I've been training Jiu Jitsu for six years across several gyms, but this one has quickly become my…read morehome and true family. This gym offers far more than just Jiu Jitsu with Muay Thai, MMA, and fitness all under one roof. The community here is outstanding: welcoming, supportive, and tightly bonded. It feels like more than a gym; it's a real journey I'm grateful to be part of. I've watched the gym evolve and keep improving over time. It never settles for being good, it's always striving to be better, which perfectly reflects the growth mindset these martial arts teach. The coaches are excellent, and offer classes from early morning through the evening for availability when my life needs it. They've given me a clear roadmap for my development and helped me create an actionable plan to level up. If you're looking for a serious all-around martial arts gym with great people and constant progress, this is the one. Highly recommend.

This gym has truly become my second home. The class structure is incredible -- every session is…read moreorganized, purposeful, and packed with value, whether you're a beginner or advanced. The coaches are top-notch: knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping everyone improve both on and off the mats. The gym itself is always spotless and well-maintained, which really shows the pride and care the staff put into the space. The atmosphere is unmatched -- there's a strong sense of community and family vibes that make you feel welcome from day one. Training here has not only improved my fitness but has also been a huge source of stress relief. It's helped me manage anxiety and stay positive even on tough days. Jiu Jitsu here isn't just a workout -- it's therapy, growth, and connection all in one. Couldn't recommend this place enough! Oss!

We've had such a wonderful experience at Gracie Barra Dana Point! My 4-year-old started in the…read moreParent/Child class, and from day one, Professor Fernando, Coach Paula, and Professor Collin were incredibly patient and encouraging. Over the course of two months, they helped build his confidence, focus, and ability to follow instruction. Once he showed he was ready, they invited him into the Monday/Wednesday class and he's thriving. A huge thank you to Coach Paula, Professor Fernando, and Professor Collin for the time, care, and positive affirmations you've poured into my son. In just four months, we've seen amazing growth in his skills, confidence, and respect for others. The classes are fun, engaging, and always rooted in the core values of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We're so grateful to be part of this community!

Very nice and warm community at a great location! I highly…read morerecommend BJJ to everyone. Professor Fernando and Coach Paula are amazing with kids. Their lessons are way more than just the technical aspects of JJ.

Professor John and Don run a great gym that caters to all levels. My son attended Groundwork and I…read morenever felt as if he was in danger or unsupervised. In fact, this gym has way more coaches on the mats than most other locations because they encourage adult BJJ practitioners to monitor the children, regardless of the adult's belt level. BJJ is obviously a contact sport and things can happen; but that is the case at 100% of the gyms out there. There is a humility and respect for the sport that permeates from the professors and coaches: just watch the end of each class (adult or children) and you'll see the vibe I'm referring to. I highly recommend Groundwork and, yes, I am a student myself.

Professors John, Ben and all the other coaches make this an awesome place to train. The gym is…read moreclean and you get top notch instruction for both jiu jitsu and MMA. There's also a killer open mat on weekends. Now go train!

We have been attending Optimus for going on three years now and we can't express enough, the growth…read morewe have seen in our son; not only in the art and skill of jiu-jitsu; but in his growth as a human! He is 7 1/2 years old and he started right at the beginning of 5 years. Lots of tears have been shed over these two years, but the best tears! Tears of growing into bravery and confidence( learning that he doesn't have to fear things he thought he had to fear, and so much more! It has been a beautiful process and there still is so much more growth to come! We are grateful for Professor Grant and his team of outstanding coaches and all around phenomenal people. They all have poured into our son with advice; encouragement; tough love when needed; skill building; life skills; how to treat others; and the list goes on and on. 20 out of 10 is how I would rate our experience! We are here for the long haul and Liam has made some long lasting friendships both with peers and coaches. Our daughter will be next once she gets old enough!

Wow! What can I say about Professor Grant? He is amazing! I am very new to martial arts and it was…read moremore than what I could ever dream of in one hour. His studio is beautiful and very clean. In fact, the mats were just mopped down as I was the first lesson of the day. First, I signed a waiver. Next, I got fitted for a gi and then, we were off to the mats. He gave a brief history of jiu-jitsu, Then, taught me many basic fundamentals. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is such a physical contact sport and I felt very comfortable and safe with Professor Grant. He was easy on me, yet I still broke a sweat. I really appreciated his passion & time and also appreciated his invite to stick around for the 11a class. Oooooooh, if only I didn't have another appointment bc this can be habit forming! I cannot wait to go back. Highly recommended!

Get your kids off of their phones and get them down here for the summer ASAP people! This is a…read morelocal community gem! My son has been going here for 2 weeks now for Muay Thai and boxing and has absolutely fallen in love with this place. He rides his Ebike from our house less than a mile away and goes Monday - Thursday. My son, who just turned 14 has been training BJJ since he was 8 and just moving to SC wanted to learn standup. But with his membership, he can train with top-tier BJJ teachers, box, fight, Muay Thai, and do all-around MMA at this gym. This place is amazing! The teachers are excellent! And Adam who owns the gym and also owns SUR coffee is a local hero. Serious Sur is the best coffee in SC hands down as well.

