I am beyond happy I found this gym and that it's so close to home. From the moment I finally mustered up the courage to call and learn more, it was clear this was a place I wanted to be part of. I spoke with Professor Art, told him a little about my background, and he welcomed me in for a trial class. I showed up the next day and was completely blown away by the professionalism, quality of instruction, cleanliness, emphasis on safety, friendliness, and the number of classes they offer. One of my absolute favorite things is that the professors actually learn and use your name, immediately. That may sound like a small thing, but it makes such a huge difference and really shows how much they care about the people training there. And the amount of WOMEN who train here is amazing! I've been here for over six months and I still haven't even had the chance to roll with all of them. This is a really, really great gym, and I genuinely love being part of it. Thank you so much to Professor Leka and Professor Art for creating such a welcoming, professional, and fun place to train. read more

My 11-year-old son has been enrolled at Checkmat Valencia for over a year, and we've had a very positive experience. The instructors are professional, knowledgeable, and supportive, and the environment is very family-oriented. The training is high quality, practical, and taught with real expertise. My son has learned valuable sportsmanship and has gained confidence and discipline through the program. I would definitely recommend giving them a try. They offer a free trial session. read more

We've had an amazing experience with Checkmat Valencia. Professor Leka, Professor Art, and the Checkmat team are absolute professionals. They have world class technical experience, but perhaps more importantly, they have a deep understanding of how to relay their experience and passion to their students. My 8-year-old son has been attending Checkmat for about 8 months and he loves it. I noticed his self-confidence grow since he started with Checkmat. He tells me his favorite days are the days he goes to jiu jitsu. He's tried multiple sports and has never shown as much enthusiasm as he has for jiu jitsu and a huge part of that is Checkmat's approach to introducing children to jiu jitsu. This is a super kid friendly place. I have so much confidence in this program that I encouraged my 5-old son to try it. Professor Art and Professor Leka welcomed him to trial experience and he had so much fun he joined and is now a member of the Checkmat family. I highly recommend this program. The children grow in their self-confidence, their self-awareness, inner (and outer) strength, discipline, and most importantly, they have fun! read more

I've been training at Checkmat Valencia for 5 years now and my kids ages 4 and 5 both are being training there for almost a year now. Prof Leka and Prof Art are amazing teachers and they have a very talented staff as well. The Kids classes offer a fantastic environment for children to learn valuable life skills. They take amazing care of the kids and you can tell they discipline them and make it fun for the kids at the same time. I noticed a behavior change in my kids. They feel more confident and behave much better since they start training. I train 3x a week with a great group of people. Everyone from top to bottom is very nice and the atmosphere is great. Checkmat Valencia is vey family oriented and I recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn Jiu-Jitsu! read more

I'm speechless to how this whole location is a TEAM. Check Mat Valencia has given our family a place to feel at home. The motivation and the dedication is clear with every member that walks in the door. The owners have embraced us as family and it is a pleasure to watch everyone reach metal after metal with such pride. The compassion I watch with everyone who trains and competes should be emulated in all sports arenas. read more

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Checkmat Valencia is a place where you can bring your whole family! I can say that because my whole family trains here. From my daughter starting when she was 12 years old , to myself starting jiujitsu at 38 years old. I wasn't an athlete at all and yet even I could start here and learn from the very best. The academy is clean, organized and very spacious. The professors are knowledgeable, kind and always willing to go above and beyond to share what they know and help any student. I cannot recommend Checkmat enough to anyone who wants to train, learn more or compete. It's a great atmosphere and a great team! read more

Learning/Training BJJ at Checkmate Valencia is fantastic! Professors Leka and Art are both very experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate about teaching. They create a welcoming and supportive environment for all levels, making you feel like part of the family from day one. I definitely suggest this place to anyone trying to improve their BJJ skills! read more

