Although Dartanian is very knowledgable, his style of teaching is old school, which may or may not be a good match for you. This involves harsh criticism of your technique as you're learning, and throwing you out of the blue while you are working on something completely differen t. He starts all classes 15-20 mins late and at the end of class he prattles on about things going on in his personal life. You end up being a captive audience. read more

This is where it all started for me. I knew my family would benefit from BJJ but not to the degree of being able to crossing over into adding value in mind, soul and body. Professor Dartanian Bagby is extremely passionate and knowledgeable in BJJ. He teaches with precise accuracy. This is special because whether you are a first time learner or someone with years of experience- he will help you bring up your game and confidence considerably. When you find your way to training with Professor D, know that is a special and unique gift. read more

Dartanian Jiu-Jitsu - Training Center - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - North Hollywood, California

Very good, great guys,and Dartanian is a BEAST, this guys loves what he does and helps everyone, I went during full time, but once school got in the way there was no way, I will going back as soon as i can, seriously this is by far the best place for beginners and veterans of the trade. TFR read more

Dartanian Jiu-Jitsu - Logo - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - North Hollywood, California

!!! BEST !!! No doubt best place u will find. From absolute beginner, to aspirations to become world champion this is the spot. Moral of the Dojo is so cool. Everyone is humble, open, friendly & excited to learn from Professor Dartanian & each other. Dartanian is a GREAT GREAT Mentor from Awesome story. He holds many championship titles which single handed separates this Dojo from others. Every dojos got moves & techniques etc, but he has the know how from experience of what it takes to WIN. You will discover how & WHY each detail maters. Mad mad mad respect & gratitude. The best decision I've ever made !!! !!! !!! read more

Dartanian Jiu-Jitsu - !!! The BBEESSTTTTTT !!!! - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - North Hollywood, California

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I think that Absolute Jiu-Jitsu is one of the best MMA training centers in Southern California. All bases are covered in training, from standup, takedowns to the ground game. The coach Dartanian, who is a BJJ blackbelt, with judo, boxing and wrestling experience is the best. He spends the time to fully explain things, and show you how moves all fit together. The classes range from beginner to super advanced. Another great thing about the training center is that there are no huge egos floating around! Everyone is cool and willing to help out! Not only is their great instruction, there is great competition when it is time to free train at the end of class. It is not only great exercise, but a great time to put to the test what you learned. read more

When I think about my days training with Dartanian, it's always with a strong sense of pride :-) Having experienced a few different teachers now, I can honestly say that breadth of knowledge and technique that was imparted upon me helped me not only grow as a practitioner, but gave me methodical insights on how to go about learning new skills. Oh and if you happen to want to challenge yourself in a game of chess, D. will be more than happy to oblige a thorough licking ;) read more

Although I have been out of martial arts for about a year+ now, the time I spent with Dartanian was excellent. Extremely impartial and fair, but his most beneficial trait is his passion. He truly wants all of his students to become better, and it shows in EVERY interaction. He is a good friend too - he helped me when I was having problems with my wife, and my family. He sometimes rambles (in a good way) about life, and philosophy and you really get an OVERALL education from someone who has committed his life to Jiu-Jitsu. That commitment translates to wisdom, and a phenomenal environment created from the top down. His top students are excellent instructors in their own right, and he has created an excellent culture at his school. This is a serious school with serious students and serious training. No fluff. You WILL get good here. This is a small place, but serious and adequate. If you want luxury, go somewhere else. But if you want a good education, you are in the right place. Forget the MMA names, forget everything else. Dartanian REALLY knows what he is talking about, and routinely demonstrates new techniques and fighting strategies. I was about 250 when I was there, and although strong, his lightest students, like Adrian, dominated me at more than a 100 pounds less. Make no mistake, this is all about technique, and that is Dartanian's forte. Plus, he is a pretty good chessplayer - ask him for a game, and he will accept! You would be proud to learn from D. read more

