I was visiting South Tahoe for vacation and finally decided to train at Escobar Training Grounds (I had looked them up during previous trips but didn't have the time to train). I called the night before and the receptionist was very friendly and answered all of my questions regarding classes and pricing. I took 3 days of the morning 9:30 am kickboxing class and loved each day! I arrived early the first day to fill out a waiver form and to pay the drop-in fee (plus to get an idea of the gym protocols and layout). Coach Cory met me and gave me a tour of the gym which is very spacious with a full ring, multiple heavy bags, a speed bag, BJJ mat, and the open mat area (where kickboxing classes are held). Lots of area to store your gear - cubicles vs lockers - and clean bathrooms and changing areas. As for the class, it is beginner-friendly (there was a guy there who has only trained for a week) but also great for intermediate and seasoned martial artists. I have trained in Muay Thai for 18 months at a Bay Area gym (American kickboxing is different yet I felt completely safe and welcome at ETG). I was the solo female each day and each of my training partners (from the new student to the competitive fighters) were respectful (ie no huge egos or machismo which I have experienced at other gyms; worked at my level but still challenged me; did not go full power but increased it if I encouraged them to; no crazy bruises or injuries that I have gotten from other "overzealous" training partners at other gyms) and very patient (I had to learn each person's rhythm and flow with their combos and also new kickboxing techniques but I never felt rushed/judged). The best part: they were genuinely friendly - said hi to me and welcomed me to the gym; chatted with me and gave me some great recommendations for food and sight seeing; and even remembered my name each day. Ladies, do not be intimidated to try this gym out - it is a safe and welcoming environment and each of the guys especially Coach Cory will watch out for you! The only heads up: you will get the most out of your training here if you know how to hold Thai pads. if you've never used them, don't worry - Coach and the guys can teach you as you train. The class is NOT a fitness/dance cardio kickboxing type class (ie high energy music with everyone throwing the same combos and/or kicks that are choreographed) - it's legit martial arts training. You will learn attacking combos, defensive moves, and will train punches, kicks, teeps, and knees. The catch: you call out combos as a pad holder for your partner for an entire round and you rotate partners; then you switch to being the "attacker". I had a blast learning new punch combos and fakes that I haven't learned in Muay Thai. Very fun because you work mentally and physically! And, ladies, this type of training is self-defense - yes, you'll get in crazy good shape BUT more importantly, you'll learn how to punch and kick properly and effectively to protect yourself if need be! Thank you again to Coach Cory and the 9:30 am kickboxing crew! I can't wait to train with you guys again the next time I'm in Tahoe! read more

This is an amazing, well run, family owned, caring, professional and experienced establishment. If you do your research you will see that this is a gym doesn't mess around when it comes to truly teaching martial arts. While they are heavy hitters in their history in professional fighting they uphold a welcoming and supportive environment. You must go! read more

Great spot, love the trainers and the gym. Fully addicted now.

I just watched Nikki fight and win a new title representing ETG. She is one of the athletes who train at ETG. I met her while taking kickboxing classes and she is both tough and sweet. Just one example of the products that come out of ETG. I am learning the techniques used in kickboxing (I never knew how complex it can be!) from Cory and Dori - and they are wonderful. My kids are taking karate classes and enjoy the skills and discipline that they are acquiring. This gym does a lot of great work with the kids throughout the community as well! read more

Emily G is a very disturbed person. She goes on Yelp and puts all the gyms down except for Tahoe Wellness. ETG is known for all it does for the community. All it has done to keep everyone safe from COVID . The students are everything to the Gym. No one there is a racist. Everyone there is certified . Shame on you Emily G. By the way Emily G, you say Tahoe Wellness is a club, you can't workout there. Are you OK? read more

Escobar training grounds is an amazing place especially for kids! Owners and staff are super personable, and keep kids classes fun while still teaching karate, discipline, agility, teamwork, confidence and fitness. I can't say enough good things about the entire staff here, they are knowledgeable, patient and friendly. There are a variety of classes available for all age levels 5 days a week including saturdays. read more

