This gym is literally as fun as the logo is!! After experiences at the other well known gyms in CO,…read moreI'm certain this is the best MMA location by far! From the beautiful, clean & bright facility that feels comfortable, welcoming, and inclusive of all families... to the most genuine, elite coaches who are truly changing the lives of all they teach. And with the awesome management- this place is just untouchable! Look no further for the most supportive and genuine MMA experience! We are so so lucky to have found this place. I would not take my family anywhere else!

Amazing culture, and amazing instruction. The coaches all really know what they're talking about…read more(and each class is taught by someone highly experienced, not just a mildly higher belt rank). Yet the vibe is super chill and fun, and the staff is all incredibly welcoming and genuine. I walk away from each class feeling I've learned a substantial amount, even in fundamental-level classes, as the coaches take the time to give each student individual advice. All in all a phenomenal gym

Just passing through, was happily surprised…read more Solid school, excellent instructors and I loved the camaraderie and laid back atmosphere. People were joking and having fun but still drilling the techniques with intention. You can really tell this is a great place to train Jiu-Jitsu, everyone was welcoming and friendly. Good place for beginners and advanced practitioners.

This review is highlighting the Kompound and its sport BJJ background. It is a Rafael Lovato…read moreJunior affiliate. It competes und the Ribeiro banner in the IBJJF. My wife and I joined this the Kompound in 2012. I was a BJJ blue belt and my wife a white belt. We went on to become black belts in 2019. It is a small school. It does not have a huge number of students...maybe 250. The Kompound is dwarfed by the biggest school in metro Denver which has 5,000. However, it makes up for its small size by being a competitive monster. At the 2019 IBJJF World Masters, it took home 5 gold medals while only sending 11 competitors. In the pro BJJ world, the school is a consistent winner. If you are interested in sport BJJ, this is the place to be.

The Quiet Power of Mastery: My Encounter with Sensei Scott at the U.S. Olympic Training Center…read more By Dr. Garfield Johnson, 3rd Dan USA Judo In the winter of 1992, I found myself on the tatami at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs--an environment saturated with the relentless spirit of Olympic ambition. At that time, I was not just a judoka; I was a struggling, unhoused athlete clinging to the fading edge of a dream. The do (path) of judo is often austere, demanding total commitment--physical, mental, and spiritual--and I had given all three, with little to shield me from life's harsher throws. It was in this crucible that I first encountered Sensei Scott. We met during randori, that beautiful, unscripted form of sparring that reveals both technical fluency and psychological resilience. Randori is where the art of judo is laid bare--where kuzushi (balance breaking), tsukuri (fitting in), and kake (execution) fuse into an expression of pure will and refined technique. It was amid this flow that I felt, rather than saw, the unmistakable presence of mastery. What struck me most wasn't the precision of his nage-waza (throwing techniques) or the seamless transitions into ne-waza (ground techniques)--though they were impeccable. It was the revelation, only later confirmed, that Sensei Scott was visually impaired. Here stood a blind judoka not merely participating but teaching and leading at an elite level. This, in itself, was a profound kuzushi--a breaking of assumptions. In judo, we are trained to seek advantage through the redirection of force, to use our opponent's strengths against them. But what Sensei Scott embodied was a redirection of perceived limitation into undeniable strength. His condition was not a deficit--it was, in judo terms, a shinten (progressive transformation), a turning of adversity into mastery. Sensei Scott's approach to instruction was steeped in kihon (fundamentals), but also adaptive, deeply intuitive, and intellectually rigorous. His command of tai-sabaki (body movement), his sensitivity to tactile feedback, and his ability to perceive tempo, rhythm, and intent in randori placed him within the upper echelons of judo pedagogy. He was, and is, a shihan in the truest sense--not merely a master of technique, but a cultivator of character, resilience, and possibility. For any prospective judoka considering where to train or whom to emulate, understand this: elite judo is not solely defined by podium finishes or belt ranks. It is measured in seiryoku zen'yō (maximum efficiency with minimum effort) and jita kyōei (mutual welfare and benefit). The Denver Judo team coaches, and Sensei Scott embodies these principles with every grip, every word, and every correction. He is not just a coach--he is a living testament that the randori of life, with all its unpredictable attacks and falls, can still be navigated with grace, adaptability, and unwavering resolve. It is without hesitation that I place Sensei Scott and the Denver Judo coaching staff among the most elite and proficient judo coaches in North America. His kata may be unconventional, but his ippon seoi nage, tokui-waza--his specialty technique--is his unshakable spirit and transformative mentorship. To step onto the tatami with Sensei Scott is not merely to train. It is to keiko (engage in reflective practice) with a master whose vision transcends sight--and whose judo transcends limitation.

