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Cies MMA

3.5 (13 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Brian G.

I do not recommend Cies MMA for military, veterans etc. who have prior combatives experience who are looking for BJJ fundamentals. This is an MMA gym, which is great if that is what you are looking for. I am retired US Army with 20 years of service, Apache Helicopter pilot. 5 Combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. 2 Purple hearts and multiple Air medals with Valor. I spent a lot of time rolling with the Army Combatives program and I felt like I had a pretty good base for ground rolling fundamentals. For BJJ fundamentals, I do not recommend this location. I also do not recommend this location for kid's classes. There is not enough safety's walking the line to ensure kids are being safe with arm bars and different submissions. Mike, the owner, is the only one walking the line and many times I have seen kids go a bit bar with no direct supervision because the lack of adult eyes watching the moves of the kids and insuring, they are not doing something wrong. Mike also lacks the communication skills needed to deal with children. I often saw him getting frustrated with the kids. Don't get me wrong, Barb and Mike attempt to be safe in all they do, but they cannot be everywhere at once. They just don't have a good system set up to allow other blue belts or purple belts to come in and help with the kids. There must be more than one set of eyes watching to ensure the kids are being safe. As of the last class I attended, this has not yet changed. I rolled at this gym for nearly 2 years on and off due my schedule (one week on, one week off due to work) For the weeks that I was here, I would attempt to roll regularly. During this time, I suffered from a hyper extended left arm, rolling with one of his blue belts who competes regularly, and hyper extended right knee, again rolling with one of his blue belts, a pulled right hamstring (out for 8 weeks), a cracked right-side rib, two broken toes on my left foot, and one broken toe on my fight foot. Never once did I complain or go to Coach Mike and say that the people, he chose for me to roll with were going too hard or complain that those guys were being too rough on me. I simply healed back up and came back to the gym when I was ready. I also only rolled at the level I felt I was being pushed to, if they rolled hard, I would roll hard back. About 3 weeks ago, Coach Mike asked me not to come back to his gym for 6 months, meaning I was being suspended for 6 months because two of his blue belts complained that I was rolling too hard. I am a white belt with no stripes. He said that I had received complaints before but not two in one day. First, he did this over Instagram. There was no professionalism in how he handled this. He could have called me or did this face to face, but he did it over Instagram messenger. (Having tech issues posting the IG DM he sent me) Caveat: I never knew heal hooks were not allowed in Gi. I simply rolled the same way all the time. Again, fundamentals. This guy Edgar was a blue belt who tried to jump out of me hold on to his leg, he popped his knee because of what he did, I never tweaked or pulled anything on him and I stopped as soon as I heard a pop. My son attended also, the part that pisses me off now is that he used my son as an excuse. If you have a problem with me, keep it to me. But here again, I'm hearing about this through Instagram. Bottom line, this could have been avoided if he just talked to me more. He has all my contact info; I gave it to him when I signed up for classes. Secondly, he has never pulled me aside in the entire time I was going to the gym, again almost two years total on and off, and given me mentorship. I never spoke to him besides hello and goodbye. Even then it was like trying to pull teach to get him to talk to me. I just kept telling myself, I'm not going to the gym to be his friend, I am going to get good training. He claims the Militech and Pena lineage, so I trusted I was getting good training. This is not to say that he does not have a great report with his regular "Cies Army" contenders who regularly go to tournaments and represent Cies. He talks and jokes with those guys all the time. But bear in mind, if you are not in that circle, you will not get any mentorship at all beyond the move of the day he is teaching. I am not exaggerating this. I have brought in multiple friends who say the same thing. He does not give fundamental instruction beyond the move of the day. He will not interact with you to give mentorship or further instructions or feedback if you are doing something consistently wrong. He WILL send you a message through Facebook or Instagram. I am not sure why he does this or chooses this way of communicating. Just seriously, if I need to do something different, then just tell me face to face on the spot and make the correction. Telling me he does not want me to come back to the gym over Instagram was not the preferred way I would have chosen to find out I was rolling too hard.

