In my travels I've run into paper tigers that did a lot of bait and switch. Eventually, I found instructors that were hard core. That's all I wanted- those that taught self preservation and later the flowery techniques for ,"self perfection ( to show off)". I've been sidelined for a bit and my iprevious nstructor has moved. However, I checked out Radical MMA after doing due diligence and found that Sensei Rene Dreifuss is freakin' hard core technical, regarding real world tactics, and encouraging. However, he is also what we call, "Muy franco (very frank). So if you think you're the bleep, he'll put you to the test and tell ( show) you how you suck. Lol! Martial arts is a lifelong, humbling part of our lives. If you want the real deal, I recommend Radical MMA. read more

The other reviews on here are correct that Rene Dreifuss has a great understanding of MMA technique. The problem is, he can be abusive and belittling. He will pretend to be a nice guy for the trial class but once you start training he will yell at you and belittle you in front of everyone else if you don't get a technique right or are having a hard time keeping up with the workouts. His former assistant coach and top student got so fed up with how overemotional Rene was, how personal Rene took everything that he left and took half the students with him. That doesn't happen when you have a healthy instructor. Once an hour into class, with intense training, I asked if I could get some water and Rene screamed at me saying, "THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 6:00 AM AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY WATER!!!" It was 10:00 AM at the time, so you read that right, he refused to let his students get water after FOUR STRAIGHT HOURS of intense physical training. If you know anything about human biology that is absolutely awful for your health and every athletic association on the planet recommends frequent water breaks. If that doesn't convince you that he's a bad dude, I don't know what will. read more

I was privileged to come back and train with Rene and the students at Radical after leaving NYC 4+ years ago. All I can say is WOW. In my time away, Rene revamped his entire approach to jiu jitsu, and managed to improve on what is one of the most well-thought out, organized teaching programs I've encountered. I say this both as a higher-belt and as a jiu jitsu coach. The training at Radical is even more intense, and it shows in both the new students and the older ones. Rene has managed to simplify and re-adjust all sorts of submissions, and has continued to use analytical data to inform the highest percentage of successful moves from chokes to passing. If you want to become a beast and don't shy away from hard work, sweat, training to near-exhaustion, and the camaraderie that comes with it, Radical is the place for you! read more

I've been training at Radical for almost a year and love it. A high bar is set by Rene, an extremely experienced instructor - the culture isn't for everyone, it's a serious fight gym. I have learned a tremendous amount and have received a great deal of help from more senior students, as well as a lot of personal instruction from Rene himself. I would highly recommend Radical to anybody looking to learn to fight and/or make a serious transformation in their fitness and their life. read more

Very Rude instructor, Seeing how he teaches made me appreciate the patience and professionalism of my former instructors in BJJ,Karate and Judo. He needs a lot of self improvement in his attitude. read more

Radical MMA is unlike any other gym I've trained at. Coach Dreifus clearly knows his stuff, and goes above and beyond to push members of the academy to progress as effectively as possible. If you want to learn real-life MMA skills in a "learn by doing", flow-y class environment, check out Radical. I've gotten better at MMA in my 3 months at this academy than I did in my prior 8 months of sport jiu jitsu. read more

The most IMPATIENT instructor I've ever had! I haven't done anything training since the pandemic and Rene the instructor was mad and kick me out of the trial class because I couldn't understand the intricacies of a choke he was showing us right away. Like dude it's a damn trial class ...some people pick up things faster than others and some people pick up certain skills faster than other skills. How do you not know that as an instructor? He's very welcoming at first until he sees your not catching on quickly. These are my honest thoughts. read more

