We have been to one class but my son had the best time. The instructors are great at encouraging the kids and talking them through kickboxing. He already wants to try other martial arts classes. Thanks so much for a great first time experience and impression to the Paragon team read more

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A great team! Tough training from coaches who care. Ample parking. Hot showers in a clean facility. Awesome competition team.

Paragon Goleta is easily the best martial arts gym in Santa Barbara. From grappling to striking, they have an expert set of encouraging coaches. Paragon is the perfect place for young and old, recreational or serious competitors. I myself have been able to win 3 amateur MMA fights through Paragon's training and I cannot recommend it enough! read more

I went with a friend to what was supposed to be a newbies orientation to Jiu Jitsu. The email we got containing instructions and a waiver was obviously intended to give instructions for boxing or kickboxing. It mentioned that we would need hand wraps and gloves and recommended we watch their video on boxing. When we arrived, it turned out we needed to rent Ghi's. That was fine, we did so and got dressed. We were told we were going to do a warm up with everyone before class. This was very obviously a class full of people who had done this many times and knew what was up. When they started practicing specific rolls and moves within the warm up I knew I was going to need some more information or I was going to injure myself. To be fair, someone did come and give me some basic instruction on how to roll, by the time I had that figured out the rest of the class had gotten through about 6 more exercises I had no idea how to do. No-one was giving instructions on the whole, these people already knew what was going on. This was not a beginner friendly environment, it left us feeling like we were holding up the rest of the class because we had no idea what we were supposed to do. I can run and do my best to emulate other basic exercises, but guessing at how to do the rest of the warmup exercises properly seems like a recipe for injury. All in all, this might be a good gym for someone who started learning at a young age or has previous martial arts experience, but this was not a beginner friendly environment. read more

I dropped in this morning to the 6:30am class from out of town and experienced the great clean facility with awesome coaching and super tough rolls. Would highly recommend this gym. read more

Paragon is the finest of all the classes in town - The instructors are dedicated, and really on point. My 8 & 14 year old both attend & my 77 year old father attends the Parkinson's classes. They are wonderful! read more

I've been fortunate enough to train and visit many schools across the country throughout my 7 1/2 years of training jiu-jitsu and I must say Paragon definitely has some of the nicest, technical, and respected instructors around. I currently train at the newly opened Goleta location, which is a respectable size and well kept. It's located right off the 101 making it really easy to locate. Seeing that I train predominately no-gi, It has been nice working with Sean Apperson who you can tell feels really comfortable in no-gi due to his wrestling background. With that being said, the gi classes are just as well organized and instructed. Between open mats between the 3 locations in the area (Santa Maria, Goleta, and Santa Barbara), great instruction, and just a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend Paragon as not only a gym but as a team. read more

Love the new Goleta studio!! Clean, plenty of parking, and easy location. The kid's BJJ program is terrific. Coach John and Coach Jacob are excellent role models, supportive and also laid back enough to handle a room of exuberant kids (cat herders). BJJ is hand-on, so expect sore muscles, bonks and/or occasional hurt pride. My daughter (12) and son (10) have been in the Paragon program continuously for more than five years. read more

Awesome place! The best place to train BJJ in Santa Barbara hands down. Super friendly Instructors and students giving off positive vibes and teaching the best techniques that will improve anyone's game at any level. I trained at the evening Gi class as a drop in from out of town and I was warmly greeted and treated as if I were a Long time student. The Instructor was on point! It was obvious he had a wealth of knowledge and experience and the techniques he taught were solid and his teaching style made it really easy to learn. The rolls were Super challenging and technical and all the students had a great flow to their game. Highly recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn real BJJ and have a rewarding and enjoyable time doing it. read more

Paragon is awesome. The jiu jitsu classes and boxing classes are very professional. The coaches are very enthusiastic and really want you to get better. The amount of classes are unheard of! From beginner to expert I recommend to all read more

I went to the free orientation class to try out kickboxing and it was so much fun. Great workout, excellent gym/equipment, good vibe, and helpful instructors. If you want a good workout, go to Paragon.. you wont regret it! read more

I used to go to one of the other schools in town and then walked into the downtown Paragon academy and fell in love with the intensity of the classes and how knowledgeable the instructors are. John is very attentive to details with how his students are taught the technique for the day, and definitely has opened up my game for being s bigger guy. He makes sure that his students know they can ask him anything, and pushes you to become better. I've taken a kickboxing class from Gus and he knows how to keep a class fun yet hard at the same time. He is also a purple belt and can teach you how to roundhouse kick or berimbolo at the drop of a hat. The facility is kept clean by the staff whom are very friendly and surprisingly have towels on hand (which gyms never do). read more

My daughter recently started going to Paragon and see loves it. She's only 8 and the instructors are so good with her.