Solid business that prides itself on the fundamentals, and morale, of the MMA/Karate culture. Highly recommend, especially if you're trying to keep your children (or yourself) active through Tahoe's unpredictable weather. Corey/Dori make up the family-based gym, with local support. Who doesn't like to support a local, small business? The bad people, of course... read more

This is a great place for self defense and overall personal development. My son (14) has been coming here for a few month now. All the trainers he has worked with are so positive and work well with all the students. It's a safe and easy environment. They have a wide variety of classes for boys and girl, and for all ages from youth to adult We are so pleased with Escobar Training Grounds! read more

DO NOT GO HERE! First, they do not have any jiu jitsu lineage at all. However, the worst part is how extremely sexist, rude, and all around unfriendly Scott (the trainer I worked with) was. I am a woman, and if you are one too, he will give you no respect. Repeatedly he said sexist things like: "oh what did you break a nail?" and "you know ladies this is a tough sport, there's a tai chi place down the street". All the while, Scott was chewing gum on the mat. Granted, I've only been into Jiu Jitsu for a few months, but I know I want to roll, I know it's intense, and I know it's difficult. If I'm there with a good attitude and a paying student, I want and deserve to be treated with respect. read more

Georgia S. And Sarah C are probably the same person and have no experience in MMA or BJJ. I have many years experience in BJJ, Muay Thai, TKD, KB, Krav Maga, and I am a 3-0 amateur fighter. I come from Montana to train here before fights along with other gyms in SoCal. These woman have the same sob story and are complaining about someone without even addressing it to the owner or "Scott" himself. If you were professional in your craft you would not say sexist things and be rude it is true and if an instructor does so he is out of line. However ladies you need thick skin and if a few remarks made you want to give up on life then your future path is probably going to be a pretty bumpy ride. That said let's talk about the lack of lineage. I went for a week to nearly every MMA, BJJ, and KB class and I can say each class was amazing. Teachers make you sweat and they hold you accountable for your actions and technique. If you are sloppy they aren't afraid to correct you and they know their techniques. The place is small bit it has everything you need and it is clean. For an MMA fighter I am very happy about this place. I grade it five stars because for what they have they make it work very well. That's what counts. That I get in, train hard, and learn no matter how small the space. Ladies if you are in their to fart around with each other and giggling and fussing maybe you got called out and rather than own up you leave poor remarks. If he recommended a tai chi place maybe your effort was more suitable for Tai chi than it was for BJJ. Either way if you want to last in a sport like BJJ you use the energy of your opponent against them to your advantage. You don't lose your cool and attack back with reckless abandon when you are attacked. If you were serious about the sport your post would have reflected such. It's my opinion you were the cause rather than the effect. read more

Sexist. No lineage. No warm up. Charged for first class. I've been training in BJJ for a little over a year and a half. I have been at my current gym in San Francisco for four months. I was at my previous gym in Pasadena for over a year and still go when I'm in town. I've taken classes while visiting Vegas and Tucson. This is the first time I was actually worried about training in a location and should have walked out. There was no warming up, we jumped right into chokes which were easily cranks. The instructor (Scott) repeatedly stopped and looked at me and said things like, "this is a violent sport, there's a tai chi place down the street." When my training partner (also female) stopped because I noticed blood and wanted to find the source and make sure we could clean the wound Scott looked over and said, "What, did you break a nail?" I have never experienced this disrespect in a gym before. I train hard. I respect my professors, and usually they respect me. I do not recommend this place. When I mentioned my experience to a local, she stopped me before I started on the details and she had the same story. read more

Love this gym! The owners are fantastic, friendly and knowledgeable. I am not quite sure why Georgia posted that about the trainer, as a woman I have never had that experience. When I first started coming to this gym, I was out of shape and a little intimidated, everyone was awesome and welcoming. I have been at this gym for over a year now, I have lost 45 pounds and gained some great friends! read more