Look no further for data driven and battle tested self defense/no rules fighting. By the time I came to New York I knew I needed more than just jujitsu. I spent some time in San Diego training at a well-known school for jujitsu but I noticed that they were very much into sport jujitsu which didn't do a whole lot for self-defense or fighting in the street. Radical MMA is the real deal. Their emphasis on no rules fighting, competing in sports that allow both grappling and striking, and Renees experience and data driven system of self defense are a truly superior combo. Other schools in the area are catching on but they teach both striking and grappling separately whereas radical integrates everything from the get go. The class sizes are manageable so there's a lot of one on one attention. Which brings me also to the coach. Renee is the head coach and he onboard everyone who enters his Academy. He truly cares about our development as fighters and people. No hyperbole, his experience, teaching acumen, and genuine generosity are exceptionally rare and more than worth the price of tuition. It's the most comprehensive system I've ever come across and it actually works. Even if I left New York and had to train somewhere else to get partners, I would still defer to Renee and his system. This is New York's best fighting gym read more

Radical MMA is a great school to gain a complete understanding of martial arts as a system. Rene is an extremely well versed teacher, able to take his students and develop them into martial artists. There's no ego in the academy, all the students are friendly and more than willing to help you. Room is spacious with 3 levels, mats are clean, and showers are available. read more

I am no stranger to dojo's and martial arts and I can tell you Radical MMA is not just an amazing place to train but also a place to grow as a person. I am new to the system they teach. My background is more of a striker with Jeet Kune Do and Thai Boxing with some Brazilian Jujitsu. After some injuries at my old stomping grounds I finally fully recovered and a friend of mine who had no training in any martail arts kept talking about Radical and I decided to try a new place. The dojo is clean, open, and well-maintained. But the true reflection of any place you train is in the students. You will always know a teacher by their students. My first time there at a regular class I was introduced to another student. He noticed I was not wearing a compression shirt. He simply went to his bag, got an extra shirt of his own and gave it to me to wear. He was not asked, he simply wanted me to have the proper shirt so that I could train to the best of my abilities. I was immediately humbled. I have been at many places where there is ego or alpha dogs trying to gain positions. Here was a more advanced student, not knowing if I would ever return the shirt, simply giving to a fellow student. Everyone introduced themselves to me and class began.. The instructors were very knowledgeable and no ego was thrown around but it was clear that everyone had respect for each other and for the more advanced students. Don't get me wrong - it's not some feel good gym. It's still MMA but with a clear focus on technique and pushing yourself: fighting smarter and more efficiently and effectively. The ease of the execution of the technical aspects was so clear it was inspirational. I also took the Monday 7:30am class. Again, I was blown away by the instructors. The gentlemen who teach the Monday, Wednesday and Friday early class are a direct reflection of the principles I believe a dojo and a martial arts training facility embody. The patience and attention to detail that they took with the students of all levels was awesome - pushing them, making sure they were specific and keeping true to the philosophy the dojo embodies. The gentleman who trained with me was specific and clearly an excellent fighter. It felt like a private coaching with a very advanced fighter. He could have been annoyed and bored to train a striker and not a grappler. But his attention to detail, positive attitude and excellent execution of techniques made the class amazing. I grew so much in just one class because of the teachers and students. I can be a hard ass when it comes to my yelp reviews. I have given one stars and also five stars. When a place deserves five I give it five. If I could give this place 6 stars I would. Come to grow as a fighter, come to train, get in in shape, improve your self esteem... whatever your demons and goals are. Radical is a place that embodies all that the Martial Arts inspires. I joined. Not just to get back into the fight, but to be the best self I can be. I truly think this dojo will help with that. read more

I have trained in various martial arts systems for 30 plus years. Many schools offer more than they deliver. Many teachers talk more than they do. It is a rarity when you find a school with students with great attitudes, no ego issues, and always willing to help each other. It is also a rarity to find a great teacher with great skills. Radical MMA in NYC possesses all of these qualities. I am pleased and honored to be a student here. Coach Rene Dreifuss is a teacher with 25 pro MMA fights; he knows his stuff and is pleased to impart his knowledge and experience to his students. If you want to excel in jujitsu, and striking, this is the place to learn both. A big thumbs up. Great place to learn; great place to train. I highly recommend them. Kudos! Mike Berkley read more

