We've had such a wonderful experience at Gracie Barra Dana Point! My 4-year-old started in the Parent/Child class, and from day one, Professor Fernando, Coach Paula, and Professor Collin were incredibly patient and encouraging. Over the course of two months, they helped build his confidence, focus, and ability to follow instruction. Once he showed he was ready, they invited him into the Monday/Wednesday class and he's thriving. A huge thank you to Coach Paula, Professor Fernando, and Professor Collin for the time, care, and positive affirmations you've poured into my son. In just four months, we've seen amazing growth in his skills, confidence, and respect for others. The classes are fun, engaging, and always rooted in the core values of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We're so grateful to be part of this community! read more

Very nice and warm community at a great location! I highly recommend BJJ to everyone. Professor Fernando and Coach Paula are amazing with kids. Their lessons are way more than just the technical aspects of JJ. read more

Amazing group of instructors who really emphasizes character and discipline among the students !

I have trained at so many martial schools for the past 25 years. Most very good however Gracie barra Dana point has something special that I have never experienced. Both the instructor and students at this school make it feel like home. Everyone is treated like family, treated with respect and accommodated no matter what level they are at on their jiu jitsu journey. The vibe is like no where else. read more

Gracie Barra Dana Point - Martial Arts Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Jiu Jitsu for everyone, with a higher level of professionalism the journey is always better than the destination. So that's why a recommended for all my friends, family, women and kids. You can get a really good training, all people take care of each other for a safe place and better life. Gracie Barra is my biggest family and I'm proud to became a part of this community. I encourage you to come to a class! Maybe you can understand what I want to say here! read more

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I joined my friend in a free self-defense class this morning. There was a large crowd of women eager to learn some moves to keep themselves es safe from harm. The instructors were excellent! They had knowledge, charisma, energy and kept us on our toes - literally. The mat could accommodate all of us with ample room to practice our newly learned moves. Come take a class from them. Learn awareness, and a means to increase your self confidence and ways to protect the fabulous person you are. Thank you for this amazing opportunity. read more

Highly recommend this school! Great clean gym, family friendly environment and best of all great self defense training! Thank you professor Fernando and coach Paula for teaching my kids how to be better people and respect and take care of each other! We will continue going there ! read more

Gracie Barra Dana Point - Martial Arts Near Me - Dana Point, California

My girls have been coming to Gracie Barra Dana Point for about two years and it's been an amazing experience. Professor and the Coaches have instilled a self of self respect, confidence and purpose in my girls. The training highlights focus, listening and discipline which is helping the girls accomplish goals on and off the mat. I can't thank Professor and the coaches enough for being apart of my girl's development. read more

My 3 year old has developed so much over the last 6 months here. Absolutely love Gracie Barra Dana Point and brag about the school to everyone. read more

My son has blossomed since joining GB Dana Point Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy! The coaches are fantastic - friendly, patient, and they have a knack for teaching kids discipline in a positive way. My son is more confident, physically stronger, and shows greater focus in all areas of his life. Thank you Prof Fernando, coach Paula and everyone in helping our child's confidence and develop healthy habits, I highly recommend this class! read more

Best Gracie Barra in south OC! The professors and coaches hold the kids there to a high standard.

My 7 year old daughter has been at this Gracie Barra gym for a little over a year and loves it! I love to watch how much she has learned and her confidence blossom! The women's program is terrific and the coaches who own the gym are not only top notch in the sport but also amazing teachers! If you are at all curious or interested in Jiu Jitsu THIS IS THE GYM! read more

Gracie Barra Dana Point - Martial Arts Near Me - Dana Point, California

We love Gracie Barra Dana Point! My dad started his journey at 60 and got his blackbelt at 70 - that inspired my daughter to start and she just loves it! It was a great community for my dad and my daughter has gained the confidence to try out for wrestling at her high school. The instruction is fantastic, the instructors CARE about the kids and there are some great life lessons taught here. read more