This is a more serious place to train then my regular kickboxing gym at home. Get ready for a serious ass kicker of a kickboxing class!! A great workout to switch up my routine with while visiting. Everybody was very friendly and patient with this newbie and I left feeling strong! read more

The sad part is I was warned not to take classes at this company but didn't listen. They Won't let you cancel even when services are not as described. I cancelled months ago and they are still sneaking charges into my bank account. when I file a dispute with my bank they dispute it on their end and continue to push charges through. Money hungry company that can't provide the services they say they can. Sad to see this is how our local businesses are treating so many locals. read more

Started training here a few months ago. Immediately decided to get my kids in here as well! The owners are so lovely! I feel so welcome and seen when I show up. I enjoy showing up for kickboxing knowing I'm really getting trained in proper technique. I'm so impressed with how they give back to the community and really care about kids too! read more

I am so proud to be a member of Escobar Training Grounds. As a woman, they have made me feel so much more empowered and capable of defending myself - I can't wait until they offer the free women's self defense classes again so I can take my teen daughter. As a teacher in our community, I am constantly impressed by Escobar's outreach to low-income students in our schools. As a mother, I am so grateful for the skills they are teaching my sons: compassion, kindness, respect, and how to defend themselves if necessary. read more

I visited the Gym on my birthday and was very happy with the layout and the atmosphere. I met one of the trainers named Cory. He greeted me and my wife with a smile and friendly handshake. I told him that we were owners of a MMA gym in California. I visited a lot of gyms but this one by far is one of the best when it comes to making you feel welcomed. No attitudes or guys walking around like they are it. If your looking for a place with great trainers this is it. read more

Escobar Training Grounds - Great place to train - Martial Arts Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

STAY AWAY!! CROOKS! Repeatedly trying to cancel but keep getting billed.

Escobar will help you and/or your child reach your goal(s) no matter what that is. Martial Arts is great for cardio vascular exercise, learning self-defense and building self-esteem. I am a Special Educator in South Lake Tahoe and the Escobars have been generous enough to sponsor several at-risk youth. Over the past year the students who have attended regularly have shown incredible improvement in the areas of self-regulation, self-respect, respect for peers/adults, and physical fitness. Escobar will customize your training for what you want or need. If you want to be a professional Mixed Martial Artist they will help you achieve that goal, if you want to learn self defense and lose weight then they will give you the individual attention to achieve that goal. read more

I have been training at Escobar training grounds for several years. I have trained Bjj during that time and have always had great training. The Bjj instructor Scott has an exceptional grappling record. Unlike some of the posts you see below I have brought several girls to train Bjj and they continue to go. All of the instructors at the gym are very professional. This is the best place to train in the whole area. Bring your kids to they will have a great time and will learn allot... read more

The owners and staff of Escobar Training Grounds are generous community partners who give back to the youth of our community on a regular basis and have improved the self-esteem and self-defense skills of numerous young teens and adults. Without their support and willingness to host workshops and provide space for free, go above and beyond to make their classes available to the kids who would not otherwise have access, and to extend their expertise to at-risk populations, our community would not be as safe and supportive. The gym is a healthy and warm environment that is open to all ages. Their work in the community is substantial and has benefited so many. Not only are their classes challenging and fun, but they are creating that opportunity for so many others outside the gym, too! We are lucky to have them in South Lake Tahoe! read more

As a woman, I believe self defense is a super important skill to have! The first time I ever came into the gym, I was able to watch Dori (one of the owners) spar against other men. This girl can kick some serious butt! It really was inspiring... Even after talking to both Cory and Dori, you find that these people just truly care and are extremely genuine. Love them and what they believe in! read more

Having been involved in martial arts for over a decade, I really appreciate the training Cory gives at his gym. First, he knows his art. Having been trained across California and trained by others from across the country, I've learned which instructors know their art and which don't. Cory knows his. Second, Cory is humble. He can teach because he is not worried about his status. He can get down to any learner's level and help them grow. His students reflect this, too. I've seen them give up their personal time to help others, without any form of compensation. The students reflect their teacher. Also, Cory makes the lessons real. While they still have traditional arts, they use them in practical way and adapt it to the student's way of moving and learning. This includes small children. I appreciate having people like Cory and Dori in South Lake Tahoe. read more