Regardless of the postive reviews, Rene Dreifuss does not get any praise from me. My rating would be zero star. Within the first 2 minutes of my first lesson while Dreifuss was explaining a defensive stance of having my left elbow cover my left eye, I did not dispute his method. I simply and reasonably mentioned that I do not see well through my right eye while my left eye is covered. Dreifuss suddenly headbutt me on my forehead and said this snide remark: "did that hurt more than not seeing in your right eye". That was a dumbass jerk move from him. He did not even apologize or say " are you alright" or anything to rectify an intent to hurt. Later on in the lesson, he made another snide comment: "your forehead looks kind of red there." I found it odd of him rather giving the students a nickname instead of calling by their rightful name, so it will be easy for him. He could not give the same respect to a student, who learned his name while following his lessons. That choice should at least be given to the student on what name he or she wants to be referred to as. Of course, I did not want to continue with this gym after that first experience, so I spoke to him about cancelling my membership and this was his absurd reply: "I will check with the owner, he is in the Cayman Islands now". This was completely misleading from him, being indicated as "his gym"/owner of the gym" and it was a sign of no integrity, along with the unprofessional training conduct. I was told of other facilities, such as Marcelo, with proper professionalism for training and business practice. read more

Radical MMA is a great place if you want to learn real-life scenario fighting in a safe and friendly environment. It certainly helps with sport and competition fighting if you choose to do so as there are athletes from this gym that do so. The head instructor is a great person. He has a beginner curriculum and he deeply cares that every one of his student (including those who are recreational) are learning and doesn't want any of his students to be left behind. I prefer this gym over the others in nyc because you really do get the attention of the coach and again, you learn real-life scenario fighting that's safe and friendly. Highly recommend. read more

Coach Dreifuss is very personable and a true expert in MMA. His academy is super professional and clean. I would give this place 6 stars if I could! read more

Rene and Chad are top class instructors making sure that each student not only gets the technique but the philosophy behind the technique. Very attentive teaching. Also there is well advance and helpful students that will help you out if your in need. Clean gym and respectful people. Amazing school to learn Mma and self-defense. read more

This is the place to be. Being at other gyms before i can tell you the atmosphere is one of a kind along with coach René and his self-defense/MMA curriculum. There's a heavy emphasis on being efficient and tactical whether you're striking, grappling, and even the mental aspect of training. I began my journey here post lockdown with a lot of pandemic weight gained, stood consistent 3-5x a week and saw myself go from 260 to currently walking around 185lbs. It's all love and hard work here, so be ready to grind it out and get busy. What made me most comfortable at radical was the equality amongst students, everyone is a student and teacher no matter where you stand in rank or seniority. That all starts with coach and his understanding that we can learn and relearn constantly from new comers and those who've trained before. This is a gym to learn to fight and defend yourself, I would definitely recommend this gym to anyone who's interested in real MMA training with an emphasis in bjj. Osu! read more

