I cannot say enough great things about Professor D and the culture he has built. If you are a lifelong athlete or new to training, professor molds the jiujitsu environment to meet you, your limitations/injuries, and your goals. He takes care of his people while simultaneously pushing them to be the best versions of themselves. As a member of his training center, I am a proud member and love learning from such a skilled leader and disciplined team. read more

Just come and train Don't be lazy Keep those nails trimmed Ask questions Enjoy Jiu jitsu read more

Primal Jiu Jitsu - No Gi Class - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - San Diego, California

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Coach Dee and his wife Coach Chris are wonderful. We were looking for a place for my son to be challenged and have a good environment to grow his skills and confidence. Highly recommend this studio! From the moment we walk through the door there was a fun and energetic vibe, that was exactly what we were looking for. Having been to another studio locally where the energy was low, this studio offered a lot of quality instruction, challenging opponents, and lots of attention. We will definitely be back! read more

It's like watching a more pleasant version of myself teach at this studio! A homie that I ride motorcycles with told me about primal. I decided to bring my 12 yr old nephew to try out a session. Prof. D, is VERY knowledgeable about jiujitsu. Watching the was interesting because he's teaching the kids moves that never crossed my mind (I.e. grabbing the knees while you're on the back). I always go for the seatbelt or chokes. I didn't think anyone could fix my nephews attitude. Prof. D has a gift with people. Children and adults. He could probably teach in any industry that deals with people. He just happens to be phenomenal at American Jiujitsu. I highly recommend this studio for all skill levels. Prof. D is a G, and not stingy with techniques. read more

Primal Jiu Jitsu - The front door - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - San Diego, California

A great community of family to go to train even when you don't know anything. Everyone is nice and it's much more affordable then other locations nearby. It's not intimidating at all and a good work out! read more

Love the environment here! Everyone is super friendly and encourages your growth. This was my first time trying BJJ/self defense and it was very rewarding experience. Coach Chris and the professor were super nice and welcoming, which made it a great and fun place to learn. Highly recommend!!! read more

I trained with Prof. D and his team for 2 weeks and had an excellent experience. The atmosphere is very welcoming and friendly. D. Davis is extremely knowledgeable and a highly effective teacher. For a small-medium sized gym, I was very impressed by the overall skill level of his students. Prof. D is highly engaged in class and gives attention to every student regardless of rank. There is a strong emphasis on fundamentals and concepts rather than complicated chains of moves. Furthermore, Prof. D teaches techniques that have high-success rates against resisting opponents and options for mitigating all different positional scenarios. End of class Q&A are a stand-out feature and are incredibly valuable. Larger gyms may offer more classes, a wider array of skill level, high-level competition teams, and more resources. However, you won't get the same access to the head professor or personized attention to your skill development as you would here. Primal Training Center offers a safe, supportive, and high-caliber training program that is great for any level of skill. read more

I had never tried Jiu jitsu before and did the free week trial here and had a blast! The staff and other students were very friendly and supportive towards new students. Coach Chris was and the other teachers were attentive so I feel like I learned a lot in the time I was there. I highly recommend this center! read more

The strong points of this gym are the professors (D Davis and Jeff Tirshfield), the students, and the mentality of the academy. The atmosphere is loose but respectful. Meatheads are dealt with accordingly, and there isn't any attitude thrown around - fellow students help each other to progress and grow their skill sets. The class structure is essentially a stretching period, followed by a warmup, then a myriad of increasingly difficult exercises that focus on building the necessary core strength and muscle memory that translate into successful jiu jitsu technique execution. Following this, a specific move or three will be worked on, with the instructor showing how to perform the move(s), then the students pairing up and working through it while the instructors critique and offer advice and tips. After that, a session of "rolling" ensues, with several full-tilt rounds (usually 6 minute rounds). Finally, a question-and-answer period ends out the class. Both D and Jeff focus on high-percentage jiu jitsu techniques: if you are looking for hollywood-type glamour posing, this is not the place. Also, both are big believers in teaching their students how to get out of bad situations, with much work focused on escaping the mount from the bottom and establishing a strong guard. "Position before submission." In addition, the students work well together, and will regularly come in and train on specific areas or techniques that they feel they are most deficient at, whether that be takedowns, chokes, sweeps, etc. You can attend as many classes as you want, with the gym closed only on Sundays. You WILL get a workout if you engage in this system. Dedication is a must, and is pretty much all that is asked of folks that come through the door. Speaking of which, Primal has an open-door policy, where you can walk in off the street, we will throw you into a gi, and you'll get started right then and there. A free month of sessions will let you know whether or not you'd like to join up and learn under a true master of the game, and with driven, dedicated, and helpful Primal students. The choice is up to you. read more

