The best place in the Bay Area to learn jiu-jitsu. Mike is a fountain of knowledge, an innovative instructor, capable of making martial arts enjoyable to five-year-olds as well as applicable to life-long martial artists. The atmosphere here is great and always welcoming. Needless to say, the students reflect the instructors and are always helpful and welcoming to everyone. This is one of the top martial arts academies in the Bay Area and you will not regret joining and learning here, no matter your age or wherever you're at in your fitness journey. read more

I take Mike's morning nogi classes at RGSF, and drive down to The Cave a couple times a month to take night classes. I can't say enough positive things about Mike's teaching or the vibe at The Cave (shoutout to Papa Frank!). Everyone is super welcoming and always ready to train hard. I agree with basically everything other people have already said in these reviews. So I won't repeat all of the awesome qualities this place has. The only thing I'd add--which is really important to me--is that Mike is a perfect mix of old school and new school. He teaches and believes in the fundamentals, but he also pays close attention to where jiu jitsu is going. He's a true student of the game. After ADCC this year, Mike studied the matches to see which techniques were most effective, broke them down for us, then folded them into our curriculum. Most instructors don't do stuff like that. He does all the time. If you're thinking about starting jiu jitsu, or are passing through the areas and looking for a great place to get a roll in, I can't think of a better spot. read more

A great place for children to learn jujitsu. Affordable and great. Would imagine That adults enjoy classes as well but I can't speak to that. read more

The Cave is a great place to start your jujitsu adventure! Sensei Mike's and Papa Frank are the heart and soul of this gym. I walked in 3 years ago knowing nothing about jujitsu and now everyday I hunger to get better. They are wonderful people at heart. The community that has been built is first class. No egos. No cliques, no drama. People are there to learn and get better which is the #1 priority. The details from Sensei Mike's classes are amazing. I love his approach and style. I recommended anyone who is just beginning or with more experience to come down and train. You will love the instructors and people there. Let's train!!! read more

TL;DR: If you're looking for great instructors and want to have fun training hard, this is the place! Mike Murrell is a great instructor. Mike thinks deeply about BJJ. The techniques we practice are broken down in incredible depth. This has improved my game quite a bit! Papa Frankie is the most welcoming and inspirational BJJ coach I've found. He would teach a technique and break down the fundamental parts so you'd learn the essence. His energy and charisma makes me want to push harder. Highly recommended! read more

Although I wasn't able to train at The Cave for as long as I would have liked, I loved every minute of it! Mike (The black belt owner of the cave) is incredibly knowledgeable and diligent in his training. From day one he and Uncle Frank were incredibly kind and welcoming to me. My BJJ skills advanced at a much faster rate while training at The Cave than where I had been training before. I really appreciated that there was no hard sales pitch and no exorbitant pricing to learn the art. One fee, and you can pay month to month with no contract. Any time I came to class early while the childrens class was still going on I'd be struck by how good an instructor Mike was with small children. The kids clearly have a lot of fun while learning important life skills. Any time somebody asks me where they should take their kids for martial arts, I tell them The Cave! The community within the gym was also excellent. Many experienced grapplers would show me new things and give me advice on technique without me asking. Its clear after you attend a few classes that Mike has created a respectful, fun, empathetic, and supportive community at The Cave. There isn't much more you could ask for from a martial arts gym. If you're thinking about training, train at The Cave! read more

The Cave Academy is an amazing place to improve your Jiu Jitsu. Sensei Mike is an amazing detailed, easy to understand instructor. He would go over the move with you so you get it right and would cheer you on while sparring. The Cave is a fun place to be at, I love how it feels like a Family. Can't forget to mention Papa Frank, the best cheer man on earth, he is an amazing person that helps you improve your game and makes you wanna come to class just to have fun and have a good time. My Jiu Jitsu has improved a lot thanks to the Cave and I have improved as a person thanks to every member of the Academy. Unfortunately, I go to The Cave on and off because of school and work schedule, but each class I go to, I feel like I learn something that I can genuinely apply to my game. read more

Love The Cave! My son (yrs old) and I have been there for about 3 months now and it's really starting to feel like home. My son enjoys every class and I honestly see him light up when he shows me what he learned. Sensei Mike and Papa Frank are amazing teachers that really stress the fundamentals along with the tiny details of every position, lock, hold...etc. Definitely no egos or drama here. All friendly folks who want to learn and train! read more

