Had the pleasure to work with Raf and Micky during open gym. It was amazing to see all ages meet and have fun together. The place itself is modern and clean. The team is communicative and organize. Thank you Ukiyo team for an awesome time! read more

We live a few cities away... And there's a bjj gym right down the street from our neighborhood and even a few more in between, BUT Ukiyo is our "home." Before my wife and I ever got pregnant, we always knew our little one would be in bjj. Fast forward to present day, our little girl is now 4yo, and we found our home gym here. Right away we immediately connected with Raf and Mickey. They are the sweetest people. And they made our little girl and us feel safe and right at home. We feel so comfortable here and can't help but it feel that our family circle just got bigger. For myself, I have been in and out of bjj for the last 15 years and really haven't stepped on the mat for the last 6-7 years. My wife was actually the one that found this wonderful place from a Facebook post and after reaching out and meeting R&M, we knew that it was only right this is where I was going to pick up where I left off and step back into my jiu jitsu journey. 15 years ago, I started in a gi, went into more no-gi, and now come full circle back into the gi and tradition. The dojo itself is beautiful and all the adult students we've met are also so welcoming. Mickey's taste def shows in the overall aesthetics and is on point holding things behind the scenes and planning all the fun events. Raf's teachings are very clear, concise and have real depth which you definitely can see comes from a place of passion and long love and history with the art. It is an honor to be a student under him. The other kids in the younger classes are all so good with our baby girl. After her first class, she couldn't stop talking about all her new "friends." The modest size of the dojo and number of students encourages a more intimate learning enviroment and greater level of intimacy and respect. There is no ego here. Everyone and the overall energy here is so wholesome and feels more about cultivating the art, tradition well as a community. Needless to say, we are so happy to have found family in Ukiyo Academy. OSS! p.s. we love this place! read more

I was always hesitant in enrolling my young-ish son in Martial Arts because I was afraid that he would get hurt. After all, my adult friends who are serious about Brazilian Jiujitsu have shared many of their battle wounds and stories with me, so no wonder I've been a bit scared of my less-than-coordinated child wrestling another kid who has no sense of their strength. However, after one trial, my kid begged to be enrolled in Ukiyo Academy. And I succumbed since we literally just roll down the street to their conveniently located studio in our neighborhood. Beyond the convenience of location and Tuesday & Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings time slots, it's really the Coaches who make all the difference. Coaches Raf, Nick, & Mickey are organized, gracious, and attentive. They take special care in ensuring the kids are doing the moves properly. Safety always comes first and there's always enough adult BJJ masters to enthusiastic youngsters. Discipline, mindful practices, and the history/art of Jiujitsu are also infused in every lesson. Together, they bring a more holistic approach to the sport. The kids get the correct techniques, of course. But this dojo is also intent on helping build character and a positive mindset. That's an even bigger win! Additionally, I admire the nurturing vibe and care that goes into keeping this Academy running. Besides the kids jiujitsu classes, adults also have dedicated times on the mat. Self-defense classes are being offered too. Although I leave the sparring to my child, I, myself, have enjoyed a lovely Self-Care Sunday event that included yoga, sound bath, and a beauty pop-up with selfmade skincare, Gleem Energy Drinks, and Leisure Hydration. It was a nice night of relaxation and reminding ourselves who's important. We are ever so grateful to have such great role models for our kids. My son is now practicing jiujitsu 3x a week with a monthly membership. Obviously, they're doing a lot of things right and I cannot praise Ukiyo Academy enough. I'm happy Ukiyo is part of our neighborhood community. read more

My son has been going here for about a year now 3 days a week. I am impressed how much he has learned, how well the teachers adapt the subject for kids and the overall sense of respect and responsibility you feel while at the space. I urge any parent with a child to just try a class. It is very open to all skill levels and ages. read more

Ukiyo Academy in Glassell Park is a rising neighborhood icon. This woman and AAPI owned spot brings our community together through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self defense classes and pop-up events (BEST LUMPIA). The instructors are skilled,, funny, patient and make everyone feel at peace. It's more than just a gym, it's a tight knit family that lifts each other up, building confidence and strength. The space is always clean and has a tangible welcoming vibe. Ukiyo's community spirit makes it a must visit. Love this place! read more

Last month I attended the self defense workshop with Leticia Esparza at Ukiyo Academy. I had an amazing time! Leticia was organized, thorough, detailed and patient with everyone. I loved the way she broke down the information and offered individual attention to make sure everyone was kicking correctly. After the workshop, Raf demonstrated a jiu jitsu move if someone were in a chokehold. It was very interesting and cool to learn how to get out of this move. I've never done jiujitsu before and it was so helpful to learn this. Thank you Mickey, Raf and Leticia for hosting an amazing self defense workshop. I hope you host many more I'll definitely be back read more

