We've been coming for about 3 months. Since training here, our little one has gained confidence in…read morehow she moves, gaining core and lower body strength. The social-emotional aspect, including teaching kids how to play fair and treat each other with respect in how they move and interact physically is awesome.

I've been training no-gi jiujitsu at Groundworks for a few months now, and I can confidently say…read morethat my experience with Coach Rich has been nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment I stepped into the academy, I felt welcomed and encouraged to push my limits. Coach Rich brings a unique blend of expertise, passion, and patience to every class. His deep understanding of jiujitsu techniques is evident in the way he breaks down complex moves into manageable steps, ensuring that even beginners like myself can grasp them effectively. He also goes above and beyond to provide personalized guidance and feedback, helping me refine my skills and reach my full potential. I can't recommend Coach Rich and Groundworks JJ Academy highly enough. P.S. I am writing this review as an adult practitioner in the adults program (not youth/kids)

Logic Pasadena is a clean family friendly and vibrant place to learn jujitsu. All the professors…read moreand coaches are kind and first class. No shady types here! My son and I have been practicing jujitsu for over a year now and it's the best decision I ever made. Highly recommended!

My child has been practicing BJJ in this Pasadena location since early 2021. Professor Bence is…read moreremarkable when teaching techniques and making sure lessons are well understood. He is very patient and his personality facilitates the art for both, children and adults. I highly recommend this location!

Updating my review after a handful of years. My family's experience at Cosmic has continued to be…read morepositive. My kids have been with the program for many years now and I am very pleased with their progress. Coach Joseph can be strict with the kids during training, but he cares deeply about them. He not only wants them to continue to build on their jiujitsu skills, but he also wants them to grow into strong, resilient individuals who can overcome any obstacle. He teaches the kids to be respectful to their parents, instructors, and peers. Discipline is one of the core attribute of martial arts and it's great to see that in every class. Some coaches may seem tough on the outside, but they're also fun and extremely nurturing because many of them are dads of the kids that train there. The best way to find out is to try out a class!

You'll almost always feel welcome here. Especially if you are a child, for example, a 12-year-old…read moregirl lost count of an exercise she was doing, and he snapped at her & asked if he needed to count for her! He will call the kids boy or girl rather than by their actual name to make them feel worse. He used the excuse that this is a rough sport to justify his abuse. He even laughed at a little boy who had accidentally gotten hurt and mocked his pain by saying, "Blood, sweat, & tears!" And he didn't even check to see if he was okay or tell his parents what happened to him, what if he got a bruise or god forbid was bleeding?! He views their failures as burdens for him rather than obstacles for them to overcome. And the curriculum is seemingly too random and doesn't focus enough on systems. He will sometimes pressure the good kids for no discernible reason; that makes no sense. So if you believe teachers shouldn't be held accountable but children should, then this place is for you! He couldn't even look me in the eye when he told me to trust his process, but he screams at a little boy to look at him when he is carelessly reprimanding him. He will use any excuse to scream at the kids instead of being more patient with them. My entire journey with him was boiling frog syndrome. All these kids he's tormenting with his childlike screaming and lies are gonna have broken brains, good job! It would be extremely helpful if he asked his students for feedback and found ways to improve his methods instead of losing his temper. He just drops random stuff on us and expects us to do it perfectly. He laughed when I misheard his instructions, and he enjoys humiliating his students in front of everyone and thinks it's good. He'd better get it right if he doesn't want his precious trophies to stop coming in. I have lost my temper here before I admit it. And maybe some kids who need to be pushed, everyone is different. But do you really want to take that risk with every kid? And yes, I overreacted when he posted an Instagram story where he joked about not turning on the a/c during a hot day of 2024. He also had this competition training technique, I think he called Red Alert, where if your opponent is being unfair and breaks your arm, he won't do anything about it. And the sweat test, which I previously mentioned. And as mentioned in my previous review, there was the 200 squats group punishment, but what I haven't mentioned about it was how he unnervingly laughed about the way the tears streamed down their face. That is a form of corporal punishment. And I can't abide that because it is immoral. He often lets the kids play a bit after class, and there was one time when a little boy was playing tag with his brother wasn't playing tag. And they acted like he hit him and threatened him 100 burpees if he did it again. Instead of hearing his side of the story and then Coach Nate mocked him for being scared of Coach Joseph. He has done kind things for them from time to time, but that's not going to cancel out all the harshness he has and still is inflicting on his students. Provoking hope amuses sadists. And I may have misunderstood Coach Martinez jokingly calling some kids liars. I also misjudged the capoeira/MMA coach; he is a good man who just has a really intense way of teaching. He used his dog to distract the students during one of the comp classes, and got mad at them for looking at her. It's an imbalanced power disparity. Then there is the matter of those martial arts camps he is a part of. The way he described them made it sound like he'll break the kid's spirits with pain to "help" them. Kids don't have the option to leave unless their parent(s) or guardians say otherwise. And he said, "We will do in a month what the parents won't dare do in a lifetime." Seems like he thinks he can raise them better. Hardly any kids will tell someone about this abuse since most kids don't do that. I should know, I've been there. They often don't know how to express themselves yet. He hates their innocence, and that fake smile and condescending laugh of his. He said no matter what I say about him, he won't hold it against me. All that talk of integrity, and this is how he acts. He called two young boys weak for having soccer practice every other week, something they can't control. He also mocked me in a direct message on Instagram for having a rough childhood and "taking it out on everyone!" Don't trust this man to respect physical boundaries either. He would often snatch away my headphones to check them out or caress me without my consent. He also forced us to ask a question, so I asked the first one that popped into my head. And it wasn't very good, and the next day he said he had a new rule. Where every question will go through him first before asking a guest coach. "Because some of you have been asking some really stupid questions." He says. That's a wonderful way to talk about your autistic pupil. He also gaslights a lot.