Although I've only been coming to The Cave Academy for about 2 months, I feel like I've been really accelerating in my BJJ learning. Sensei Mike is super technical and clear with his instruction (in particular I love the logical sequences and chaining of moves), and Papa Frank is inspirational and gets me fired up every time. Looking forward to learning a lot with this crew! read more

If you're looking for a gym to get instructive, supportive, and fun training... you've found it! The Cave Academy offers gi/no gi classes which is amazing! Coach Mike gives in depth instruction, and is always there if you have questions. After my first day in class Papa Frank really made me feel at home, and I'm very happy about the people I'm surrounded by. Come check us out! read more

Great place! Mike is a wonderful teacher whose both supportive of and demanding of his adult students. He's great with kids as well. read more

Of the three gyms I've trained at Cave Academy is by far the best. From the instructors, amenities, and partners this place is top notch. Mike is a true student of the game and doesn't skip out on any details. This isn't a place where you get 20minutes of instruction, roll, and hope to get better. You will get better training here. The gym is always clean and has a sauna and weights section. Tons of high level guys and black belts who kicked my ass and taught me a lot on the regular. Wish I could have stayed longer but had to head back to school. Recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn or improve in Jiu Jitsu and wrestling. read more

Fantastic facility, fantastic coach. I have only visited the Cave twice but I can attest that it's a large and well maintained school. I often train with members from The Cave in other schools and they're all solid people with well rounded and technical games. I regularly take classes from Mike Murrell (head coach) and find him exceptional both in knowledge and presentation. I've also known him and trained with him since his early Bjj days; he's a solid bloke. read more

Well can I say about this gym I've been here now for 2 years. I loved the 1st class and love still love it now. My 2 kids and I have found a home that we can continue to grow our Jiu Jitsu journey. Sensei Mike is always learning and studying Jiu Jitsu every chance he gets and that beneficial to us! Our other 2 instructors Papa Frank and Sensei Armen are great and full of energy! There is no doubt I can recommend my gym to people who are looking for their home! read more

I got introduced to Mike Murrell through randori (judo sparring) at CCSF. I got turf toe in our short match (purely accidental, lol) and he assisted my limping ass to the bench to rest and recover. He invited all current judo and BJJ students to his school in Pacifica so that us CCSF students could continue training over winter break between semesters. My wife and I joined up and have been regulars for 6 months now. The instructors Mike Murrell and Frankie Nunez are such thorough and informative instructors and they both have such incredible PASSION for the sport of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu that a bit of that passion has infected me and started an addiction for BJJ training that absolutely must be satiated. I have learned so much in only a short amount of time, and all I want is more. For the grappling veterans, I cannot really offer too much insight as I am still just a lowly white belt, but from my perspective the training is rigorous and there is a lot of knowledge to be gleaned from the two highly experienced instructors. For the grappling noobs, BJJ is really hard. If you don't currently have good cardio, you certainly will after a month or two of consistent training at The Cave. The warm up (10-15 minutes) probably has the energy expenditure equivalent of running a mile, then we get into about 45 minutes of drilling a couple of new techniques, followed by 30 minutes of situational rolling (sparring) using the techniques we just learned, then we end the night with normal rolling for the last 30 minutes. Beginners, please don't be intimidated by the amount of work you have to put in. It's worth it. It's SO FUN and you learn so much so quickly. You will feel like you're drowning (http://i.imgur.com/5UEDMq3.jpg) for the first three or so months, but one day it will all just start to click. You'll understand in what ways you are failing and in what ways you are succeeding and you'll end each session with a bit of insight as to what part of your game in which you need to improve, and it is at this point that the addiction should begin. Don't worry about the pain, either. In BJJ we inflict pain on each other without inflicting injury, and that's an important distinction to acknowledge and understand. It's like, "Ow, ok you got me. Let's start over." Then your partner is like, "Heh, yeah ok. Let's go again." Then you go again. At the end of a training session you should be coming home tired as shit, but otherwise just fine with occasional pinched skin and consistently sore muscles. I don't know how it was in the past and I don't know how it will be in the future, but the current crew now is absolutely awesome. Every single one of the people I've met and trained with here at The Cave is humble, helpful, and friendly. There are no jerks here. There are just a bunch of genuinely friendly people that are very encouraging and an absolute joy to train with. Join us, please. We're fun! My one and only complaint is that there is only consistent female student here: my wife. I'm sure she'd appreciate more estrogen in the building, so females: please come train with us. Males: please bring your wives/girlfriends/whomever to train with us. Whoever you are, at the very least stop by for a trial class. I have the confidence that Mike and Frankie will be able to win you over with the quality of their instruction and the depth of their passion once you give our school a chance. read more

