I originally joined as part of a challenge, but what made me stay after those first weeks was the…read moreincredible community, coaches, and training environment. Everyone here is so knowledgeable and patient with new learners. That made starting something as intimidating as a close combat sport feel much more approachable. I also appreciate that there are plenty of women in each class (both the noon and evening sessions), which has made me feel more comfortable and confident showing up and training. If you've ever thought about picking up a new hobby or becoming a competitor, I highly recommend giving both the jiu jitsu and kickboxing classes a try at Mindset MA. Shoutout to Coach David for onboarding me within a 5-minute time span!

Love coming to this place great coaches and great people great vibes. Come check them out. Highly…read morerecommend this place. Coach David and coach Jowel are awesome

Excited to be back with Billy, Ray & Ali! The coaching staff at Silverback MMA & Fitness are…read moreexperienced instructors who work with you to meet your fitness goals. They offer many classes such as cardio kickboxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing and more! Youth classes are offered as well! Bring the whole family and get ready to sweat!

Coach Billy and Rk4 teach useful techniques in actual fight. Quality training with coaches paying…read moreattention to everyone. I like that they keep the size of classes small so they can pay enough attention to every fighter. Everyone is very respectful and friendly at the gym. It's obvious that coaches are passionate at what they do!

Are you a middle aged professional like me, with a desk job, craving for some intense, rewarding…read morephysical activity you haven't had in years? Well let me introduce you to jiu jitsu. The people at Alere, coaches and fellow trainees alike, are all very kind and supportive and willing to offer feedback to help you improve your movements (which, as a new white belt, is extremely necessary). I've been training at Alere for about two and a half months and have lost like 15 lbs and gotten much stronger. Come here and join an awesome community.

Jitsu Has Truly Transformed My Daughter's Confidence…read more Choosing Jitsu for my daughter was intentional. I wanted her to learn how to protect herself -- and if needed, to protect her little sister and her friends. I wanted her to grow up knowing she was strong, aware, and capable. What I didn't realize was how much more this journey would give her. When she first joined, she was shy and uncertain, but everything changed once she stepped onto the mat and into a community that believed in her. Having her best friend there made the experience even more special. They pushed each other, laughed through tough drills, and grew side by side in ways only true teammates can. Now it's been two years and counting, and she's still not sick of it -- not even close. If anything, she loves it more than when she started. That alone tells you they're doing something completely right. One of the biggest takeaways she's held onto is: "Never cry on the mat." And she takes it very literally -- but honestly, it's not a bad thing. For her, it means fight harder, stay focused, and don't give up. We get it... but let's be real, moms are absolutely allowed to cry on the sidelines. As a mom, it still scares me watching her train and compete -- that feeling never truly goes away. But her confidence has grown so strong that she's now the one asking me to sign her up for competitions. Seeing her walk onto the mat with purpose and pride is something I never imagined two years ago. I have to give so much credit to Jorge, Coach Chris, and Coach Brandon. They prepare her for every competition with patience, discipline, and unwavering belief in her. They've helped shape her into a girl who isn't afraid to push herself, challenge herself, and trust her own strength. Because of them, my heart is at ease a little more each time she competes. Jitsu didn't just teach her self-defense -- it opened a whole new world inside her. One filled with courage, growth, friendship, and confidence. Watching her transform has been one of the greatest gifts, and for that, I am endlessly grateful.

I've been training here for many years, and I can honestly say this is one of the best gyms in the…read moreBay Area. It's not just for fighters--it's an incredible place for hobbyists, beginners, and anyone looking to get in shape. At the same time, some of the Bay Area's top fighters train here. I was one of California's highest-ranked amateur MMA fighters, and today I'm one of the state's top professional fighters--even though I only compete once a year! Come check out Bay Area Fight Academy. Everyone is welcome!

I went in to check out the gym after the head coach told me I could come by anytime, and I was…read morealready pretty nervous since I'm new to MMA. Unfortunately, one of the staff members -- a heavier-set guy with glasses -- came across as rude and dismissive toward me, which made the experience uncomfortable. As a beginner, first impressions matter a lot, and instead of feeling welcomed I felt talked down to. The head coach himself seemed respectful, which is why I'm leaving this review honestly instead of just writing the whole gym off. I just think new people should be treated with more patience and respect, especially when they're stepping out of their comfort zone to try something new.

Great training at the Judo program run by Charles. He takes great care in developing his students…read more Safety is a priority in this class. Sufian, an old school judoka trained in Eastern Europe helps teach when he can. Great class. The students will be great representatives of judo one day. When I'm back living in the area, I'll check out the jiujitsu program.

Amazing caring staff. My kids have been training here on and off for over 10 years! Consistent and…read moredisciplined staff with quality, experience, and patience. They do have a parking lot on the side of the building and there is street parking available as well. Super easy to sign up and great communication kept with families.

If you are in the Castro Valley area then this is definitely the jiujitsu gym to train at. They…read morehave a very strong kids program and adults program, to fit all your jiujitsu needs, whether you are a hobbyist or a competitor. ZMATA is also a Guardian affiliated gym which means they have specific goals to help the youth community, where jiujitsu empowers then to improve themselves and build confidence. As for the mat space, it is clean and well maintained, with foot cleansing stations infused with tea tree oil, to keep the mats safe for everyone (a nice touch). They train champions here and everyone is about improving each other. I was blessed to train an open mat here and regularly see their instructors and practitioners at our NorCal open mat club. Thanks ZMATA!