Life changing. Joining this academy/team has been one of the greatest decisions of my life. I'm both physically and mentally stronger than I have ever been. I consider this place a second home and these wonderful people a second family. This gentle Art will seriously change your life for the better. Like our Professors' say, "one day, or day one? The choice is yours." Not only will you receive topnotch training from phenomenal instructors, but you will immediately be immersed in the community and love of the whole team. This is a great place for women looking to start their journey. Help yourself be the best version of you possible and join us. read more

Checkmat Valencia - Master Leka Viera and I - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Valencia, California

It was my first time trying ju jit su-- let alone any contact sport, and to say I was nervous is an understatement. But from the moment I stepped foot in the gym, I was welcomed with warm smiles and open arms. Professor Art and Professor Leka were so encouraging and helped me through the whole process. Professor Art was incredibly patient with me and taught me everything step-by-step. And the place is so clean! I loved being there and I'm so grateful I had the chance to try ju jit su for the first time in such an amazing environment. read more

I love my son more than anything, and am admittedly, the most over protective parent I know. Putting his safety and well being in the hands of others is something I will probably never get used to. That being said, Professor Leka and Professor Art have done nothing but make this very hard part of parenting as easy as possible for me and my helicopter parent ways. We have been a part of the Checkmat Valencia family since they were a small startup school at their previous location. To be able to grow as much as they have says a lot about member satisfaction and everyone's eagerness and excitement to refer their academy to friends and family. How they have handled their growth is actually one of the things I respect and appreciate most about this academy. As their numbers grew, their egos did not... The teaching style/family atmosphere has stayed the same regardless of class size. Professor Leka and Professor Art are top notch instructors who genuinely care about ALL of their students. They never play favorites, and do an unbelievable job of spreading their attention and instruction evenly to everyone, regardless of skill set. All they care about is bringing the best out of each and every student, whatever that best may be. Besides being excellent in their art, Professor Leka and Professor Art are genuine, humble, and caring human beings. I would be the first parent to pull my son from here if I got even the smallest hint of the contrary. I would highly recommend Checkmat Valencia to anyone in the area. read more

I want to give this place 10 stars!!!!! But since I can't i would like to explain why I love this academy. 1.) Incredible and I mean INCREDIBLE instructors. Kind and patient, but also old school in the best way. 2.) Clean and beautiful facility. As a germaphobe, I do not dole out that comment freely. 3.) the kids/families that are members are all incredibly kind. You really get a sense of being a part of a community. 4.) my son looks forward to going! They have this amazing ability of teaching techniques in a fun way. Honestly, you have to go and experience it yourself to really understand the quality of this academy. read more

Checkmat Valencia - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Valencia, California

I cannot express my gratitude towards Professor Leka, Professor Art and everyone else that trains there. By not going into too much detail, they saved my life. Professor Leka is an inspiration and I love being on the mat with her. I have met some amazing people there which are now some of my closest friends. I feel so much confidence within myself, which I was lacking for quite some time. They are great with kids and I often come to watch the kids class. They make it fun but also educational for the kids. They are HUGE supporters on anti bullying and teaches them how to overcome it. Highly recommend them (they know, I'm always referring people there) and I talk about BJJ more than my work. Best decision I have made. read more

My husband thought my son would enjoy ju jitsu. A good friend of mine recommended Checkmat Valencia. I've never seen my son so involved and motivated to go to training without us pushing him. Checkmat Valencia has been such a positive and motivating environment. He even reads books and watches videos to help himself grow. In such a short time I've noticed my 18 year old son mature and has shown positive changes in his everyday life. He never stops talking about what a wonderful environment it is and how everyone pushes each other to become better. I look forward in watching my son grow in the sport of ju jitsu with Checkmat Valencia. Thank you for being such a family oriented and positive influence to my son! My husband looks forward to joining soon! read more

