance to anyone I know, all ages. Talk about "cool" factor- this place has it! read more

Alliance created an immediate family setting for my son, who knew absolutely nothing about Jiu-Jitsu walking through their doors. Professor Mark and Johnny were truly pivotal in teaching my son the basics of Jiu-Jitsu. The Coaching staff at Alliance also worked extensively with my son so that he fully understood the objectives in each Session. Furthermore, I cannot emphasize enough that this location does an immaculate job at preparing their students for Competitive Jiu-Jitsu. Even if it's not on your agenda to compete, you'll walk away with a solid platform should you pursue this in a Competitive Nature in the Future. Alliance Carlsbad is a GREAT "No Regrets" Location for anyone curious/interested in Jiu-Jitsu. For anyone looking to return to the Sport, look no further than Alliance Carlsbad. read more

I can't say enough about this Jiujitsu spot it's a clean, positive, creative place of learning the staff is friendly the students care. If you're new to jiujitsu it's a safe comfortable space. If you're experienced it's the same with tons of inspired passionate instructors trying to teach and grow. read more

See all

Professors are excellent and the classes and members are great. The business side of things is horrible. They made multiple mistakes with my membership and misinformed me several times as to how the contract worked. Ended up costing me hundreds of dollars when I had to move for work. Extremely poor business model. read more

My husband has been a part of Alliance for a few years now. While I have always supported him in his love of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I never wanted to try it myself. But as 2019 became 2020 I decided I wanted to learn something new, something that would challenge my brain as well as help my fitness. BJJ is quite a difference from Crossfit, but I am so glad I decided to learn this martial art at Alliance. The coaches are really good at teaching complex concepts to various levels of athlete and helping everyone improve wherever they are. I think everyone should give this a shot! read more

I have trained with Alliance for years now and never thought to write a review. if you want to learn some good Jiu-Jitsu with a GI or NO-GI, this is the place. you can lift weights, train, learn, and advance your life both mentally and physically. for sure go in and talk to Mark and get some exercise along with confidence and knowledge on how to defend yourself if you ever need to. great place great people. oss. read more

Dropped in for a few rolls over the past year. Amazing team and coaching! I look forward to my next teip!

Awesome vibes and amazing coaches. Professor mark is an amazing leader and always has his students backs. The gym is clean with bathrooms and a locker room and is perfect for all levels from beginner to competitor there is something for everyone here. read more

Beautiful gym, high quality instructors and a fun atmosphere. If you are thinking about trying a gym in the area make sure you stop by this one first! read more

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Carlsbad - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Positive , welcoming , family environment. Greatest place to learn and train Jiu Jitsu. All levels welcomed.

Alliance is an amazing, caring and family friendly martial arts school. Whether you are into Jiu jitsu or Muay Thai, Alliance has a great environment for any level! My whole family has been training martial arts for over 8 years and are proud to call Alliance family and home. read more

Great location only a mile from the beach. Clean and very organized space. Friendly staff, great world class champions of instructors and great train I ng partners. Alliance is one of the top ranked Jiu Jitsu academies and it shows in the instructors and the people. Great place to train for kids women and men. read more

See all

Wow! What a stunning gym! World class instructors and teammates. If you're in Southern California and you're looking to find a gym that feels like home, look no further! Head instructor Johnny Faria is an IBJJF Champion and Bellator fighter. He runs a great program for all levels! read more

This place has become my home away from home. FAMILY...that's the best way to describe the community that Professor Mark has cultivated at Alliance. Sunny, the office manager, is an incredible human who is encouraging and supportive of every members' growth! Professor Johnny F, Johnny and Mark are fantastic teachers who manage to break down the most complex movements in a way that is accessible for all students to learn. Thinking of trying something new that will help you grow in all aspects of your life? If the answer is "yes", and it should be, give Alliance a go! read more

This academy is awesome and I can't say enough positive things. The atmosphere is welcoming, clean, and family friendly. The coaches are knowledgable, approachable, and supportive to help you in your journey. Fellow students are also supportive, chill, and totally ego free. Bottom line, if you want to learn BJJ then this is the place to be. read more

This academy is huge!!!! The mat space has plenty of room and a strength and conditioning area to go with it. Five stars all the way!!!!!!

My family and I train at this gym. The culture is absolutely amazing in every way. Our instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and patient (which is great for an old guy like me). I also know my wife and daughters can learn in a safe and welcoming location. I could not be more grateful for this community. read more

I never once tried BJJ or any other martial art until I found Alliance Carlsbad. I don't know about other schools, but I can say that the coaches at Alliance make you feel welcome, safe and are extremely encouraging. The students at Alliance come from all walks of life and are all at different stages in their Jiu Jitsu journey. If you like to surround yourself with hardworking, kind, authentic people, get yourself over to Alliance Carlsbad and let's train! read more

I have been training with Mark for a year, and he just opened his own gym! Have gotten stronger more confident, and have changed my diet eating more healthy with his recommendations. Thanks Mark read more