I have been training here for about a year. Top notch, clean gym with great coaches and a very…read morewelcoming vibe. Definitely the place to go in the area for no-gi jiu jitsu. Check it out!

I would rate this review 500 stars if I could. Our kids started here in May 2024. From the…read morebeginning, it was apparent how much the community here is really a family, and they welcome you in without holding anything back. The coaches for the kids classes are experienced, kind, encouraging, and fun. Both of my kids were already fairly confident and in their bodies when they started, but even still, the positive impact of their practice here is palpable. The coaches emphasize being good teammates while honing your own skills. They know they are growing people, not just practice. My daughter benefits for too many unfortunately obvious reasons, and my son has a safe and fun way to channel his natural desire to battle and test himself physically, emotionally, and mentally in a safe and fun way. After the fire, the studio rallied in huge ways to help those of us who lost our homes, leveraging their extended family relationships with other studios throughout the state and beyond. They were the first business to reopen in the burn scar because they knew how much we all needed to grasp onto a semblance of normalcy in a very abnormal and traumatic time. I will never forget the first time I drove into the area at night to pick up my kids. Driving past the ghostly remains and rubble that was once our town, in abject darkness, no streetlights, was such a shock that I could not help but bawl as I drove through... then in the distance, the lights of 10th Planet Pasadena lit up the way like a beacon of light. As I drove into the lot, I could see the kids being kids like they were before. It made me remember that with community, nothing is lost forever. If you want to give a gift to your children that will pay dividends throughout their lifetimes, bring them to 10th Planet Pasadena.

Best bjj school for adults and kids!…read more I have been with Lion Heart for 4 months now and it's been the best choice for my kid and myself. The kids classes have multiple coaches so the kids always have eyes on them and they split up the beginners and more experienced so the kids are never lost. Seeing how well the kids class was run made me want to jump in the adults and I been loving every class since I started here . Lion heart is a great gym wether you want to just train or compete.

I truly love LHJJA. Where the instruction is top notch, with a great mixture of old school…read more"advanced" basics and all the new cutting edge techniques. The upper belts are always very helpful with all the new belts ensuring they learn instead of treating them like objects solely for their own benefit as often seen in other academies. The kids program is great as the coaches clearly love seeing the kids improve. Last and not least is the friendly atmosphere that promotes a real family vibe. I've met so many great people here from all walks of life.

Alex and Sally run a really great school here. They've somehow come up with a way to cater to…read moreevery experience level and every type of practitioner. They have gi and no gi classes including fundamental classes for both for beginners and the advanced. I say advanced as well because they go over fundamentals but with incredible detail and nuance that even if you've been practicing for years (I'm a purple belt writing this), you're going to pick up details youve never seen before. they're like advanced fundamentals. I describe Alex as a Danaher-lite version. they have membership plans strictly for beginners and also advanced memberships where you can take leg lock classes, takedowns, and MMA classes all the classes taught are from a curriculum curated from Alex's decades of experience. every class builds on each other and it's amazing how much Alex can teach with so much detail. and of course the environment and people here are really friendly if you're hesitant just drop in for a trial class

Came into this with zero grappling experience. Alex and Sally have been a Godsend. Made my first…read morebeginner blueprint session fun and enjoyable. They instill confidence and ensure you're understanding everything being taught. Looking forward to my next lesson.

If you have children and haven't been to SBG SoCal, check it out!…read more We have toured all the major jiujitsu studios in Pasadena and none can match it in cleanliness, teacher:student ratios and quality of instructions. Coach Marco and his team really know how to teach and empower kids. Not only do the kids learn jiujitsu and other martial arts, they also learn life lessons. Marco has been a life coach for my son. Teaching him about humanity, friendships, bullying and respect. And it's super clean which I appreciate. If you are searching for a jiujitsu experience with both quality instructions and amazing instructors that care for your children, then check it out. I've learned how to properly execute gentle, yet firm, parenting, just by watching Marco in action. I also want to add that Marco and his team are heroes. During the Eaton Fire, they were helping displaced kids, housing them at the gym, and subsidizing dozens of kids' jiujitsu membership because of their loss. Kindness at its finest. A++++++

I've been to many gyms in my life all ranging from mma to boxing to jujitsu & I always noticed a…read morecommon theme with these gyms. It was either favoritism or egos in the way. When I first arrived to SBG they welcomed me with open arms & they honed in the fundamentals of MMA & Jujitsu. The experience & environment at the gym is unlike any other gym that I've been to. They treat you like family & let you go at your own pace when it comes to learning. The classes are filled with intense fun & are structured. Just within a year I've seen huge improvements in my Jujitsu as well as MMA skills. The coaches are fun & don't take themselves so seriously like other gyms do. They make you feel like you're part of something bigger! The gym is always clean & blasting good music lol. They treat everyone the same & there isn't any egos or bad vibes there. We just recently competed & we did better than anyone could have expected. Coach Marco is truly one of one & without him & his amazing gym we wouldn't have the skill set that we have now as a gym. If you are thinking about trying it out or looking for a new home. Try SBG So-Cal ‼

I have been practicing jiujitsu for almost 10 years. A friend invited me to join her for a noon…read moreclass at mountain. Paul greeted and spent a little time getting to know me before class. Everyone who came in, introduced themselves to me. Such a friendly and inviting environment. Professor Paul's teaching is a clear indication of his deep experience. Complex movements in jiujitsu, when in the hands of a great coach, are delivered with simple language so all levels can learn. That's exactly what I saw. He was very clear, concise and watchful as we practiced. Love it!! After the lesson was open sparing and that was tremendously fun. Everyone was challenging, but showed excitement and sportsmanship during and after the rolls. The culture here is great. All together, I was very happy walking back to my workspace after class. And I look forward to returning for more learning! Thank you for the very warm welcome and for the teaching. Kids, adults, noon and evening classes. If you're in Arcadia, check this place out!