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My two boys have been going there for the last five months. I had a credit card on file that had a fraudulent charge on it when we went to Germany a month after they started so it was shut down and I got a new credit card. They never spoke to me or wrote me to inform us that they needed updated payment. We have had many conversations in these last few months and not once did they bring this to our attention. The first email I received from them was January 1st, 2024 which went straight to spam and was addressed to Ryan (my name is Josh, no Ryans in the family) saying we owed $200. Four months ago he sent us to collections without a word, email or mail and removed our children from their system. I am a businessman and they have known since September that I have been building our fourth business working 12+ hour days leaving my wife with our 4 small children. We can obviously pay but they never said anything to either of us! I am friends with Mike on Facebook and have been since he opened his first gym years ago. I boast his business to everyone interested in MMA and have for years since I know how hard it is to operate a successful business. So I am not just some stranger, they should have at minimum talked to me or my wife before taking such extreme measures. Absolutely wild! We have 4 boys under 6 and he has lost them as students and my respect permanently. Communication is not their forte and that's the energy they put off. Don't ever expect a greeting as a customer or "friend". Update: their response is to attack a 5 & 6 year old. Not once did his wife talk to my wife or I about any concerns, just that they were improving. What absolute slanderous liars they are!

It's not about how good your Jiu Jitsu is, it's about how good Jiu Jitsu is for you.

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2 years ago

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Michael C.

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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Mike C.

Thank you! We greatly appreciate the positive review!

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2 years ago

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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6 years ago

Awesome, happy with the training here. There aren't any other gyms in town that can compare to the lineage of this academy.

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Ask the Community - Cies MMA

Gracie Barra - Professor Vanessa in action!

Gracie Barra

5.0(10 reviews)
2.4 mi

This school is super incredible! I highly recommend training here. Professors Vanessa and Brian are…read moresome of the most caring and knowledgeable teachers I've ever had. They do a whole week free trial and the kids program always looks like a good time! Coming here from training at several other schools this place stood out for their wonderful community and positive way of coaching. Plus Professor Vanessa leads an absolutely amazing women's team and program - if you're a woman looking to get into BJJ there's no better place to learn the sport than among a whole team of supportive women! Anyone looking to train and uncertain feel free to add me as a friend and message me with any questions.

Putting my son in Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was the one of greatest decisions I've ever…read moremade. He's a ball full of energy, all the time, and I wanted him to get enrolled in an after school activity to siphon some of that off, and make friends. Three years later, I've also enrolled, and now we're learning together. I didn't know much about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) other than it was used in UFC, I've never done a martial art, and I've never been athletic. The best part is that none of that matters, you only need to bring the will to learn and curiosity to try, and the rest will fall into place. BJJ is a unique martial art unlike any other, and we're lucky to have such a high caliber of instruction in Colorado Springs. As a martial art, it's exciting and has great self-defense techniques, as a sport, it's thought-provoking and a fantastic work out, and as a lifestyle, it stirs emotions and inspiration, pushing you to achieve what you never knew you were capable of. Professor Bryan is an extremely humble, knowledgeable, and energetic teacher who I have seen transform the lives of kids and adults for the better. When you enroll, you aren't just getting classes, you are joining a school and a community with coaches and fellow classmates that cares for one another and is invested in everyone's development to reach their maximum potential. I've had more fun as an adult then I've had in years. My son and I have met wonderful people we're glad to call friends. This is a vibrant, diverse school that deserves a special place in the Colorado Springs culture. You can try a week for free, and once you do, you'll wish you signed up sooner.

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Gracie Barra
Gracie Barra
Gracie Barra - Professor Joe Aldridge demonstrates and standing technique.

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Professor Joe Aldridge demonstrates and standing technique.

Mercs Jiu-jitsu MMA Fitness - A great roll

Mercs Jiu-jitsu MMA Fitness

5.0(7 reviews)
1.0 mi

Needed a workout fix while I was here. I heard good things about this spot so I had to check it…read moreout. AMBIANCE: Parking: Plenty! It's in a plaza filled with eatery and hobby spots. I didn't find any issues looking for parking. Feels: The area is filled with other eatery and hobby spots so for parents dropping their kids off for their class or looking to eat something, thrift shop, get comics, there are some spots here to hang around. The gym itself is pretty cool. It's pretty clean and spacious. There's a toddler section for kids to play, there's a wall of fame where customers share their accomplishment medals and two workout stations. Their restrooms are clean and they got an ice bath! WORKOUT SESSION: We did the strength and conditioning workout and they put you to work out. I like the pair system and the circuit station. The people were pretty supportive and my entire body got a workout. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Jody and Justin are awesome! Friendly people and supportive of our health goals. TL; DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. Reasonable price, great workout choices, and good company. I appreciate the overall vibes here. Usually, these spots are intimidating but once knowing them is really fun. Nothing flashy but professional and personable where you're inspired to get healthier. Looking forward to coming back here the next time I'm in the area. TIPS: * Follow them on social media for updates

