Hello fellow people,…read more I tried this place out long enough to form my opinion. I would recommend spending your time wisely by going elsewhere. To begin this place has a striking training once a week. I watched in amazement as people punched a punching bag full of recycled rubber tires and sand. It reminded me of a funny cartoon seeing the energy wave transfer back on the striker. I saw attempts at kickboxing by instructors that obviously had no Muay Thai or Kickboxing experience. Now onto the reason why I came to this place, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The BJJ training did not meet my expectations of a professional BJJ training academy. The business owner seemed distracted by his cell phone or negativity most of the time. The were small but there seemed to be a high count of injuries, including the owner who may not spar, due to having had his arm broken doing BJJ. Good, lively and intelligent students were routinely knocked down a peg, or brow beat, so to speak, when they were doing well. This seemed to serve no efficient purpose as these were not belligerent or lazy students. It seems counterproductive. this is not a tough love, it's like Pinnochio being trained by the going nowhere boys. There seemed to be an air of insecurity in the owner and staff. The women that courageously came to the place once, probably never came back for a reason. Most people that attend BJJ classes are not broken people and do not want or need that. We want proper professional training which is a fair trade for payments. So in my opinion go find a dojo that meets your expectations. In the martial arts world there are always people looking for a place to belong, a home, a club and those people could be professional trained, not neglected of professional training. This type of training in the short term wastes time. In the long term it will crutch or starve growth. It may not be healthy for youth or adults. Not for me, and maybe not for you. Thank you for reading my review. Good day or good night.

I trained under Mike for a little over a year and loved every bit of it. Mike is a no bs teacher…read moreand will call you out if you're half assing it. I live in the South Bay now but I highly recommend Mike if you are looking into learning BJJ on the Peninsula.

My family has called El Niño home for years and I mean that literally. My son is turning 13 and has…read morebeen training since he was 4, right alongside his sister. This place isn't just a gym, it's where they grew up. The coaches here are something else. They don't just teach technique they invest in YOU, they remember your name, and they make you feel like you belong from day one. Walking into a martial arts gym for the first time can feel intimidating, but El Niño strips all of that away. You walk in a stranger and leave feeling like family. And for anyone making excuses I'm a mom of two, a wife, and I work full time. If I can carve out time to train Jiu-Jitsu and fall completely in love with it, anyone can. This gym meets you where you are and grows with you. I will be here for the rest of my life. Best gym. Period. Highly recommend.

I love this place been here since 2011 the location has great parking and even better coachesread more

Professor Chris and the other coaches have been so amazing. They are great with all the kids and…read moreare able to talk them through difficult moments on the mat, particularly with the littles. Both my kids love it here and everyone is so kind and welcoming. Highly recommend!

My son started here less than a month ago, and it already feels like he has become part of…read moresomething very special. From the very first day, the coaches and students welcomed him with open arms and genuine kindness. They guide with patience, skill, and heart -- always focused on helping each student grow, both on and off the mat. What I appreciate most is how they teach more than just jiu-jitsu techniques. Every class is also about values -- respect, humility, discipline, and teamwork. You can truly feel the sense of community they are building. It's not only a place to train; it's a place to belong. Seeing my son's confidence grow, his excitement before every class, and how supported he feels means everything to me as a parent. This academy represents what jiu-jitsu should be: strength, respect, and family.

Communication was excellent and teachers were very attentive. My grandson enjoys it.read more

We have been coming for almost 2 years now. The professionalism and fun couch Clint and Sharon…read morebring is great for the kids. They truly learn and even join competitions. There are different times and levels. This is not just for kids. Adults are welcomed too. They have adult classes for different levels. They just had their annual bbq and the amount of people that came just shows the good work they are doing.

Solid open mat and no-gi here. If you live in the neighborhood and want good rolls of all levels I…read morerecommend checking this place out. Everyone was super friendly. Mats were very spacious too!

Great instructors all around! Coaches Logan, Bryce & Gino trained my daughter for muay thai and jiu…read morejitsu. Nothing but a great experience. Problem is keeping focus at her age but the format of play and discipline is there and necessary. It helps that Coach Logan has so much patience and explains things in simple terms for them. Another great instructor is Deann in a 6am yoga class she instructed. It had been a looooong time since I did a yoga class & felt very welcome. I should also mention I am almost 35 weeks pregnant so she helped guided me while others did the standard poses. It was challenging but in a good way. Loved it and she was so great at explanations and breath guidance too. You can tell she has plenty of experience. Will definitely come back and recommend for all levels!