So there I was, dripping sweat from every pore on my face and puffing like a steam engine on an…read moreold-time freight train hauling a load up a steep grade on the Sonora Pass. In a more unrestrained (and less truthful) story, I'd say this scene took place at the apogee of a multi-hour training session, matching wits and physical acumen with opponents of progressively higher rank. In reality the only opponent I was facing was holding a turtle position beneath me, as I spun from side to side across his back. My internal dialog was persistent repetition of a simple mantra: "Just don't quit". I was a blue belt at the time, and that was my first day after a long break in training. Finally in a position to get back on the mat, I did my research and put together a list of jiu jitsu schools to visit. At the top of the list was a little school on First Ave. in Arcadia with basically no social media presence. I went to a noon class, came back for the rest of the week, and never made it to any of the other schools. That was five years ago. It was a Yelp review that brought me in the door to Mountain so after training here for a few months, I left a review of my own. Then I brought in a friend. Then a few more. Now, some of those friends have brought in other friends, the mat has filled with different colors of belts, and it seems like time to update my review. After all, I read Yelp reviews. If I see one from almost half a decade ago, I think, "Fantastic that the business was great back then, but how is it now?" At Mountain BJJ the answer is "Even better". BJJ has exploded over the years and there are lots of great places to train. Downtown Arcadia alone has three excellent academies. Why choose Mountain? Good question. Some good answers: - Because you value detailed, precise instruction. - Because you believe in building a strong base of the fundamentals and practicing until you do them right every time. - Because you've always been curious to try BJJ and you want a school that values mentoring and retaining its new students. - Because you've got enough years to remember when Royce Gracie was the biggest name in MMA and now you've got a life and a career, and you want to train hard with an equal emphasis on not getting hurt. - Because you want to train around other people who feel the same way. It's a long road. You could use a skilled teacher and dedicated training partners to help you along the way. That's exactly what you'll find at Mountain BJJ. See you on the mat!

Very professional, friendly, and accepting staff. Would highly recommend for self defense, fitness,…read moreand boundary setting as a woman and student.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Pasadena exceeded all my expectations…read more Training has genuinely changed the way I see myself--building not just physical skills, but confidence and resilience that carry over into everyday life. One of the most meaningful parts of the experience has been the community. I've met incredible people here, and some have become my closest friends who support and motivate me both on and off the mats. The instructors are truly exceptional. They treat every student with respect, patience, and genuine care, regardless of experience level. You never feel out of place or overlooked--everyone is supported and nurtured every step of the way on their jiu jitsu journey. GJJP has shown me that jiu jitsu really is for everyone, and I'm so grateful I took that first step to walk through the door.

Love Love Love Valor BJJ Coaches and Community!…read more Prof. David and Coach Jando hold high standards for their school. All the coaches are excellent educators of their craft. Class is always ran very intentionally from warm ups, instruction, drilling, live rounds , stretching and questions. They place members safety in high regard for all men and women training. They nurture a fun, positive learning environment and community Training space is well maintained and clean. There are separate women's and men's changing rooms with showers. I also highly recommend Valors Women's Self defense class to all ladies. Coach Marnie, with support from Prof. David and Coach Jando truly are invested in empowering and equipping women with practical self defense skills. They focus on situational awareness, posture, voice, evade, escape, striking and take downs. Coach Marnie is very intentional with class instruction making sure that it engages and builds skills of all students of varying levels . This class is a non negotiable for my daughter and I. Our confidence grows as we work on developing skills to give us a fighting chance if called for (hopefully never). Hope to see ya on the mats @ Valor BJJ !

Great and dedicated instructors that help with every step of the way from beginners to experience…read morestudents. Friendly and welcoming environment, and very happy with my daughter's experience.

I've been coming to strikers since February 2025 and it has been an incredible experience! Coach…read moreJoe is truly one of the most excellent teachers I've ever met. The space he cultivates here isn't your run of the mill martial arts gym. It's an encouraging, collaborative, and welcoming learning environment where Coach takes time to focus on and refine technical skill, depth of knowledge, and rhythm. I recall in particular how Coach Joe took the time to fix my middle kick in a way that really clicked. He takes special care and attention to help you learn not only the proper form of a move but also the why behind it. Once you have it, it's impossible to forget. If he takes the time to help you correct something, just know that he believes in your capacity for growth and improvement. He is a wellspring of expertise. This learning environment is also reinforced by the athletes and experienced students who I've had the pleasure of training with. Through drills and sparring, everyone works to support each other and reinforce our learning. What you get here is not just an education; it's also a didactic community. I can't recommend this gym enough.

We took our very gentle and sweet six year old here one summer after a bullying incident where we…read morerealized she needed some skills and confidence to defend against a brat at school. Duveen was a phenomenal teacher and we saw great progress in just one summer. She is skilled at teaching, has patience and keeps the classes engaging and varied enough to maintain the students' attention. Although our child was not in love with the sport as she is with other activities, we felt it was a very valuable experience and a summer well-spent.