I had an incredible experience at their Memorial Location! Specifically, the open layout and quantity/variety of equipments (heavy bags, pads, etc) created an inclusive and comprehensive training experience. However, the most impressive aspect were the people. Everyone from the desk staff to trainers were always kind and welcoming and the gym itself had a friendly atmosphere that also encouraged challenging yourself! I highly recommend this gym! read more

This happened a couple years ago, so I can't speak to how things are handled there now. But I had a negative experience trying to contact the Westchase flagship location about a serious concern connected to my experience at another affiliated location. The concern involved safety, conduct, and how issues involving staff or members were being handled. I made four separate calls to four different people, was unable to get a hold of anyone, left my callback information, and explained generally that I was trying to raise a serious concern that I believed warranted awareness or oversight. I did not receive a callback or meaningful follow-up. I am not reviewing any one person individually. My concern is that I attempted to raise a serious issue through multiple channels connected to the flagship location and was met with silence. With time, what stands out to me most is not only the original situation, but the lack of meaningful follow-up when I tried to raise it through what I understood to be appropriate channels. That kind of non-response leaves things unresolved. It also leaves the person who raised the concern carrying the consequences alone. In a martial arts environment, especially one involving physical training and close contact, trust and safety depend not only on what happens on the mat, but also on whether concerns can be raised and handled responsibly. From my experience at the time, I did not feel there was a reliable process for escalation, accountability, or member support. read more

I can not say enough good things about this place. I have never had an issue with contracts or something to be locked into. We pay and we can come and go as we please. The instructors are wonderful. Great for children and adults. read more

Best coaches around!!! Developed long lasting "family" and helped my shy child become more confident!!! She loves it so much she wants to train 5 days a week! read more

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Kingwood gym refused to return a phone call concerning our contract. My new job (acquired after signing contract) is 50 minutes away from home. I explained I can no longer get my child to the gym. We have not been there for over 8 months. Gym owner is only concerned about money. read more

I Really Enjoyed Going To This Gym. Coach Lee Is Amazing And I Enjoy Every Day I Am In His Class. He Puts An Extreme Focus On Taking Care Of Your Partner, But Also Encourages Action. The Training Experience Is Safe, Technical, and Fun. I've Never Been In Class And Wanted To Leave. There Are A Few Issues With This Company As A Whole However. First, you are locked into a long term commitment. Nothing is wrong with a commitment, especially considering that MMA requires you to be committed. However, the gym does nothing to encourage you to stay committed. If you are paying, they are satisfied, no matter the amount of time you miss. If you speak with the staff regarding inability to make it to the gym, they will give you the good ol' "one or two days a week is a good start" talk. Offering no real alternative. Example being, all locations do not have Kickboxing Fundamentals, so simply recommending another location does not satisfy a large number of members. Second, Elite MMA uses a third party billing company, and do not understand nor properly explain the terms with the billing company. For example, the billing company states that Elite MMA is not allowed to accept any forms of payment outside of the initial down payment. However, Elite MMA has accepted multiple payments from me. What then happens is, the billing company does not properly track those payments, resulting in fees. Though i typically pay $197 a month my classes, i was charged $641 to accommodate for "fees", though i made payments to Elite MMA. The biggest problem with being charged the $641 is that, i was not asked to authorize a payment outside of our original agreement of $197. Something definitely has to be done regarding the way Elite MMA bills its members. I did not request a refund, i am not angry about the charge, but i do know that it is bad business practice. To first charge more than was authorized and secondly for the gym to breach their agreement with the billing company by accepting payments at their location. Though i enjoyed this place, i have to give it a one star because that is the taste it has left in my mouth. When someone ask me about Elite MMA i say, "they have a guy that's a Glory Champions" then "those guys have serious issues with billing, so i recommend not using your primary account here on the billing information". read more

So I've read a lot of review talking about contracts, how they just care about money etc. my son attends both locations in westheimer and in Richmond/greenbriar. Let me start by saying: communication is key! I had a problem with my own company literally being hacked and my bank information being given out. So I had to close that bank account and opened another one. I totally forgot about the monthly withdrawals, until I sat to do mid month budget. So I contacted Jose at the Richmond/ Greenbriar location and explained. Guess what he did!? HELPED ME! So we went ahead and changed my card information, I then told him if I could change the dates the withdrawals happened and guess what?! He helped me on that too! And to top it off all with grace! Brothers and sisters, communicate! This works with relationships and with businesses and contracts. read more