This is a different kind of martial arts community. As a new (white belt) I have trained at the Dana Point studio for several months now in GB1 and GB2 classes. A remarkable thing is that as I have gotten to know other students of all levels, they are constantly willing to share their knowledge and skills with me each week as we train. There is not a lot of ego in the studio, but there is passion for Jiu Jitsu and a strong team spirit. Professor Fernando is a great teacher and encourager, but he is not alone. There are many many black and brown belt coaches teaching, mentoring, and participating in all of the various classes throughout the week. You cannot go wrong as a beginner here, but there is way more. You will refine your skills, be challenged, and grow at any level. read more

The most amazing instructors and great for all ages!, There is attention given to every student of all ages. Great sense of community and family which makes all feel welcome. The level of professionalism stems from classes for children to top of the line adult training. read more

Gracie Barra Dana Point is a great place to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! Professor Fernando and his team of Professors and coaches create a family-like environment for all levels from beginners to competitors. read more

We love Gracie Barra Dana Point! Our 13 yr old loves training there and looks forward to going every week.

Truly - I cannot say enough wonderful things about Professor Fernando and his entire team. You would have a hard time telling which of his students are his own children because he treats each one like his own. The kindness, gentleness, and compassion are constant and in perfect balance with how high a bar he sets for his students and the integrity he requires of them - not only as a jiu-jitsu player but as a whole person. After our first class with my then-4-year-old, we decided we were lifers, and we never looked back. I'm so proud to belong to Gracie Barra Dana Point. They feel like part of our family. read more

Stellar. Prof. Fernando and all the coaches (shoutout to Coach Matt and Coach Colin) deserve the highest praise. Quality teaching, great environment, competitive and friendly--perfect place to start the BJJ journey. Thanks guys! read more

This place is amazing! My 5 year old son struggles with ADHD type behavior, as well as some vestibular system disorders which results in impulse control and causes him to have a hard time focusing. I was referred to this place by a friend to help. We've been coming here for a couple of months and my son loves it. They are constantly reiterating the need for focus, listening and discipline in the students. There is a whole array of kids attending; from the kind that are easy and need little redirection to those, like my son, who have a harder time focusing. When he messes around during class, Professor is gentle, kind and firm in his redirection. He doesn't shame him or make him feel bad about himself which I appreciate so much. My son looks up to him and the coaches so much! He is so excited to earn stripes on his belt, and that process has given him something to look forward to as well as pride in earning them. I would recommend this place to anyone! Thank you Professor Fernando, Coach Paula and Coach Kayla! read more

Thomas and team have been so caring to my son Wes. The classes are by far the best teachers The professionalism and customer service is impeccable The team invites new students with open arms Great communication with parents I recommend this school to all that want top notch training ! read more

Coming from a woman's perspective, Gracie Barra Dana Point is a supportive and empowering community. My family and I have been taking classes there for about 5 years now. It started with my husband and three daughters. A few years ago, I started training as well. Not only is it a great physical and mental workout, it's given me confidence that I would be able to protect myself in the event that I need to. The instructors are kind and knowledgeable. The community is like a family. I highly recommend Gracie Barra Dana Point. It's an activity for everyone. read more

This review is long overdue. Professor Fernando and his family plus Coach Thomas are amazing. There are so many after-school activities to try, but we heard about the (much-needed) discipline and focus that BJJ would foster, and have been so pleased with what we've seen in our 5 year old son. Professor has the perfect persona to both inspire and discipline children, and you can tell he truly loves kids and loves his job. We looked around at other BJJ places in the area, and very strongly felt that this was far above the rest, due to the teachers. All of the other parents are happy, and it's a great group of kids. In fact, out of all the activities we have done with him (music class, t-ball, ayso, etc), this is by far the best, both in training plus his personal growth. Highly recommend!!!! read more