I cannot speak from personal training experience, only from what I see going on with the adult classes, and things that they are doing. However, I can speak on behalf of the kids' classes, and they're great. My son is 6.5, and he's been going here for 3 months now. Not only he loves it, but he's getting very strong as well, and learning self defense. I think most of what he likes is that the classes don't feel like a heavily structured classes run by a drill sergeant. There seems to be plenty of play time with specific techniques taught at the right time, next thing you know he's got some moves. It's like watching a lion cub learning how to hunt through play. I also love Dartanian's approach and philosophy to training, specially kids, competition, self defense and also strict rules, so while kids are having fun, they learn to respect each other, respect the coaches, respect the dojo, and play fair. As far as the dojo, it's big, and has plenty of room in the back of the gym with covered mats and heavy bags, and a sizable set up for cross fit training or "American Ninja Warrior" course as my son likes to point out, and loves climbing the ropes and giving his best on the peg wall. read more

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While the instruction is good, I couldn't get past Dartanian himself. While it's understandable to be very competitive, he is also quite petty and it's not something I'm comfortable with. Others may be fine with it, but there are many other choices available and you certainly don't have to put up with such an atmosphere if you don't want to. An example of his immaturity was when he put down a former student. That person was student of the month at his new academy, and Mr. Bagby felt it was relevant to tell his facebook followers that the student was hardly that good at his own school. Only after suffering some immediate backlash did he delete the post. This is coming from the same man who will tell you to basically shut up and train if you ask a valid question, as all students should feel comfortable doing, yet he can't do the same over something all teachers experience. Teachers impart more than knowledge and skill, but set a standard for their students as well. There are plenty of schools where you can learn a lot, but it takes more effort to find someone you can respect for their integrity, and I absolutely did not find that there. read more

This training center is great for anyone, regardless of your martial arts goals. Consistent training will get you in the best shape of your life. Dartanian will guide you through each step of your process, whether you just want to feel more confident and safe on the street, intend to compete in a jiu jitsu tournament, or desire to fight professionally in a cage match. Dartanian has a no-nonsense attitude and a great sense of humor. Decades of experience also put him in a position to recognize very specifically each student's strengths and weaknesses, which he uses to tailor a program to help each individual develop. There is nothing cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all here. Worth every penny. Plus, the people who train here are amicable and helpful. No meatheads. read more

Been training with Dartanian about 5 years now. Amazing teaching methods that reveal the real essence behind Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, timing and leverage. In the same lesson beginners and advanced students learn the concepts they need. Professors Dartanian and Ken bring out the best abilities hidden within each student. Also having been to a few other schools in the past the core group of students here are competitive without ego and are cooperative drilling partners. Can't speak highly enough about everyone who coaches and trains here. read more

I have known Dartanian for more than 15 years and consider him not only to be a fine teacher and coach, but also a fine friend. His commitment to Jiu-Jitsu is undeniable and his ability to understand the individual student and help he or she benefit from the instruction is beyond comparison. My 16 year old sons have been with him exclusively for over 12 years now and are at the highest level of competition. So, whether you want to be at the TOP OF YOUR GAME, or want fitness training, or self defense instruction; Dartanian will expertly get you there. My highest recommendation. read more

My brother has done Jiu-Jitsu for four years and when visiting him last time in Arizona I finally decided to give it a try and instantly became hooked. Now came the hard part finding a gym/academy near me that wasn't over priced and had a good vibe. I found Dartanian on yelp and did a lot of research before I went in. I was a little bit nervous because I didn't know what it was going to be like, but as soon as I walked in I was greeted by Adrian (one of the instructors) and Dartanian and I knew that as soon as I heard him speak this was the place for me. You can learn a lot about a person in the first few minutes you speak with them, and what I got from him was a huge sense of passion and the essence of calm not just in himself but in the ability to instill it in others. The academy is well kept and very clean and I was super impressed with the ninja warrior course out back as it would be great training for spartan races and such. I have been here almost two months and am very happy. You will not be disappointed and will find after training here when you go to other gyms that you can hang with guys that have been doing it a lot longer than you. You not only gain self defense skills and confidence but a family. read more

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Dartanian has revolutionized my way of perceiving the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Any skill level can learn, and what you get from training can transcend into other parts of your life. Challenging your mind and body I feel is essential for growth; the training here can help you sharpen your skills, movement, and posture. read more