I've been doing Jiu Jitsu at an old gym for more than a year. I left that old gym because I thought there was a lot of "ego" going around and that I did not receive enough criticism from my previous teachers. I didn't have much fun at the last gym because I didn't receive any feedback and the coaches there didn't even know who I was. I was looking for a new Jiu Jisu gym where classes don't have more than 50 or 60 students in them. I decided to give Mira Mesa Jiu Jitsu a try after finding it. When Professor D picked up the phone when I called, I knew this was a place I would like to attempt a free lesson at. That's what I did; on a Saturday, I attended the first lesson and was made to feel quite welcome. All ten students in Professor D's class knew my name when he introduced me. I was made to feel comfortable, and Professor D was aware of my prior knowledge and provided additional advice. Every student in the class is eager to learn and, if necessary, lend a hand to others. Professor D informed me after class that Coach Chris will assist me with sign-up and any last-minute questions. More than anything, Professor D and Coach Chris want you to have a location where you can train and get to know each of their students. That is, in my opinion, the reason I joined an organization that fosters a learning atmosphere for all. Everything was very simple all around. I'm so delighted that I've discovered a location where I can practice being cheerful and, more importantly, where I felt accepted. read more

I tried out Primal tonight and I have to say, Professor D and Coach Chris have an amazing environment for you you to learn Jiu Jitsu. Being a complete newbie, I was really nervous about trying it out. But they were really patient and helpful! Definitely give this place a try, would definitely recommend it! read more

Don't go here if: -You hate fun people -You don't want to train and compete with some of the best that San Diego has to offer -You don't like a great family atmosphere suitable for all ages. -You are looking for an unnecessarily aggressive attitude where you want to rip your shirt off every time you step on the mat Do go here if you: - Want to learn at any skill level. - Want to learn and drill on new techniques in every class you attend - Want to learn faster by training with upper belts - Are looking to get fit very quickly. you will be in the best shape of your life VERY QUICK. It's a better alternative to slaving away at the gym on an elliptical. - are vegan, because the professor will love you. in all seriousness, Professor Davis has helped me get into something I put off for a long time, and it's worth the investment. key notes/tips: Take the 30 day free trial. Instead of phone/email/messages, just show up. As of writing, there's no front desk, so you just have to show up (usually around 6pm is great) and ask anyone there that you're interested. You will get to shadow for the day to see if you like it, and then you can decide to try it out yourself the next day. Pricing is very reasonable compared to anywhere else in San Diego (which, from my research, we have a lot of VERY GOOD MMA gyms). The deciding factor in my case for the price is the family atmosphere this provided. Finding a humble and motivated group of people is going to be hard to come by anywhere else. Places like UFC Gym, The Boxing Club, and Gracies usually carry around this vibe where people go to blow off aggression and steam on other people, which you won't ever find here (and Primal makes sure of that). btw, don't make fun of typos anywhere you find it. just saying :) read more

Learning BJJ heading into my mid-40s is not ideal, but better late than never. My kids are enrolled in the kid's class so I figured I should also learn the skill. Lacking experience with grappling, I'm constantly reminded of my age through aches and pains. Having said that, Professor Davis, the coaches, and my fellow students have been accommodating and extremely helpful. In the 2 months that I've taken the class, I've learned so much. I'm by far the oldest white belt there, but the environment at Primal is welcoming to all ages. Not so sure if other schools would be as supportive. So instead of buying a douche ride or joining an MMA class during your midlife crisis, I highly recommend checking out Primal. Good people, elite training, and awesome high intensity exercise! read more

As a first-timer it's ok. Expect favoritism, they're going through a remodel and want you to donate. I've seen their wall of progress and the kids who's parents donate get extra kudos and stripes...three stripes for not even know how to tie belt. The coach /co-owner is consistently late..to me jiujitsu means respect, be on-time and prepared. Not once have I seen this here. If you're just beginning, they offer 30 days for free so feel free to use it but there are so many better options out there. read more

Primal Training is a great jujitsu center for kids of all ages. They have a 30 day trial for your kids to be exposed to the sport with no commitments. I knew after the first session my son who is 4 and his two friends who are 3 years old and 4 years old enjoy the sport. All three of the kids are signed up for the whole year. This training center is family operated and all the members become one big family. Thanks coach Chris, Dalen, and Professor D for teaching and being good role models to my son and his friends. I recommend this gym and encourage parents to utilize the 30 Day trial to see if their kids will enjoy it as much as my kid does. read more

Trainers are very rude and have no patience. The environment is very toxic and is all show and no go. Would not recommend to anyone...