Watching my sons blossom into confident, coordinated, focused, disciplined boys since starting at Gracie Barra has been incredible. Professor Fernando is truly magical with the kids -- he is just the man I want my sons looking up to and, they certainly do! They love him and it's obvious that he loves them and loves teaching them the art of Jujitsu. The coaches are amazing & the fellow students are so supportive of one another. I love the emphasis of "being the good guys" and using Jujitsu not to start a fight, but to stop one. Truly, one of the best decisions I've made as a mother was signing my boys up here! read more

Both my son and I have been at GB Dana Point for over 3 years. Can't say enough good things about this school Prof Fernando and all the coaches. They are all truly passionate about Jiu-Jitsu and it shows daily. There are no egos here, everyone is one big family and here to help each other on and off the mats. School was recently remodeled and looks spectacular. Always clean and tidy as well. Highest recommendations! read more

Our son started at Gracie Barra Dana Point nine months ago. He struggles a bit with focus and coordination so some of the conventional sports can be very challenging. From his first class, I saw his face light up with joy and just knew that this was the place for him. He absolutely LOVES Jiu Jitsu! However, it is not just the sport itself, but the people that make this place so special. Professor Fernando has managed to capture the perfect balance of structure and discipline with encouragement and enthusiasm. His wife Coach Paula feels like everyone's mama and I know that my child is in good hands with her. Over the past nine months, we have watched our son grow in confidence and overall strength. This place gives children a sense of pride and belonging. I can't say enough good things about it. I encourage everyone to give it a try! read more

Grace Barra Dana Point is amazing!!! Coach Paula, Professor Fernando and the rest of the staff are absolutely the best!!! I can't thank them enough for the kindness and compassion they show towards our son and the other students and families in their classes. It means the world to us. They have built an amazing community there. We highly recommend them to anyone. read more

The best Brazilian jujitsu martial art school in Orange County. From advanced class adults top by world champion professors. To the best family friendly classes ANTI BULLYING, kids and parents class. One on one training. And this is a big family atmosphere respect very friendly making friends. Very Organized and clean. read more

Before joining Gracie Barra of Dana Point, I was a member of another kickboxing and jiu jitsu gym which was great. But being more focused on kickboxing, the jiu jitsu classes were "No Gi", and technique was not always the main focus. I personally believe proper technique formed from practicing good habits is going to be essential to anyone's success in MMA. Gracie Barra offers a solely jiu jitsu focused program which has and continues to dominate in the MMA world. From my first day to my 4th day training with GB I have become much more familiar and comfortable with the concepts and movements of the sport. All the while I am left with my hands on my thighs gasping for air wearing a sweat saturated gi. It's perfect. After a couple days of training consecutively I could already begin to feel stronger and more flexible. The competition and self-improvement is what keeps me going back. Another plus is that once you join the school you can attend classes of school's at other locations. And they're just about everywhere. Everybody who attends the school is surprisingly helpful, not to mention the staff and coaches. I would recommend this school to anyone who wants to learn a few things about themselves. Thanks GBDP read more

I came to Gracie Barra 3 and 1/2 years ago with two boys who were age 4 and 6. The reason we came was because my 4 year old sons behavior was out of control. I think he might of made one of the instructors cry (he was very difficult). It wasn't easy but we consistently showed up and I owe Coach Fernando and Professor Flavio a million thank you's because their program (along with a great deal of patience) basically turned my sons life around. 3 and a half years later I have watched a crazy, out of control kid transform into a dedicated and disciplined athlete. He is now a leader and he coaches the younger kids. When Gracie Barra started a competition team my older son made the cut but my youngest was told he was too young. He was told he would be allowed to try out next season if he showed that he could work hard and display an even higher level of maturity and discipline. My son worked harder than ever to show he had what it took to be on the competition team. When the try outs for the next season arrived my son was given the opportunity to try out and he made it, becoming the youngest member of the team (He was so stoked!). After some very tough competitions that resulted in losses my son (his name is Stone) turned his training up even harder. We just got back from the kids World Tournament and Stone got 1st place. He went from an out of control child to a World Champion! For that I will always owe a debt of gratitude to Gracie Barra!!!! read more

