Just changed locations! Still in South Pasadena with the same great staff & coaches. Coach Brian…read moreteaches the 4 year class and is so great with the kids. There's ample parking out back & new paint job outside with the same familiar clean black & white design. Inside has nice lighting and is surprisingly very cool on a hot day. Excited to see what changes come with this location compared to the last one.

the real deal elite knowledge, elite standards, and a genuine passion for making every student…read morebetter. The coaches and professors across the board are phenomenal: technical, patient, and deeply invested in your growth on and off the mats. If you want real BJJ, clean technique, intelligent training, and an environment that pushes you to improve every single day, this is it. Kaizen offers some of the best technical Jiu-Jitsu in South Pasadena, and honestly, one of the best schools in all of LA.

I should update. I have now just achieved my "3rd dan" or third degree black belt - the 25th from…read morethe South Pasadena studio. Kim's hapkido has been like a family to me for 15 years. I am proud of my belt at almost 57 years of age, and I know I couldn't have done it without the consistent instruction, the help of friends and testing partners, and my family. My son made his black belt too, but high school football and now university have put a pause on his advancement...for now. Perhaps he will come back to it someday. Whenever he does make it back on to the mat for a rare visit during vacation, everyone greets him warmly because he grew up with them. Even though I am busy with my career and trying to rebuild my house after losing it in the Altadena fire, I plan to make time to begin teaching the colored belts that I used to be too. I know I'll have the continued support of the belts even higher than me.

Kim's Hapkido is an awesome place! My son started at the South Pasadena location when he was 5. But…read moreafter only 3 months, the Covid pandemic shut down everything. Afterwards, at age 8, he had his second start and has been learning Hapkido for nearly 4 years now. He enjoys it a lot. This school is a wonderful place to learn self-defense, develop self-confidence and how to stand up to bullies, practice discipline and respect, and forge friendships. Master Kim and every single instructor are great with the kids (and adult students, too!). Hapkido as a martial art combines kicking, striking, throws, grappling and joint locks into a very effective self-defense system. While these techniques might seem scary and, as a parent, one might be concerned about injuries during practice, there is no reason to worry at Kim's Hapkido. The entire team of instructors is patient and skilled, and safe instructions have priority. In all the years watching my son practice, I've never witnessed an accident or unsafe instructions, including during the sparring sessions. Kim's Hapkido employs a neat belt system, with about 13 different belt colors and stripes from white to black belt. While these many steps are more than what you typically have in other martial arts, they provide an effective motivational tool to keep attending practice. Achieving the next level belt color is based on performance and an official exam (with board breaking!), and each kid is immensely proud when they are awarded the new belt. No belt is given merely based on the time spent in the dojang, but rather is awarded based on the merits of having learned the respective set of techniques. By now, my son has climbed up the belt ranking by 10 steps, and each successful passing of a belt exam represents a wonderful highlight that nurtures his self-confidence and personal growth. The adult classes at the South Pasadena location usually are 8-15 in size, whereas the kids' classes are larger, depending of the day of the week. However, in all classes there are always multiple black belt instructors available; therefore the teacher-to-student ratio is excellent; during the detailed technique portion of the class, safe and personalized instructions are assured. My son attends practice 2-3 times per week (depending on his soccer practice), plus 1 sparring session in addition. The sparring sessions are restricted to intermediate + advanced students and require the wearing of well-padded sparring gear (hitting the head is prohibited!). The gender distribution is about 50:50, and it is great to see how girls hold their own during sparring; a valuable lesson to learn for the boys! Another clever concept is Master Kim's Star Program, where kids can earn small, star-shaped merit badges for their uniform, based on achievements outside of Hapkido (such as in school or church or another sport). Some of the kids wear over a dozen of them as a proud display of their varied accomplishments during their young lives! This is one more example of how thoughtful this place is with regard to instilling a sense of achievement in its students. Despite its location in the heart of South Pasadena with its high rental costs, Kim's Hapkido has managed to keep its membership fees fair and affordable, which I appreciate. The studio is nicely spacious and there is a designated seating area for the parents in case they want to stay during class and observe (or read a book). Parking is easy and free; there is street parking along Fair Oaks Ave, dedicated parking behind the studio, and a large lot behind the Canoe House across the street.

