Hands down the best decision we've made for our daughter Our daughter has been attending Gracie Barra Costa Mesa for a year now and the growth we've witnessed in her both on and off the mats has been incredible. The level of instruction here is unmatched. Every coach brings not just technique and discipline but heart and intention to every class. They see each student's potential and push them to rise to it. She has advanced so much thanks to their dedication and more importantly she's gained confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging that carries into every area of her life. Jiu jitsu is more than a martial art. It is a way of life. It teaches humility, patience, manners, self-control, and problem-solving. Even at her young age, we've seen her carry herself with more focus, awareness, and kindness. She is stronger physically and mentally because of it. The studio is clean and welcoming with an energy that makes you want to stay. They offer Kangan water which is a huge bonus. There's always plenty of parking and the community here is full of amazing people who genuinely support one another. The vibes are just different--uplifting, positive, and empowering. Gracie Barra Costa Mesa isn't just a place to train. It is a place to grow. Whether you're looking for a powerful way to build confidence in your child or you're an adult wanting to challenge yourself in a life changing way, this is the spot. I couldn't recommend it more. read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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5/5 Review: Gracie Barra Costa Mesa Jiu-Jitsu -- Professor Elon Sets the Standard Training at Gracie Barra Costa Mesa Jiu-Jitsu has been one of the better decisions we've made for our boy Ben's fitness, discipline, and personal growth. Professor Elon leads with exceptional technical knowledge, patience, and professionalism. He has a unique way of breaking down complex techniques so students at all levels -- from white belt to black -- can truly understand and apply them. The energy on the mats is focused yet welcoming. Every class challenges you to get better, but the environment remains positive, respectful, and supportive. The team embodies the true Gracie Barra values of discipline, integrity, and community. The facility itself is spotless, well-organized, and clearly run with pride. Whether you're looking to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense, improve fitness, or join a Costa Mesa BJJ family, this academy delivers. Professor Elon's leadership and attention to detail make all the difference -- he pushes you to grow technically, mentally, and physically every single class. #GracieBarra #CostaMesa #JiuJitsu #BJJ #BrazilianJiuJitsu #ProfessorElon #MartialArts #SelfDefense #OCFitness #Discipline #Community read more

If you want your child to develop self-discipline, self-confidence, and respect, then this is the place for you! I've watched my very shy 4 year-old son turn into such a young gentleman. In just a few months he has improved his ability to self-regulate, try new things, and develop the discipline to get better. Coach Mike and Coach Amy have created a super family friendly environment where you feel they are invested in your child. Liz knows everyone by name and helps you feel comfortable. Wonderful place! read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I brought my kids to GB after other sports didn't work for my kids. What I watched happen over the next 3 years was transformative for my two kids. Negative attention seeking behaviors changed to positive. Disrespect turned to respect. Competitive spirit was born. Leadership qualities were cultivated and developed. Lack of confidence turned to confidence and athleticism. Poor nutrition turned to good healthy choices. I can't say enough good things about this school and the coaches and professors. Thank you for helping me raise my kids GBCM! read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa - Professor Mike - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I'd prob return... vicennially. Pros: - They have loaner boxing gloves and shin guards. Thx for not surprising me with a required purchase. - This is one of the first martial arts studios I've been to where you already spar hard on your first class. - At first, it would seem that this dojo takes honor and respect seriously. Attendant Gabriel mentioned to bow when you step on/off the mat. They even post a dogma on the wall saying to remember to bow to the master and to each other, to keep your nails short for everyone's safety, etc. More on that later in the cons. - Sensei Manny took initiative and introduced himself to me. He could see I had no one to talk to, as I was just reading the studio's dogma by myself. Cons: - Located like in the middle of nowhere. As in, it's the backmost studio of a narrow parking lot tucked by some lone back alley. I didn't feel super safe. - At first, the attendant Gabriel was not really paying attention when I was trying to sign in. He was just playing on his phone until I projected my voice. - No water refill station. Only $1 water bottles for sale... - The men's restroom has to be accessed through the men's locker room. And it's a shabby restroom. The toiletroom itself lacks a sink. So you'd have to step out of the toiletroom back into the locker room in order to wash your hands. - The loaner gloves are stocked haphazardly on the shelves. Couldn't tell where the medium or large ones would be stored. So, the new students struggled for a min trying to find a good fit. - There was an awkward moment when, while Manny was talking to the new students, one student approached and just started throwing air punches at me from ~3 ft away. It's classier and more polite to simply NOT test other people's social anxiety or mettle out of nowhere. - As I mentioned, one thing I really liked about this place is that you get the opportunity to beat each other up moderately on your very first class. However, one guy failed one of the dogmas when he launched a roundhouse kick that scraped my forearm. Should've clipped his toenails before class. - Absolutely no sense of hygiene/sanitation. There were no antiviral wipes. The loaner equipment are simply put back on the shelves. Smells like old laundry. Glad I keep hand sanitizer in my car. - Hypocritical? By the decor, it seemed like they take respect seriously. However, at the end of class, Manny said we were not gonna bow today for no apparent reason. - I received no mention about mouthguards (not on ClassPass nor at the front desk). But good thing I thought to bring my own. Wore mine the whole time. Would've been a good heads-up on their ClassPass page since this dojo's the kind where you ham each other p hard. - Oh, stretching! How could I forget! During brief breaks and at the end, Manny told us to stretch on our own. First and only time I've ever seen the teacher NOT guide the whole class in stretch exercises. w/e, I took that opportunity to work on my split. The aspect just feels un-structured though. - Oh, and the men's locker room has one public bathtub, no shower curtains. 7/28/21 Update (from 2 stars to 2.5, but rounded down): Thanks Scott for hmu, offering to fix a couple things. Sorry if some of my humor got lost in translation. And unfortunately, I'm not rly available to stop by anymore. Nevertheless, hope some of my points contribute to improvement! read more