For many years I've been searching for a place like Radical MMA; a true school of human combat, every-evolving, without dogma, that values pragmatism and real-world applicability above all else. One need only read the "Philosophy and Approach" section of their website to understand the rock-solid principles that are are present throughout every aspect of the Radical MMA experience. Instruction from Rene, Chad, and everyone else who assists is world-class, and the group of students they've attracted are dedicated, respectful, and formidable. Rene is a true "fight professor", translating his vast range of experience as a life-long martial artist into a holistic combat system that is carefully conceived and always-improving. His approach is academic in its sophistication but always battle-tested on the mats and in competition. As someone who is building a company, I've learned the value of always iterating and staying curious, of never settling for the status quo, and of staying humble enough to always know there's much that I don't know. These things are so important to be a good leader and to make good decisions. I love training at Radical because I believe Rene has taken the same approach with the fighting system he has created, and that is not something that's easy to find. They say that there are musicians who always have some form of music playing in their minds, even when they're talking to people or just going about their day. I think it's the same with Rene, except that it's Jiu-jitsu that's always playing in his mind. From a practical standpoint, the training is heavily BJJ-based, but firmly rooted in MMA and "street" viability. You won't find any butt-scooting here. In an era, where many schools seem to be tailoring much of their training around out-pointing opponents in a sporting context, Radical has gone the other direction. For example, if in the traditional position one would be in while applying a submission it could be possible to be bitten or eye-gouged, then Rene will point this out and show a modified version of the technique where one is protected against such "no holds barred" counter-attacks. Controlled "slaps" are also incorporated when rolling to reinforce the importance of always maintaining an awareness of strikes. This bent on BJJ training is something I so deeply appreciate. The Radical MMA facility itself is one of the nicest and cleanest places I've ever trained. Industrial-strength sanitizer is used regularly, there are three showers that are always clean and well-stocked with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner, and there are even mandatory feet cleaning stations next to every mat. Anyone who's ever trained at a gym where hygiene was not such a priority will surely appreciate this. The atmosphere of the academy is one of respect and hard work. Training is taken very seriously and there is definitely less horsing around than what I've experienced at other gyms, but this is balanced nicely with plenty of humor. Students are expected to stay focused and be respectful of the instructors and one another, but everyone is also having fun. Rene himself will punctuate in-depth lessons with personal stories and plenty of jokes. Personally, I find the "vibe" of the academy to be the perfect balance of intensity and fun. In short, if you are someone who has a sincere interest in challenging and improving yourself, and in becoming harder to kill in the process, then you would be crazy to not check out Radical MMA. It is a very special place. read more

What makes a great martial arts dojo is not what the space looks like or their schedule, it is based entirely on the integrity, care, and character of its main instructor. I will train at the park if the instructor was someone I could look up to and respect. Some people talk about principles, will fight others over them. Those things are easy. Living by your principles and teaching others your principles, now that's hard. That, to me, is Rene Dreifuss. He, not only, wants the best for his students, he will stop at nothing to help them attain their potential. He's also surrounded himself with people just like him, from the striking coach to his assistant coaches. I've trained martial arts most of my life, from age 6 until now. And believe it or not, I can see right through martial arts platitudes and trite cliches and profound nonsense. I am, in fact, allergic to it. It's typically, completely, incoherent and useless. Yet with Rene, I see authenticity. Not only can he teach you practical street-defense to MMA skills, he is just as knowledgeable on the scholarly side. He actually has a graduate level background in Asian history and warfare from Columbia. I, too, consider myself as someone who has some amount of academic knowledge of the East, especially of martial history, and one Rene is one of the few guys I can talk to who doesn't sound like a fortune cookie and reads more than just the covers of martial arts books. This is important because there is long forgotten part of martial arts, which is character. Character beyond quotes taken out of context and being a bad-ass. I mean the character to get through life, because life can be messy and you need an ability to handle it in its totality. And the physical aspect is in total cohesion with the mental aspect. Now, that is rare. Rene will develop all of those things in you and I know he will sacrifice himself to get you there. That's what you get at Radical MMA. Osu! read more

This is the best Dojo I have ever set foot in, the instructor Rene, is one of the nicest guys I ever meet, his students are super nice and super cool, don't get me wrong these guys are killers, technical, no bad vibes what so ever from anybody, my game completely got shut down, and am very happy about ut nobody beat me with strength or size I got shut down by Super nice technical killers... :) and loved it... Rene has a system and a way to teach Martial Arts that no many can do... there's good teachers bu then there's GREAT teachers... can't say enough good things... I would 100% recommend this gym to anybody looking to learn The stuff that works... Love this place... don't take my word go by and check it out... am a straight forward guy... I promise you will love this place... read more

Radical MMA - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - New York, New York

If I could, I would give Radical 6 stars. if you are interested in learning how to protect yourself and others, this is the place to go. Firstly, Radical is a MMA school, so the focus is on practical applications: If something doesn't work in real life altercations, it isn't taught. The classes can be intense, so be prepared to put in the hours training hard. At the same time, you will be given equal time, whether a world class athlete or a regular guy. I came to Radical from a swimming background, and I never feel looked down upon when I struggle with learning a new movement. Secondly, the atmosphere and camaraderie at the academy is incredible. Everyone is careful about injuries, and it's nice after a long day to be able to hang out with friendly and interesting people. To sum it up, if you want to learn how to protect others and yourself in a great environment, and you don't mind putting your nose to the grindstone, give Radical a go! read more