I recently visited Cosmic BJJ and had a great experience. I'm a brown belt in BJJ, but I hadn't…read moretrained for almost eight years, so I was a bit hesitant about visiting a new BJJ academy. However, after meeting the head instructor, Joseph, and experiencing the welcoming atmosphere, it felt as though I had never stopped training. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and I had some great rolls. Overall, it's a great BJJ school to train at.

Updating my review after a handful of years. My family's experience at Cosmic has continued to be…read morepositive. My kids have been with the program for many years now and I am very pleased with their progress. Coach Joseph can be strict with the kids during training, but he cares deeply about them. He not only wants them to continue to build on their jiujitsu skills, but he also wants them to grow into strong, resilient individuals who can overcome any obstacle. He teaches the kids to be respectful to their parents, instructors, and peers. Discipline is one of the core attribute of martial arts and it's great to see that in every class. Some coaches may seem tough on the outside, but they're also fun and extremely nurturing because many of them are dads of the kids that train there. The best way to find out is to try out a class!

I cannot stress how much I loved my time at Fight Academy Pasadena. I had been training for 5 years…read moreat different gyms (jiu jitsu) before finding Fight Academy and I stayed there for the last 2 years I was based in LA. EASILY the best training, community, vibes, and biggest improvement in my fitness and combat sports training was here. Savant leads an amazing team of coaches!

Been coming here 4 years and it feels like my home away from home. They are welcoming from day one…read moreand the coaches are high level. The owner Savant was a top 10 featherweight in his prime and always pays close attention to each student. Coach Chris though is light work every time

I used to have a much more positive view of this Krav Maga gym, but unfortunately it has gone…read moresignificantly downhill and is now in a noticeable state of disarray. The biggest issues are poor management and a lack of clear organization. Communication is inconsistent, newsletters routinely come out late, and administrative follow-through is unreliable. Even basic things like belt test certificates have been delayed by more than a year after the actual test, which speaks to deeper operational problems. There also appears to be a steady decline in membership, which is not surprising given the current state of the gym. The environment feels less structured and less cohesive than it used to be. From a technical standpoint, Krav Maga here feels like a "jack of all trades, master of none." This is an inherent trait of Krav Maga, but if you're going to steal from other martial arts, you should know the pure form of the art as well (at least at the instructor level) to demonstrate the cleanest technique and explain why you're doing certain things. As a result, students get surface-level exposure rather than real proficiency in any one area. If you are looking for strong fundamentals or mastery of a specific discipline, this is not the place. I have also heard repeated concerns about instructors not being properly compensated. Allegedly, some people taught for long periods with little or no pay, which raises serious questions about how the gym treats its staff and values their time. To be clear, this gym was never the best even at its peak, but it was at least better run in the past. At this point, the lack of organization, declining quality, and management issues make it difficult to recommend. I hope they take a hard look at what is happening and make meaningful changes, because right now it feels like a gym that has lost its direction.

Joined around Thanksgiving (2024) after having been at UFC gym forever. Enjoy the more intimate,…read moreclean, and relaxed environment to take classes in. Instructors are patient and friendly. Would definitely recommend if you want a good workout.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Pasadena exceeded all my expectations…read more Training has genuinely changed the way I see myself--building not just physical skills, but confidence and resilience that carry over into everyday life. One of the most meaningful parts of the experience has been the community. I've met incredible people here, and some have become my closest friends who support and motivate me both on and off the mats. The instructors are truly exceptional. They treat every student with respect, patience, and genuine care, regardless of experience level. You never feel out of place or overlooked--everyone is supported and nurtured every step of the way on their jiu jitsu journey. GJJP has shown me that jiu jitsu really is for everyone, and I'm so grateful I took that first step to walk through the door.

I've been at Gracies Combatives for a month and a half and its been a great experience. The…read moreinstructors and staff are amazing, professional and super friendly.

