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!

Both of my kids have been trained by Master Kravitz. There's a reason he literally wrote the book…read moreon teaching kids; he can gauge my son's needed adjustments the moment he walks in the door. He keeps it fun for the kids while guiding them towards the discipline they need. My kids have learned self defense, discipline, more respect and excellent defensive skills. Rotating between Jiu Jitsu and Tae Kwon Do every 6 weeks allows for a well-rounded education that doesn't stagnate. It's a unique program that sets you up for success.

Owner is joke who just wants your money. It's funny that he wrote a book just another money grab…read more When you want to cancel he will tell you that you need to give 30 days notice even though he makes no mention of it when signing up. Dudes a schmuck plain and simple.

I moved to California from New York and started training at AOJ based on my coaches recommendation…read more I can't speak more highly of my experience. Such a welcoming community, coaching on another level and i love how they have 6am classes every weekday because that's the only time i can train as a father. Shout out to Professors Zack, Pablo and Luca

I've been training at AOJ MV for almost 2 yrs, I'm there 3-4 times a week for adult classes and my…read morekids go twice a week in the afternoon. We came from Gracie Barra Headquarters, I was there for 4 years before I decided to switch to AOJ. It was the BEST decision I've made in regards to BJJ training. I love everything about AOJ, the classes, the professors, the facility the bathroom! They are often cleaning the mats, windows, bathrooms. The Professors are all highly skilled and the techniques they teach are so much more complex but they break it down so it's easier to understand. I love how the kids group is separated into smaller clusters giving kids more personalized training. AOJ encourages kids to train multiple classes a day/week if they are able to, our previous school limited kids to 2 classes a week. Not bashing GB but they are more of a intro to JJ school, AOJ is more focused on detailed/higher level instruction.

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!

Our 7 year old son joined this jiu-jitsu gym over the summer and absolutely loved it! The coaches…read morewere personable, patient, and experienced instructors. They commanded respect and kept the classes organized without ever needing to raise their voice. Each student was given detailed guidance and encouragement, while also having freedom within set boundaries. The class structure helps set such a positive and comfortable environment. The classes were incredibly well run, and had the perfect balance of fun, discipline and structure. The management is also top-tier. We were only here for the summer (out of staters) and they worked with us to make it happen. We felt like we were part of their gym on day one. Looking forward to coming back next summer!

This school is amazing. Laercio (the owner) is such a genuine, warm, and accommodating instructor…read more The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the schedule is really flexible. Highly recommended for beginners and advanced alike.

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

I started my 5 yo who's slow to warm up to things and 7 yo who has a hard time focusing just a few…read moremonths ago. They are both excited to train, and it's been the best experience! I expected my 5 yo to go on and off the mat through the class but she stays and participates the whole time! And my 7 yo is loving it and working so hard that he leaves the mat drenched. Teachers and professors are strict yet kind and keeps them in check. Been awesome for us and we hope to continue for years to come.

If you're looking for authentic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu this place has it. They have 2 Brazilin born…read morechampion Black Belts that originally came here as athletes and they're no joke when it comes to what they know and how they teach. They also have several other high ranking coaches that really know what they're doing. We've been at Checkmat V1sion in Ladera since day 1, but my daughter has been training with Coach Annie and Coach Joao for almost 2 years. They've taken her from wearing a "loaner" Gi to competing in 14 competitions and winning 13 medals last year. I can tell you from my almost daily interactions that all the coaches are extremely dedicated to each and every student and supporting their BJJ journey no matter where that takes them. In my case, I've seen my young daughter grow dramatically in her self-confidence under the guidance of Coach Annie and Joao and both of them took their own personal time to attend every competition she had last year. Not only supporting my daughter but the entire team. The facility is spotless and right in the center of town. They have a ton of classes 6 days a week so it's super easy to find a time that works for me and my daughter. Something that makes this Jiu Jitsu Academy different than some others is its competition program. The primary coaches not only teach/train regular BJJ classes they also train champion competitors. My daughter's entire group of about 30 kids in her specific age group competes regularly. But, the biggest thing I love about this gym and the BJJ community, in general, is that it's more like family than anything else. Everyone is really engaged and supportive, especially the parents of all the kids. I myself started training recently and if you're considering any type of martial arts program I'll tell you there's nothing quite like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and this gym checks all the boxes for me. Like most BJJ gyms you can come in anytime for some free trial classes and get on the mat to see what it's all about. That's how I started.

Since I'm over 50 and out of shape my first concern is not getting hurt while getting fit and…read morehealthy. Jit-Jitsu is not just physically demanding but also requires to you to be constantly learning and thinking. I love it! Master Goes is very hands on and constantly correcting my technique while making sure I stay safe. It's nice to know that Master Goes was a pioneer in Jiu-Jitsu and everything he teaches would work in a real fight. No fluff here. It's a family environment, everyone at the gym is very helpful and will take their time to help you out while you are working on learning a new technique. I can see myself doing this for years to come. If you are thinking about learning to defend yourself and are a bit older and out of shape, I encourage you to try Jiu-Jitsu. My only regret is that I didn't start sooner.

Master Goes is the the best. He is so patient and understanding with the kids. We've been with him…read morefor 7 years now and our kids learn so much from Master.

Gracie Barra Aliso Viejo has been an amazing experience for our entire family. Professor Diogo,…read moreProfessor Matheus, Coach Ji, Coach Pedro, and every coach and student made us feel welcome from day one. They're patient, encouraging, and genuinely great teachers. Seeing how much our kids enjoy training inspired me to join the adult GB1 classes, and now I'm hooked! My wife is even planning to take her free trial class. The academy is clean, fun, and welcoming, and the training provides a great workout for both your mind and body. We've already seen an incredible improvement in our family's discipline, confidence, and everyday attitude. Easily one of the best decisions we've ever made!

When I first joined Gracie Aliso Viejo, I was looking for something physical. I'm not really into…read moreyoga or Pilates. I love weightlifting and hiking, but I wanted something that would not only challenge me physically, but also benefit me in my everyday life. I signed up for a free trial and after my very first class, I immediately understood why I needed this. As a mom, I often do things alone with my daughter. It hit me that if anyone ever tried to hurt me or take her, I wouldn't have the skill set or the size to confidently protect us. That realization is what pushed me to sign up right away. I'm not the best at it (yet!), but the instructors are incredibly patient and kind. From Victor to Ji (apologies if I misspelled that), they are excellent teachers. They break things down clearly, encourage you, and create such a supportive environment. I still catch myself saying "sorry" or freezing in certain situations, but every class reminds me why I'm here and why this training matters. It's challenging in the best way like solving physical puzzles. If you enjoy testing yourself and learning something completely new, this is perfect. Even if you've never thrown a punch in your life (like me!), it's fun, safe, and welcoming. Everyone is kind and nonjudgmental. The studio is extremely clean, family-friendly, and professionally run. I'm already so excited for my daughter to try soon!

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!