I have known Coach Rene and Chad for years, since I took BJJ briefly with them at a different location. I shopped around before meeting Rene and was hooked on BJJ and the academy. Though I have stopped taking BJJ for a few reasons, I sporadically find free Sundays for Women's Self Defense class. Rene is a terrific instructor and person: he is knowledgeable, intelligent, patient, approachable, and articulate. He is passionate about MMA and it is very obvious in how he teaches. His classes have a clear and organized structure. Everyone receives individual attention during the class. All the lessons are conducted in a safe manner, considering the close-contact nature of the sport. He will teach you to practice in the safest manner possible, to think on your feet, good sportsmanship, and great techniques. Chad is wonderful as well. He is competitive and he teaches from experience. Both instructors are encouraging and supportive, which is important when you're a frail, little oompa loompa with no MMA experience. As seen in the photos, there is a dojo etiquette and this so clearly illustrates the attitude at Radical MMA. Great sportsmanship and respect is not just preached at the dojo, it is practiced. The students at Radical are generally friendly and welcoming. There is absolutely NO hazing at this gym. I have never felt uncomfortable learning under Rene or Chad, EVER. The more experienced students are more than willing to pass on tips or to offer a word of encouragement. As for my love for Rene's Women's Self Defense classes, there is no end to my affection. These are actually FREE classes and Rene volunteers his time to teach them. As well, other students often stay behind and offer their time to assist with the class (to pose as attackers and to willingly get beaten up by us women). I love these classes because they are practical, they bolster my self esteem, they teach me discipline, they are great fitness classes, they incorporate many BJJ elements (I miss BJJ very much incidentally), and they will always make me walk out of class proud of myself. The dojo is brand-new and freshly renovated. It is clean, the bathrooms are clean, and the showers are clean. Want a concise summary for this wall of text? GO TO RADICAL MMA! YOU WON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE!! read more

The instruction here is top notched. If you want to learn how to fight, this place is the place to go. However, the reason I am not giving this place better reviews is because of the hazing and bullying in the gym. Perhaps it's an old school MMA gym and I am more of a hobbyist who wants to learn martial arts and find a supportive community to be a part of. I've trained in martial arts before (thai boxing and BJJ) but this is the first time at a martial arts gym that I do not feel welcomed as a woman here. Not only is it very male dominated, the instructor was making comment about my body and calling me "amazon lady." He also bullied another new smaller student and made a point of his lesson by kicking the student's groin for real 3 times. Maybe it's the gym culture but the instructor also gave students' mean nicknames. You're also not supposed to drink water during training... nevertheless, I want to give credit to the instruction. I learned a lot and I would recommend this gym to someone who is looking to learn how to fight for real. Unfortunately, the gym culture is not for me. read more

Bottom line: great place, great coach, great people. I like to keep things short and sweet. Coach Dreifuss, the assistant coach Chad, and all of the students I have met are all excellent people, fantastic teachers, and devoted martial artists. The atmosphere is always positive and welcoming. They won't baby you at all though, they'll push you towards getting better at every class. I came in with minimal BJJ experience (army combatives level 1), and though I need to attend many more classes, I've learned a huge amount. Coach Dreifuss has a very good approach to teaching martial arts. He is extremely knowledgeable, keeps very up to date with techniques, but never seems like he is preaching dogma to you. The gym equipment is very high quality. The entire space is kept immaculate and the instructors and students are very hygiene conscious. read more