So blessed to be able to train here every week! GB Costa Mesa has incredible professors - Louis, Scott, and many more. Training here has catapulted my fitness levels and improved all aspects of my life - mentally, physically, and more. There is a strong sense of community and you can learn in a safe and comfortable environment. If you are a beginner you can rest assured that the coaches and students will take care of you and make you feel comfortable in learning jiu Jitsu at your own pace. If you begin training jiu jitsu you will learn so much about yourself. If you want to lose weight, it is probably the best way to do it! I've seen numerous people start jiu jitsu overweight and unhealthy and with a little dedication they have been able to completely revamp the way they look and shed so many pounds its unbelievable! read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa - Professor Scott (left), Professor Louis (right). amazing coaches!! - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Our 2 boys ages 9 and 5 love coming here. They have been here for almost a year and we definitely noticed a positive change in our kids-- more confident, sociable, and disciplined. I can't say enough good things about our experience here at GB CM. All the coaches here are extremely nice, professional, and encouraging. They have a way with encouraging even the shyest of kids (hence: mine). I totally recommend GB CM to all my family and friends. If you're on the fence, don't be! Your kids will love coming here! read more

This gym has a perfect set-up for all ages and all levels. They teach self defense class for children and adults. They have a women's class, yoga and excellent trainers. The facility has changing rooms, showers, and a seating area that can hold about 25 people who can watch. The flooring is extremely soft, with ultra-soft mats that lay over another floor laced with memory foam, making it very soft. If your looking for an exciting, high energy high calorie burning fitness class, then you can try this gym out for free. Once you start, it's impossible to stop! 100% Guaranteed read more

I did a lot of research on which gym to join before starting my journey in bjj. Socal has plenty of options to choose from and my plan was to try various locations before selecting the one that best suited my needs. Fortunately I didn't have to waste time. I'm a hobbyist and the chill, comfortable atmosphere at gb Costa Mesa is exactly what I was looking for. There are multiple professors that are patient and understanding, the gym members are friendly and respectful, the higher belts are helpful and the gym is spacious and clean. Having a good gym is important so if you're just starting or looking for a new gym I highly recommend gb Costa Mesa! read more

Still here 9 years later! There is a saying, "Jiu Jitsu may not be our whole lives, but it makes our lives whole". Training at Gracie Barra Costa Mesa has absolutely made my life better - and more whole. I am amazed at the culture and family atmosphere that Professor Scott has built here. It's a special place and I haven't found another gym like it anywhere else. read more

Can't say enough about Professor Scott and Coach Gabe and the rest of the coaches and staff. They have the upmost respect for anyone and everyone that walks through their doors. From the moment my kids walked in September 2021 they have been treated so fairly and we couldn't be happier with the discipline and Jiu Jitsu that they have learned. Their teachings go much further than on the Jiu Jitsu mat. We've noticed that our children have grown immensely due to Jiu Jitsu and the whole Gracie Barra Costa Mesa team is widely to thank for that. read more

My daughter did not attend classes for an entire month due to family issues. At the end of that month we decided she would not be able to return so I called to cancel. Their policy requires you pay for the following month no matter the circumstances. We paid for two full months of classes that my daughter was unable to attend. The manager was rude, callous, and refused to make any kind of exception for us. While I can appreciate policies in place, not every situation is the same. read more