This place made me into a 'gym rat'. I can't say enough good things about this place but, I'll try: - They cater to the whole family. There are classes for: kids, adults, and women - A home away from home to burn calories at - Top notch instructors who actually still train and compete at a professional level - You'll make friends here easily - Strong sense of values here while still maintaining a fun, casual environment First off, the instructors are incredibly knowledgeable about training, losing weight, improving strength/endurance/stamina/technique and they are friendly and warm. These people live and breathe martial arts and you won't find anyone in this gym that isn't proud to be a part of the Elite family. I was a member for two years until I moved for work. I still miss going to class. At first I'll admit, I hesitated about going to a martial arts gym. I didn't know anything before starting and I was curious about how the atmosphere would be, working out around professional competitors and fighters. I never liked working out and typically got bored and quit. But I soon found out that its was the best place for me to get in shape quickly while having fun. I've been a member at Bally's, 24hr Fitness, and Lifetime. You may get granite countertops in the locker rooms and 50" plasmas in the weight lifting areas at those places but you're NEVER going to get the personal attention and atmosphere that you'll get from a facility like Elite. Ask yourself, what are you really paying for at the big box gyms? This place is worlds away from your ordinary gym. Here they offer a multitude of classes for beginners and the advanced student. They have cardio, fundamentals and Thai kickboxing, Brazilian ju jitsu for kids, women and adults, self-defense, MMA, and boxing among others. If you're a girl, try the cardio kickboxing classes. Its a fun cardio workout that had my friends and I laughing and at the same time burning off those beers from the happy hour the weekend before. I got into the best shape of my life in the first 6 months I work out there. I lost 5% in body fat and was back at the weight I was in high school. The instructors challenge you and push without that overly excited rah-rah voice. You're going to be sore after the first week here which only means that you worked your butt off and will soon enough see results. You feel like part of the family here and that for me, is something you won't find at most other places. read more

My grandson started here less than a month ago and I can already see a change in his behavior at school and home. Both of his parents are military and were deployed a month apart. So he went from living with his parents to changing schools and moving in with grandma. Since attending MMA is teaching him respect, responsibility and confidence. Thank you so much to the Coaches at Westheimer Location. read more

I got a free lesson here but decided to go to another gym. I'd guess it's a good entry level gym for BJJ, kickboxing/boxing. They have 800 members at this location so it's got a big gym environment. I love their bathrooms and showers. So nice! read more

So after a whole year of paying for these class that i did not attend, finally my contract ended and this is my last payment to them. i am so happy to get out of it and of for the very least learned a valuable lesson (don't sign any contract yet until fully understand the contract). all i have to say to elite mma is bye felicia and f**** this company. be careful guys unless you are 110% that you can be committed to a 1 year contract. read more

To join you must sign a 12 month contract. Even when I sustained a shoulder injury WHILE training at the gym, they would not let me out of the contract. So I was forced to pay out the remainder of my membership out of pocket even though I couldn't train. Could I receive a refund ? No. Could I take a leave of absence? No. Could I place the membership on hold ? No. The contract and policies of this gym are extremely restrictive. Most gyms are going month to month now. See what your other options are before joining. read more

The people there are nice and good at training you. But the only problem I have is that you can not back out of the contract at all. Even if you are injure, moved, lost your job, or whatever your situation is they will not allow you back out. They care about you getting your training but don't care about your situation on not using them to let you off the contract. So be careful and aware of this. I was hype up when I first received my one on one lesson and signed up. So know that of you sign that contract you can not get out of it at all. read more

Recently I went to train at elite mma but due to health problems in my family I had to move. In the beginning coach Dave didn't tell me about the year contract, but when I asked about it I was told I can't get out. They said if I move out of the city(which I did) I would be able to get out of my contract but they are still charging me. I've been calling for the last two weeks and keep getting out on voicemail. While the staff and coaching is great the contract part is really unappealing. read more

Came looking for a sport my seven year old son could do after school. I contacted them three times on three different occasions. The same person answered and told me someone would get in contact with me in the next few days. Never called. Needless to say my child will not be enrolled ever here. Congratulations, you played yourself! read more