I have had the privilege of training with world class Professors, competitors, and at amazing academies throughout my Jiu Jitsu journey. Professor Leka (a 3 time BJJ World Champion & 5th degree black belt), coach Art, and the other coaching staff have built something special at Checkmat Valencia. You feel the open and positive family environment here. The kids program teaches the gentle art of Jiu Jitsu through personalized learning. It's amazing to see Professor Leka and the coaches equip the children with the confidence and skills to protect themselves while building good character. The fundamental and advanced classes have a wide range of training partners and skill levels who are motivated to help each other achieve their goals. Professor Leka helps us become the best version of ourselves and she makes it fun! Coach Art provides great customer service and instruction. He is responsive and a true professional. The mats, changing rooms, restrooms, and facilities are clean and well maintained. I encourage to check out a class! read more

Right off the bat this is not an intimidating gym so it's a great place to start or continue your BJJ journey. The professors are so knowledgeable, attentive, and warm. The students at this gym are very friendly and I love that they foster a family-oriented environment. This gym is further from my house than other gyms but I decided on Checkmat Valencia because it's where I felt the most comfortable as a girl and someone who is new to BJJ. I also really appreciate the professionalism Art and Leka run this gym with. read more

I train at Checkmat Santa Ana but was in town visiting my little sister who lives in Santa Clarita. Everyone at Checkmat Valencia was super inviting, kind, safe, and super fun to train with. They are on it with covid and safety procedures which I really appreciate. They introduced us as new students in the beginning of the class and made a huge effort to learn our names right off the bat- something I've never experienced at another gym before. Ongoing I am signing my sister up to keep attending classes here- she is 14 and there were a lot of other girls her age there to train. We are super grateful to find a gym that is this welcoming and has a developed community feel. And an established strong women's team! Anyone can teach arm bars and take downs, but no one can teach heart and this place for sure has that. Thanks for the rolls! Excited to see my little sister grow on her bjj journey with this team.(: read more

Checkmat Valencia - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Valencia, California

I was looking for a new place to train for BJJ and eventually bring my daughter to learn self-defense. The planets aligned, and I found Checkmat Valencia. First off, the place is huge and clean! Parents watch, while sitting on comfortable couches, as Professor Leka Viera teaches the kids classes herself. Second, separate men & women locker rooms that are immaculately well maintained. Lastly, why would anyone NOT want to train with a three time world champion? They offer morning and evening classes to fit anyone's hectic schedule. They really stress anti-bullying for the kids. Remember: No BJJ. Know Bullying. Know BJJ. No Bullying. Get your kids in the know at Checkmat Valencia! read more

Joining a new gym or trying a new skill for the first time can be very intimidating. But from our first time stepping foot into Checkmat, Professor Leka and Professor Art welcomed us in like family. They took the time to make our kids come out of their shell and be more confident. You can tell they really care about the children as if they were their own and they are passionate about what they do. Professor Leka really takes her time in explaining everything in great detail. She will work individually with you and make sure you are doing the moves correctly. My husband and I were so pleased with the way our kids were treated and the training they were given, that we decided to join ourselves. Going to the gym at the same time has never been easy with kids. But Checkmat has so many children that my children have grown very fond of. It's easy to let the kids play in the playroom while the parents train. In my book, if my kids are entertained and I can have an awesome workout, that's a Plus in my book. read more

Our 4yr old son joined checkmat about four months ago, and absolutely loves it. He previously tried soccer for a season, and was completely disinterested. But, professor Leka, professor Art, and coach Mare are so great with the kids. Our son is stimulated, and excited to come to class. The morals, and discipline we teach our son at home, is reinforced at checkmat. If your looking to get your children into BJJ, I highly recommend joining the checkmat family. read more

Over the past year, the strides my boys (6 & 5 years old) have experienced under the tutelage of Professors Leka and Art is nothing short of instrumental in the development of their self-confidence, sense of community, and overall well-being. My wife and I are so appreciative of the entire Checkmat Valencia staff that they have created a fun, evolving curriculum that motivate and inspire our growing kids. From the welcoming family atmosphere to the forward-thinking workshops (anti-bullying, Wonder Women BJJ Project, Parent & Me, etc.) it's no wonder we have recommended the academy to several friends and family all of whom are still here. If you or your little one is interested in BJJ, definitely give Professor Art a shout! read more