Came down to Denver Judo and was largely disappointed. I had…read moreprevious judo experience and the reviews for this place was overwhelmingly positive, so it really caught me by surprise by what I saw. Firstly, it was disturbing how many lower belts were coaching. This concerning because 1) inexperienced judoka teaching other inexperienced judoka could be a safety concern- yellow and green belts have no business coaching , yet that's exactly what I saw... and secondly 2)There is a very high level of aggressive behavior within the club itself with the members, almost like a military hazing mindset- this has it's place, but what it turns into is anyone who isn't instantly 'popluar' gets ran off. God forbid if I let my kids come to a place like this. Save the competitive aggression for competition, not instruction, and keep the coaching to experienced sensei- not just anyone with a higher rank than the next guy. The curriculum is fairly basic. Sadly, it needs to be said that this school really caters to the "PARA-lympic" judo community, which is a different competition pool from college, nation and olympic level competitors.There is no nice way of saying this, but this is a primer judo club for people with disabilities. while there are a good number non disabled athletes... the roots of this club are the Paralympics.. and I'll let you draw your own conclusions if this club will suit your needs. Lastly, I notice many injured competitors. Too many. This place is a firm believer in overtraining to build toughness, which is probably accounts for the very high injury rate. All that being said, I do think the 'punch card' is an excellent idea and I wish more judo and martial arts clubs in general had something like that. I hope that was helpful for anyone wondering about Denver judo. I'd love to be more positive, but they charged me money and I have certain exceptions with 'for profit' judo clubs. I paid money, this is my opinion based on attending several classes, and they can take that as they will.

Affordable prices and excellent leadership. We spent a…read morelittle more at a Dojo in Southlands where the classes were twice as full and the kids didn't learn nearly as much. At first Master Johnson seems rough and uncaring but actually his method teaches the kids responsibility and toughens them up. I highly recommend this for elementary ages up. My only complaint would be that they need to clean more often.

Friendly, relaxed atmosphere for learning Tai Chi. Instructors are knowledgeable and patient…read more Great workout for a low impact sport.

Fantastic community and great environment for learning kung fu…read more The Sifus are helpful and provide a lot of individual attention for all students.

Sharon is a wonderful woman that I look up to and respect very much. Every time, I come to a class,…read moreI am inspired and filled with excitement and positive energy. I highly recommend this school.

I went here for over a year, about twice per week. One of the masters talks too much, to the point…read moreit was disrespectful to the time and money we invested. Most days, in the middle of learning a technique, The Master would stop to talk about politics, movies, more politics, Netflix shows and books for LITERALLY a half hour at a time (I counted), often irrelevant to what we're learning. Other Examples: -Paid $50 for a 2 hour class in Drunken Boxing -The instructor goes off on tangents for first hour. By the end of the second hour, he told so many stories that he never finished teaching the class. We did not go through the technique enough times to remember how to do it by the next day. -Wooden man class is supposed to start at 7 PM - The Master is talking shop and says class will start soon. I leave at 7:45 because he's still talking. The teacher asks me the next day why I didn't stay around for class. -They are oblivious to how much they talk, compared to how little they teach. The teacher asks how one of my techniques is going, 1 week prior to a belt test. I tell him I have not been taught the technique he is referring to (despite going to class twice a week), and he didn't understand why. If you want to go to shoot-the-breeze about random and occasionally learn kung fu, without getting much exercise, go here. If you decide to go, Do NOT bring up politics, movies or Netflix. Do NOT ask about the difference between Shao-Lin and other kung fu. He'll talk for a half hour about why his is the best, and then forget that he was supposed to be teaching it. You won't even be able to have a conversation with them because they won't let you get a word in. I promise you I have LITERALLY stood there for 30 to 60 minutes at a time being told long stories about nothing, while not learning kung fu.

My son went to this school a couple years ago. He was too young, and could not commit to it fully…read more I was able to talk him through considering re-enrolling, and he finally decided to do so. All I had to do at that point was to give the school a call, and see if they are even open (due to COVID), and if they are, how they are operating and what not. Easy, right? Wrong. I tried the contact number that was listed on the internet first. No answer. I believe their website had the same number, so no luck there either. After about an hour of search, I was able to find a number, I guess on their facebook page. It went straight to voice mail (I think it was a google voice number), and the greeting gave another number and suggested that I "text" that number. I left a voice mail, and then sent text to the other number, as suggested. No answer. I kept calling and leaving voice mails, and texting both numbers for the following two days. No answer. I ended up enrolling him to another school. The End.

I have been part of Korean academy of Taekwondo for 10 years and I absolutely recommend it. It's…read moregreat for kids and adults. You will definitely feel part of a family here.

I have been going to this for about 4 years now. Is this gym perfect? Of course not, but I have…read moregrown so much since my white belt days because of the community. Safety is a top priority in this club and I believe the coaches here only want the best for you. Highly recommend checking this spot out.

The community at Onyx ju Jitsu is great. I have been there since they have been open in Aurora…read more Coach Isiah and any of the coaches are very welcoming and are great instructors. If they have any problems they address them quickly and correctly. There is no community that does not have its problems. But Onyx ju Jitsu is a safe space for all practitioners of ju Jitsu and other martial arts. If you like a family atmosphere of encouragement and camaraderie with adults and family classes. Onyx is a great club. There is also some great competition in the ju Jitsu club as well. The club is also very active in tournaments and super fights. You can also train Muay Thai stand up and UFC for competitive people. It's a great place to meet competitive people and train safely. If that makes any sense.