Dropped in while visiting from out of town. Great instructors, everyone was very welcoming and…read morehelpful! Definitely recommend checking it out if you are in San Marcos.

I trained at this academy regularly, competed with the team, and for most of my membership…read moreconsidered the gym and its members an important part of my life. I learned a great deal, developed meaningful friendships, and previously had a positive relationship with the coaches. As a veteran, Jiu-Jitsu had become more than a recreational activity for me. It provided structure, community, purpose, and a constructive way to manage the transition out of military service. This context made the end of my membership particularly significant for me. Management developed concerns about my communication style, but I was not spoken to directly or informed that my membership was at risk. I later learned that the coach's wife had been discussing her concerns about me with one of my close friends for approximately one month. My friend repeatedly stated that she believed I was joking rather than intending disrespect and offered to speak with me about it. She was told that the coaches would handle the matter. No coach raised these concerns with me directly. And because my personality had never changed and had previously been accepted and interpreted positively, I had no reason to believe it was suddenly unacceptable and that a narrative was being built. When I later became aware that a joke in the team group chat had been interpreted as disrespectful, I sent my coach a private apology and explained that disrespect had not been my intention. I did not receive a response. This shows that once aware of issues, I was willing to adjust, apologize and communicate. It also shows that my coach and his wife are incapable of direct communication. Shortly thereafter, my membership was terminated by phone. The decision was communicated by my coach's wife. I did not receive a direct explanation from the coach who had worked with me most closely, mentored me, and had been preparing me to compete. During the call, I requested a conversation to better understand the concerns, provide my perspective, and assess whether the situation could have been addressed differently. I was informed that the decision was final and not open for discussion. I was not given a warning, a clear opportunity to correct the behavior, or a detailed explanation prior to the termination of my membership and my involvement with the team. I felt betrayed and discarded by someone I looked up to, admired and wanted to make proud. To have someone you trust not deem you worthy of even a single conversation felt like the cruelest abuse of trust. The last thing said to me during that conversation was "I hope your next gym gets your sense of humor", which was just an unnecessary insult and clearly a veiled insult driven by a personal vendetta that I was not privy to. I understand that a privately owned academy has the authority to determine membership. My concern relates to how that authority was exercised. Concerns were discussed with someone close to me over a period of weeks while I was not informed. An opportunity for direct communication was not taken, my apology was not acknowledged, and the matter was concluded without a direct conversation with the coach who had mentored me. I remain appreciative of the training and relationships I developed while I was there. However, I would not recommend this academy to students--particularly veterans or others who rely on Jiu-Jitsu for structure and community--if they prioritize transparent communication, clear expectations, and an opportunity to address concerns before membership termination. Update following the response: I understand the decision not to discuss these supposedly existent "private details" in a public forum. However, the central concern in my review is that they also declined to discuss those concerns with me privately. I was not warned that there was an alleged "pattern of conduct", my apology was not acknowledged, and my request for a direct conversation with my coach was denied. Their response does not address that communication process, which remains the basis of my review. Do better, Steven.

We currently have a 4 and 9 year old attending both BJJ and Muay Thai. They are loving both…read moreactivities! Joe takes time individually with each student and is super calm with the kids. The kids are learning a lot and having fun. The facility is super clean and air conditioned. You do not have to sign up for a year before your kid have even started which, is helpful when starting something different and new for many kids. I highly recommend checking this place out!

If you're curious about Jiu Jitsu but feel totally intimidated by the sport, I can't recommend…read moreCoach Joe and Meta Martial Arts enough. I've been to some Jiu Jitsu gyms where everyone walks around puffed up and ready to dominate like they're training for the octagon next week. (At one of those gyms I actually left with a black eye and bruised rib during my trial week!) At Meta Martial Arts, Coach Joe was very patient with my inexperience. Even the other students had a great vibe to them, immediately making me feel welcomed. I have to say, Jiu Jitsu is definitely the best work out of my life. You leave somehow feeling completely drained of energy, but totally energized. I highly recommend giving Meta Martial Arts a try. If you've ever wanted to try the sport, this is the best place to get started and a great way to join a community of great people that are passionate and welcoming.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I first went to Fighteria to learn self defense for a backpacking trip. I was…read moresuper nervous but after the first class I felt super comfortable there. I was scared that I would be the only girl but there was about 6 girls there too. I fell in love with Jiu Jitsu and started competing. The Professors here are amazing and I have learned so much! I recently started Muay Thai and plan on doing a tournament in April! If you want to learn how to fight (MMA, self defense, bjj, etc) this is the place!!!! They offer so many different classes and super friendly!! You also get two FREE classes!!

They are welcoming and fun! The facility is clean and everyone is professional. Go check then out.read more

This has been a really great experience for my daughter, who is 7 almost 8. She has started to go…read morealmost everyday since signing up! I signed her up so she could learn to defend herself & gain self confidence. It's definitely working! I see how she's changed from her 1st week to now 2.5 months in. She also loves it when she's rewarded with a stripe on her belt & has learned to understand they come with practice & drive. Which I believe is great for her later on in life, all in all it's a win win. This is family oriented but with the right amount of intensity for the kids in the training. They provide classes for both adults & children of all ages. Professor Gui is great! Best money spent on my daughter's extra curricular activities so far this year.

Great atmosphere, instruction and practitioners. Professor Gui and Coach Anthony have the best…read moreteaching of technique.

Unexpected fee after cancellation + refund refused…read more We enrolled our son, Talen, at Johns Gym in Austin and withdrew/cancelled his membership in April as a result of a blood clot and condition that does not allow him to box anymore. After the cancellation, we were still charged an additional fee. We contacted the gym right away to request a refund, but we were told we missed the reimbursement/refund window, so a refund would not be provided. I understand businesses have policies, but this felt frustrating and unfair given that we had already withdrawn him. I'm leaving this review so other families clearly understand the billing and refund timelines before signing up. I'd appreciate the gym revisiting this situation and making it right.

Nice gym but more geared towards the kids. I think it's great my son is now 28 and he stated…read moreboxing @ 8.

Had a friend recommend this academy to me. As someone fairly new to BJJ, this is a great academy to…read morelearn. The higher belts are all welcoming and incredibly instructional. They'll still smash you when you roll, but they'll let you work in various positions and learn. Technique instruction is also solid and the coach provides a lot of feedback during drilling. Would definitely recommend this academy to anyone in the Austin area

Best gym in Austin. Laid back, friendly, and a very technical room. Great kids program as well.read more

We visited Gracie Jui Jitsu for their self defense webinar. It was a bit far from me but when the…read morehighway is finished going there may be smoother. It's a large facility and everyone was super nice. I learned so much in just 3 hours. They have combative jui jitsu and the women empowered program. It seems like a really nice place to take classes and become part of a community

My pre-teen has been taking classes here for a couple of months. It's been a great environment for…read morehim to develop new skills and to make new friends. The coaches are firm, but kind and friendly. They do a great job of instructing the kids on life skills and jiu-jitsu. When researching jiu-jitsu studios, this seemed like the best fit for us. No stress of competition or sparring for points. (We have friends in another state that travel the world for Jiu-Jitsu competitions, and they pointed us in this direction after telling them what we were hoping for). Lots of positive reinforcement for the kids to get them coming back and getting more stripes on their belt. Very happy with our experience here! One downside: the parking situation can get a bit hairy. The lower lot in front of the front door is usually full, and space is quite tight, making it hard to turn around. There's an upper level lot behind the building, and then another lot further up the drive. They have some spots that are "Do Not Park" (blocks warehouse garage doors) or Accessible Parking, so thought it LOOKS like there's still spots to park, there actually aren't.