I dropped in to train while in the area for work. The woman at the front desk was helpful and very welcoming. The instructor, Sean, was also great as he took the time to give certain details that make the technique more efficient. That was awesome because if you are from another academy most instructors do not do that. Lastly the place was very clean and had showers which was a plus. Overall great experience. Highly recommend to anyone dropping in from out of town or for someone looking for a place to train. read more

I cannot highly enough recommend trying out the FREE orientation class. Fantastic Experience for anyone new to any form of self-defense! I've never taken any classes before but after a few weeks can already feel a big improvement. The instructors + members are some of the nicest people in town and are more than happy to help you get the fundamentals down at your own pace while motivating you to try harder. I frequent the Santa Barbara and Goleta locations and feel honored to be exposed to so many teaching styles of the different instructors. Morning + noon classes are smaller you get more time with the instructor. Evening + weekend classes are big with lots of great energy so there is variety in class size/style to fit your preference. read more

After some time, I decided to write an honest review of this Gym. From what I have seen, the Kickboxing side of the gym is amazing. Gus seems like a very skilled, and caring person. However, this is not a place to learn Jiu-Jitsu. I have never seen a disregard, for general safety. People were sparing with nose rings, and white belts were heel hooking without a care in the world. If Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller thinks it okay to run a gym like this, and award black belts to "so-called instructors", I would honestly question Ricardo Miller's logic and overall ethics. If you want to attend Goleta Paragon(SB Paragon is worse from what I hear), they run a good kickboxing school. However, please go to a more competent(school with qualified instructors). There are other BJJ schools and other kickboxing schools. After checking out this school, it makes me questions Ricardo Miller's judgment. If he thinks these BJJ instructors are "black belt material", well that is a poor reflection of himself. Save yourself the trouble, and attend a competent school. I'm sorry, I had to give an honest review. If you train at Paragon and observed this behavior, and continue to train there you are part of the problem. By participating in Miller's circus, you contribute to part of the problem. P.S Gus, the Kick boxing instructor, is legit. If Gus is still teaching, I would I highly recommend his lectures. Gus trained at Black House, so you know he is legit. read more

I love Paragon! It is a phenomenal gym that not only focuses on martial arts discipline and fundamentals but also fosters a culture of team building and family spirit. I don't just go to "work out" anymore. I go to train. Everyone from the staff to the regular members are extremely friendly and helpful. The instructors by the way! I can not rave enough about the coaches at Paragon. They are very knowledgable in the sport and will always have a very engaging lesson prepared...plus it will be the best workout of your life. You will not find a better gym! read more

This is a fantastic gym that offers a variety of classes - boxing, jiu jitsu (both gi/no gi), and kickboxing. The instructors and staff at Paragon are top knotch, very friendly, approachable, and also have extensive knowledge in each discipline. If you are a beginner, Paragon teaches you the basic fundamental skills to introduce you to your new sport. If you are intermediate/advanced, you are challenged while learning new techniques and combos. This is a gym that welcomes all levels of experience, provides a great workout that is both challenging and fun, and you also have the opportunity to meet some great people that become lifelong friends. Paragon is an essential part of my daily routine, I love this gym because I not only live a healthier lifestyle, but have learned valuable skills and made some amazing friends along the way! read more

This gym is just like the SB location, only newer and with more parking. Same high quality coaches and equipment, and same chill vibes. VERY clean, which I consider myself particularly attentive to. MMA gyms can be breeding grounds for all sorts of fungi. This place is fungi-free. read more