The Cave instructors are excellent examples of what being a martial arts instructor is all about. As an instructor at Family Martial Arts, which shares the dojo with the Cave, I often catch the beginning of the BJJ and Muay Thai classes after my class has ended. Mike (judo/ BJJ), Seth (Muay Thai), and Papa Frank (no-gi BJJ) all have a passion for their respective martial arts which comes through when they teach. I have dabbled in a bit of BJJ with Mike and have hit the pads a bit with Seth and I really enjoyed learning from them. I'm so happy to see their classes grow. Mike is great with the kids. He is patient and he makes it a fun experience for them. His great teaching is apparent if you look at the boys he sends to competition. They kick butt. Seth's class is a great cardio workout. He pushes you to keep going even when you think you don't have another kick or punch left in you. Both Mike and Seth also keep a close eye on technique and teach you to do things the right way to avoid injury and maximize effectiveness. I haven't yet had the chance to work out with Papa Frank, but he is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. I look forward to training with him one of these days. Osu! As if top-notch instructors weren't enough, the facilities are great as well. The mat is huge, there are plenty of bags to work on, and there's a ring to boot! Oh, and did I mention that there's a parking lot so parking is free and easy? read more

Mike Murrell knows his stuff! Very detailed and technical instruction, in a way that both total beginners and long time bjj practitioners can both understand. If you're anywhere in San Mateo county and looking for a legit place to train Cave is worth checking out. read more

This place is AWESOME!!! SINSEI MIKE MURRELL IS AMAZING!!!! his patience and ability to work with kids is beyond words!! My Kids have been coming here for a few months and they LOVE IT!!! He is very good at teaching them the core foundations they need. He teaches discipline and self control and the kids are very adaptive and receptive to his methods. He is able to make JuJitsu very fun!! And easy for them to learn!! The facility is very clean! And very big!! Plenty of room for all the kids to roll around and have a GREAT TIME LEARNING!! I the community her is very friendly!!! SINSEI Mike is great with all ages of kids (I have a 4year old and 9 year old) and able to keep their attention they drills and games the whole time. They are EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GYM TO ALL FAMILIES!!! read more

A true place to practice true sport. As a profession athlete, I personally visited Cave few times and trained with Mike Murrell. Naturally born teacher and leader... great and safe place to workout overall. Highly recommended. Gennady Darer read more

Mike is an excellent teacher, and has supplied me with technique and tips for the almost 4 years I have been training. He doesn't just have solid moves, but he explains them well, in a way that is easy to pick up. Congrats on your brown belt Mike. read more

Mike Murrell has helped me enormously with my jiu jitsu during my last year of training with him.  He is an excellent instructor for a number of reasons listed below.  In brief, he is a badass martial artist, an excellent teacher, and a great person.   1. Mike is an exceptional communicator and has a knack for explaining complex movements/systems.  2. Having a black belt in judo and great wrestling skills, he won't neglect your standup game.  3. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the most effective grappling systems used by top competitors like Gordon Ryan, Marcelo Garcia, Ryan Hall, 10th planet folks.. Though highly skilled, he's unbiased in his study of emerging techniques (i.e. he doesn't ignore systems that come from other academies).   4. Mike is a seasoned competitor that's highly active in the tournament scene. The techniques he teaches are effective at the highest levels of competition. 5. Mike's techniques work great for both gi and no gi.  6. Mike's class structure is highly creative and he always thinks of great positional sparring drills that reinforce his material.  7. Most important, Mike is hilarious and makes training a lot of fun. The Cave Academy is also blessed to have Frankie Nunez "Papa Frank" an instructor who is also a badass grappler and incredible teacher.  Papa Frank is the most welcoming and friendly person I've come across in BJJ during my last six years of training.  His enthusiasm for jiu jitsu is infectious and highly motivating. read more