Dartanian's Jiu-Jitsu gym is a very special place. The instruction isn't rote memory to learn the moves. Instead of rote memory, understanding the physics of how moves happen, why and when to use them is strongly emphasized. Dartanian's a very avid chess player, and that identity of foresight and logic translates beautifully onto the mat. The other members of the gym, so far as I've met, are the friendliest bunch of folk I could ever talk about and are amazing at representing the gym. I know for a fact that you absolutely cannot go wrong choosing to attend here. read more

A REAL martial arts/brazilian jiu jitsu academy, with a REAL black belt instructor. Professor Dartanian Bagby has been training bjj for over 30 years, and is hands down one of the best teachers I've ever had. He really understands the learning process, and has incredible perspective to help you find your way in expressing yourself. Whether it be in martial arts or life in general, he's genuine in what he shares and his philosophies are simple to understand, at any level of life/training. Not only does he get awesome feedback from anyone who visits and trains with him, but he's a multiple time champion and a member of the dirty dozen (one of the first 12 non-brazilian bjj black belts). The location itself is HUGE. There's mats are big and there's tons of equipment to stay physically fit. There's cross fit, weights, bags, and tons of other stuff. Members are all friendly, and always willing to help. Like a few other reviews mentioned, the people who train there are pretty mature; egos never get in the way of learning/training. Definitely worth a visit for anyone curious about martial arts. Wisdom and knowledge flows like it's on tap here; nothing is held back. After training here for a couple years, it's clear as ice to me, Dartanian is here to pass down his knowledge; the dues are just to keep him and the place going. read more

Straight up - this is the BEST MMA training I've found. I've trained at a few other schools and everywhere I went there always seemed to be those guys that had "something to prove" by trying to kill you on the mat everyday. I never felt like I could relax enough to get better because I was always fighting for my life. At Dartanian's school we do a lot of stand up fighting and throws and takedowns in addition to the ground fighting. The other schools I trained at would focus on the ground and I never felt like I was learning to handle my business on my feet or with takedowns and stuff like that. But here I feel like I'm becoming a well rounded fighter, which was my goal in the first place. The guys here are really cool. They go to all the local tournaments and do very well but it's not just a "sport jiu-jitsu" school. This is fighting jiu-jitsu. I think anybody that wants to really learn how to fight should check this place out. The only drawback is whenever I roll with Dartanian, I fear for my life! Just kidding - he's really cool, but a total badass on the mat. read more

I honestly don't know where to begin with this review...Ive been training here for about two eyars now, and i wouldn't trade Dartanians training techniques and his place for any other gym, ever. i have not been to many different places to compare, but i assure you that Dartanian and the team here will be of great competition with any other training facility; not only in martial arts but in the teammates honesty, respect, friendship, and care. there is not one "cocky" person at this place, and there is not one person that is not willing to help with anything at anytime. Dartanian is extremely skilled in many areas of martial arts, including BJJ, Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, and Mui Thai, and he does a great job in incorporating all of them together. Highly recommended. read more

I have been training Martial Arts since I turned 4 years old, back 1987. I guarantee that I have trained at more Martial Schools in Los Angeles than anyone! I fell in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu back in 2008 when I was living in Culver City. After moving to the SFV in 2010 I fell out of love with the art because of all the terrible places I trained. I could go on for days about all the subpar instructors and McDojos here in The Valley, but I will cut to the chase. Dartanian Jiu-Jitsu is the best BJJ and MMA studio in Los Angeles, hands down!!! In my 25 years of Martial Arts training I have never meet anyone as passionate and knowledgeable as Dartanian. It's because of him and his teaching methods that made me fall in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu all over again. The facility is amazing and everyone that trains there is super nice and helpful. I am sooo happy I finally found my home at Dartanian Jiu Jitsu!!! read more

this place has it all. expert advice, incredible facility and a dojo filled with humble spiritually guided members. not to mention the teacher, dartanian bagby, is a multi level black belt in many martial arts. division one collegiate national wrestler. oh and by the way he is a bjj world champion. being able to train with a world champion is one huge bonus...then when you add his non stop desire to do the best you can in all aspects of your life its no wonder everyone who trains there loves it and doesnt leave. im grateful i found this place. read more

