This review is long overdue! My entire family trains at this gym. BJJ has truly transformed us for…read morethe better. My kids have gained so many valuable life skills both on and off the mat -- confidence, strength, resilience, and discipline. This gym has become like a second home for us. We absolutely love all the coaches here; it's evident how much they care about the growth and development of each student. They maintain a great balance of structure and fun -- firm enough to keep the kids focused, yet encouraging and engaging so they continue to enjoy the sport. This gym is perfect for the whole family -- kids and adults alike. If you're a woman who's ever felt intimidated or never imagined yourself doing martial arts, this is the place for you. The coaches and community make it so comfortable and welcoming that I was able to ease into BJJ with confidence.

Our son began training here in 2021, during the pandemic, and I was deeply impressed by the…read moreprecautions and safety measures implemented to protect both the children and adults. This academy is, without a doubt, one of the most beginner-friendly places to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whether for kids or adults. The coaches are not only highly skilled professionals but also teach with genuine passion and dedication. They truly care about the growth of students, both on and off the mat. The environment is welcoming and family -oriented, fostering a strong sense of community and team spirit. Additionally, the ample parking and comfortable seating for waiting parents are much appreciated. As parents, we wholeheartedly endorse this academy and are grateful to be part of its community.

My 6 year old has been coming here for a few months and it's been a great experience. We checked…read moreout a few other spots nearby for some time and found the attention from the coaches here were more suitable. The place is a bit small, but works out well. Plenty of parking in the back. The coaches really make this place great - my kid looks up to them, they are patience, but stern and they do an excellent job teaching the kids.

I started my Jiu Jitsu journey again after a seven year hiatus. Although I was reluctant to start…read moreagain, I cannot express how lucky I was to have found Logic. I admittedly first signed up in light of the fact that the academy offers late morning classes, which perfectly fits my schedule. Although it is an odd time for most, the classes have always had plenty of students of all belt levels. Prof. Lucas and Prof. Thiago have been nothing but outstanding! It is evident that the relationships they have built with their students goes beyond merely being transactional. There is genuine care, trust and concern for everyone's wellbeing and safely. Not a second is wasted during class. The instructors are always open to questions and concerns about the techniques. They tailor the classes to fit the students in attendance; so that nothing is too complex or too remedial. In my experience, my classmates have been nothing but respectful, careful and willing to help out where they can. At other academies I have never witnessed instructors for kids classes genuinely enjoying themselves. This is not the case here. Prof. Thiago beams while teaching. He is undeniably proud of and dedicated to our little ones. If our youth classes garner 1/10th the grace and respect show by Thiago, they will not only turn out to be genuinely good people, but will be confident in what they learn. I understand that writing these types of reviews are biased. But, if you have gotten this far, let me put it simply: Prof. Lucas has built a Jiu Jitsu community that allows for you to get whatever you want out of it. With different locations and instructors you can find what fits your needs. I needed a respite from the world for a few hours a weeks, where I can focus on a skill in a safe environment. I have found that and more.

My son was really excited for Ji Jitsu I called he attended a class and he liked it and then i kept…read morereaching out. I called and texted and nothing back.

Excellent training facility- clean environment! Coach Josh creates a safe atmosphere for all…read morestudents to learn in. The owner Josh also recently renovated the space and it looks fantastic. Classes are daily on weekdays at 6pm and Saturday at 10am. Follow @jiujitsuteamamerica for more events and updates. He also offers classes for kids too. It's a great place for kids to learn the fundamentals of BJJ and self defense.

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!

ZR Arcadia is a great place to train. Professor Lucas is one of the nicest guys you'll meet. He…read morewelcomed me with open arms when I started. I can tell you my Jiu Jitsu has reached a new level training at ZR. There is so much talent in this gym and everyone is very nice and respectful. I would definitely recommend ZR if you're looking to get into BJj or just need a new gym.