Jakes the best trainer love this gym! He makes working out fun!!!! Go check it out!…read more Even if you have no experience definitely try it out!!!

Sensei Paulo consistently goes above and beyond for his students. His attention to detail and deep…read morededication to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is evident in every class he teaches. Guillobel BJJ not only maintains a welcoming and respectful atmosphere, but also produces high-level practitioners--a true reflection of the schools leadership and passion for the art.

5 star facility and 5 Star coaches. Sensei Anvareyan and Sensei Guillobel are amazing to work with.read more

The Instruction:…read more I've been involved with jiu-jitsu for over a decade and have floated around various gyms, but have always found my way back to Jason and Albert. I have learned from both Jason and Albert individually over the years; both have shaped and influenced my style significantly. So, naturally, when they came together as partners it was a no-brainer for me to return. They will accommodate any skill level and will help and nurture you to achieve your goals. Be it weeknight warrior or Champion. As a result the intensity and vibe of practices will evolve from week to week, but the Dojo will always be a fun and safe atmosphere to train in. The Facilities: Clean Clean Clean. I've never had any mat-borne afflictions since training at the Dojo! There are also weight machines and dumbbells available for use during class hours if you need to get your pump on instead.

Jason is the sexiest Jui Jitsu instructor I have ever had the pleasure being instructed by. His…read moreGluteus Maximus muscles were beyond amazing. As he was choke holding me, every single fiber in the bottox area were dancing like Jon Travolta's hot pants in Saturday Night Fever. Let me get this straight, I am a straight, not homosexual type of guy, my wife is hotter than Jessica Alba in the movie: Into the Blue but when I saw the baby got back on Instructor Jason B. I almost turned gay! None the less the hotness of the instructor doesn't take away from the friendly, well skilled environment the club has to offer! I recommend this place to the serious UFC-Silva heads to the just beginning IDK-WTH I'm doing type crowd! Very welcoming environment no intimidation here at all!

We've had such an amazing experience at Evolve Checkmat, and I can't say enough great things about…read moreProfessor Todd. From day one, he made both my daughter and I feel genuinely welcome. Professor Todd has a really special way of working with kids. He blends discipline with a warm, supportive style that earns the kids' respect and trust. One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been watching my daughter's confidence grow. Week after week, you can see her becoming more comfortable, more focused, and more proud of what she's learning. That kind of growth goes far beyond the mats, and it speaks volumes about the environment Professor Todd creates. It's one thing to be skilled, but it's another to break techniques down in a way kids can truly understand and he does that exceptionally well. The gym itself is another huge plus. It's always incredibly clean, well-organized, and has an open, airy feel that makes it a comfortable place to spend time. You can tell a lot of pride goes into maintaining the space. Overall, we couldn't be happier with our experience here, it's truly a special place.

I'm 54 years old with a history of training in wrestling and BJJ. I had torn my ACL doing BJJ…read moreabout 5 years ago. I missed the training and the atmosphere. I've been hesitant because of the injury and arthritis in my knee, but I decided to check out Evolve and take their Muy Thai class. I've never done any type of striking marital arts but I decided to take a free trial class. I was impressed with the facility and the other members. Everyone was welcoming and patient knowing it was my first ever Muy Thai class. Todd the owner/instructor has created the best vibe/culture for his school. He keeps the classes engaging and fun. It's not easy learning the techniques but it has become a little more comfortable after a couple of weeks. I like the variety of class times, which is helpful with my work schedule. I may eventually look into going back to taking some Jiu Jitsu classes here at Evolve. If you're looking for a place that is not intimidating, but challenging then check out Evolve. Todd's been awesome in my transition to Muy Thai.

The gym reopened and this is their newest location. My husband and I come here every week. My…read morehusband has been with the gym for about 6-7 years (I think), and I only started going recently about 3-4 months ago. You really can't beat the price, especially with the amazing coaches who lead the classes here. One thing I've found that's incredibly rare is finding good coaches--it's so hard to find them in SoCal. Edith, Manny, Rudy, and Older Manny are wonderful teachers who push you to your limit. They care about a lot and really get to know you. As a woman, joining a combat sports class can feel a bit intimidating, but they make it easy to put in the work and see great results. Love the team and the people at this gym. So many good things to say!

I am so sad to hear about the closure of one of OCs best gyms. This place was more than a gym but a…read moreplace many caked home. The couple that ran things facility were loving and humble. They gave many a reason to change and be better. Thank you for all you did for the community. I pray that God continues to guide you and bring you propserity

We Love this Dana Point Dojo. Mike & Mel are the Beat. All 3 of our girls have been doing karate…read morehere for over 3 years. Best decision we have made as a family. What girl doesn't need to know self defense! Highly recommend.

We did not expect this to happen! We simply thought our daughter would just learn the basics of…read moreself defense but it's been so much more than that. We quickly saw her become more confident in herself. She used to be really shy but became more social and outgoing after just a couple of months in the dojo. Even our close friends saw the difference and both families signed their kids up for karate! Our family loves Sensei Mike and Mel. They have been such positive role models for our daughter. Thank you!