Amazing. More than a gym…read more I've been training with Justin for two years now privately and have been HUNGRY for him to open his own gym. And I couldn't be happier. He has built something amazing that reflects his enthusiastic, compassionate, and high standards personality. Ive been to dozens of mma/bjj gyms and probably hundreds of traditional gyms in my life and there Is nothing that compares to the warm hearts of the Mercs family and what they have built. From the moment you walk in you are welcomed like family. Not only is this place ran by an amazing couple, but the training is some of THE BEST I've had in 25 years of fitness. There is a wholistic approach and each session has a the proper mix of education and intensity. There is a level of detail in every aspect of training. And while the gym offers group classes, each one has a one on one feel. I can say enough great things about this place. You just have to check it out yourself!

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Mercs Jiu-jitsu MMA Fitness
Mercs Jiu-jitsu MMA Fitness
Mercs Jiu-jitsu MMA Fitness

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Prime BJJ - Professor Marcelo Motta competing at IBJJF Worlds

Prime BJJ

4.2(17 reviews)
5.3 mi

I've been training here for 5 years and highly recommend Prime BJJ. It's like another family and…read moreeveryone is so respectful. The instructor professor Marcelo is also amazing. He has the best kids program also. Try it, you won't regret it.

Top-Notch Jiu-Jitsu Instruction at Prime Academy…read more As a visiting purple belt from Southern California, I've had the chance to train with many excellent instructors over the years. However, my recent experience at Prime Jiu-Jitsu Academy under Professor Marcelo truly ranks among the best. From the moment I stepped onto the mats, I knew I was in a special place. The environment managed to strike the perfect balance - intense enough to push you physically, yet welcoming for practitioners of all levels. Whether you're an Olympic-caliber athlete or an older hobbyist like myself, there's a place for you at Prime. The instruction from Professor Marcelo was simply outstanding. His technical expertise shines through in every detail, and he has a true gift for teaching. As an older student, I appreciated how he emphasized proper technique over pure athleticism. At the same time, Prime offers as real a training environment as you could want. The combination of wrestling, judo, and world-class BJJ practitioners ensures you'll get an authentic, resistive experience. I walked away utterly spent but extremely satisfied with my training sessions. Whether you're just visiting Colorado Springs or fortunate enough to live locally, do yourself a favor and train at Prime Jiu-Jitsu Academy. With great instructors like Professor Marcelo leading the way, you'll be hard-pressed to find better jiu-jitsu instruction anywhere. Easily one of the top academies I've trained at.

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Prime BJJ - Professor Marcelo training with Professor Lee Douglas

Professor Marcelo training with Professor Lee Douglas

Prime BJJ - Tough training makes successful competitors

Tough training makes successful competitors

Prime BJJ - New Belt Promotion in front of the "Rio Wall"

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New Belt Promotion in front of the "Rio Wall"

Black Sheep Universe

Black Sheep Universe

5.0(1 review)
1.0 mi

I've purchased gear and trained with Black Sheep and I can't say enough good things about this…read morebusiness. As far as gear goes, I'm an astrophile, so I loved the galaxy look of everything right away and was ecstatic to find that not only did it look good, but performed even better. The gloves I purchased are some of the most comfortable and durable that I own, and I cannot WAIT to grab rash guards and spats! As for training, I came to Alex and Jess from a traditional Okinawan karate background and found that they were able to identify some of the habits of the style right away. This helped me to understand how to quickly translate the knowledge I already had to pick up more of the boxing, MMA, and Muay Thai techniques that they specialize in. I think what I appreciate most is how they approach training for newbies and kids. My teenager had almost no prior training background, is introverted, and is not very physical by nature, by the end of a pretty intense session she was asking about getting her own gear! Truly a place where you will be treated like family and pushed to be your best, no matter if you're looking for fitness, pro coaching, or self-defense.

From the owner: Look good, feel good, fight good. With the right gear you can accomplish just that. Being a…read moreprofessional fighter I know your gear and training struggles, so let us help you solve them. Shop with Black Sheep Universal and embrace your inner Black Sheep. Train with Black Sheep and become the best version of yourself -Alejandro "The Hurricane" Rodriguez (Business Partner/Marketing Director/Designer/Head Coach)

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Black Sheep Universe
Black Sheep Universe
Black Sheep Universe

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Cies MMA - boxing - Updated May 2026

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