Coach Rene is an amazing teacher with a unique prospective on teaching martial arts. First, he is an encyclopedia of pugilistic information. All of the techniques taught are built around the idea of being useful for MMA or self-defense. Techniques from sports BJJ that expose you to strikes are avoided. Training begins with the most basic techniques and moves outward to the more complex movements. The system is based around building on fundamentals, drilling and finally sparring. There is also a competition BJJ and MMA team for the experienced. Having been to many martial arts gyms in the city, I can honestly say that this in one of the best in the city. The place is clean with showers, has lots of classes at various times and a motivated teacher to keep you learning. Rene enjoys teaching MMA and it shows. The spirit also permeates to his assistant teachers like Chad and his most experienced students. They are always helpful and looking for ways to improve your skill set. Don't hesitate to stop by if you are looking for high quality MMA, BJJ or self defense training. read more

Quality jiu jitsu for those with years or only a few days experience. Precise instruction with a very tough competition team. This is jiu jitsu for MMA, not sport jiu jitsu. Huge complex (three floors) with tons of conditioning and Crossfit equipment. Wrestling, judo and striking classes are available too. They should have an open mat available soon. Check the website for details. Very nice and welcoming group. No meatheads here. Osu! (Edit: My wife and I both train here. We come together when we can, but we're busy at times. But every time I come in, I'm welcomed like I'm returning from a long trip away. One time, Rene pretended to introduce me to my own wife. He's a really nice and smart guy with a good sense of humor. It's a good place if for any level of jiu jitsu. Solid competition and skillset, but a very fun and comfortable environment. Assistant coaches are VERY good. You can learn a lot here. One more "Osu!" Be expected to "Osu" a lot.) read more

I've trained at Radical for 3 years. Rene is an excellent coach who cares about all his students. The gym is clean and the students who train there are friendly and supportive. read more

I love martial arts and have studies at many places for approximately couples of years. Needless to say I am pretty particular in where I go. But with Radical MMA is Top notch training, great physical work outs, and most importantly a great opportunity to learn and grow. Radical MMA is an outstanding place to start your BJJ training. The training is amazing and affordable. One of the best things about this gym is that the Rene is an amazing coach, person, and most importantly he cares about every single of his/her student. On top of that, his assistance, Chad, is extremely friendly, respectful, and helpful. On top of that, the place is ridiculous clean considering the amount of sweat during the shoot boxing classes and BJJ. Long story, this is the place to be if you are looking for a great quality of training. read more

Coach Rene and Chad are amazing teachers. Not only do they have an actual plan they follow to improve their students, but every minute spent in his dojo is priceless. Prior to coming to Radical MMA I used to go to another mma gym where it just seemed like they were making things up as they went along. I would go into my old gym hoping I'll get lucky and we'll do some actual useful drills. In Radical MMA I have yet to feel like I could've gone that day without coming in because every single time I come out better. Everything Coach Rene and Chad teaches you is useful, effective, and clean. So good, I actually tried everything I learned from my old gym on their other students and nothing at all worked. Everyone treats each other with respect, which to me is a big deal, also one of the reasons I left my old gym. The respect shown to me is probably to biggest reason I like Radical MMA so much. read more

I left another academy after 6 months around the corner to come here and had to unlearn lots of bad habits I picked up. The teaching standard here is A+ Rene has impeccable integrity and will teach you everything he knows. The style is a bit different from sport jujitsu but way more effective in street situations and if you get to blue belt here your a beast compared to other blue belts at other schools. I moved up to Westchester so I now train with Jojo at ECUBJJ who is also A+ so I feel blessed to have had great training the past two years. I highly recommend this school read more