Been going here for about 3 years and I love it. Professor Davis is excellent in his teachings and always makes time for his students before , during and after class. read more

My kids have been training with Professor D and Coach Cris for the past 4 years. They always look forward to training everyday. Not only do we enjoy watching them roll, but we also appreciate the family environment and the fact that they teach the kids to respect each other. read more

Visiting coach D's gym was a great experience. He promotes a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere at his gym. I recently visited his gym for the first time and felt right at home. I 10/10 would go back and highly recommend his gym to anyone in the San Diego area. read more

D greeted me at the door with a smile. I explained that I haven't trained in years and it was a great experience! I noticed it was a gym where the instructor just doesn't hand out stripes. You really have to learn every aspect and base of Jiu Jitsu to progress at this gym. No pressure and used car salesman contracts, defintely not a silly cardio kick boxing gym. Take a look and try the free trial it's worth it! read more

My kids have been going here for 8 months now, and they both love it. Coach Chris and Professor D have built a warm and welcoming community. Plus my kids come home worn out. read more

We are so so glad to have found this training center for our boys. Not only do they receive excellent training, we appreciate the family vibe of the studio. Great atmosphere, great families that train there, wonderful coaches. read more

As a guest (outsider), I was warmly greeted and welcomed by everyone at the gym. It reminds me of my usual gym back home (BKKBJJ), where it's mostly adults that train. You can feel the family vibe here, it's not so clique-ish like some of the bigger gyms you go to, where you have varying age groups hanging out with each other. The instructor, D Davis, is very friendly and approachable. He showed good techniques during the instruction and was always troubleshooting the class which I found very helpful. Clear, concise, simple and effective stuff. The Professor also asked questions after the class sparred, which was pretty cool. Not a whole lot of gyms do this. We always have questions after sparring, and since it's fresh in our minds, these answers will stick and help people improve quicker. Overall a great place to learn BJJ, I would make this my regular gym if I was living in SD. read more

Great atmosphere! Feels like a family environment. Professor Davis is extremely approachable and knowledgeable. I would recommend this place for all ages and gender. They make everyone feel accepted and it is a very inviting place. read more

30 days free trial and teaches women self-defense class. read more

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Great Instruction and family vibe. Excellent BJJ from Fabio Santos lineage.

Great place to train there is people in every class big smal the blk belt is really nice and nows what he's doing I like this place because I don't feal like any body is gonna hurt me is the other way around they r alwais checking making sure I'm okay And every body treats me like family asome read more

I am a world class pussy. My daily struggle involves fighting the urge to sit on the couch, watch reruns of Grey's Anatomy and consume a tub of Häagen-Dazs while crying my eyes out. I am afraid of hard work, change, and most people. I talk about feelings for a living. I have low T. Every day I go to war with my inner pussy. That's right. I fight my own mangina. My go to self-defense tactics are that of an octopus. I shriek and shit myself and hope for the best. So in a last ditch effort to combat my inherent spinelessness, and because the neighbors were tired of hearing my openmouthed weeping every night, I signed up at Primal Training Center. Thank God I did. Primal Training Center and Professor D Davis saved me from a life of early onset man-opause, debilitating shame, and pasty white bitch tits. I had no experience with martial arts of any kind and have gone from white to blue belt so far under D's instruction. I can't give this place a higher recommendation. Primal brings together everything that allows even the most feeble and uncoordinated individual to overcome the pathetic genetic hand they've been dealt or the learned helplessness once associated with their clinical depression, agoraphobia, and abnormally high estrogen. Everything from the unique individualized attention to the skilled and patient training partners come together in the perfect way and have made me a student of this school for life. The undying support of the entire Primal family is something that must be experienced and cannot properly be articulated in here. I do not have the words to describe what it's done for me. I can also sincerely recommend the children's classes. I can say that with authority because I actually had the hormone profile of an obese 9 year old girl when I started. With a renewed sense of self efficacy and a profound change in body composition and lean muscle mass, I now walk through life with my head held high. This is no coincidence, no accident. Do yourself a favor and show up. Don't think about it, don't wonder, do it. Give it a month, it's free. And believe me, if I can do it - so can you. read more

[A little background, I have been doing jiu-jitsu on and off for 15 years, and have trained at six different schools in the area] "Primal" is a perfect place to learn great jiu-jitsu, meet new people, and get a great workout. The Head Instructor, D, knows more about jiu-jitsu than most other teachers in the area. He's funny and easy to talk to, runs a safe, well-organized class, and is generous with his knowledge. Be careful when shopping for jiu-jitsu! Some other black belts in the area, like to save their best moves for private lessons- you won't find that here, D wants all his students to achieve, and transcend, black belt level. He also proves and refines his jiu-jitsu by competing at tournaments and holding his own - a lot of teachers at other schools won't risk this. Definitely worth checking out, you will learn a lot and have fun doing it. read more