Enrolling my two kids in Master Machado's Jiu-jitsu class was one of the best decisions we've made…read more His experience, patience, and genuine kindness shine from the moment you walk in. My kids were initially nervous, but as soon as they met Master Machado, it felt like they'd known him their whole lives. He's engaging, warm, and incredibly approachable, which made all the difference for my beginner kids. Whether you're a complete newbie or looking to hone your advanced techniques, this is the place to be. For those who know about BJJ, the Machado family are foundational pioneers of the sport in the U.S.--they truly represent the cream of the BJJ world. Parking can be a bit tricky depending on the time of day (street parking), but it's worth a small effort for the class experience. Highly recommend for families and anyone seeking a supportive, top-tier BJJ environment.

Roger Machado is a rare expert from the original Gracie Baja gym. Learning from him these past two…read moreyears has been a privilege. Master Machado emphasizes safety, technique, and moves that work. For both hobbyists and competitors, you'll find your niche here. It is rare to be able to learn directly from someone like Master Machado and he is a great teacher.

I've been training at Silanoe Martial Arts for both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, and it's…read morebeen an awesome experience. The coaches are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely care about helping everyone improve, whether you're a complete beginner or have experience. The classes are well-structured, challenging, and welcoming, with a great balance of technique, drilling, and live training. The atmosphere is one of the best parts. Everyone is respectful, supportive, and willing to help each other learn, which makes it easy to feel comfortable from day one. I've learned a lot in a short amount of time and always leave class feeling like I've improved. If you're looking for a gym with great instruction, a friendly community, and high-quality training in both BJJ and Muay Thai, I highly recommend Silanoe Martial Arts.

Before joining Silanoe, I had tried out 3 other gyms and while those other gyms were good, Silanoe…read morereally stood out because EVERYONE here is super awesome. From the office manager to all the different coaches and even to the other students, everyone cares about your learning. First off, the coaches - I can't say enough good things about the coaches here. When I had tried the other gyms, their coaches would throw out terminology as if everyone automatically knew what they were talking about. And then they would proceed to show the moves and simply tell you what to do. The coaches at Silanoe take the time to explain the terminology as well as WHY you should do each move the way they're taught so that you're not only learning the moves, you're also understanding them. They are also extremely patient so I never feel hesitant to ask questions. Next up we have the office manager. I always feel welcomed when I walk into the office because I'm always greeted with a lovely smile and all my questions are always answered with that same smile. When I have questions and am not on location, I simply send an email and I'd get a response almost immediately. I truly feel taken care of. Then there's the other students, which makes up a large part of the overall experience. All of the students here are friendly and very approachable and nobody here has an ego. The students treat each other with much respect and nobody is out to prove anything. We are all here for each others' learning and we have fun. Finally, there's professor Gino himself. Professor Gino is the nicest and most down to earth instructor you'll ever meet. You can tell he truly cares about the students and community he has built. From the moment I stepped foot on his mat, I felt very welcomed and never once felt intimidated. I did not get such a feeling from some of the other gyms I tried. Silanoe is awesome!!

Very professional, friendly, and accepting staff. Would highly recommend for self defense, fitness,…read moreand boundary setting as a woman and student.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Pasadena exceeded all my expectations…read more Training has genuinely changed the way I see myself--building not just physical skills, but confidence and resilience that carry over into everyday life. One of the most meaningful parts of the experience has been the community. I've met incredible people here, and some have become my closest friends who support and motivate me both on and off the mats. The instructors are truly exceptional. They treat every student with respect, patience, and genuine care, regardless of experience level. You never feel out of place or overlooked--everyone is supported and nurtured every step of the way on their jiu jitsu journey. GJJP has shown me that jiu jitsu really is for everyone, and I'm so grateful I took that first step to walk through the door.

Been coming here 4 years and it feels like my home away from home. They are welcoming from day one…read moreand the coaches are high level. The owner Savant was a top 10 featherweight in his prime and always pays close attention to each student. Coach Chris though is light work every time

I cannot stress how much I loved my time at Fight Academy Pasadena. I had been training for 5 years…read moreat different gyms (jiu jitsu) before finding Fight Academy and I stayed there for the last 2 years I was based in LA. EASILY the best training, community, vibes, and biggest improvement in my fitness and combat sports training was here. Savant leads an amazing team of coaches!

Alex and Sally run a really great school here. They've somehow come up with a way to cater to…read moreevery experience level and every type of practitioner. They have gi and no gi classes including fundamental classes for both for beginners and the advanced. I say advanced as well because they go over fundamentals but with incredible detail and nuance that even if you've been practicing for years (I'm a purple belt writing this), you're going to pick up details youve never seen before. they're like advanced fundamentals. I describe Alex as a Danaher-lite version. they have membership plans strictly for beginners and also advanced memberships where you can take leg lock classes, takedowns, and MMA classes all the classes taught are from a curriculum curated from Alex's decades of experience. every class builds on each other and it's amazing how much Alex can teach with so much detail. and of course the environment and people here are really friendly if you're hesitant just drop in for a trial class

Came into this with zero grappling experience. Alex and Sally have been a Godsend. Made my first…read morebeginner blueprint session fun and enjoyable. They instill confidence and ensure you're understanding everything being taught. Looking forward to my next lesson.