My boyfriend comes here and absolutely loves it, I am even thinking of joining! The facility is amazing, and has a crazy awesome outdoor space for cross fit and barbecuing. From what my boyfriend tells me, training here is unlike any other place. I also know that people who seriously train get an exceptional experience out of due to Dartanian's vast knowledge, patience, kindness, and expertise. He is an incredibly knowledgable instructor and has had two black belts in Judo and Jiu Jistu for over twenty years and is a skilled wrestler. If you are keen to excel at your grappling, become a pro, or get a new hobbie started COME HERE. read more

I began training with Dartanian almost 15 years ago. I did my homework, checked out other dojos first and decided to stay at a place 25 miles from my house driving past many other dojos to get there because I believe this is by far the finest training center. The techniques, level of friendship, lack of ego, and personal attention from Dartanian, Ken, and advanced students is unrivaled. read more

The studio may be great for athletics, but the owner can make your life difficult if you're renting the space. We were told we had the space from 1 to 4 pm, when class would end. Well, a few students had to use the bathroom at 4 pm and the owner was angry because we went "overtime." We were off the mats by 4 pm but no one told us the rental fee did not include bathroom use. The next day the owner made us stand outside in the hot sun before class started (no one was using the studio), and then he scolded the students because he was angry at the teacher, something he should have taken up privately with the teacher and not us. When the teacher arrived, a most unfortunate altercation occurred and the owner actually threatened to cancel the class and told us to leave the premises. (All this on Father's Day!) Ultimately, we were able to use the space but students who witnessed this were uncomfortable throughout the rest of the class. read more

I am giving this place 5 stars but it is really about a 6 and a half star place to train if not more. Overly impressed would be an understatement. I was in town working for a few days and looking for a place to train and I am glad I found Professor Dartanian's place. If you don't know who Dartanian Babgy is then google him my friend. His accolades and accomplishments are truly outstanding but that just scratches the surface. When someone is passionate about something they just ooze enthusiasm and it is contagious. This is exactly how Professor Dartanian is about teaching Judo and Jiu Jitsu. I learned a tremendous amount in just a few days there. I am not talking about technique such as proper grips and footwork; although they are both emphasized. I am talking about theory and attitude that carryover past the mats to all facets of life, and more importantly not just for me but things to help me be a better father and how to pass on these lessons to my children. The conversations I had with Dartanian after class just speaking man to man, not just about what happens on the mats but what happens in life are something I will treasure and take with me on my journey. Couple the conversations with the fact that he spent a considerable amount of time with me, just a guest in town for a few days, and this truly speaks to his character. If he made such an impression on me in just a few days just imagine what he can do for you. So if you are looking for top notch instruction from someone who has been there and done that on the mats and can also help you off the mats than look no further than Dartanian Bagby. read more

i never got to train here but came to check it out b/c he had a women's class! i came during one of the regular classes (all male) and first thing i noticed was that there was some damn nice looking boys in class. but anyways!....i had a long conversation with dartanian, the coach/owner, and i came out of that w/ a lot of respect for him. i like to think i'm a real good judge of people and i liked wut he had to say about training and what he realized about teaching women. i thought he was very insightful and down to earth and positive. i completely believe that these attitudes and beliefs trickle down from coach to student. the school is small but pretty full of students . it wasn't so full that people were all over each other. the women's class when i talked to him was bjj only. i ended up not taking classes b/c of time conflicts but i think this is a spot i would've totally felt comfortable in. read more

i use to work down the street as a security guard at the commons and keptrunning into this really friendly and funny guy that ended up backing me up acouple times . little did i know he was the owner and head instructor at the local bjj gym i knew him as D (dartanian) the coffe bean regular. he invited me to train at his gym that use to be located on cahuenga it was small but i got a good feeling about it. i only trained there for 6 months and a couple times when i came back from my deployment i would regularly get my ass hand to me but i loved it. after traning there i have rolled with many other grapplers and at many other gyms and i have held my own and won alot of matchs i had no idea how much i had learned in the 6 month period at dartanian bjj the quality of students and instructor s at dartanian bjj is world class. I recenlty went to check out D's new location on vineland and it is AMAZING! this is a world class facility to go along with its world class intructors. an person interested in martial arts should check it out doesnt matter if you cant go everyday ,every week or if you only take acouple classes you will walk away with alot. read more