Trained Jiu Jitsu at Escobar training center with Scott Bierri. He was amazing. He is an encyclopedia of knowledge in Jiu Jitsu. I have trained all over the world and would say Scott is one of the best. He is excellent on the mats and super helpful. Anybody who gets a chance should train with Scott. It will definitely up your game. read more

I have taken classes at the gym and LOVE IT! The facility is very clean and welcoming! When I went in for the first time I was pleasantly surprised...the girl at the front desk made me feel welcomed and showed me around so there wasn't that awkwardness of trying something new...and my first class was free :) The owners are really down to earth awesome people that care about fitness and fun. read more

I love this gym!! I get such a great workout and learn how to defend myself while shedding pounds! All the coaches and other members of the gym are amazing to work with. Getting myself to the gym to work out is a task within itself, let's be honest... But once I am there I seriously have such a good time and feel so great afterward. I would recommend this gym to anyone. read more

I would like to rate this place. From 1-5 stars i will have to go with 1 star. Corey and Dori are very unprofessional. You get a day thru a week free trial. During that week they make you feel welcomed loved and close family. Corey helps you out. After your "FREE" trial. He ask you if you will join? Its $100 a month. Once you say you don't have that kind of money, he bumps it down to $75 a month and if your still not convince he will give you a year pass for $50 a month. (From what I've experienced and heard depending on how good he's feeling he might, might not waived the "$100" "New membership fee". Then he asks you to not speak about the discount. I am here talking about the (adult kickboxing program). After you join he does not care about you. His main focus is on the top fighters who go fight at (GSR Reno or Harrahs). He focuses more on the potential fighters. Therefore if you are new don't expect to learn anything or get any attention. I had to learn thru others, and get help thru my classmates. 2nd he always arrives late to class. Classmates and I have waited outside various times for him to open the gym. 3rd Half of the time he doesn't show up. He has other fighters (these are the ones who fight in main events, and focuses more on) teach the class. He has them teach the class witch i wouldn't mind because they actually would give everyone fair an even attention. These (fighters) who teach the class 12+ times a month in return they get extra membership weeks, months from corey to keep training at the gym instead of paying a month of a membership they get complimentary weeks months. I'm not sure how this works, but i think you have to have a license to be able to teach a class. 4th Corey would make us run thru exercises and they go on the other side of the gym and kiss/makeout with his wife (Dori) After we are done with exercises he wait for him to get down with his wife to do the next step.. 5th Dori teaches private lessons for girls. When Dori teaches she sticks both her pinkies out when boxing. Now i don't thinks thats proper unless your looking to break a finger. Dori does not have her teaches license. Corey has taught her a few simple things to teach to the class. She has no belts in any category has never been in any type of (self defense, material arts, karate, kickboxing MMA, or brazilian Jiu Jitsu) training. 6th you don't need a 3 month to a year membership all of the stuff they teach you can be done at home. Anyone who went to Escobar Training Grounds knows you do the same routine everyday. Don't waste your money on this place not worth it. 7th you sign a contract for 3 months to a year. They will keep charging you after your contract is up. When you call and question them they say you have to come in person to cancel it. (even though you signed a contract for the amount of the time period they still charge after your contract is up) (WITCH NO WHERE ON THE CONTRACT DOES IT SAY COME IN AND CANCEL OR WE WILL KEEP CHARGING) Then Corey tries to give you some kind of other secret deal in order for you to stay. In my opinion they are very unprofessional and rats. Who want every cent in your pocket. I am speaking for the adult kickboxing, jus jitsu, and karate. I'm sure for the kid programs he acts proper since parents and family are watching. It's not worth the time and money investigate somewhere else. read more