Was visiting from out of town and wanted to drop in for some classes. I was told that I would have to take a private with their instructor first to make sure I'm 'safe' to roll with. I've been training since 2005 and am a black belt; I told them this but they were not about to make an exception. Not throwing around accusations but that's a big red flag for me. I've been to several other Barra schools and none of them require a private to attend. Who makes a black belt take a private just to attend a class? I called up another school in the area and they were happy to have me come through. I gave them one additional star because they were nice about it but I've never been turned away like that in 12 years and I think everyone should be weary of schools that discourage drop-ins. read more

The greatest part of Gracie Barra Dana Point is that it feels like a family. From day one we always felt welcome. Our daughter trains here and loves every minute she is on the mat. After attending training only a few months she started competing. She is definitely dedicated. Professor Fernando is fun loving but commands the attention of all his students. He provides a caring and disciplined experience for all his students. read more

Professor Fernando has created a wonderful environment in his school. The instructors and members are all top notch and the atmosphere is very supportive. I have trained here for two years, started in my 60's and found Jui jitsu to be an incredible way to get a great workout and have a great time learning new skills. We have members at all skill levels and ages and the group is incredibly supportive. I was initially hesitant to begin Jui jitsu as I thought it might be a bunch of brutes but one introductory class showed me how wrong I was. At Gracie Barra Dana Point they are very safety conscious and training partners work carefully to develop skills while being safe with each other. The motto at Gracie Barra is "Jui jitsu is for everyone". This is true from the childrens classes clean on thru the adult classes at all levels. If you have ever wondered about Jui jitsu stop on by and check it out. read more

My entire family trains here! The staff are friendly and it's a great family atmosphere. As a woman, I highly recommend training Jiu-Jitsu. It is a great work out and you learn great self-defense techniques. The kids program is tremendous, teaching the kids self-confidence and responsibility. The coaches are knowledgeable and encouraging. I am happy to be part of such a great community!!!! read more

I've been a student here for just over a year and I am stoked on this place. Great coaches and plenty of solid sparring partners. A huge bonus is that there is an overall positive vibe here -- no egos. Everyone is committed to improving their skills and helping you learn. read more

I trained here for 2 years when I lived in DP. Super clean facility, great instructors, an absolute "must" for those interested in applicable/real life self-defense. I strongly suggest it for yourself and/or if you have good friends, loved ones, girlfriends, and wives with whom you want to be assured that they know "what" to do "when" it matters. I believe they are currently offering a free introductory class so you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain! read more

So happy with this place, I started training in 2012 and I absolutely love the fundamentals program. It helped me develop a solid Jiu jitsu game and I learned some awesome self defense techniques that I could see myself using in a real life situation, And with the amount of sparring partners in the advanced program I continue to learn and learn and I'm always excited to see how I can push myself further and see what technique I'm going to learn and use to help develop my game. Great training, Great curriculum love the instructors and staff I'm so happy I joined Gracie Barra Dana point. read more

I have been learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Gracie Barra in Franklin TN for the past 3 years. I was in town for a wedding and stopped by for a Saturday morning training session. The coaches and students were awesome and were great to train with. Everyone there was inviting and provided a great atmosphere to workout and learn the great sport. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn the great art of BJJ - can't wait to visit again! read more

Usually train in San Clemente, stopped by for a Friday afternoon fundamentals class with Coach Jorge and picked up a few really good techniques, beautiful school and great people read more

Not too happy with kids training, all you have to do is go a look at the kids practice and half of them are doing it wrong. And don't sing a contract unless you are really sure about it, have them explain all the fine print, if for some reason u wanna cancel they will still charge you 60 days after cancellation read more