Z mata is a fantastic place if your kids are serious about their BJJ, Judo or wrestling training…read more Their coaches are led by co-owner Mr. Aaron Zaballos (hence the Z in the name). They employ great coaches and it's a fantastic place to train. (My girls did for several years prior to the pandemic). Zero hesitation to recommend this business.

I've been taking my son here for about 7 months now and I couldn't be happier ! It took my son a…read morewhile to get use to being on the mat and around other kids only because he had never done any other sport (so he had no social skills.. my fault! ): ) but over all we have loved being a part of the Ta Danado family. Senpai Edwin and his wife Daniela are such awesome people ! Super helpful and have made this experience for my son one of the best. Senpai Edwin is amazing with the kiddos and I think everyone should be like that especially when working with kids. So if anyone is looking into putting their kids in Jiu jitsu this is the place ! :D So don't say I didn't recommend yall !!

Who's cutting onions here? I could get a bit choked up reflecting on my son's confidence growth in…read morethese last seven months. My son has been coming to this dojo for a few months now starting in the 6-8 year old class and I've seen his confidence steadily grow. They do have a toddler class available as well! I've been reflecting on how I can be a better parent and the choice we made to have him start BJJ. It's a tool for self defense, focus, confidence and being able to handle any situations. The world can be an uncertain and scary and unkind and raising a child in these times is daunting. The best I can do is to guide him to hopefully make the right choices and to build a strong mindset whether that's in defending himself or being able to dedicate himself to something worthwhile when the going gets tough. That's where Tadanado's village comes onto the scene! Senpai Edwin, the staff such as his wife Daniela, Alisa, and all the mini-instructors who volunteer make this BJJ world WORK! It really takes training beyond the public school sector to provide the skills needed for life. My son is still a sweet boy at the core but now just growing a stronger exoskeleton. I think the rear naked chokehold might be his favorite move.. hah He's learning to believe and trust in himself. He's learning more about his physical and mental capabilities and with this team alongside him who believe in him, he is going to be unstoppable! Thank you Tadanado Jiu Jitsu!

One World Jiu Jitsu Academy lives up to its name in its ability to unite practitioners of all…read morelevels and empower them to learn and train in an amazingly welcoming gym led by respectable, experienced coaches. Headed by Mike Prudencio, One World Jiu Jitsu Academy had its humble beginnings and has grown significantly through the years and within that span has been home to quite a few experienced BJJ practitioners. Mike and his team do a fine job in cultivating a strong community through respect for each other and the gym - the annual friend and family social events always have a good showing! Whether you've had some experience in the sport and are looking for a new gym with great people to train, a completely newcomer to anything related martial arts, or perhaps a parent looking for an extracurricular for your child, One World will open their arms to you with something to offer. Although One World was not our first introduction to Brazilian jiu jitsu while we researched for gyms, it ranked highest on our list due to the location, flexibility of the scheduling, training space, and coaching staff. Just a couple blocks away from the highway and being quite central in Newark, the gym is easily accessible. There's plenty of parking since most of the other establishments here aren't well frequented or mainly warehouses/non-customer facing offices. Adult classes are offered multiple times a day (early morning at around 630, mid morning at 11, and evening at 6) almost everyday of the week. The kids classes are also offered multiple days of the week (weekday evenings around 5 and Saturday mornings around 10). There may be different days/times for gi and no gi but they have a convenient online calendar that is kept up to date. Each session typically consists of warmups, drills, techniques, and open rounds of rolling. They also have two mat areas. The main mat area is huge and can accommodate large classes (sometimes the kids classes can get upwards of 30-40) with still ample amount of space for training and drilling. The secondary mat area is primarily used for no gi training when the main mat area is being used for instruction. And finally the coaching staff consists of some really experienced instructors in addition to Coach Mike. Their attention to detail and ability to motivate the athletes adds tremendous value to each visit. In addition, the instructors for the kids classes are so patient while firm to enable each kid to grow and advance at their own pace. For those looking to advance their game, Mike and his team of coaches will enable you to hone the fundamentals in addition to expanding your toolkit of techniques. The group of folks coming to this gym check their ego at the door and are all very willing to share and learn from each other. There are quite a few competitors who will certainly push your limits and help you get to the next level. If you're a newbie, welcome to the club! We all started one way or another but what's important is that you start and keep coming back. Time on the mat will level up your game and with some patience and dedication, you'll continue to build confidence, get fit, and develop practical skills for self defense and competitions. And as a parent, you'll feel right at home with fellow parents who have also sought out an activity for their children to participate in to gain intangible skills (confidence, self discipline, conflict resolution, social belonging, mentorship to name a few) while learning some practical techniques for self defense. They start children as young as 7 years of age but it may also depend on their maturity. I personally came in with no formal martial arts experience and have to say, it was one of the best decisions. As a father, finding a new hobby to enjoy on my own as well as with my children and redefining myself as the kiddos grow up has made this journey a very rewarding experience. The community has been great to foster that personal growth and it's been fun to bring the new generation into the sport. Overall, One World Jiu Jitsu Academy is by far one of the greatest places for an in-depth introduction and continued education of Brazilian jiu jitsu. If you're interested, consider coming in for a trial class and see for yourself if the gym and sport is right for you!

One World Jiu Jitsu is an amazing gym perfect for people who are new or trained. Everyone is super…read morewelcoming and everyone is super nice and always helpful when needed. Coach Mike is also a very good coach and always teaches us new things. If you want to do or train jiu jitsu One world is a perfect place to start and train jiu jitsu!