THANK YOU ELITE MMA WESTHEIMER FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE IN THE REOPENING WITH "STAY SAFE"! The protocols in place brought me true comfort and confidence in allowing my son to go back and train in person! Everything Elite has done, was above my expectations! From the moment we pulled into the parking lot, and saw the safe distancing marks on the ground, leading up to the door and having temp check before entering the door and then being sprayed on hands, shoes and feet with a safe solution to kill germs and bacteria just as you enter, is totally spot on! Then to be led by a staff member to safe distancing floor markings that are 10 feet apart up to the mat, and again, being led to the designated mat space to train by another staff member was extremely going above and beyond! Oh and after my son trained, to be sprayed down from head to toes with the the anti-bacteria solution again... WOW! Elite MMA has put together top notch protocols for training and I confidently recommend this facility to anyone who wants to get in person total conditioning and training in an extremely safe environment! BRAVO to ELITE MMA!!! read more

I've used a coach for weight training for over 30 years so in the second week of March I could see the writing on the wall. I knew I needed to find a new way to get in a challenging workout in the comfort of my own home. I took an introductory kickboxing class and absolutely loved it. I realized I wanted to get a couple friends to take the class with me and get one of the Elite MMA coaches to train us. Coach Dave does an excellent job teaching us and keeping us encouraged and motivated. He works hard to change things up and challenges us in each class to get a little better and keeping us learning new skills at every lesson. We are getting stronger and have improved our level of fitness significantly. And it is an absolute blast! So fun! read more

This is a very expensive gym. I was interested in taking self defense classes at this gym because it's really close to my house. I went to their free class and decided to join the gym membership. After a few months of training injured my knee and decided that it may not be a good idea for me to keep training. Also that I find out that I got pregnant too. I contacted them to cancel my membership, but they gave me the run around transfering me from one person to another. I just finally gave up and lost almost $1800 of annual membership fee. The good thing about this place is that the trainers seems to make you feel welcome and good classes, but for the premium price you are paying they should be. Always be careful of bussinesses with a perfect five star reviews. Nothing is that perfect. read more

We've gone by the guidelines of the contract we are moving to Cleveland and because it's 27 miles and it's not over 30 miles, there not going to honor the cancellation. We live off of Wilson Road and Beltway 8 right now. it takes us about 30 minutes to get there,from Cleveland it's going to be a 40 minute drive. I don't understand why this isn't being approved!!! read more

I have been a member here for about 2 years. The school is very professional and clean. I have learned a lot here during my two years. This summer I hurt my back playing basketball right before my 6 month membership was up and the manager had me come in to have the owner recommend me the proper treatment. My membership was going to expire in a week and they did not bring up the membership they were only concerned about my health. My back has healed and I am back training again. This martial arts school is as high class as it gets for any service business in any city. I will recommend them to anyone. read more

I love this martial arts gym. It's a serious workout if you want to get toned and they have class for various forms of martial arts as will. Great for kids and families, but not babies. read more

I have been with Elite for several months now and I cannot say enough good things about this facility, their program and the crew that runs it. Elite is more than just a mixed martial arts or self-defense school, it is a community that focuses on camaraderie, growth and support of attaining personal goals. All of their staff is top notch as both instructors and individuals. The other members of Elite are great folks too who push and support each other in training. In terms of results, you will find it here. I have limited time these days outside work and family. My time training at Elite is optimized - quick, flexible and intense. I have seen big results in a short period of time, both physically and my technique. I am in the best all-around condition (mind and body) than I have been in a very long time. It's simply fun and rewarding to be a part of this group. read more

My 11 year old son has been training at Elite MMA since he was 5 years old and I cannot recommend it highly enough. He has grown so much in his time there. In addition to the physical skills that he has gained, he has also become more confident, disciplined and respectful. He has made lasting friendships and considers his classmates and coaches to be a second family. He takes a lot of pride in his training and looks forward to his twice weekly classes. As a mom of two children, I have invested quite a bit of time and money in extracurricular activities over the years and I would have to say that our time at Elite MMA has been the best time and money spent. read more

The contract for me is the only reason they get three stars the place is amazing I learned a great deal of things when I was there, but life happens and I was stuck paying this contract when I could no longer attend classes. And I really wanna go back but I do know later this year I'll be leaving for the military and I'll be stuck paying again when I don't attend classes. I really wish they could at least do a six month contract it's way convenient. read more