I can't say enough good things about this place! The owners are amazing and will know your child's name the minute they walk in the door. The facility is very large and incredibly clean. They not only are learning jiu jitsu but they reinforce character traits. They have anti bully workshops and treat everyone like family. If you are looking for a place that is over the top amazing for your children or yourself I highly recommend Checkmat. read more

Hands down the best place to learn BJJ. My son and I both take classes here and we absolutely love it. Just like any other parent I have a great fear of my son being bullied. Especially since he's a very passive, quiet and small kid. We had him try another martial art prior to BJJ but never really had the confidence if he had to defend himself that he could. But after 4 months of classes I have so much more confidence in his ability to defend himself. Once a month there is a Parent & Me class where you can join your child and teaching them how to defend their self from bullies. He absolutely loves it and always looks forward to the classes. The adult class is also great, everyone is so welcoming and willing to teach you how to execute moves. No one just trying to smash you to prove they are better than you. Everyone wanting to learn and get better in their Jiu Jitsu journey. If we ever moved from the SCV I would still travel back here to train. Professor Leka has built an amazing gym with amazing members. read more

We signed our daughter up at Checkmat Valencia because we wanted to her learn Jiu-Jitsu from a female instructor. Our expectation was that she would learn and see leadership from a powerful female instructor. That said, Checkmat has gone above and beyond our expectation. Both Professor Leka and Professor Art show leadership and compassion in a way that kids gravitate toward. I truly feel our daughter is learning from the best and brightest in the industry. read more

I would definitely recommend this place!! My daughter, her husband and my two grandkids train here now and it's an amazing place. When I have visited, I felt very at ease and I really appreciate the family environment they provide. I have visited to watch my family and even as a person who comes to visit they treat you like family. read more

Checkmat is more than an elite level marital arts practice, its a community. Professor Leka and Art are amazing people. I bring my 3 year old and he absolutely loves learning BJJ. From the first class, he received hands on instruction. Its a family oriented environment and its very supportive. Like minded people from all walks of life. I am so impressed with Checkmate that I joined as well. Its a blessing to be able to spend time with your child and bond while learning self defense and life affirming skills. I have studied marital arts through different periods of my life and I have never had this level of instruction before. All of the instructors are super knowledgeable and passionate about improving skills. They are also really great people. We're very fortunate to have Leka, Art, Rob, Jennifer and the rest of the Checkmat crew in our community. read more

I was always intrigued by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and finally got up the nerve to try it. I googled some local schools and sent emails inquiring for more information. Prof Art was the first to respond so I decided to give Checkmat Valencia a try. This was when the gym was at it's smaller, original location. Before my first class, I was pretty nervous and intimidated. Really didn't know what to expect. However, Professor Leka and Professor Art, along with the other Professors, coaches and students were very welcoming. They all did a great job on making me feel welcome and a part of their Jiu-Jitsu family. I immediately signed up after that first class, knowing that I was where I was supposed to be. As time went on, Checkmat Valencia eventually moved to a bigger location, to accommodate their growing family. It was awesome to see how the culture and family-like atmosphere of the gym was contagious. What was equally impressive was how the gym never lost it's identity or culture when it grew. Whether it's the fundamental class or the advanced class, the instruction is world-class, engaging and applicable. Many times it may seem like the instruction is curtailed perfectly to your Jiu-Jitsu journey at that point in time, and I believe it's because the Professors and Coaches do a great job observing their students and adapting their curriculum to what we need to improve on. The gym also has a great kids program. The kids classes are always packed and it's obvious that they are having a blast. My Wife and I are expecting our first child later this Summer, that being said I wouldn't hesitate on trusting Professor Leka, Professor Art and the other Professors/Coaches with teaching our child. I truly feel blessed that I found this place. Checkmat Valencia helped me turn my health and fitness in a positive direction. Prof Leka and Art truly care about their Jiu-Jitsu family. If you have a nagging injury, Prof Art will text to check up on you, or Prof Leka will ask how your feeling. Little things like that may seem like nothing, but I believe it shows the true character and culture of the gym - which is a family that cares for one another and wants to help each other improve, on and off the mats. read more

