United BJJ Hawaii is a phenomenal place to begin or continue your jujitsu journey. I became…read moreacquainted with the owners, legendary Professors Bruno and Angela Pucci, during their process of becoming an affiliated We Defy Foundation gym. From the meet and greet, I was hooked on their gym dynamic--a welcoming gym full of experienced individuals working together to progress in the art form. Classes are well-structured with lessons followed by live roll applications. The coaches at the gym are very involved, and it shows through the positive learning environment their gym has. I travel a lot for work, which provides the opportunity to visit many gyms. Though I am still very junior in BJJ, this is by far my favorite gym to train at! 10/10 this places goes above and beyond.

As a family with little to no experience with combat sports, we weren't sure what to expect when we…read morejoined United BJJ, but the coaches made us feel comfortable from the start. My children love training here--they've made great friends and gained valuable skills in Jiu-Jitsu. Beyond technique, they've developed confidence, respect, improved concentration, and learned self-control, discipline, and perseverance--skills that will last a lifetime. The way the coaches teach is exceptional. They explain techniques in a way that is easy for children to understand, making each lesson fun and engaging. This has helped my kids grasp the fundamentals quickly while enjoying the learning process. A few months ago my children participated in their first tournament, and Coach Maraya went above and beyond to support and encourage them, making the experience truly memorable. This type of dedication from the coaches is what makes this academy so special. Additionally, the convenience of the location is a huge plus. There's plenty of parking, and the academy is inside a 24-hour fitness facility, which means I can get my own workout in while my kids are training. We're grateful to be part of this community and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a positive, family-friendly environment to learn BJJ.

I've recently joined CJJF and it's my first BJJ experience. I have both a judo and wrestling…read morebackground so I wanted to try something different. I'm a very shy person and wanted to come out of my comfort zone so that's why I've decided to join this club. The staffing and coaches are extremely friendly and welcomed me right away! The coaches and staff are very patient and are willing to teach above and beyond! The dojo is very clean and organized. There are classes everyday which is great if you have a busy schedule. I'm very happy and excited to continue coming to practice! If you're looking to start BJJ somewhere and don't know where to go, I highly recommend CJJF!!

Friendly coaches and awesome community. Coaches really care…read moreabout development and creating a fun and safe environment for all ages!

Great gym that covers all aspects of fighting. Coach Desi, Moku, and Brandon are all high-level…read moreinstructors with competition experience that have a deep knowledge in every aspect of Martial Arts. They've helped me tremendously not only on, but off the mats aswell and bring the best out of me. Classes are open to all ages, facility is very neat and organized. Great people that create a great environment to train in. Wouldn't wanna train anywhere else

Very knowledgeable and friendly should give it a try…read more Everyone that trains there is also nice

Everything and anything about this gym is great ... a name is only a name, not ALL Gracie gyms are…read morethe same. The staff here is very supportive and the community is great. I highly recommend Gracie Barra Waipahu and Kapolei, all the professors and coaches have helped our family develop and I continue to see so much growth around me.

I was really disappointed in this Gracie Barra. We have been apart of GB for 11 years and have…read morevisited and trained at many GB schools. My kids have trained with a lot of Gracie Barra legends and this school does not represent the GB culture in a positive light. We went to the opening day here after recently moving to Oahu and the vibe here was very cold and unwelcoming. We definitely won't be training here anytime soon.

I was on island for a long weekend, a training partner who previously trained at O2; reached out to…read moresee if I could drop-in on an early morning open mat. I was stoked that I got approved. Everyone was extremely welcoming. The level of Jiu-jitsu was very high and although everyone was going after it, there was no one trying to hurt anyone or any big egos. I'm very thankful, I was allowed to experience this wonderful academy and hope to roll with these guys again the next time I'm on Oahu.

