awesome places, coaches are really cool and knowledgeable. They're also really nice to my son and…read morethat means a lot, they make him feel very welcome. Thanks!

My son loves it here. He goes four days a week and his dad uses the full gym while he is doing his…read moreclass. We do jujitsu and Muay Thai boxing.

All the coaches are passionate about seeing their students succeed. Very friendly atmosphere. My…read morekids attend classes 4 days a week and are learning a lot. Each class I see progression. Coach Dave and Coach Melissa are wonderful instructors and leaders.

You will find this review elsewhere, as it's the best I can come up with and I will be displaying…read moreit everywhere I can because it's how I like to show my appreciation. Darkwolf MMA: A World-Class Experience Darkwolf MMA is more than deserving of a five-star rating. Disregard any negative comments you might see; they likely come from individuals unfamiliar with the inner workings of MMA gyms. FYI, I'm just a proud father of a 13 year old son that you can meet when you come to the gym. My name's Christopher "Chris" Lee and just started bringing my son to Darkwolf January 2 of this year. Championship Excellence: At every Jiu Jitsu youth tournament I've witnessed, someone from Darkwolf has always emerged victorious in their weight class. Impressively, my son, a newcomer and new to the sport, clinched second place in the past two tournaments--a remarkable achievement! Even if they didn't place, it wouldn't indicate bad training if you knew anything about how MMA or Jiu Jitsu works. Beyond Training: Becoming a world-class fighter is a complex journey that goes beyond training. The trainers at Darkwolf are exceptional, offering expertise that encompasses the psychological, disciplinary, and nuanced aspects of MMA. Fun and Skill: The fusion of rigorous skill-building and a lively, engaging environment is truly special. Witnessing the children's joy during training sessions is a reflection of the gym's commitment to nurturing every aspect of their growth. The varied skill levels among the children are a delight to observe, showcasing that the journey to mastery is as much about personal dedication as it is about quality training. World-Class Potential: The potential for producing a world-class fighter at Darkwolf MMA is undeniable, given their excellent training regimen. It's hard to imagine how they could improve. If they never produce a world class fighter (a rare feat), it has nothing to do with their lack of ability to train a world class fighter and more about the dedication of the fighter themselves. Thank you, Darkwolf MMA, for your outstanding contribution to the martial arts community! Celebrating the Lohsen Family's Martial Arts Mastery David Lohsen: The At-Home Training Expert/Professor. He extends his martial arts expertise through instructional YouTube videos. These tutorials are invaluable for those practicing at home, ensuring that your training remains on point even away from the gym. Melissa Lohsen: A Champion of self-defense, or Warrior, as endearingly called by some. She is a standout instructor at Darkwolf. Not only does she excel in connecting with children, but she also offers valuable self-defense techniques through her YouTube videos, empowering women and girls with the skills to protect themselves. Even disabled males like me can learn from this, lol. Christian Lohsen: An instructor and a star at Darkwolf MMA whose fights can be found on YouTube. Those videos display an impressive array of skills, from precise strikes to fluid grappling techniques. Together, the Lohsen family exemplifies the spirit of Darkwolf MMA, blending passion, skill, and a sense of community. Whether you're watching Christian's fights, Melissa's self-defense videos, or following David's detailed tutorials, the essence of Darkwolf MMA is always present. A round of applause for David, Melissa, and Christian Lohsen for their significant contributions to martial arts, both in and out of the gym!

Great Atmosphere & Great company. Professor John-Michael is a technical and patient teacher. His…read morestyle of teaching is teaching the skills and techniques that match your body type and style.

From the owner: Our academy is a traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy. We are a boutique academy with very small…read moreinstructor to student ratio, so every student receives personal detailed instruction. While we have produced world champion students in sport jiu-jitsu, our focus remains on self-defense first and foremost. We offer a 6 week Real World Self-Defense course that is designed for beginners of any age, or athletic ability. The program includes a new custom academy uniform and the total cost is only $150! No contracts, no long term commitment, and satisfaction guaranteed! Let you martial arts journey begin here under the detailed instruction of the area's only Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt instructor. Our head instructor is 3rd degree black belt Professor John-Michael Kaleikini. Prof Kaleikini has always trained directly under, and received every promotion from Grandmaster Relson Gracie and Master Rickson Gracie, the purest most direct lineage available in the world.

