When you look for an academy, you look for 3 things…read more 1. Great coaches with great track record. 2. Awesome and clean facility. 3. Warm and welcoming community. This academy checks all 3!

Pros: Jitsu Gym instructors are excellent--engaged, knowledgeable, and great with the kids…read more Everyone one of them! Staff at the front desk is super friendly and she is attentive. Cons are: way too many kids packed onto the mat sometimes it felt like 50 kids per instructor. Then there's the waiting area. Hard to find a seat. People dump their bags and gear all over the chairs while they train, even though there are lockers in the bathroom. And they allow dogs in there while people are training and the gym is a hot box. There is a termination fee. Even on a month-to-month plan, the cancellation costs felt excessive, a full month payment and not clearly spelled out when signing up. My son did enjoy his two months there but I felt like there were too many kids per instructor.

This gym is absolutely amazing! It has everything you need multiple showers, spacious and clean…read morebathrooms, a water fountain, and plenty of mat space to accommodate even the busiest classes. It's also in a prime spot in Chula Vista, surrounded by great options for food and drinks, making it the perfect place to unwind after an evening of hard training. What truly sets this gym apart, though, is the sense of community. From the moment you walk through the doors, you're greeted with open arms, like you've been training here for years. The world-class coaches are phenomenal, bringing expert knowledge and a passion for teaching that's second to none. But beyond that, it's the people who train here that make this gym feel special. Regardless of your skill level whether you're a seasoned athlete or stepping onto the mat for the first time everyone is eager to help, support, and push each other to get better. There's a genuine camaraderie here that's hard to find anywhere else. If you're looking for a gym that combines elite coaching, excellent facilities, and an amazing community, this is the place to be. Training here isn't just about improving your skills it's about becoming part of a family that pushes each on and off the mat to excel.

I thought this place was suppose to help build a child's confidence and not crush it and their…read morefeelings. This place is disrespectful and absolutely disgusting. Uneducated and uninformed lead instructors singled out a child publicly for a little red spot on kiddo and send them home. I'd like to point out that the instructor isn't a medical professional/practitioner nor are they medically qualified to diagnose a child and worse suggest medication to resolve something that hasn't been medically diagnosed. Overstepping boundaries with children are a no-no in my book. If this business has to address medical concerns. Have medical staff. That way HIPAA is not violated. Which is where I will also be reporting this incident. Lastly this didn't happen to my child but the child it did happen to was extremely embarrassed and discouraged from returning. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else's child so I'm speaking up. GET MEDICAL STAFF IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MEDICAL DEMANDS!!

I would give this gym 10 stars If I could! Apex was our second home for over a year but…read moreunfortunately we had to relocate to NorCal and we will never a find a gym like this one ever again. They are very family- oriented, top notch coaches & everyone is so friendly, from owners, to coaches, teammates and fellow parents too! My entire family of 5 all trained Jiu Jitsu here & we made the most out of it! My kids trained 5 days a week & I did the noon class which also ran 5 days a week + you get to train at their newly opened location in National City at no additional cost! You can't beat that! My two boys jiu jitsu game has improved so much compared to their prior gym that they became confident enough to compete in tournaments, which they did several of. Thank you Apex! Thank you Professor Tim, coach Sofia, coach Paulinho, coach Eli & of course coach Dru for all that you have done for me and my family. We will be forever grateful to you all.

I would highly recommend Apex to anyone looking for a great place to train their kids in BJJ. Our 2…read moreboys, 6 and 3-years old, did a trial here and had a blast! They also provided us with loaner gi's (martial arts uniform). Tamara who runs the place always answered any questions we had, and was very helpful. The instructors here also very good with the kids. Like other Yelpers mentioned, there is a family feel here. Everyone gets to know each other. Good atmosphere!

Overall an amazing Brazilian jiujitsu academy for all ages. Professor Dustin and Professor Matt…read morehave created such a welcoming and family oriented environment. The 5:30 am class has been invaluable for me to continue my own BJJ training journey. Also, the patience and care the coaches take for all the kids classes is great. They have a good balance of pushing the kids and making classes fun. My 10 year old daughter was nervous starting but they integrated her in patiently, slowly, and very well. Now she loves going to every class.

I can't say enough great things about this Jiu Jitsu studio! From the moment we walked in, we were…read morewelcomed into this amazing community, and it's been nothing but an amazing experience since then. The coaches here are absolutely top-notch and THE BEST mentors for our kids. They take the time to teach the techniques, but more importantly, they instill life lessons that go beyond the mat. My kids are learning how to work hard, stay disciplined, and most importantly, build character. It's a perfect blend of teaching them to be both physically and mentally strong, and I love that they are being taught the value of grit, persistence, and respect. As a parent, it's such a joy to see my three daughters thrive in this environment. The balance of having both boys and girls in the classes really benefits them. They get to see other girls excelling and are inspired by them, but are also challenged by the boys in a way that pushes them to grow. The girls here are tough, strong, supportive, fun, & kind...and we hope to continue building an incredible sense of camaraderie and friendship that makes training even more fun. Watching my daughters gain confidence, improve their skills, and make last friendships has been one of the most rewarding experiences. This isn't just about Jiu Jitsu, it's about shaping the kids into well-rounded, productive individuals who are prepared to take on life's challenges with a positive mindset. I'm so grateful for the coaches, the family-oriented atmosphere, and the incredible community they've created. If you're looking for a place where your child can learn self-defense, stay active, and develop life skills while having a blast, this is the place to be!

