This is a beautiful studio, with a welcoming atmosphere. It's clean and comfortable, with plenty of space. The bathroom is clean as well. I was visiting in Santa Cruz, and stopped by on a Thursday night for Family Capoeira @ 5 pm... a fun but super-challenging class that teaches skills, language, and music to adults and children alike. Our class had 4 adults, and 6 children - the youngest of which was 2!! Everyone followed our instructor "Teacher Tony" - Formando Currupio. A great time, solid training and a beautiful gym! read more

Classes are good, however the lady at the front desk has a son who bullies my three year old girl. I told the boy to leave her alone and he went and told his mom I was being stern which turned into a big scene and all I wanted was my son to learn jujitsu. Instead I got a lecture on how she wanted me to handle her bully son differently which I didn't care about read more

Spacious, clean, friendly, and run with passion and care. MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, it can all seem really intimidating. In a way, they kinda should be. But don't be intimidated. There's no reason to be when you have a dojo like Kaijin East. Not everyone wants to be a cage fighter. 95% of us just wanna learn the skills to defend ourselves and our families. Kaijin is a rare spot where you'll get both walks of life not only coexisting, but working together to make everyone better. When you sign up for a sport you want to make sure you're getting the best training possible in a safe and professional environment. The coaches at Kaijin East make that an absolute priority. They're technical, well trained, and love to have fun while teaching their passions. You'll instantly feel welcome, which is just as important to me as the training. The students are respectful, and see their team as a family. Everyone is cool and will go out of their way to help you if you're struggling. If you've been doing grappling or striking for a while, and are looking to relocate, there's plenty of talent to find the push to the next level. If you've ever been curious to try or continue martial arts, in whatever capacity, you owe it to yourself to check out this local gem. A+! read more

Kaijin is a great place to learn both striking and ground based martial arts. The one aspect I do love most about my gym is the community and familial feel of the gym. We are a gigantic family of martial artists. There are no egos present when stepping on the mats at Kaijin. Sure there are times when we catch each other in a submission lock or knock each other out but we respect each other to help each other in our weaknesses. Garth Taylor, Clement Shields, Sam Radetsky and Aaron Oreb are extraordinary martial artists and instructors. They don't believe that their students have weaknesses just techniques they need to work on. Also Kaijin is also time conscientious, as in they know that their students have busy schedules, so they've made the classes spread out and available as much as they can to offer easy access of a diversity of disciplines to their students. As a regular kickboxing and boxing student since 2010 and seeing the growth and new students come in, KAIJIN MMA is a great gym to go to train. But you dont have to take my word for it. Come in and try it out. 1st week of classes is free! read more

Kaijin MMA - Boxing classes! - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

See all

This is a great gym! I would recommend it to anyone passing through Santa Cruz. It is not a Muay Thai gym just in case you're wondering but they teach kickboxing and the trainers are thoughtful and take the time to make sure that students leave with new information. Sparring is light, no one is coming out swinging just to prove that they know what they're doing. Clean, professional and well put together. read more

I travel for work and I try to find BJJ gyms that are close to where I will be in an effort to get some mat time in on the road. I wrote several places and only heard back from this team. Sue was very friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately, I was only able to make one day of training when I aimed to make two. I went to the Noon no Gi class and it was a great experience. No egos solid techniques and good form from everyone. I got a chance to work my stand up game a bit (which we dont do much of at my home gym due to space restrictions) so it was nice to drill some basics on the feet. I am a big guy with a small bit of experience and everyone respected me and did not try and rip my head off. I have experienced many gyms all over the world in my travels and without a doubt one rule always seems to apply: If the instructor is a jerk the students will be too. Luckily that is NOT the case here! GARTH AND JEREMY ARE AWESOME! No egos just solid instruction. I got the honor to roll a bit with Jeremy and he took the time to help my straight ankle lock tech tremendously. They make you feel welcome and respected. All of the students I rolled with taught me something about myself and my game. Thank you all for the excellent session if I am ever in town again I will be sure to stop by! read more

I'm almost 70 and probably don't belong near an "MMA" gym. Having just moved to the area and having looked at a lot of gyms, I scratched my head and tried to figure out what was drawing me to this place. After spending a lot of time sitting and watching classes there, I think I have an idea. First, there's a welcoming aspect to everyone I ran into--from Sue the front office person, to Garth the senior teacher, along with every student who looked at this old guy as they left the mat, smiled and said hello. With the welcome came no sales pitch about this or that "package" or "sign up today for a bonanza." They just seem to be a family extending an invitation to check out what they do. Secondly, while the place is run by teachers and fighters who have world class resumes, they seem to be more interested in "teaching to the student"--from the little groms that they work with and teach seriously--all the way through to folks like me, who would like to learn, get in better shape, but not be broken. I began by trying their Yoga for Grapplers. I've done Yoga for many years. Dave gave a really solid class that didn't dumb down the Yoga for meatheads. It was a strong, energized, class that was sequenced well and gave me even more confidence in Kaijin. I showed up for my first Jiu Jitsu class and was worried when I saw some of the folks getting on the mat. I hadn't needed to. Luke patiently kept me in the flow of the class and ended up pairing me with Sam Radtesky as a partner. Sam--their Kickboxing Instructor, who's as fit as a human can be, had me grappling with him and deftly kept me "in the match," but also did it with great attention to my not getting injured as he helped me learn different techniques. You probably aren't a geezer if you're reading about martial arts, but wherever you are on your journey--aspiring competitor or someone with a just a yen to explore martial arts (and yourself), I think Kaijin will give you the opportunity to go a long way. read more