My son loved their 6-week summer baseball academy. The…read morecoaches did a great a job with him, and really helped him learn how to persevere through challenging drills with a positive attitude. Can't recommend them enough.

This place is amazing. I knew about it when it was Catz PT. They did great. Now it's both with…read moreFitSport and they have a great facility that takes athletes young and old to the next level. Great instructors.

Wonderful place…read more Master Parth is not only highly experienced and skilled, but also genuinely passionate about martial arts. With his dedication, expertise in martial arts, business, and strong sense of care, you can feel confident sending your child, or joining yourself. Better yet, join as a family. You'll learn, laugh, cheer, and become stronger together.

My son has been attending this place for over a year and he loves it. He has more confidence in…read morehimself. This place definitely helped him to stay more focused. Best part he made new friends.

Over the past year, our son has been attending Eagle Rock Jujitsu, and the experience has been…read morenothing short of incredible. Through the art of jujitsu, he's learned so much more than just self-defense--he's gained confidence, discipline, focus, and resilience. It's been amazing to watch his growth both on and off the mat. The coaches (Edson, Tristan and, Ethan) at Eagle Rock Jujitsu have played a huge role in this journey. Their dedication to the development of each child is evident in every class. They're patient, supportive, and always push the kids to be their best--not just as athletes, but as individuals. Professor Carrão has created a warm, welcoming environment that extends far beyond the training mats. His academy is a place where children and families feel seen, supported, and part of a larger community. It's a rare and special thing. I see you, Bobby! We feel incredibly lucky to have such a top-tier jujitsu academy right here in Eagle Rock, bordering Highland Park. Our hope is that our son continues his jujitsu journey well into adulthood under the guidance and mentorship of Professor Carrão and his amazing team!

We've had such a positive experience with this academy and highly recommend it to any parent…read moreconsidering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for their kids. What makes this place special is the culture the coaches have created -- it's encouraging, respectful and very warm. Coaches Edson, Ethan, and Tristan are outstanding with the kids. They are patient, attentive, and truly invested in every student's development. My child really looks forward to class because the coaches make it a fun environment. The academy teaches kids how to stay calm under pressure, work through difficult moments, and keep trying even when something feels hard. Those lessons carry far beyond the mats and will make a difference in the real world. Sometimes, we even have Professor Carrao teach the kids a move or two so it's a real treat! The instruction is excellent, the environment is positive, and the sense of community is amazing! This academy is doing a fantastic job developing strong, respectful, and confident kids while teaching high-level Jiu-Jitsu. We're incredibly grateful for this amazing academy!

Once my boxing gym got bought out and spiked their fees, I was feeling frustrated until I found…read moreSPF. The facilities are very spacious, albeit extremely busy a lot of the time, they have a lot of classes and equipment, and the people who work there are all really personable and attendant. Super nice staff. So why not 5 stars? Because sometimes the music is just this contemporary drivel that makes me lose my mind. Yeah, I could put in some earbuds but they never stay in during heavy bag work. I just don't understand why music is so bad these days. Is it the gym's fault for things going on in the music industry? Yes. Yes it is. If you are sitting there all shift day after day, make a playlist and put some love into it. There's SO much good music out there. Don't play homogeneous corporate slop. We can do better. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!

South Pas Fitness has become my go‑to gym because it consistently delivers on everything that…read morematters to me: cleanliness, great service, and ease. The staff is always genuinely pleasant and helpful -- the kind of people who greet you with a smile and make the space feel welcoming. I love the infrared sauna, especially because you can book it in advance, which makes planning workouts so much easier. Their variety of weight machines keeps things interesting, and I never feel like I'm waiting around for equipment. It's rarely crowded except for the usual New Year rush. Parking in the lot can be a little tricky since it's small, but there's plenty of free street parking right outside, so it's never a dealbreaker. They also offer a great lineup of workout classes, which adds even more value. Overall, it's a gym that makes staying consistent feel effortless. Neighbors and friends are all members so it's fun to work out together and there are perks for referring new members too!