While I've only been here a couple weeks so far, I am very pleased with Professor Lucas Rocha and…read morehis school. There are many BJJ schools in the neighborhood (actually about 4 on the surrounding blocks). I have tried at least one other school in the area, as well as 3 or 4 more in the SGV but not nearby, and this one impresses me so far. First off, the space is a good size and clean, plus there is ample parking between the street and the free lot in back. The price is decent and the amount of classes offered is good. But what makes a school is the instructor(s). A lot of the places I have tried taking my young son have blue belts or at best purple belts teaching the kids. Some schools do not want to pay a black or brown belt to teach kids. And the curriculum suffers at those schools. Since I've been here, either Professor Rocha or another black belt have taught the children's classes. I cannot tell you how important I feel it is to have a black or at least brown belt teaching your class. In many of the kids classes here, the sizes are also quite manageable. Professor Rocha has split the kids into two groups (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday - there is also a no Gi Friday class, a combined group class on Saturday morning, and a competition class on Saturdays) so the classes are not over full one day and empty the next. That is smart. So far the classes are about 10 to 12 kids per class. The last few places I tried out had upwards of 25 to 30 kids and with just one or two instructors for the entire class. That was too many. Here you have 10-12 kids and at least two instructors (a black and brown belt) and as many as four instructors (I've seen Professor Rocha teach along with 2 brown belts and a blue belt). With so many instructors, no kid is left behind or falling through the cracks. If a new kid needs special instruction or attention to learn what is going on, one instructor can focus on that new kid (as they did with my son), without the other kids suffering. I also appreciate the teaching style here. Some places let the kids goof around. Not here. Professor Lucas is young and has fun with the kids, but he also will make sure no one is zoning out or goofing off. That is important. Martial Arts should always include self-discipline. I also like that Professor Rocha is the nephew of Ze Radiola (ZR), who is a legend in BJJ. This is one serious place. That his own nephew is the head instructor is fantastic. These are champion builders. You can tell the training is traditional and old school in a good way. Some schools will be teaching brand new students how to do inversions and wild competition stuff that won't work in a real street fight. Here, so far everything I've seen has been practical and wonderfully explained. Simple sweeps done right. Effective take downs. And, happily he works on the core training which any BJJ practitioner needs. Some kid schools don't do this enough, but you need to build your core to lose weight and get faster and stronger. Professor Rochas doesn't neglect any of this. All in all, so far I am very happy. I think this is a very strong school and worth checking out. The adult classes I've seen following the kids classes seem very good, as well. I hope to train here myself one day soon. Highly recommended. At least come in and try a free class or two. You'll probably find yourself hooked, like me.

Thank you guys, beginners class is good. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge…read more Even the students give their two cents when coach is not talking.

This is a wonderful place to learn jiujitsu. The head instructor Freddy recently relocated and the…read morefacility is clean and spacious. Freddy teaches high level judo and jiujitsu and his team is very friendly. The mats are clean and the space is well lit, and well ventilated. I highly recommend this place for jiujitsu enthusiasts.

I tried a free class at Midnight Jiu-Jitsu Club late January of this year (2025) and I can honestly…read moresay it has changed my life for the better. I've always wanted to train in Jiu-Jitsu but just never took the chance. Then, the Eaton Fires happened and unfortunately we had to move from Altadena to Monrovia. One of the many blessings that came after from having to move from being displaced by a fire was coming across Midnight Jiu-Jitsu. I'm sure many of you who have tried a martial art or any form of hand to hand combat training can attest how intimidating it can be to walk into a dojo for the first time. The head coach/owner Walter made me feel at ease as he was very welcoming and accommodating during my free trial beginner class. I was training with a blue belt, Derek (who was also friendly and welcoming), and was going into positions that were unfamiliar and made my abs (not visible, sadly) cramp. It was very tough - even from the beginning, but I could tell this was the place for me. I signed up after that free trial class and now have been training for about 8 months at Midnight Jiu-Jitsu. I'm not good with words - so it's hard to explain what this place means to me exactly, but it's been a huge part of my life for these past 8 months and I'm looking forward to growing with these people who became my second family. If you have any doubts, just try a free trial class like I did. It might just change your life like it has mine.

My second house . This place has as much love as my own house, from the staff, instructors to all…read morethe members, we are literally a big family looking out for each other. No ego, no top down mentality, we are here to help each other out through the good and bad times. Professor Walter is constantly adapting and trying new ways to teach differently everytime, not everyone learns the same, so I really enjoy seeing different perspectives and teaching methods. That's a real teacher, someone that adapts to his students and not the other way around. This is also a kids gym! Being able to have your kids play, fight and respect each other is definitely a huge lesson carried for life. Kids need ALOT of exercise, it requires problem solving skills and also disciplines them. Being able to be playful and disciplined is very hard, but Midnight instructors do it flawlessly! Do yourself a favor and bring your kid to a trial class FOR FREE!

UPDATE: I officially signed up for BJJ almost 6 months ago, and I am obsessed! The Balance Family…read moreis extremely welcoming. Professor Adrian, the coaching team and our training partners all make it a comfortable and fun atmosphere. I wish I signed up sooner!

Balance MMA is an incredible place to train. Coach Adrian, Coach Malik, and Coach Gilbert are…read moreamazing instructors--supportive, patient, and truly professional. They take the time to teach proper technique, build confidence, and make every class feel welcoming. You can tell they care about their students' growth both on and off the mats. Highly recommend!

My kids have trained here for years and they love it. Kru Walter, Coach June, Coach Wilson, Coach…read moreLynn, Coach Mike, and Coach Chris are amazing.

I can't say enough good things about Sityodtong and Kru Walter's team. This gym is clean, friendly…read moreand fosters a real love for the sport. Whether you want to learn and get in shape or fight your way to the ring, this gym has everything you need. A+++

Under new ownership and now named El Monte Jiu Jitsu, the team here is still Checkmat affiliated…read more Head Professor Gabriel leads the team and brings in some of the best people to teach. The skill and support you gain from here is priceless.

Dropped in recently and was really impressed at how clean the facilities were and even more…read moreimpressed by the large mat space. A great academy that caters to children and adults alike, professors Jair and Marat are extremely hands-on, very patient, and extremely technical. I got super lucky... The night I dropped in, professor Leo Vieira was teaching! World class instruction from a BJJ legend!!! Highly recommend Checkmat if you're in the area.