Ukiyo Academy is a hidden gym! I am so glad that I came across this wonderful studio and was able to be introduced to its stellar owners during a women's self defense workshop in mid March 2025. Mickey gave me such a warm and welcoming greeting the moment that I walked in and her kind and patient spirit is what continually infuses the space. Both Mickey and Raf then co-taught a super informative workshop on women's self-defense. I felt so inspired that I signed up for a new student membership the very same day. Since then, I have taken about a handful of women's self-defense classes and can confidently state that I feel a sense of mastery over the basics and even some more intermediate maneuvers. For someone who shied away from martial arts due to its generally male-dominated nature, I am really glad that Ukiyo Academy was the space that opened up new possibilities for me. I can't wait to continue to explore the world of jiu jitsu in the future! read more

Ukiyo Academy is tucked away in the Glassell Park neighborhood but is seriously a cool gem to come by in this up and coming area. I took a class with Rafael and was pretty apprehensive at first since I haven't tried jiu-jitsu but after walking in, all my worries melted away. This place definitely gives a personal family and friends feel, like I just walked into my future home gym. Everyone is welcoming and super chill. It's a laid back feel where I learned so much just in my first time. I bought a membership since it was such a great deal and I'm excited to see what's in store for the growth of the Academy. Don't pass this place up. read more

I'm new to jiu jitsu and was hesitant to begin.. but the warm welcoming environment of Ukiyo made me so happy I did! Not only that but they have a wide variety of other amazing classes I've been able to take since I joined. I'd recommend this gym to any and everybody thinking of trying it out! read more

I've been training with Rafael for 5 years now and I'm so excited to see he opened up his own school. I came for the soft opening and I'm so excited to see what is in store for this academy. I heard that he is planning a lot of events and a women's program as well. The prices are fair and they have a lot of discount for referrals and neighboring schools and businesses. read more

Super cool and fun spot to roll! Raf the professor really makes you feel like it's a private lesson and you have plenty of space to roll. The lineage comes from SubConsious over in north hollywood so you know you're going to get a grade A instruction. Even though it's eagle rock, you got plenty of space to park at Come on thru for some fun rolls! read more

I walked in a shy timid overweight boy and with one month under my belt I'm feeling fitter, confident , and like a lean jiu jitsu machine. My fears, intimidation, and reservations were washed away as soon as I stepped foot in the gym. Everyone made me feel at home and was very supportive and positive to a newbie like me. Professor Raf is a godsend!! I'm usually a slow learner but Raf breaks everything down so detailed and thourougly that I'm now addicted to learning this craft! His passion for teaching really shines through. This is my new home away from home 10/10!! I'm telling all my friends and family about this gym! Also I'm a ocd neat freak and this gym really makes me feel comfortable! Everything here is so fresh and clean. It's smells really good in there haha. Top notch hygiene. If you want to change your life, learn to defend yourself, and meet an amazing community of people definately pull up here ! I can't stress it enough I love this place. Highly recommend!! read more

Since I'm just dipping my toes into jiu jitsu, im usually pretty nervous walking into new gyms but I felt really comfortable and welcome here. The instructor and Owner, Raf, had a lot of good feedback and I definitely learned challenging yet fun drills. The community was also super tight knit and supportive of me too which made the rest of my jitters dissipate. BIGGEST thing I struggle with in BJJ is feeling welcome in a male dominated sport and it's safe to say after continuously training here, that the community centric/boutique style training is the highlight of this gym. I've been to 3 events they've hosted now too and it's so awesome to be part of this new gym on the block!! read more

I came by Ukiyo based on a friend's referral and I am so happy I did. I met Professor Rafael and he has such a great attitude and vibe. His instruction is top notch as well and has a great teaching style. He really cares about his students and showed great details in the techniques he was showing during the class. The academy just opened but is an affiliate of another school I have trained at so I expected good things and it did not disappoint! The mats are also brand new which is nice and I could tell the academy takes cleanliness and hygiene serious which is key at any martial arts academy. If you are looking for a great place to train with excellent instruction, hit them up for a free trial class! read more

Prof Raf is the coolest. The place is very intimate. So you'll be getting great, highly refined instruction with the ability to ask questions in a small, safe environment. Hygiene is a top priority here which makes me feel comfortable. I cannot tell you how great this gym is going to be. read more

The atmosphere of this gym is so warm and so cute! I'm so excited for the women's classes that they just started recently. It's very beginner friendly and very female-friendly as I'm a beginner in Jiu-Jitsu. I love how laid-back and relaxed the vibes are of the gym. I've been going every single Thursday night at 6 pm. The bathroom is also extremely clean and makes me feel comfortable to change in. read more

It was my first time ever training martial arts and Rafael made me feel welcome and safe. Great instructions and awesome vibes. I love space, the decor and the supportive environment. A must try if you're interested in jiujitsu / grappling. read more