Having trained at several other BJJ gyms I can confidently say The Cave is a cut above the rest. Like a lot of things, the amount you enjoy jiu jitsu can sometimes be closely related to how much you like the people you train with. The people at The Cave are some of the friendliest, most supportive, and most humble people I've ever met. When I first visited the Cave I was taken aback by how tightly knit the community there seemed, but I was also surprised by how much effort they put into creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for a newcomer like me. Mike and Papa Frank are gifted instructors, and their passion for the sport is contagious. White belt or black belt, they're always willing to help students and devote as much attention as we need to get the move down right. They're humble black belts, which can be a rare quality in the sport. Their quality of instruction is the main thing that brings me to The Cave and keeps me coming back. It's truly unlike any other I've received. Finally the place is just really clean. The showers are clean, the mats are clean. It makes such a difference after a long training session to know that you can take a nice hot shower... read more

I know Mike Murrell ( Brazilian GI & NOGI instructor) when I went to train to City BJJ; This was my first time doing NOGI jujitsu after doing some GI at CCSF. In my own opinion, Mike's class is one the best Jujitsu classes I've ever had. First, he makes you warm up for about 10-15 minutes not only to avoid any pulled muscle but also to strengthen your body. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching JUJITSU. What he calls SITUATIONAL, you wont see it with another jujitsu instructor. This situational is no other than mastering a technique from a possible threat position. Besides, he will call out possible applicable techniques while you are rolling. Isnt this awesome? In other words, Mikes is one of the best Jujitsu instructors I've ever known. I strongly suggest to try out one of his classes. Muay Thai can be very tiring and challenging, specially if you do not have enough knowledge about this discipline.However, Seth Clifton (Muay Thai Instructor) is dedicated to make you understand the basics of Muay Thai or refine your skills. He is a former MMA and Muay Thai fighter from TEXAS. How many times do you have a professional fighter as instructor? His class rocks from the beginning because he will be right next you to make you train properly. Isnt this awesome? He will detect right away every mistake you are making while either doing a simple jab or a right kick, and he will work with you to refine your technique. If The Cave Academy would easier for me to commute, I have not doubt I would be going everyday to train with these excellent and former instructors. Therefore, I strongly recommend this GYM to everyone who wants to get either in shape or learn a Martial Art. The Cave Academy rocks since its instructors Rock. read more

I started going to The Cave Academy in May and the only thing negative I could think of is that sometimes work and personal life gets in the way of training. The Cave Academy shares the building with Family Martial Arts and it is pretty spacious. Plenty of bags, boxing mitts, thai pads, kick shields and mat space for all to use. The roped boxing ring is really nice touch. . I've focused on Muay Thai and Seth is a great instructor. You can tell how passionate he is about the sport. He has a lot of knowledge and is more than willing to share. He pays close attention to all of his students and will correct you when needed, encourage when you feel like giving up and commend you on a job well done. I've watched Mike's Jiu Jitsu classes and he is great with his students. He communicates very well with his students and will break down technique so that it is easy for everyone to understand. Frank's no-gi Jiu Jitsu is great. He is very passionate about the sport and is a ball of energy. He will go into detail explaining the theories behind the move you are doing so that you can have a deeper understanding of why you are doing it. I believe that trust is a very important factor in the instructor-student relationship and these instructors are very trustworthy individuals. Their strong work ethics and positive attitudes are very contagious. read more

Where do I start? The Cave Academy is an awesome place to train, the environment is really healthy and nice Mike Murrel and Papa Frankie are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They also have many showers and heaters for the best training. After training here for over a year I'm glad to say that I have learned so much and I can't wait to keep on learning more from them! As of Judo, we have Gennady who has so much talent and experience with judo and teaches the kids judo classes. He is always willing to help you out and is a funny guy! read more

Seth Clifton is an AH-MAZING martial arts instructor!!! Muay Thai (primarily for MMA) is one of his life's passions and his highly developed skill and dedicated knowledge of the sport clearly comes across in his classes. In addition to his many years of experience as a professional fighter (which already brings a lot to the table), he has an incredible teaching style and structures his classes to benefit each student, creatively catering to individual learning styles/needs, disabilities/injuries, and level of experience. You'll likely get one-on-one attention no matter how big the group is! From what I've seen and heard from other students, fighters at every level can enjoy any one of Seth's classes throughout the week (not to mention private lessons) and I'm sure there will be tons of reviews following this one that can attest to that! It's a great opportunity to learn and perfect your kickboxing skills, not to mention get a great workout! read more