This place is a legendary dojo. The highest level training in the Bay Area and a great group of…read moreinstructors, competitors, Champions, and generations of families who grew up training under Sensei Cahill. Truly a privilege to have learned from this team.

Results are born where people who genuinely love what they do come…read more I graduated from a sports university, and the funniest thing is that I didn't like martial arts (okay, okay, I did kickboxing for a month and a half because I needed the extra exercise after I stopped doing track-and-field professionally). I came here as an Au Pair (babysitter) and the kids from my host family started going to judo practices at Cahill's Judo Academy. At first I wasn't particularly interested in judo, but a week ago I caught myself wanting to join a class. By now, I've been attending Cahill's Judo Academy for almost six months (thanks to the children of my host family, who love the place), and I can tell that it's worth it to be a part of this community. I love seeing the professionalism of the coaches, their friendliness and attentive approach to everyone (for example, Coach Joe always tries to remember everyone by name, and I'm not just talking about the kids). In addition, I feel the energy of the place and can describe it as "results are born where people come who genuinely love what they do." P.S. Two weeks ago I was even lucky enough to get out on the mat. Coach Ben asked some parents to try an exercise the kids were doing - jumping over the speed ladder. I think I did it with success (at least I could tell by the cheers of the children and Coach Willie's thumbs up that it turned out pretty good). And I apologize in advance if I have misspelled some names.

My kid started training recently at Thrive. He's only 4…read more What an amazing experience! Professor OJ not only knows his stuff, but does a great job teaching the young ones. He is thoughtful, engaging, and the class teaches more than just movement. Also instilling morals, discipline, and is a great place to meet new friends. Highly recommend to any parents, or adults looking to train.

From the very first class, I felt genuinely welcomed, supported, and comfortable. Claudia is…read morewithout a doubt an exceptional instructor. She has an incredible ability to read the room, adapt the class seamlessly, demonstrate each movement with clarity, and challenge students with care. Her corrections are always gentle yet precise, and you truly feel seen and supported in her classes. Honestly, I wish I could be permanently enrolled in her sessions. The overall atmosphere is calm, motivating, and deeply positive. Claudia, along with the students in each class, creates a peaceful and encouraging energy that makes the experience both grounding and uplifting. Her creative use of equipment adds variety and depth to every session, while her constant attention to posture and individual needs reinforces a strong sense of safety and personalization. What truly sets her classes apart is the consistent focus on technique, safety, and individualized progression. Each exercise is thoughtfully adapted to respect your body, limitations, and personal goals. The variety of equipment allows for dynamic, ever-evolving workouts that build strength, flexibility, and body awareness without feeling repetitive. After just a few Pilates sessions, I experienced noticeable, life-changing improvements: better sleep, significant relief from lower back and calf pain caused by long hours of driving, and an overall feeling of being lighter, stronger, and healthier. I used to wake up in the middle of the night thinking my mattress was the problem, only to realize that my body simply needed the right care and guidance. After some months my life really changed with Pilates Claudia has positively transformed both my body and mind. If you feel tired, heavy, or disconnected from your body, I cannot recommend her classes highly enough

I've worked with Nico across multiple sessions and this last one was by far the most challenging --…read moreillness, an injury, and a job loss all hit at once. Despite everything, Nico kept me grounded, positive, and focused. Workouts, macros, water, protein, protein, PROTEIN! He has a way of keeping you in the game even when life is throwing everything at you. This session had a tighter timeline -- I was prepping for a very special family event -- so the approach was more of a sprint compared to the gradual builds we've done in past sessions. Different, but it worked. And the real test? Traveling right before the event -- no gym, couldn't track macros, water intake was a mess -- and I still felt AMAZING. I showed up feeling like the best version of myself. That is 100% because of Nico. He is more than a trainer. He's a coach, a cheerleader, and an inspiration. The tools and mindset he's given me go beyond any single goal because at the end of the day, this is a lifestyle. If you're looking for someone who will truly invest in YOU -- not just your workouts -- Nico is your person.

Working with Nico has been an eye opening experience for me. I was hesitant to invest money in…read moremyself but I had seen what his program had done for people I knew. I was lucky enough to win a raffle prize and work with him for 12 weeks. The progress I made and the support I received was more than I had made on my own and working with other trainers. He's available when I need to ask questions, and has never made me feel bad about myself if I've fallen "off track." If anything, he's taught me life is meant to be lived and food is a wonderful thing when used properly. My mindset around the scale has completely changed. I am looking forward to working with Nico this next year and seeing how far I will come