I was a former U.S. Taekwondo Collegiate National Team Member in sparring (http://ncta-usa.com/2014/05/23/2014-national-collegiate-taekwondo-championships-held-at-the-university-of-california-berkeley-us-national-collegiate-team-selected-for-world-university-taekwondo-championships/). I have since retired from the sport and picked up MMA. If you are looking for a coach to teach you real mixed martial arts that will help you truly defend yourself, I highly recommend Coach Rene, and Radical MMA. I have met and trained with at least 30 different "renowned" martial artists, but am sad to say only a handful of them are actually good martial arts coaches. Many make a name for themselves as an athlete then once having done so, proceed to teaching a cardio aerobic version of their martial arts. It might be a good workout (which is fine if that's what you want), but really isn't martial arts. Many are just completely fake. They pretend to know their martial art and present impressive-looking accolades (7th degree black belt) that really mean nothing. But the few handful that are good, are good not because they themselves are great athletes (though most of them were in their prime) but because they are able to passionately teach the true martial arts that they have learned and improved upon to those willing to learn from them. I give my highest recommendation to Coach Rene because he is everything that I would want in a martial arts instructor. He truly loves what he does, and spends an unhealthy amount of time thinking through how to improve his system. He does not use any marketing gimmicks or try to sell you a fake program that just gets you a workout. He teaches you real martial arts that, with practice, would work in the street. The only thing that I find truly unfortunate about his school is that he isn't open 24/7. But, of course, that's more a reflection of my erratic schedule and not his teaching. If you're looking for a place to learn martial arts that will help you learn to defend yourself, go to Radical MMA. read more

I have been practicing martial arts for about 26 years and throughout that time, attended several different schools. From my experience, Radical MMA is the best academy out there for a variety of reasons. Radical MMA teaches combat Brazilian jiu-jitsu (as opposed to sport jiu-jitsu, which does not consider all facets of a street-fight or MMA match) in a structured approach that is easy to understand. There are a variety of different classes available, but it's noteworthy to mention that Coach Rene Dreifuss is cognizant of our abilities and will instruct us appropriately, regardless of what class we attend. Therefore, you'll never feel like you're thrown into the fire with everyone else. Speaking of Coach Dreifuss, he is an excellent instructor who's immensely knowledgeable in BJJ and the MMA scene and cares deeply about developing you as a good student. He doesn't care about recruiting as many students as he can - without ego, he wants to ensure every student performs to the best of their abilities and learn high-quality martial arts. Coach Dreifuss may be stern at times, but only because he wants you to be a better practitioner. His passion and dedication for the arts is also reflected in his constant desire to improve and evolve, which trickles down to his students. On a personal level, Coach Dreifuss is warm, caring, respectful, and has a great sense of humor. You can't ask for a better teacher or friend. In addition to BJJ, Radical MMA also offers shootboxing, judo, and wrestling classes, which are all great. With membership, you have access to Radical MMA's gym, complete with a multitude of free weights (dumbbells, bumper plates, squat racks, etc.). The facility is extremely clean, hygienic (a rarity in grappling schools), and with shower rooms. Everything you need to develop your martial arts prowess and physical fitness in a welcoming, fun, and clean environment is right here at Radical MMA. read more

I've been going to Radical Mma under coach Rene Dreifuss for almost 8 months, my ultimate goal is to fight (although there are lots who are not training to compete). I checked out 4 different gyms and ultimately settled on Radical for a few different reasons. 1) functional bjj/mma - all bjj classes are done with mma and street fighting in mind so you're learning real life defensive solutions right from the beginning. 2) Rene told me not to sign up unless I was committed to going at least 2 or 3 times a week - while very relaxed everyone is serious about constant improvement. 3) everyone is incredibly friendly, nice and respectful - you don't see this all places but in terms of feeling welcome and comfortable it's top notch. The longer I'm there the happier i am with the decision, it's a great system with fighting and real life application. Hope to see you there read more

I was looking forward to taking the free trial class but once I was greeted there I was given an attitude with the guy, already ordering me around telling me to take off my stuff even though I was gonna do it anyway, I was already been judged like a tool I felt. there were some objects I had which I couldn't take off or would have been more difficult if I took it off, I told the guy that I couldn't take it off and he responded with "not my problem" He told me it could get stuck in "grappling". Of all the places I've been I was never asked to take my stuff off other than changing clothes. And I've done hardcore grappling and sparring with it which has never been an actual problem with it. In the end I couldn't take the class which got me disappointed. The guy didn't seem to care if I entered or not. Real actual fighting you're not gonna suddenly pop everything you're wearing off, when a street fight goes on there will be odds stacked against you whenever you have a hat, wearing jewelry, or holding a bag or a kid in your hand, there will always be a disadvantage. I came here to fight as I was dressed but was denied. This is for MMA sports only which is not a bad thing to learn but if you want to learn real street fighting go find some other place, this place didn't give me the "brutal" self defense impression, just a hardcore sport place. read more

