Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Ocotillo is truly something special…read more From the moment we walked in, we could tell this wasn't just another martial arts gym it was a family. The coaches genuinely care about every student who walks through the door, and you can feel that every single class. Coach Lucas, in particular, goes above and beyond. He doesn't just teach Jiu-Jitsu; he builds confidence, discipline, and respect in his students. He takes the time to connect with the kids on a personal level, and it's clear he's passionate about helping them grow both on and off the mat. Our daughter absolutely loves going, she looks forward to every class and is always excited to show us what she's learned. The positive, encouraging environment has helped her blossom. We're already planning for our youngest to join soon too! If you're looking for a place that combines world-class Jiu-Jitsu instruction with a truly caring, family-friendly atmosphere, Gracie Barra Ocotillo is the place. Couldn't recommend it more highly!

I decided in the new year to sign up for a trial class and check out BJJ. I've always wanted to…read morelearn but thought I was too old, and haven't literally never played any sports, ever, I assumed I wouldn't have any skills to compete and learn. But what the heck, let's give it a try. What I found was a really cool group of welcoming individuals that were helpful, gave tips, included me, and helped me along. Day one I was able to spar with blue belts & much more experienced men at BJJ, but it wasn't as intimidating as I imagined. No one was trying it hurt anyone, no obvious egos at play, just guys trying to get better and help others get better at the art. My take on BJJ: it's a self defense martial art, yes, but in practice it felt much much much more like a dance than a fight. It felt much more like a chess match vs at battle. You do not have to be the strongest person to compete and win at BJJ, but you have to be the smartest. You do have to have superior knowledge. Once you start to learn the way the body works, tricks to maximize your position and take away someone else's power or advantage, it's really a cool thing. Literally, a 125lb female can easily beat a 225lb male in this sport, if she has the knowledge. It's not all power or size, while that helps, it can be stripped from an opponent when you have superior training and knowledge of the sport. That was the coolest part for me to see. A huge confidence builder knowing you have the ability to defend yourself or others, if necessary, against odds you may have once thought not possible. Anyway, I enjoyed my training there and would recommend it to virtually anyone that has been considering learning BJJ. It's a good place with good people teaching a great skill. Just do it.

My son has been attending M3 Karate for six years. After trying many sports that he didn't enjoy,…read morehe finally discovered his passion for martial arts. He had been struggling socially and emotionally at school, but M3 became a place where he could gain confidence. Master Mendoza and his team provide an incredibly positive environment. They don't just teach martial arts--they also instill discipline, resilience, and respect. I have watched my son grow into a more mature and happy young man during his time here. On top of that, the parents are extremely supportive of all the kids, always cheering them on when they improve or move to the next level. We are truly grateful to M3 for providing such a loving and encouraging learning community for our children. Master Mendoza is an excellent mentor who genuinely cares about each student and builds meaningful connections with them. I highly recommend M3 Karate to anyone looking for a supportive and impactful martial arts program.

Life lessons taught while learning a variety of martial arts. Master Mendoza loves his students…read morewhile striving for excellence and holds them to a high standard. Highly recommend for self discipline, excellent training, and self confidence.

Master Shin and staff give structured/disciplined Taekwondo lessons but also provide endearing…read morecommunication to both students and parents! They truly care about the success of their students and go above and beyond to make them feel comfortable while challenging them to do better!

Both of my kids started here as young children, and watching their growth has been incredible…read more The masters and instructors are phenomenal. They know how to balance discipline with fun, keeping the kids engaged and motivated year after year. Through the belt testing, tournaments, and weekly classes, my kids have developed amazing self-confidence and physical fitness.

My daughter has been coming here for three months and just had her birthday party here today. I…read morehighly recommend this program. Everyone here is committed to teaching and dedicated to karate. I am impressed by their passion and patience as my daughter is learning! The first couple of weeks were very difficult as my daughter was learning a lot of coordination she never done before, but they made sure she felt welcome and confident. Their birthday party program is amazing too. Thank you guys for investing in my daughter.!

Sensei Scrima and Barkley are great instructors, they are not commercial, music in the studio are…read morenot too loud like other karate place, the frequency of the music not 440hz. They engaged with students, clear instructions, fun, and very friendly. Not too many students in the class.