As the name implies, strong base has a solid foundation of technique and family…read more I am a brown belt and moved to the chula vista area and have tried many other academies, but had a difficult time settling in somewhere. Strong base had all the qualities that I was looking for, clean enviornment, solid students to challenge your game, and great instruction. The instructor David is very friendly and generous. He has a solid game and is open to exploring new ideas and technique. This is not a big warehouse academy, and in my experience I have always been able to sharpen and improve my game more at a place where I could get more attention and have a consistent set of training partners. The academy mats are white and very sanitary. The academy has a pristine white and wood aesthetic look. The academy does not have morning classes, so if you're a 9 to 5 guy this will probably suit your schedule best. Also if you're a Spanish speaker, David is able to give great instruction in both languages. I'm very grateful that this just up the street for me. Thanks guys! Please drop in and visit, support your local martial arts.

From the owner: We specialize in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and we offer regular classes for men, women, teens and kids…read more Our studio has a spring-loaded floor, which makes it a safe and comfortable place to train.

This is a 2 part review for myself and my 6 year old daughter. Joe has been our coach for about 3…read moremonths now. As a person Joe is friendly, present to everyone in his gym, and most importantly he's genuine. As a coach you can see his decades of experience in BJJ in action on the mat. He is extremely detailed in technique, sees all the counters, and treats it like a chess game. Joe's classes are well thought out as the drillng are connected through multiple days. If you're a newbie, looking to move gyms (like I did), or seasoned in search for upper belts to spar with - choose Kainga. For my daughter it was rough leaving her first coach and all the little friends. She gets challenged with Joe though in fitness, discipline, and accountability that I want her to get out of a self defense class. Joe has displayed patience in her original push back to participate. He listened to my input to help her feel comfortable which I appreciate as a parent. Adult members regularly assist on the mat to provide extra support in lessons and assure the kids train safely. She now looks forward to going to class, has fun, and learns the applicable basics she can apply if she's ever bullied at school. The gym and its members provide a great environment. Competitive rolls or you can communicate to take it easy. Egos are left at the door and all upper belts enjoy offering tips. Regularly members hang out after class is done, strenghtening the gym comradery. Mats are cleaned throughout the day. For your budget - monthly fees are fair, no registration fee/ in house gi requirement, and the quality/ amount of classes available make it worth what you pay. This gym is definitely NOT A MONEY GRAB and all about learning, competition, and a safe environment.

This review is for my experience with this business back in 2023. Gym was overcrowded with too many…read morekids and the staff only cared about the "best performing" kids. My kiddo could easily tell. It is not rocket science. Staff was rude when my card payment didn't go through due to it being reported lost and me not recalling it was specifically this card that was on file with Kainga Jiu Jitsu. This was after paying on time for several months, so there was no need for the nasty and aggressive attitudes. They claim to be about family, but what they really mean is money and those they perceive as valuable to their gym. Lame experience, lame attitudes, and lame business structure. I do not recommend this place at all. There are plenty of other jiu jitsu places in and around Chula Vista and San Diego that offer a better service at a lower cost without the supposed "family" model.

Have had the best experience training here for the last 4 months great vibes great times 100/10!!read more

The best jiu jitsu in the southbay! I'll start off by saying Jiu jitsu is not for everyone so…read moreplease understand that first when you read the other negative reviews here. My son started training here first when he was 7. He loved it so much I eventually started training here and became addicted to the art. I don't think many people understand that this is the best training you'll find in the South Bay. The coach will push you, your kids or both and yes at times it's not easy but if you want easy then you should probably go somewhere else. If you're looking for something to help with your health, fitness, stress, anxiety or whatever it might be that your dealing with give this a try and you might find that it's what you've been needing in your life. Everyone here is like a big family because the coach does a great job bringing everyone together and everyone is chill and welcoming.

We recently signed up our son for Gracie South Bay Jiu Jitsu and we are very satisfied with them!…read moreThey are family oriented, friendly , informative and most importantly EXPERTS who have mastered their craft. All the other parents are very friendly as well and very supportive to all. So... if you are wanting to sign up yourself or your child, this is the place to go and learn from Champions.

Our boy's attended GSB for about a year and towards the end of our stay in San Diego our daughter…read morewho was 6yo also attended a few classes, but unfortunately we had to move due to military orders. I would absolutely recommend GSB for future kids/teens especially for beginners. Our boy's were definitely hesitant at first but in time they boosted their confidence on the mat. At GSB they were taught MORE discipline, respect, good sportsmanship, being somewhat independent and of course proper jiu-jitsu training. One of the things we loved about GSB is that, it's a family friendly, caring and kind environment. My husband and I truly felt that our kids were getting the attention they needed as individuals when it came down to training and sometimes getting hurt on the mat and as a parent that is one of the most important things, is to see that your child is well taken care of with trusting coaches/professor. We hope to come back to SD and have our kids retrained by the best! Thank you Professor Leticia and all the coach at GSB!