Mike is honestly the best jiu-jitsu instructor I've ever had the pleasure of studying under. Not only is he good at jiu-jitsu, but more importantly, he really has a knack for teaching--and this is coming from a formal pre-school teacher. Not only does he help you learn moves, but he helps you learn them in a way that they soon become second nature. Also, if you're looking to compete, Mike's the person to study under. When I was training with him three years ago, almost everyone who went to tournaments with our jiu-jitsu school brought home medals. Five stars hands down. read more

Mike is an excellent human and being and teacher . It's been a pleasure knowing him these past almost 10 years. Thanks for your patience and exemplary behavior on and off the mat! read more

Great place to train. First time coming for the jiu jitsu class with papa Frank as the instructor, a very great guy, very direct and also really great at getting the point across with instructions. Wasn't able to see coach Mike, but for the times I've seen him at the judo, and jiu jitsu classes at ccsf he's an excellent practitioner as well as mentor to the sport. Mike and papa Frank definitely know what they're doing, stern and also very fair. Overall they're really great guys to train with and learn from. I can definitely say that I'll be back here to come in and train! read more

Mike is a great bjj teacher! He's taught me many techniques that have made my game better. I highly recommend the cave!

Mike is a great guy and a fantastic teacher. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be a very intimidating martial art to approach, But Mike makes it very easy for people of all skill levels to get a usable technique in their arsenal fast. If you stick with him he will turn you into a martial artist with solid fundamentals and an open mind. I cannot say enough good things about Mike, It was an honor to train under and with him. read more

Our son has been training in Mike's kids class for over a year now (and he's only 5 and a half). Mike is excellent with the kids. He finds the perfect balance of training and teaching respect for the sport and each other while keeping it fun. My favorite part is seeing the older kids learn to work with the younger kids and how much both sides learn from that. We all enjoy going to class and being a part of the Cave family! read more

Mike was one of my very first jiu jitsu trainers. He is super detailed in his instruction. And you know, jiu jitsu is often all about the details. He is also an active competitor. I'd probably have continued working with him had it not been for conflicts with my schedule. If you have the chance to learn from Mike, I'd recommend doing so. read more

Great Academy! Mike is an amazing teacher. He gives great detailed moves that are easy to follow. Ralph Gracie background as well. Highly recommended! read more

Mike Murrell is a skilled, dynamic, hands-on, and experienced Brazilian Jui Jitsu coach. About a year and a half ago, I signed up for BJJ classes with no specific expectations at the time, only to learn something new. Training and conditioning were challenging. But because of Mike's well-planned classes, i toughed it out. To this day, class are still challenging, and I still look forward to every class. Because in the end, not only am I learning self-defense and staying active, I am learning life lessons; discipline, perseverance, and humility. Thank you Mike for being an encouraging and dedicated coach. read more

Mike is a great instructor who understands children and their growth patterns in relation to their physical, mental and emotional development will build a curriculum and class schedule that is 'just right". My two kids have a special needs and as a parent, we looking for something to help then to grow, learning self defense and better behavior! Mike help my kids in all categories! My son improve his self confidence,( he is 14 )after start to do Juijitsu, and my litle ( he is 10) both make good progress... The Cave Academy have a great and clean space ! In the Kids Programs, Through the principles of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu the kids learn that Commitment, Respect, Focus, Self-Discipline, Hard Work and Effort always make for a rewarding experience and bring positive results. He build the classes in a way where the students know exactly how many classes they must attend and how they must behave in order to get stripes and belt promotions... I'm looking forward to see my kids in the big competitions Thank you Mike Wallace Jr. And Kevin read more

Before moving away from the bay area, I trained Jiu Jitsu with Mike and Frankie for many years. The attention to details and enthusiastic sprite that they both bring to the teaching and sport of Jiu Jitsu cannot be missed. If you live in Pacifica, and want to train Jiu Jitsu, be sure to check out The Cave Academy. read more

The instructors at the the cave are very professional and very clean they work great with kids and have a lot of patience the prices are very reasonable, my son loved going to the cave and he was very comfortable and they have plenty of parking check out the cave Academy you will not be disappointed. read more

Mike and Frankie are both great Jiu Jitsu teachers. Enthusiastic, passionate, and helpful. They'll put you in your place, but really help you in areas you need to develop. read more

Mike and Frank were one of my first instructors in the sport. They both work closely with you to make you understand and work out the difficulties. Both their knowledge and proficiency is definitely to be admired and recognized. Both of them are enthusiastic and energetic characters. Their training attitude becomes really contagious. I highly recommend Learning with them. read more