Joseph is an AMAZING trainer, friend and mentor! Our family made the move from Cali to Arizona last…read moreyear and prior to officially moving I started my search for the right trainer. I had very specific needs of a trainer for my son (14 yr. old) to continue his years of training in boxing / martial arts. He met them all! Joseph was very attentive in reaching out and responding to me. I explained what I was looking for and that I wanted to see if it was a good match for him and our son to train before committing to anything. At the 1st session I knew right away Joseph was committed and a master at what he does. My son instantly clicked with him and he himself said he wanted to give it a go @ Kajukenbo, this was a new form of training for him. His background was mainly boxing with some experience in Jiu-jitsu. Joseph teaches discipline, assertiveness and helps students gain confidence. He supported me in things I have my son focus on as well; responsibility and accountability. I appreciated the one on one talks he would have with my son. Words of wisdom that my son will carry on for the rest of his life. I will NEVER be able to thank him enough for what he has done for my son! Unfortunately my son returned to Cali for other reasons and we were sad to lose the AMAZING training he had a every class. Joseph is one talented, dedicated Master and his style of training will not disappoint anyone interested!

My 9-year-old daughter joined Bautista Kajukenbo in August and as soon as my 5-year-old daughter…read moreturned 6, she wanted to join her big sister as well. I was a bit nervous having her join so young, but with Sifu Joseph's direction, she has taken to the sport very well as is one of the fiercest little Little Dragons. Sifu Joseph dedicates so much of his time to his students and helps us out when he can (travel issues, gear/supplies, gently-used uniforms) either personally or by brainstorming with the other parents to resolve the issue. My daughters have recently earned their yellow belts and I am happy to see them thrive in Kajukenbo. I place so much trust in their sifu and am grateful to him for mentoring and guiding my girls. Rocio M.

This school doesn't emphasize "flashy", and doesn't charge equally flashy prices. This school is…read moreone of those hidden gems you have to look for to find. Very little advertising or other overhead, so he can avoid charging his students through the nose. And no contracts. Sensei Hughes is presently a 5th degree black belt with Shorinryu Shorinkan, training under some of the premier martial artists alive today (including most recently Doug Perry and Eddie Bethea). The art he teaches is Okinawan Karate, taught as it has been for hundreds of years. If you want tournaments and trophies, this is not the school for you. No flips or other flowery routines. This one is about self defense, pure and simple. And while some time is spent on self defense techniques, all of these are derived from kata. Kata is not just a dance, it is a way to ingrain sequences of movements to the point where you do them without thinking about it. Those sequences can disable or devastate, depending on the situation. THAT is where the self defense really comes from. And developing it takes time. This is what we focus on. Kata, and applications of the different movements in the katas. There are several katas, and various techniques within each to keep it interesting! We also do weapons (for which there is no extra charge!!). I have been training with sensei for over three years now and am a blue belt (that's the 5th color, there are five more promotions to reach black). If you want trophies, or an expensive workout, there are many schools that can do that. If you want to learn real, practical self-defense, this is one of the best schools in the Valley. After my previous "training" at schools of dubious quality I consider myself fortunate to have found this one.

Sensei Hughes is an amazing martial art instructor. It's hard to explain his depth of knowledge or…read morelevel of expertise. He has trained in many different styles of martial arts and chose Okinawan Karate to be the one to master. His emphasis on kata and bunkai is definitely the traditional approach. Physically he is tough, strong and a little intimidating (in a good way.) The words of wisdom that come out of his mouth are what truly impressed me. He breaks-down a defensive move slowly and explains it. He'll show how it was done in the old days on Okinawa, then show multiple variations. He talks about bullies and street thugs and the psychology behind their approach, leading me to believe he has firsthand knowledge of dealing with such individuals. If you live anywhere near Chandler, AZ and are interested in the martial arts, you owe it to yourself to stop by and observe a class or better yet join. It's a small school, but the level of instruction if very high.

I love grappling and I have been fortunate to find an excellent instructor at Lopez Martial Arts…read more Sensei Lopez, I call him Sensei as I'm a Judo traditionalist, has direct, clear and detailed explanations. He demonstrates each movement introducing the particulars that make a difference in your learning. I've visited and trained at many dojos/ gyms in the valley, across Arizona and locations across the country. This school has to be in the top 2% of quality of instruction. The facility is roomy, clean and comfortable for training. The mats are on a suspended floor which remove much of the ache from any takedown practice. Finally, the students are part of a cooperative community - helping one another to win on and off the mat. Visit and watch a class and you'll see the quality difference knowledgeable BJJ, Judo, and Kickboxing practitioners look for.

Everything! Great, friendly people, amazing technical instruction, all ages, terrific sport to get…read morein shape and stay in shape. Try something that might get better out of your comfort zone that might change your life for the better!