I have been with Elite since 1999 when Eric and Hai were the only instructors. The level of expertise from the black belts at the school is excellent. There are plenty of black belts to help with anything you are working on. None of the upper belts have any ego problems, which is great for sparring and working through new moves and strategies. Every year, instructors from Brazil come to teach, giving everyone at the school valuable new points of view. The classes are filled with friendly people, and I never feel hesitant to bring my kids to watch me practice. The Westheimer gym has gone through many changes. Of the schools I've seen, the current gym at the BONA location is very large and roomy. It accommodates very large classes and is great when the classes are small. The bathrooms are usually clean, which is very important. The entire school takes extra care to keep the mats clean, which if you are familiar to the sport, is very important. If you are looking around at other gyms for comparison, keep note of a few things. Other gyms are smaller with less room for large classes to spar. The number of higher belts per class is always higher at Elite. Many of the competing schools in the Houston area are run by black belts that were at one time associated with the Elite gym. This is where everyone starts. read more

Love Elite MMA! They are wonderful with my son and the rest of his class . Coaches are truly amazing with the children and they learn so much more than martial arts. The class has helped him with his self-confidence, respecting others and pursuing his goals. Highly recommended! read more

Rude. All they care about is getting you in that contract, after that youre just another cash cow, would not recommend.

I've been a member here for just over two years and it's the best workout I've experienced by far. I've done cross fit, weightlifting, running, etc and nothing compares. It's a good mix of men, women and children. They offer lots of classes in the mornings, afternoons and evenings everyday of the week whether you like BJJ, kickboxing, MMA or cardio kickboxing there is something at elite for everyone. I've made some really good friends at Elite. My daughter just turned 4 and will be starting kids bjj class very soon. Hope to see you on the mats. Lunch Class Westheimer ; ) read more

I live out of town and went to one class with friends. The staff treated me like I was a regular and helped me modify workouts because of my back problem. The workout itself was a total body and it was great. read more

I read the other reviews and wholeheartedly agree with many of the experiences expressed: Elite MMA is for those who want to learn about themselves, grow in martial arts while having a great time with the support and expertise of the coaches. I have participated in the Muay Thai and boxing classes and I am getting the itch to return to train in BJJ through the inspiration of the gym. The facility is like none other that I have scene with two huge training mats, a cage and weight room. I am probably the newest member, but I have trained for a couple of years in other states in boxing, Muay Thai and BJJ. I was looking for a place to train that would be my "home" school. The staff and coaches spent hours with me to help evaluate a program that would meet my training needs. In class, whether smaller groups or larger, the coaches have an eye out to assist with technical skills and feedback at all times. They are also there to shout out props for a well done combo or move (sometimes it is nice to hear when you are getting it right, but thanks coaches for pushing us to improve always). The atmosphere created by the coaches attracts a high caliber student--many of whom have reached out to work with me. Another student stayed an hour after class the other day for us both to work on specific technical skills with two moves that we were working on improving. As I am new to Houston people keep telling me to check out the Galleria Mall. Let me tell you--if you want to grow as a person, a fighter, sports enthusiast, athlete or just get in better shape make Elite MMA your Galleria. Update: After a year at Elite MMA I had to move out of state, but still stay in touch with guys who I trained with there. I miss Coach Ed (Muay Thai) the most somehow, but the boxing, striking and takedown class and so much more is top notch. If you don't believe me, watch Elite's members in the ring--they are the ones with their hands in the air at the end. read more

My kid loves the classes. I would give them a better rating but I think the classes on the weekdays are way to early so we miss a lot of them. Most parents get out at 5 so it impossible to get there. I would like the owners to consider changes to the times at to least 6 or 7. My son trained at Gracie schools and they would take the parents feedback. For the amount I'm paying I would like them to do that. read more

EliteMMA has been my home for many years. When I joined Elite back in 2013 I had no idea the amount of personal commitment I would be getting from the coaches here. They really work to help you achieve your personal goals and create a balanced life both mentally and physically. I have been to gyms all over the world and Elite is determined to go beyond just coaching. When COVID hit Elite kept us informed through newsletters, personal texts, and online updates. Before reopening Elite put an entire COVID prevention system in place, including offering free online classes, decontamination protocols, and buddy systems. They have even offered and arranged for COVID testing of students. I don't know of any MMA school that has done more for their students doing these epic times. I am thankful to have the ability to call Elite my home. read more

At first it can seem intimidating because the classes are packed. But the staff is so cool and the culture is so inviting that it's easy to get comfortable. And the large classes don't take away from the quality of teaching. The instructors are good at what they do and are in tune to those who need a little extra help. They really give that extra effort when they see someone struggling. We drive about 25 minutes even though there is a place right in front of our neighborhood because it's completely worth it! If you're looking to enroll in martial arts, understand that the teaching you get is important enough that you should certainly do your research before you make any commitments. I would highly recommend Elite if you're serious about training! read more