Great place to train! Professor Scott and Professor Louis are awesome and I was made to feel welcome while visiting. Their instruction is clear and they are patient when going over positions. The gym is large and very clean. Would definitely recommend coming by and checking it out!! read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Beware of this so called "family business". They should be called Gracie Collection Company instead. Every time we wanted to freeze our account they would give us excuses. After we gave them ample notification to cancel our account they sent us to a collection agency. I would give them a zero star if I could. read more

This gym has a very friendly school and awesome professors! Being in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is like have another family and this one does this so well! They are welcoming and help all the newcomers feel like home. There are many black belts that train here and are also open to train with the new comers. kids classes are always full and you can see that the school is training really well the kids as you can see the kids passion for it while in class. Many even go to compete. This is a great school to be part of!!!! read more

Training here is like training with family. The instructors are awesome and teach to your level. You'll see pro-level training alongside day one fundamentals. Everyone wants to help you grow and the guys and girls are all pushing each other to get better. If you've never tried BJJ before, you'll want to train here. Come check this place out and you'll want to stay for life. read more

Love this place! If you are in Costa Mesa you should check it out for yourself - you'll be glad you did so!! Great staff, awesome Jiu-Jitsu and training partners. Thank you GB Costa Mesa!!! read more

great BJJ school! Lot of people to train with, the elevated mats are awesome and provide great give for takedowns. Professor Scott is really knowledgeable, friendly, organized, and great to roll with. whether you're a beginner or serious competitor, you will find all the right people to get good training with. Not into rolling, looking for striking, they got that too! a full stand up set up, to release some stress on the heavy bags. Their facility on top of that is awesome with nice bathrooms and showers! I have trained at many places, and this one is definitely up there, if you're in the Orange County area and looking for a fun training session, check this place out. read more

Have have two boys that have been going on and off to Gracie Barra Costa Mesa for eight years. The discipline is great and the teaching is serious but fun for the kids. Would recommend this place to anyone, coach Scott is great. read more

I like Costa Mesa location because staffs are very friendly.

If your interested in learning jiu jitsu for recreation sport or self defense, this is the best school in the oc. The head professor is Mike Buckels. He's not only a balckbelt in jiu jitsu, but also incredibly gifted as a teacher. There are classes for all ages and skill levels. there are also muy thai classes available. My son and I have been members of the school for almost three years now, and still having fun training on average of 3 days per week. Our mat space is bigger than most schools, built up off the floor for extra give. I have also enjoyed making new friends and appreciate the family friendly atmosphere. As you can tell, I dig the sport and love being part of this school. read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Position Before Submission. The above adage refers to success in bjj, and if you want to succeed in bjj, position yourself at CBCM. I have been coming here for a little over a year, having transferred from another school in San Francisco. While Mike Buckels has since transferred, the new resident black belt Scott is a great teacher and fierce competitor. In addition, the other professor Jake is insanely knowledgable and every time I spar against him I learn something new that I've never seen before. The curriculum is standard Gracie Barra fare, as is the cardio, but it's the attention to detail and the personal feel that you get at this gym that make it one of the best. The guys and girls who attend this guy are all courteous and professional, and make learning bjj a great experience. Whether you're a kid trying to learn, a teenager in high school or college looking to take charge, or a professional trying to stay in shape, this school has everything you're looking for and you'll feel a sense of accomplishment after every class. At the end of the day, a gym is fine, but there is no machine that can simulate the feeling of going against another human being for 6 min. None. read more

My 7 year old son and 9 year old daughter love Gracie Barra in Costa Mesa. Professor Scott and all the other coaches are amazing. They have so much fun practicing while learning self defense techniques. I also appreciate the values they instill in the kids during practice, respect and being good listeners :) read more

This place is great! The coaches are all very knowledgeable and cool, and the people attending are very helpful and professional! It's a relatively small gym(which I really like) and the schedule was accommodating. Jiu Jitsu is an amazing art to learn and these guys are tried and true...... read more

Dropped in for a visit. Great environment, attitude, facilities. Scott was very hospitable and welcoming. I had a good experience. Do some work, son. Learn something. read more

Moved to this school after starting at a different Gracie Barra location in sfv. Very welcoming and real people. Professor Scott and Louie are great and putting the right people together for maximum learning. Example: you'll roll with someone who has similar goals to you. You'll know that the instructors are looking out for your best interests and safety, but you'll also find great competitors to train with if you're looking to take it to the max. Great school. read more

I never grew up doing martial arts but we decided to put our daughter in BJJ for fitness, confidence, and of course self defense. She is in the 6-7 year old beginner class. They have about 20 kids in the class. There are 4 main adult instructors and like 2-3 pre-teens that help out which I think is excellent to teach service to others to these 9-12 year olds. This gives a very low student:teacher ratio. The kids all pay focused direct attention and the instructors are stern but never mean. They emphasize safety and how BJJ carries over to street fights even for these young kids. All kids should do BJJ or some kind of martial art and the guys at GBCM do an excellent job. read more