After nearly a year of attending classes consistently our daughter has progressed significantly; she has had success at several tournaments, met friends, and has more confidence because of the training. Prof. Leka and her staff provide great instruction...they genuinely care. In addition something that I appreciate is the staff knows how to push her, yet do not exhaust her--they have a great balance. This place is incredibly family oriented, so much so that my wife, who has never done martial arts, joined. She has a very limited athletic background, but the environment that is set helps everyone. Watching both of the women in my life develop this "super-power" has been amazing. Winning tournament matches is nice, but more so knowing they can defend themselves gives me great peace as a dad.husband. This experience continues to be worth every penny and more. read more

Great environment to learn. They embrace you with open arms since day one. I have no regrets and hope to bring my children here to learn one day. read more

Would not recommend this place. Prof leka may have skills bur completely lack any sense of elementary/basic courtesy and fairness. On the outside it may look like they want to do something about bullying and empowering women but if your kids ever not get along with Prof kids or any have any alternate ideas you will find yourself and your kids on the 'bad' list they will bully you until you leave. Talk to anyone that's been there long enough and if they are willing to admit the 'truth', whats being said here isn't crazy. Ask someone about bunch of core members that have left. I wouldn't waste any time here. Instructors here do not know how to teach kids.. they themselves need a long course of on elementary integrity 101. read more

This has been a long overdue revue. I wanted to really wait and try it out genuinely making sure this was not just another typical studio or what some would call McDojo. It's really fortunate that my 5 year old son and the rest of the kids is able to learn from one of the best and elite in the sport of Jiujitsu Prof. Leka Vieira along with amazing coaches like Robert G. Chu , Jennifer Sorolla Felipe, and Art. Not only are they good at what they are doing, but being parents as well with kids who also practice Jiu-Jitsu Checkmat Valencia ... it makes it more of a family environment and deeper level of care/teaching. What ever Prof. Leka is doing/teaching.... It works. Her way of teaching is a different kind. Seeing this for a 5 months, I as well decided to join the Checkmat Valencia family. It is such an honor to be with some many amazing individuals with open arms and willing to help and teach. Very fortunate to learn from Prof. Leka and the team. read more

Checkmat is the greatest place to train for BJJ! It is amazing and i highly recommend going for anybody looking for a new gym. The instructors are fantastic, it is an honor being able to learn from a three time world champion. Professor Leka and Art make it a very friendly environment, very welcoming and eager to train with you. With a female instructor, my daughters feel very comfortable taking classes. The facility is very clean as well, with separate locker rooms. Four thumbs up! read more

Being new to martial arts, I was not sure where to begin when I started searching for a place to train Jiu Jitsu. Fortunately enough, I stumbled upon Checkmat Valencia. I have been coming to Checkmat Valencia for about a year now and the love I have for the academy as well as the art surprised myself. The building itself is large and clean with separate locker rooms for men and women. They even have a play room for those who have children. Additionally, there are multiple bathrooms and two separate mat training areas. Most importantly, the teaching is amazing. Professor Leka breaks down the moves step by step providing options and scenarios for all. It's done at a comfortable pace and well instructed. Coach Art and the other Checkmat coaches share the same approach and learning methods. If Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is something you're interested in or have been doing for years, I highly recommend stopping by Checkmat Valencia! read more