Top tier academy. You won't find a cleaner, well kept, open, educated, and friendly training facility. Lots of parking and class options that fit any schedule (am, afternoon, evening, and weekend). The coaches and members are like family and it's not you run or the mill athletic establishment. You can train at both the Santa Barbara and Goleta academy, so the training partners and class options are endless! read more

Just calling this place a gym is a disservice. It's a community where everyone is there to lift each other up. I had zero martial arts experience and was treated like a long-time member the first time I walked in the door. This place and Jiu Jitsu truly changed my life and how I think about handling adversity going forward. The classes and workouts are awesome, but the instructors and other students is what keeps you coming back. It truly is a family. My daughter also started training after I joined and she loved it. John and the other coaches are great with the kids, giving them attention but also making sure they are challenged and they grow as people. Can't recommend Paragon enough. read more

This place kicks ass! I began training at the Santa Barbara location when I joined several months ago and I'm able to train in Goleta as well which works out great for me. Since I've started doing the kickboxing program, I've had several people who hadn't seen me in some time telling me I look healthy. I now do personal sessions with Gus as well which help my technique. The one-on-one really helps me hone in and sharpen my skills. Turn off that TV and sign-up...you will f'ing love it! read more

Unlike the Santa Barbara location, this one has PLENTY of parking - which sometimes deters me from dropping in on a class. So, with the Goleta location I have little to no reason to NOT go to the gym. As usual, the staff is great and knowledgeable. The classes are just as difficult. Everyone is so helpful and the facilities are so clean. To summarize: It's as amazing as the SB location, with newer equipment. read more

I'm always on the lookout for different workouts, but i haven't found anything that has compared to what Paragon has to offer. This location is clean, convenient, and has fantastic instruction. I've enjoyed the increased variety of classes, and i'd recommend getting your kids involved ASAP. read more

I would always drop into the Santa Barbara location when visiting the area and couldn't wait to try their new Goleta location. I can proudly say that it exceeded my expectations. Not only were the facilities exceptionally clean, the staff were welcoming and the instructors were phenomenal. I was brought into the classes like I was a regular there. Would highly recommend for all levels and ages. Can't wait to come back! read more

Awesome gym!! I've been training for over 10 years Mma and fighting as an amateur cage fighter. I've trained at high level gyms all over the country and Paragon has an Elite level to rival any gym I've trained in. Truly a wealth of knowledge from Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Muay Thai and Boxing!! The teachers are awesome and Paragon has so many different levels of training partners from beginners to advanced professionals. If you're looking to get legit training!! There are some other gyms in town that are acting like real MMA gyms lol "Acting" the only place I would recommend is Paragon!! I was enrolled again after leaving SB for a year. Danielle helped me sign up! Very professional from the front desk to the Mat!! So excited to be at my new home away from home. Let's do this Paragon!! read more

Awesome gym, been here a few months and enjoy going to all the Jiu Jitsu classes. Definitely worth the investment 10/10

Goleta Paragon is an amazing place for me to train. I am a blue belt under Franjinha and Jon and have an incredible time training at the Goleta location. I was going to the Santa Barbara location before Goleta opened, and now I train both locations. The level of jiu jitsu is high, because of the upper belt teachers as well as members who train there, and last weekend I took my kids in for the kids class and they had a blast! I train monrings because it is how it fits in to my schedule but hit nights sometimes too. I couldnt ask for a more perfect enviornment for me to better my jiu jitsu and keep striving to get in better shape. read more

I love both Santa Barbara and Goleta locations and what's great about Paragon's membership is that you're able to go to either location. There are always classes you can attend and never have to worry about "not having enough time". The staff at the front desk are always welcoming and make sure to quickly learn your name and make you feel comfortable being at Paragon. There is not one coach there that doesn't care about you and your Paragon journey. With Paragon's coaches you are always learning, growing and definitely having a good time which makes working out more than just a work out. If you are thinking about signing up for a Jiu Jitsu, Sparring, or Kickboxing studio choose Paragon because you will not regret it. read more

Beyond amazing. With paragon the potential for learning is limitless. I am amazed at the amount of growth I've experienced here and how much I continue to grow every day. I am in better health then I have ever been, and I've always been athletic. The staff here quickly become family and the environment is so fun and welcoming. The more you invest in Paragon the more you will receive! read more