I'm extremely picky about the places I train. I take into consideration the instructor, mats, the area of the gym, and the atmosphere of the classes. Instructor: I took morning classes with Clement Shields and he is an amazing and very technical instructor. He incorporates wrestling moves in many of his jiu jitsu classes which is extremely useful. It was difficult to find an instructor like Clement until I came to Kaijin. The mats: Super clean! Good color contrast as well. Area of the gym: No problem for me to find parking. In the mornings, the sun brightens the whole gym which gives it such a serene and beautiful lighting. The atmosphere: The students and trainers here have become like a family to me. They welcomed me with open arms on the first day which I will never forget. The people here are more than happy to help you out. I have done a lot of research and have visited dozens of gyms, but Kaijin is by far one of the best gyms I have trained at. Unfortunately, I go to school in Davis and I only had the pleasure of training here during the summer. I used to drive an hour just to train here, but it was well worth it! read more

I've been training here for quite some time and I really enjoy every moment of training. I've only taken the Kickboxing classes with Sam and the Boxing classes with Aaron and I'm thoroughly impressed with how much I've learned and improved over the past few years. The instructors are very good at what they teach and know what's best for each individual, not just teaching one thing and expecting everyone to learn at the same rate. The people who train here are friendly and willing to work with you. I've even made multiple friends out of all the people I've had the opportunity to train with! I'd recommend Kaijin MMA for people of all skill levels. Whether you're an experienced martial artist or just someone who's looking for a place to start, this gym will welcome you with open arms. read more

My son is reaching that age of rights of passage and discovering his inner strengths so I was really hoping he would find his way to training at a martial arts studio. We suggested he try Kaijin and he resisted but he submitted after a few forceful suggestions. And I am glad he did, it's a great club with many MMA forms. Kickboxing, judo, boxing and brazilian jiujitsu give him a balanced palette of fighting sports. Moreover the camaraderie and brotherhood is felt through the whole gym from instructors to students, and the staff at the desk is friendly and welcoming. My son is training there multiple days a week and it keeps him off the street and when he finds himself on the street, I have confidence that he will be able to take care of himself.d read more

I couldn't ask for a better place for jiu jitsu! I was extremely intimated/nervous before I started and realized it was all in my head! The classes are full of great people and always offering help and a good laugh! Class at 6am is amazing! I love the positive vibes and exercise to set my day off right :) They have multiple martial art teachers, and a wealth of knowledge with equal patience. Proud to be apart of this gym and can't wait to grow! read more

I had a background of different martial arts before coming to Kaijin, but it was a long time ago when I was younger and in better shape. In an effort to get back into martial arts, I signed up and took my second class. I decided to sign up for the boxing class. When asked if we would put on chest protectors I was told we were just going to do some training exercises. I was doing drills with the instructor. Towards the end of the class (and since I had not been training in along time) I became winded and told the instructor. He said "don't give up!" I said "I'm winded." He said "keep your hands up!" But I was hunched over sucking wind trying regain my breath, so I said "I'm done." It was then I received a double punch to the stomach from the instructor. No big deal, tough love, I guess. But this resulted in a trip to the emergency room where I was told my rib was broken. I tried taking Jui Jitsu about a year later, but my rib continued to pop out of place. I have been struggling with it ever since. I normally would not say anything negative about any place of training, but this was pretty extreme and I have been paying for it ever since and I think others should know. read more

I started training here April of '09, never having done any grappling before. After six months of hard work (training 4-7 days a week), I was a grappling beast!!!! 5'2", 135 pounds of kickass!!! Well, not so much the beast and the kickass part, but I've definitely come a long way. Part of my success is from self-effort, but the other part is definitely due to the awesome and knowledgeable instructors here. If you come here for kickboxing, be prepared to sweat and have your form corrected by Sam. He's a Crossfit instructor too, so don't be surprised when you get to do tabata kicks and stuff like that. The BJJ instruction is also top notch. Garth and Paul don't really like to brag, but do some digging and you'll find that they are highly skilled competitors who have rolled with some of the best. As a result, you'll have some "big names" drop in every now and then to train or teach a seminar. More important than this however, is that Garth and Paul can teach. They do a great job of explaining techniques and helping you out when you're having trouble. Want to know the latest moves in the schools in Brazil? Garth and Paul are knowledgeable, and travel a few times a year to keep up with the latest. This of course, benefits you. Enroll the whole family. There are BJJ classes for kids too! read more