Elite MMA is the perfect example of a well run Martial Arts gym. It is organized according to the principles it espouses and has an amazing staff that demonstrates those principles through example. Before joining Elite MMA, our children had never participated in a sport or martial arts program. They went from shy and unsure to outgoing and confident with the classes in such a short time. The instructors were patient yet firm, and taught our children the importance of self defense and self respect. Coming here feels like coming home to an extended family with the support and encouragement provided. The school also has done so much to help the community, including lending a hand to hurricane survivors in the clean up to teaching self defense principles to children in local schools. This business is the perfect example of a conscious enterprise not just concerned about the bottom line, but also with giving back to the local community. read more

I think it's a GREAT PLACE!!! But I attended a BELT PROMOTION and I was sitting in the benches when a gentleman was told "NO SHOES ON MAT", weirdly he said they are wrestling shoes... Anywho all of a sudden a guy I'm sitting next to tells him there's something on your shoes... OMG, it was dog poop...Nasty!! He goes into the RR and cleans it off and to my surprise he went threw the whole celebration with them on. All I kept seeing was his shoes all over the mats then other peoples faces on the mat!! Disgusting!! I expect a place that holds up great respect towards the sport would hold better discipline on a major rule!!! Wait till someone gets a infection and the health department gets involved, they are not going to care if they are wrestling shoes or not!!! But it's a GREAT School!! read more

People often ask me why training MMA at 53. Well, this walk is not just for those who seek to compete in the arena, it is also fantastic for developing the functional strength and coordination found in many of life's daily challenges. We posses traits of functionality within the bio-mechanical structure of our movements. What MMA methodology does is unlock the ability to master the necessary foundations to build a more technically sound and physically adaptable individual. This school is focussed and passionately involved with the students. I know dedication when I see it. I can only say a big thank you toy all the instructors. Abel. read more

I would recommend trying some other places first. They force you into a year long contract trying to say its a benefit for you to commit to your health. They just can't help you if you don't make that commitment they will say. And you will NEVER get out of the contract if you needed to. They are the most expensive place around and they have really gone downhill. I have been here for about 5 years but now there are less classes and the the things they teach are repetitive. They charge you 50 bucks for each belt test too. ONLY SCHOOL AROUND TO DO THAT! So get ready to pay an additional 1000 bucks in total before you get to black belt. Nothing like paying 50 bucks for a single stripe of tape on your belt. I switched to a new place at the beginning of the year (when my year long contract was up) and its a whole new experience. Learning a lot more for a lot less money and month to month. Try some other places first before you commit to that contract. read more

This is an amazing school! Both of my girls have attended for the past 6 months and they have learned discipline, self control, respect and how to defend themselves if needed. The professionals that run this gym are top notch. It's well worth the time to make sure your kids get the best there is to offer. read more

Amazing mma place! Recently signed my son who is 6 years old & I up here after trying out a class he LOVED it! Elite is family oriented & everyone is kind! I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to place a bad review on this place! I highly recommend anyone looking for a martial arts school for their child to go to elite because they do care about the child's progress & teach them fundamentals in life. We have both just started here but he has already improved in his behavior & is very respectful & helping now! I'm looking forward to keeping this place in our life! They make the experience fun and enjoyable! Mr.Zimmerman and Mr.Cruz are awesome people & I recommend anyone wanting to try out or sign up to ask for these guys! read more

GREAT WAY TO KEEP KIDS ACTIVE! My son has been practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for four years now, we joined in 2010 after my son was inspired by the new Karate Kid, we felt that BJJ would suit him better than any other martial art, he could learn self defense instead of just kicking and punching. We went in to meet the staff and for our trial, everyone was so welcoming, the staff, coaches, students will treat you like family. After his first trial class we knew he was at the right place. My son is confident, makes friends easily and very responsible, I believe his BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) training has implemented this values in him. He loves his classes and loves to compete. The teachers are very inspirational too, so much so two years ago I started to take Kickboxing classes, at first it is intimidating to punch and kick such a hard bag, but as you stick with it and listen to your coaches, you start to see your physical and intellectual strength build, your body starts to do things you didn't know you could do, you can go at your own pace at any time but the coaches are there to push you, I love my kickboxing classes, I plan to add Brazilain Jiu Jitsu to my work out routine in the next 12-18 months.Like my son, I want to compete and challenge my body and mind to a higher level. Come in for your complimentary session or bring your kids, there kids of different ages that practice, the little ones are so inspirational! read more