Located near harbor and fairview off the 405, instructors are polite and prioritize new students often stepping aside to help them on their first week. Though mainly a gi gym GBCM offers gi, no gi, and kickboxing classes. Quality instruction along with an affordable monthly rate GBCM is a great choice if you want to improve upon your martial art skills or just as a good way to stay in shape. Highly recommend this gym. read more

This place has grown to become a second family to me. Prof. Scott's the definition of a true leader and great friend who is always pushing you to continue training regardless of what life might be throwing at you. I've rolled with many other gyms in the area and I've never gotten my ass handed to me like I do here XD. This place is not only rich in technique and experience, but also filled with amazing Professors, coaches and even lower belts who are eager to teach and answer questions to new students to help them grow their technique and skills. I also enjoy our weekly Kickboxing classes very much with Coach Manny who's a BEAST. He has great technique and trains us to the brink of our limits. Always pushing us to keep going and to never give up. I've been here for 3 years now and would call this place my second home. Not only have they helped me grow in the world of martial arts but also as a person, forever grateful I stumbled across this place. Wouldn't trade this experience for the world. read more

I was heading over to HQ's in Irvine but ran late. I got on the Gracie Barra site to find another school that may have a class scheduled around the same time. I came across Gracie Barra Costa Mesa. Glad I did. Professor Scott welcomed me as well as the other students. His attention to detail is amazing. I think my game improved a lot in just one visit. There are no egos there and everyone is friendly and willing to help. If I didnt have a home school already, GBCM would be it. If you live in the area, or are a GB student from another school; do yourself a favor. Go train here. read more

My son loves it! Honestly hands down this place is the best I highly recommend it. If you are looking to join or want your child/children to join it's the best decision you can ever make. read more

great program that instills discipline, work ethic and exercise. have been very happy w the experience for my 6 yr old daughter. instructors find the right balance of making it challenging, educational and still fun for the kids. would highly recommend. read more

Great gym with knowledgeable instructors who guide you every step of the way. There is an excellent family/friendly culture here and everyone helps each other out. No matter what your skill level is you'll always feel welcomed. I find it significantly more fun and effective than going to 24 hour fitness everyday. read more

The best place to learn jiu-jitsu! Instantly felt the warm welcoming family oriented vibes when I first walked in here to train. The people who train here are incredibly friendly and also extremely technical. Everyone is always so willing to help each improve. Class structure and instruction given by Scott and Louie are world class quality. Everything is broken down in clear concise detail. Also I don't have kids but Scott, Louie, and all the coaches are really great and engaging with all the little ones on the mat. If I rolled with the kids they'll probably kick my ass. Easy. read more

We love this place! Everyone treats you like family and my son has enjoyed his time here. Coach Patrick and Professor Scott are amazing with the kids and my son has learn much more than just Jiu-jitsu. The coaches and Professor Scott always remind the kids of the importance of doing well in school and being respectful. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this gym. read more

Professor Scott, Patrick and the rest of the staff are awesome guys. They work really well with the kids and I highly recommend this Jiu-Jitsu school if you're looking for some excellent self-defense classes in Orange County regardless of age, gender or experience. Definitely worth a call and meeting them for yourself! read more

Great school with high quality instructors, friendly and open students and great facilities. The floating mats are great for practicing takedowns and are way better than puzzle mats. I also like that the school isn't in a strip mall where there's a bunch of on lookers in the window. read more

I've been training here for about 2 1/2 years now and deciding to join this gym was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. Professor Scott and Professor Louie invests so much effort and time into their student's and genuinely care about seeing each student develop their jiu jitsu skills. Also all the students at this gym are so welcoming and helpful and they all help each other get better each day. This place has become a second family to me. I truly love this place. read more

Great Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school. If you are looking for discipline and confidence for the kids, the youth program is the best! The martial arts gym is a great way to work out and relieve stress from the days work, and the adult jiu jitsu classes are laid back yet very demanding and educational. The black belt professors are all great educators of the sport of jiujitsu and are willing to help out and work private lessons too! I highly recommend checking this school out if you are looking to start jujitsu for a kid, teen, or adult, or if you are already training and want some hard rolls with the upper belts, we have plenty of talent on the mat! read more

Gracie Barra Costa Mesa was a very good experience for me, the teaching of tecniques were on par some of the best that I have experienced in my many years of training BJJ. I wish to thank Patrick for being a phenomenal and patience instructor. read more