Coming off a back injury that's been nagging me for years, and getting the bug to start training bjj again. San Diego has so many bjj academies, it's crazy! I visited quite a few, but didn't join for one reason or another. I'm not looking to win mundials in my forties, but find a good school, with quality instruction and team mates who don't have a chip on their shoulders from their egos. I visited primal bjj on a judo night, of all nights. Met D. Davis and was floored there was a red and white belt judo master teaching throws. Something lacking in bjj today, as everyone starts on their knees or butt scoots. I came to train next Monday with Coach D. and was floored again, D. had us defending from punches while holding guard. You just don't find old Gracie style self defense taught anymore, with all the emphasis on sport bjj. Training here a week now and it s a great mix of self defense and sport bjj instruction. Best of all, no ego, no aggro white belts spazzing on you. Coach D. just won four gold, including two absolutes at this past Bjj American Open. So if you are like me, looking for quality bjj, give primal Jiu Jitsu a try. Coach D. offers a free intro month, and you'll get hooked on the training. read more

I started jiujitsu at this place 7 years ago. Thanks to the great experience I am still training today. I was in the Marine Corps when I started training at primal. D was a great instructor and everyone there made you feel welcomed. I got out of the Marine Corps in 2013 and moved back home but I always try to stop by every time I'm in the area. This is a great school and recommend everyone trying it out. Especially Marines because MCMAP doesn't compare to this type of training. read more

World class Jiu-Jitsu instruction for the entire family at rock bottom prices; Mira Mesa MMA (MMMMA) never had it so good! D Davis and Jeff Tirshfield ( their resumes speak for themselves, these guys are WORLD CLASS) offer no frills, no BS, practical martial arts training in an environment that promotes healthy personal/physical/emotional/spiritual growth. Techniques are taught with great care and attention to detail, then quickly applied in a safe sparring environment. Why not 5 stars? The facility is a tad small. Not small enough to intefere with training; but definitely small enough to impede growth. If Mira Mesa residents swarm to Primal (as they should considering the deal they're getting) D will have to find a larger space. read more

My son is currently taking a class for kids his age. I am very impressed by Professor D and his resume. I especially like how he teaches the kids. He came highly recommended and has disappointed. read more

I've been going to Primal for more almost 4 years and since the beginning its been a great journey. D Davis' training is top notch and more importantly he makes sure that each person gets instruction that tailored to their styles. Classes have gone from about 8 white belts to an academy with 2 purple belts, 10+ blue belts and many more white belts. All the people (men, women & children) have great attitudes and really try to help each other get better. There are other places with better known names but no one in San Diego has better training. Come for the free week and check it out for yourself. read more

D Davis is an incredible person and instructor. I started out with him back in 2007 at the original location. I always looked forward to class and really enjoyed the community that was built. I highly recommend this training center. read more

D has done an incredible job creating a successful learning environment. D is there for every class to ensure all of his students are getting the most from each and every class. I have also found the other students to be very friendly and approachable as well. This speaks volumes about the school D has created. Every student has a vested interest in seeing every other student succeed and it shows. I haven't left a class yet that I didn't learn something new. I count the hours till my next class, it has been so much fun. Stop by and watch a class, speak with D or the other students. Attend a child's class and you will not stop laughing as the kids go at it. Who says learning isn't fun? Also, D offers private training sessions that are second to none. The session are custom designed to meet your needs. This isn't cookie cutter sessions either, D has the knowledge and experience to create the right level of variety and intensity to get you where you want to be. read more

D. Davis is definitely, "one of the good guys"! He legit cares about you and your training. You can go to bigger schools and be taught by lower ranked students, but the personal touch he puts in his teaching is by far the best I've ever seen. "Good training ain't cheap, and cheap training ain't good!" read more

"D" and Jason ("J") are both great instructors. The students are of varying skill levels (belts) and weights - giving you a higher chance of being able to roll against someone on the same level of yourself. Students and instructors are both welcoming. The instructors promote a good atmosphere, with the students interested enough on technique to not put you in danger of injury from amateurish zealousness during a roll. read more

Great atmosphere especially for a small dojo. Real team mentality that shows that improvement only comes when teammates improve with you. A great place to learn jiu jitsu. Fundementals are stressed through repetition plus there is plenty of time set aside for live rounds. The Q&A after class gives you a chance to get instruction while the puzzles are fresh in your mind. Overall a great set of instructors and teammates. read more

My brother trains here, and a couple months ago he got me to attend an all-day benefit/charity seminar. From what I saw, I was impressed. D Davis is about the martial art, not about the ego or the business. I was impressed with every single one of his students I met that day. Each has put in a lot of hard work to earn their place at Primal. I'm glad my brother found Primal, and if I wasn't completely committed to the school where I study kung fu, I would probably head back to see if D would even accept me as a student. read more