I'm a US Marine and completed the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Green Belt Instructor course in…read morethe summer of 2002. Soon after the 3-week course I was deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004. Therefore, I never had the opportunity to really exploit what I learned as our priorities were directed at our mission. Therefore, I had a taste of the martial arts, but no long-term formal training, other than the 3 weeks of the course, just enough to know that I don't know much at all. I thought it was important to begin my review with my background so readers understand that I know enough to know what is legitimate, yet I do not at all have long term formalized training. I am a disabled combat veteran, I sustained severe airborne injuries which required surgery and other secondary injuries. These injuries I believed would prevent me from ever attempting to pursue training in the martial arts as I am in perpetual pain. Moreover, I simply felt inadequate and incapable of doing it. After the war, I also attained "invisible" injuries in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress from the experiences of war. All of these factors made me believe that the martial arts would be something I could never do until I met Professor Brian Ruscio. I did much research before reaching out to Grappling Mastery, and compared the lineage and training of Professor Ruscio with other schools. I found many schools, much closer to my home, but the Professor was by far the most experienced, not only in training but in actual competitions, as well as having an exemplary lineage. Moreover, I found his training to be extremely robust and beyond just Brazilian Jujitsu, as his training went far beyond by being inclusive of many forms of grappling. He is a NAGA Pan-American Championship in the Expert Light Heavyweight Division and created a Hybrid Grappling Style by combining the best moves from Greco-Roman, Freestyle Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, and Catch-as-Catch-Can. All of this made it clear that he would be the school I would attend. I felt the 2 hour drive each day would be well worth it to learn from the best. As a Marine paratrooper, I would not be satisfied with anything less. Now all I had left to do was to experience first-hand how he would be as an instructor to a veteran with severe disabilities. Professor Ruscio's training and method of teaching is exemplary. Although I do not know much of the martial arts, I am an expert instructor in multiple disciplines, I was a Marine Corps Primary Marksmanship Instructor, Para-Marine Jumpmaster, Firepower Control Team Chief, Marine Air Ground Task Force Fire Support Coordinator, and more, and as a civilian, the Theater-Wide Training Director in Iraq for Biometrics, worked for the U.S. Army Intelligence Center's Training and Doctrine Command, worked for CENTCOM and SOCOM, hold a Master's degree, and am a current NRA Firearm's instructor, a former Florida "K" licensed firearms instructor, Director of Investigations (Florida licensed Private Investigator with C, G, A licenses) and more. I know a great instructor when I meet one. The professor is patient, empathetic to injuries, yet pushes you to your personal limitations. He maintains a calm demeanor, yet a genuine enthusiasm for your development. His training is personalized and not cookie cutter. When you think he is not watching, he will approach you and catch nuances you are executing incorrectly which you do not realize. Small adjustments enable immediate results when you have an instructor who cares about your improvement. I believe he purposely observes from an angle in which you do not see him, so you are not distracted or conscientious of his watchful eye. But make no mistake, his attention to detail will exploit your weaknesses, for on the spot correction, and immediate improvement. His instruction is exceptional. With all things, you must put in the work. Do not rely on attending a few hours a week and expecting magical improvement. You should be going over what you learned either by executing the movements at home, watching his free videos on YouTube, and attending weekly "roll & review " Lastly, I want to address the culture created by the professor. As a veteran, we crave challenge, camaraderie, and purpose. And sometimes feel we have lost that when we transition to civilian. At Grappling Mastery I have found that culture again. Everyone I have met has been sincerely encouraging, supportive, and have gone out of their way to help me improve. The only competition I feel is against myself. To be a better version of myself the next training day. There is no pressure or fear of failure. Everyone has a genuine empathy with each other, a genuine camaraderie. I cannot begin to express how significant his training has been to help with my Post Traumatic Stress. I feel privileged and blessed to have found Professor Ruscio who has in a short time had a huge positive impact on my life.

Great place. They work really well with my kids. The youngest being six. Staff is amazing. Don't…read moremiss out training here.

I've been attending semi regularly for the last almost two years, and while I am the most hobbyist…read moreor hobbyists, the instructors are absolute great at what they do. They will take the time to go over details of techniques, and the concepts behind them, as well as breaking them down and helping to figure out how to make the techniques work for you and your body type and limitations. Whether you're a 35 year old 300 lbs desk-jockey, or 18 year old wrestler looking to compete in MMA in the near future, all will feel welcome, and everyone will get the same quality high level instruction. Not to mention there is a constant influx of high level people of varying styles always happy to share their knowledge and give you whatever tips they learned along the way. Whether you're looking to learn Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, basic self defense, or just looking to be more active and learn some skills along the way; absolutely highest recommendation.

Great school, lots of high level guys that can really teach you how to get really good at Jiu Jitsu!read more

Dropped in to train while visiting. Jason and his crew were incredibly welcoming and the…read moreinstruction was super solid. Jason's passion for jiu-jitsu really shines through, and it's cultivated a great vibe in his school. Highly recommend!

World class Brazilian Jiu-jitsu! Phenomenal, safe, clean, friendly environment. Great place to…read moretrain.

It's like a family . Full of hard workers and caring individuals. Professor DJ is a great coach …read more And he's become a good friend .