Knowing the people involved with Kaijin MMA in another capacity, I would like to vouch and say that if you are involved with these folks, you can trust that you're in good hands. read more

Great training here, variety of coaches that emphasize different parts of bjj. Friendly staff if you are new and want to give combat sports a try. There are competive guys there as well if you're experienced and are looking for more advanced training bith gi and no gi. read more

Ive been training BJJ at Kaijin for over a year now, i cant imagine ever leaving. Kaijin is like a family, everyone is friendly and eager to learn. The instructors are top-notch. Garth is a world champion black belt who has trained and competed all over the world. His style is competition-bjj and wrestling oriented. Clement , the other head coach, is an elite BJJ black belt and a great teacher who focuses mainly on no-gi and MMA style grappling. Tution cost is currently 120 per month i think. Classes are offered at several times every day, there are also student-run open mats often. It is a great deal for te amount and quality of training They also have an active competition team for those who are serious about BJJ Go sign up at Kaijin!! read more

Kaijin MMA has world class instructors and a great location only a couple of blocks from the beach. The students are all very friendly and the academy is great for getting in shape and learning real world martial arts. I always feel welcome. The brazilian jiu jitsu classes have all types of students, from those who train to stay in shape and learn self defense to the competitive grapplers. Its a super welcoming environment and the best deal in town, especially with the level of instruction I have got there. read more

Kaijin and all the instructors are great. I came to Kaijin as a BJJ transplant from another area and quickly realized that I was in good hands. Garth, Clement, Gary, Desmond, Jay, and Luke all have great skill and have all taught me a ton. In addition, my standing grappling techniques lexicon has increased greatly. The atmosphere amongst all the folks training at the gym is warm, helpful, and as competitive as you are looking to take part in. I can't say enough good things about Kaijin and have recommended it to several friends. I write the review mainly because I was found Kaijin prior to reading any reviews and was fortunate to end up there. If I was looking for a place to train I would hope that informative reviews guided me in the right direction. Come train with us! read more

My young children both trained here for a year before we moved out of the area. I wanted to state that Kaijin and Jeremy, the kids teacher, have created an amazing environment. It is warm and welcoming, and quite familial. The kids classes are a great mix of lighthearted fun, discipline, and learning. Jeremy really "gets" kids. If they are excited it's their birthday or they want to show him a new toy they got, he will make time to focus on their excitement and listen to what they have to tell him! It's very touching. On the flip side, he holds kids accountable, making sure they are respectful and listen, make eye contact, and focus in class. It's a great learning environment. If your kids are shy or you are hesitant about martial arts, Jeremy's classes will change your mind. They are friendly, fun, and the kids learn a lot. read more

Best martial arts gym in Santa Cruz!

It can be hard to find a martial arts academy that focuses on growing good technique and growing good people. Kaijin focuses on both though. From a healthy place to have your kids grow up in a martial setting, for people just interested in casual training and sparring, to people who want to compete and win at the world championship level. I'm pretty particular about always training with the best in Jiu Jitsu and having Garth Taylor, a world champ, as my coach for the last 10 years has been one of the most valuable sources of growth for me. His feedback is helpful not just on the mat in my technique, but often off the mat in how I show up elsewhere in my life. I've found the other instructors very talented as well. The friendly environment to train in is a big plus and I've gained lots of new friends. From Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) to Kickboxing, boxing, judo, wrestling, conditioning, MMA, they've got everything you would want. read more

I've had the pleasure to train BJJ in well over ten different gyms through out the world, and I can without a doubt call Kaijin among the best. For me what makes a gym special and among the elite is the instructors ability to create high level technical and athletic students, and Kaijin does this perfectly. Kaijin doesn't just cater to the competitors they have beginner as well as advanced classes, so no matter your level Kaijin will have a place for you. Having trained at just about every BJJ gym in the area I couldn't recommend Kaijin any more. read more

Kaijinmma is a great place. A nice staff and friendly environment. I have been going there for only 4 months but I enjoy it and got a good workout from it. They help a lot and work one to one with you. It's fun and relaxing to me and enjoy every minute. read more

As a student at the local UC Its great to have a high quality place such as kaijin so close to campus. All the staff are chill and very helpful definately 5 stars read more

I came to Kaijin with no experience in BJJ or kickboxing in 2011. I have since medalled in several BJJ tournaments and fought in a kickboxing match. I have trained at another more popular gym in SJ and although it offered a lot, I have found the instruction at Kaijin to be of the highest quality. I love this place and invite anyone to give it a shot! read more