I've been to other schools and I'm so lucky to have found radical mma. Rene is a great coach and so are the other students and instructors at the academy. He's all about teaching you the right technique and wants each student to learn proficiency and wants everyone to understand why your doing what your doing and not just being a robot. It's impressive how he remembers everyones name because their are over 100 students. That being said he gives everyone personal attention and has no favorites while teaching a class. If you feel like you're out of shape, nervous, shy etc don't be. Everyone helps each other to grow and get better and better not only as fighters but as a team. I strongly recommend trying a free lesson to see for your self. Just by being in the academy for 8 months I've never felt so confident and so eager to continue on my marital arts journey all thanks to Rene, the instructors and all of my fellow students. I look forward to meeting new members to have the same experience. read more

From a recommendation from a friend, and won a private self defense lesson with Coach Rene Dreifuss at the Sex Worker's Project fundraiser a few months ago. It was a great lesson. Coach Dreifuss is a patient teacher, and flexible in his lesson plan to accommodate the student. I learned some great moves in a real hands-on active manner. And I walked in a complete NOVICE. I definitely recommend taking some self defense lessons here. read more

I travel to NYC once a month for work and I always train at Radical MMA. I'm a brown belt under Rodrigo Medeiros and a two time Muay Thai Champion under Saekson Janjira. Coach Dreifuss is one of the best teachers I've ever worked with. I'm blown away at his brilliance and expertise with his teaching method and techniques. Coach Dreifuss is a true martial artist and the high skill level of all of his students is a testament to his teaching ability. I aways come home a much better fighter. Thank you Rene a thousand times!!! read more

Radical is a place for people to genuinely come together and learn the craft of MMA. I've been taking the self defense class for two years now and have had such wonderful experiences! The self defense class takes the principles of Jiu Jitsu and applies them to situations one can encounter every day. Rene is an amazing instructor. Learning from him has been truly inspiring! He's always been sure to take his time in explaining movements and leverage along with pairing up partners to explore the moves together. He is ready for any question you may have for him, and always eager to expand our knowledge. I started with zero experience in the art and have since developed more than just skill and respect, but a sense of empowerment that I previously lacked. Anyone with an interest in learning, whether novice or practiced, should come and give Radical a run! read more

Was only a member for 2 months (Left to pursue solely boxing) but experience by far the best BJJ training I have ever had. Time was spent breaking down every step of every move and did not just focus on finishing submissions. Also the gym puts in the extra effort to have an inclusive, family atmosphere. Note while this is a full MMA gym new members are only allowed to train BJJ and promotions to stand-up classes are given later based on ability. The gym also strives to be open 365 days a year. read more

Radical MMA is a family. Their ju jitsu skills are off the charts. I only spent a very short time there but learned so much in that very small space of time. Coach Rene and coach Chad are both awesome. Its a place of caring friendship and positive energy. Id reccomend it to people of all skill levels. I wish i was still in NY so i could train there. Also Rene is a total hygenie maniac. This is the cleanest gym i ever rolled at. Its so important due to the possible germs we can pass getting sweaty on the mats. I felt very welcome at this gym and i am used to feeling like an outcast. Its a great environment awesome teachers give it a try. read more

Coach Rene is teaching a grappling-oriented MMA system that I haven't found anywhere else in terms of either thoroughness or effectiveness - a lot of students who trained elsewhere have some catching up to do at first, and I include myself on that list haha. Most importantly, I've been coming here 2 years now and every time has been a blast - Rene is a phenomenal teacher, the students are so cool, and the facilities are great as well. Osu! read more