I was on a vacation trip to Scottsdale and dropped into a few academies to train Jiu Jitsu with…read morefolks in the area. I'm a Black belt with thirteen years on the mats, so I've been to many different locations over the years and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly out there. Professor Ximenes was a relaxed, friendly guy and said, "Of course!" when I asked if he was amenable to me training with his 9 am class. No mat fee, no drama about uniform. Solid jiu jitsu instruction, which I'd expect given his competition pedigree. I got to roll with his students and with him. Again: no drama, no ego. An excellent class and a great start to my day. Thank you to Professor Ximenes and his students for welcoming a fellow jiujiteiro to their academy.

Absolute honor to train at Alliance bjj. It has been a life…read morechanging experience! My 7 year old son has been training bjj with Thiago for about a year, and I have been back in jiu jitsu at Alliance for a few months now. The training environment is awesome! Thiago and his team of coaches are great instructors. Their instructions are explained and demonstrated in detail for both adults and kids' classes. My son enjoys training at Alliance bjj! It has been great to see his personal development. The training environment is based off respect, kindness and hard work. I consider myself lucky to train with such a skilled instructor!

Purebred feels like home. I signed up my son on Tuesday and he has been attending the kids' class…read moreat 4:30 with Gerson. Gerson has a gift at teaching jiu jitsu and his passion for the art has been absorbed by my son. My son gets excited to learn jiu jitsu with Gerson and gets excited to go. Gerson helped him strategize and gave my son confidence before his first competition at the Southwest Classic yesterday. With Gerson's advice and mentorship, my son won his first silver medal. We also had the opportunity to attend Purebred's grand opening yesterday. The vibe felt great. It has the amazing family feel.

Best gym in town, prices are great and staff is awesome. Great location, training is superb, my kid…read moreloves coming and that is what it is all about.

Training at Gustavo Dantas BJJ has been one of the most defining experiences of my competitive and…read morepersonal development. This academy is not just a place to train it's a place where athletes are forged. Every competition I've entered, every win I've earned, and every lesson learned in loss has been shaped by the time, sweat, and intention poured into me by the coaching staff. Gustavo Dantas sets the standard. His attention to detail, pressure-tested techniques, and ability to see what an athlete needs before they see it themselves is elite. His leadership creates a culture where excellence is expected, not hoped for. Pro. Paul, Josh, Teague, and Jeff have each played a critical role in refining my game. From competition strategy, positional awareness, pressure management, and mental composure they consistently invested real time and energy into my growth. That level of coaching is rare. What separates this academy is that they don't just teach techniques they elevate competitors. They sharpen you, correct you, push you, and hold you to a higher standard because they genuinely care about your progress. I'm grateful for every round, every correction, every hard conversation, and every moment they chose to invest in me. The results show up on the mats, in competition, and in confidence. If you're serious about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whether as a competitor or someone seeking mastery this is the place. Respect. Gratitude. Loyalty.

I had one of the best experiences here! I came in not knowing a single thing about jiu jitsu and…read moreleft not only learning a ton of self defense skills but getting to meet some very cool and supportive people! I am a very anxious person but gdbjj made me feel very welcome and at ease and I couldn't have chosen a better place to train. I highly recommend taking classes here for people of all ages!

Put my 4 year old daughter in here and she absolutely loves this place. If your looking for place…read morethat teaches respect, confidence & is family oriented, this gym is everything and more! Maria & Kiko are amazing, along with everyone else! They make you feel so welcomed and like a family. This gym not only teaches you about Jiu Jitsu and the fundamentals of it but it teaches you about the respect of the sport and eachother.

I've been training at Kiko France Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over five years, it's truly been one of…read morethe best decisions I've made in my 20s. Kiko is an incredible instructor--technical, patient, and genuinely invested in every student's growth. The culture he's built is welcoming, disciplined, and supportive. I've met some of my best friends on these mats, and it's become much more than just a place to train. They also have outstanding kids and women's programs that reflect the intentional, high-quality environment here. If you're thinking about starting Jiu Jitsu or looking for the right academy, this is it.

Arizona Combat Sports is AMAZING! The staff is so incredibly kind and talented! All the coaches…read moretake the time and effort to help improve your skills and will answer any of your questions! I was so lucky to find this place and I just want to say that if you're interested in martial arts, specifically Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai, LOOK NO FURTHER! This is the spot! Thank you for everything AZ Combat.

Outstanding gym and they promote a culture of bettering yourself while leaning on each other with…read moreout any attitude

The instruction is clear, technical, and the coaches actually take time to correct your form and…read moreanswer questions. Whether you're a beginner or more advanced, there's definitely value to be had. The culture is friendly and competitive without being toxic--people roll hard but respectfully. Mat etiquette is solid, and the higher belts are approachable and willing to help. Only reason it's not 5 stars is consistency--some classes can vary depending on who's teaching, and the warm-ups can feel a bit rushed or skipped entirely on certain days. Also wish there were a few more no-gi classes during the week. That said, if you're serious about improving and want a positive training environment, this place is definitely worth checking out.

This school is amazing. You feel the positive vibes from the second you enter the training…read morefacility! Victor is engaged, kind and so wonderful with all the kids, no matter their experience level or abilities. Our son LOVES class and we have noticed a significant boost in his confidence, attitude and focus. We are so grateful to have found these coaches, professors and studio!

The Boys have been with Coach Darrin for 1.5 years and counting! They love it! Coaches are amazing…read moreand dedicated to all the students to give them the best experience! We are glad to be apart of Academy of Jiu-Jitsu Scottsdale!

I'm almost 2 months into training here on Gracie Combatives. I have no previous martial arts…read moreexperience and I'm 52 years old. There are 2 other Gracie gyms closer to me, but I chose this place due to the instructor's experience and I'm very happy I did. All the instructors are fantastic with teaching techniques and they all are very personable. The focus is on technique and safety. I walked in without knowing anyone and in a short time, I feel like I'm part of a family. My fellow students are great and everyone helps each other no matter what age or skill level. Nobody has an ego that I've experienced. I go as often as I can and when I travel for business or can't go, I really miss the place. I look forward to each class. Highly recommended -

I can't say enough about Pro Edge. After visiting a few boxing gyms, I decided to give this one a…read morego--third time really was the charm. Walking into any gym can be intimidating, but from the moment I stepped in to get information, I felt genuinely welcomed. Unlike many gyms that immediately push you to sign up, the front desk staff took the time to explain their drop-in classes so you could try it out first. That alone spoke volumes. Each coach has their own unique coaching style and knows exactly when to push you and when to encourage you. That energy carries through the entire gym and creates a real sense of community. Even on your worst day, the members become your biggest cheerleaders. It's been two years now, and Pro Edge is more than just a gym--it's home.

Pro Edge Boxing & MMA is more than a gym, it's a family…read more When I first walked in, I wasn't sure what to expect. I hadn't boxed in years and just wanted to get back in shape. From day one, the coaches made me feel welcome and pushed me at the same time. Every class has great energy, and the mix of boxing, BJJ, and MMA keeps things interesting. What really stands out is the community. Nobody's trying to show off everyone helps each other, whether you're hitting mitts for the first time or preparing for your first fight. The coaches genuinely care about your progress and make you feel like part of the team. If you're looking for a place in Phoenix to train, get fit, and actually enjoy it, this is it. Joining Pro Edge has easily been one of the best decisions I've made for myself.