My daughter Serena was looking for a new place to train jiu jitsu in the scv.... discovered Checkmat , we were immediately embraced by professor Leka and coach Art and immediately felt like part of the family ... Great place to learn jiu jitsu read more

Professor Leka and Professor Art are fantastic. I highly recommend this business! From the very prompt and professional initial call which was incredibly informative to the protocol in place to the welcome that we received on our first day from the staff and students-we are very impressed. It is refreshing to interact and do business people who really value professionalism and kindness. I can't say enough great things! read more

It is an absolute honor to train with Professor Leka and the Checkmat family. My husband and children train there. I've watched my husband go from jiu jitsu as a hobby, to actually competing and winning! My kids have grown from the teachings of Professor Leka and the Checkmat coaches so much that they look forward to training and can't wait to go back the next day. I was very impressed with their enrollment process. Other schools we looked and trained at pushed us to " just sign the contract". It was so discouraging to feel like just another patron and not interested in our jiu jitsu journey. Checkmat does not require contracts, they care about everyone's growth. They told us " if you want to be here and train, we want you here. If you don't your free to leave". That's what initially got us to visit the school and we have grown to love Professor Leka and the whole Checkmat family. If your looking for a academy to train at Checkmat is a must! read more

My kids have been taking classes here for over a year now and there is nothing but great things to say about this place, and about Prof. Leka, Prof. Art and all the other professors and coaches. My kids love going to jiu jitsu and look forward to coming here! For my youngest son, this was the first sport that he stuck with and didn't quit. As a parent, I love that they teach our kids not only the fundamentals of jiu jitsu, but also fundamentals that can help them in life. We have recommended Checkmat Valencia to many of our friends who also ended up joining. We truly do feel like part of a family here because Prof Leka and Prof Art really make everyone feel welcome, and they make all the kids feel comfortable and build their confidence too. I can go on, but if you're interested in checking it out for yourself or your kids, don't hesitate! I guarantee you will love them as much as we do. read more

We all know that professor Leka and professor Art are absolutely the most phenomenal Jiu-Jitsu instructors in The Santa Clarita Valley. The dedication and patience they have for the children ( I speak for my two little ones who attend classes ) is just amazing! They always go above and beyond to make each and every single child feel welcome. During practice, you can see all the children engaged in all the techniques being taught. Another reason I love Checkmat Valencia is the cleanliness of the place! Every single inch of the place is spotless and it always smells very clean. The restrooms are always impeccable and as a mother, nothing is more important than my children's health. All the people At Checkmat Valencia are extremely polite, humble and just fun to talk to! Weather you are looking for a way to boost your child's confidence, learn self-defense or a new way to stay healthy, I strongly recommend Checkmat Valencia. read more

We Love our checkmat Family. Checkmat Valencia provides a very safe and friendly environment that creates the perfect atmosphere for young kids to learn and grow. Professor Art and Professor Leka have been great role models to our girls helping them to not only learn Jiu-Jitsu but socialize and develop around caring people. Professor Leka and Professor Art at Checkmat Valencia serve as an exemplary model for what a Jiu-Jitsu academy should do. read more

I was looking for a place to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a friend recommended Checkmat Valencia. I decided to visit and found out that 3 Time World Champion and Fifth Degree Black-Belt, Leka Vieira, teaches there. I cannot believe that the legend Leka Vieira teaches in the Santa Clarita Valley. This is the only place to come if you're looking to learn Jiu-Jitsu! I highly recommend Checkmat Valencia! Come by and see for yourself! You definitely won't be disappointed! read more

This has been an amazing experience thus far. I have been training here for approximately 2 years and have loved every second of it. The best part of this gym is the camaraderie. Everyone is training to improve, NOT to hurt anyone. I have spoken to multiple people who have tried numerous gyms, and they love Checkmat Valencia because of the culture, friendships and high level instruction they receive. I HIGHLY recommended this academy to anyone looking to begin their Jiu-Jitsu journey!! read more