The students and instructors at O2 are incredible! They offer a variety of classes and everyone is…read moreso friendly and welcoming. I joined about two years ago for kickboxing (PJ, Chris, and Justin are incredible), but really appreciated that the membership allows you to divide up your classes however you like. I ended up taking up jiu jitsu and recently started kali escrima with Ian - my only regret is that I didn't start sooner. Marital arts is such a humbling experience, and walking into a new gym can be so intimidating. O2 is perfect for every experience level from the individual who has only seen action movies to the high level grappler and those who spar regularly. As a whole, they call it the O2 fam and it truly feels like it! The gym is actually owned by Mike and Chris, two brothers, who truly give it a family feel. They, and all the coaches, are amazing at what they do and lead their classes with expertise and a lot of humor. And as another reviewer mentioned, this is definitely somewhere where you have to check your ego at the door because it's a fam and we have to take care of each other. O2 is on the second floor above Goodwill along Kamehameha. There's plenty of parking and the lot entrance is on Hekaha. During the pandemic they kept the gym open and prioritized membership safety with online classes then grappling with dummies and working in pods. They offer times throughout the day and on weekends. The schedule is a little modified because of COVID but definitely check them out!

I brought my son here to drop in for the keiki (kids) class since we're on vacation from out of…read moretown. Professor Rexie and the rest of the Alliance Jiu Jitsu family we awesome and have so much Aloha. Something we don't see much of in the mainland. Professor Rexie made my son feel welcomed and comfortable while training. He also explains the instruction to the kids in a way that the kids understand. We will definitely bring our son back her to train whenever we are back in Hawaii. Please give Alliance BJJ a shot if you're ever interested in taking class.

Professor Rex and his staff are fantastic. My son was terrified to go since he has no experience…read moreand didn't know what to expect. They welcomed him to the ohana with open arms and he has had a blast learning about being a leader and learning skills that he will take with him throughout his life. One of the best decisions we have made.

Calabrese Combat Academy has been an amazing experience for our whole family. The atmosphere is…read morealways clean, comfortable, and incredibly welcoming -- it truly feels like a second home. Coach Jason, Coach Paul, and Coach Taylor have been outstanding with our three younger sons in the Juniors class. They've shown genuine patience, guidance, and consistency that's made a big difference in our kids' confidence and skill. Over the summer, my partner and I started attending the adult Gi and No-Gi classes, and it's been just as rewarding. Having taken Jiu-Jitsu classes at UFC Gym before, I can honestly say Coach Jason's teaching style stands out -- he breaks down the techniques in a way that just clicks and makes sense. If you're looking for a place to really learn Jiu-Jitsu in a supportive, family-like environment, Calabrese Combat Academy is where you want to be.

Jason is one of the best coaches I've encountered I have 2 of my kids that go to him for jiujitsu…read moretraining and my 3rd will be there when she's old enough. If you want top notch education in tandem with great people skills and coaching ability Jason is your man. I personally am 41 and starting as a white belt under Jason and so far the experience has been amazing he will take his time with you at whatever level you come in at and always give you the respect and space to learn. He gives you two free classes! What is there to lose give the Calabrese academy a try!

We have been apart of the Gracie Barra family for 11 years. We joined Aloha stadium a year ago when…read morewe moved here. If you want to genuinely feel that Gracie Barra one team one family vibe this is the Gracie Barra you need to go to. Professor Justin went above and beyond to make my kids feel welcomed and a part of the family. We tried another Gracie Barra on Oahu on their opening day and we did not feel welcome. Aloha Stadium upholds all of the Gracie Barra philosophies, curriculum, and uniform policies. It's extremely professional and really upholds the Gracie Barra way. My children do Jujitsu to help them become better people, learn how to defend themselves, and learn how to get back to their community and they learn all these things here at Aloha Stadium.

I visited Oahu on vacation at the end of June / early July of 2025. I had time to squeeze in a…read morecouple of training classes. I contacted the school in advance and was able to visit and train with them. My 10 yr old son was able to go and train once with the juniors while we were on the island. The school / students were all very welcoming to us. From the instant we stepped onto the mats, we felt like we belonged there. I glad I went as Prof. Justin James pointed out a couple of things I needed to improve and then went about teaching me how to do that. All in all, I highly recommend this school to either join as a regular student, or visit and train with them when in town.

UPDATE! I'm not sure how or why, but my message about my…read moreexperience trying to sign up at the UFC Gym must have reached the right people. I received a call last night offering me the deal exactly as it was originally presented--no extra conditions or changes. I'm really happy and feel like they made things right. Today... I'm heading in to break a sweat!

I've been a UFC member since the first UFC opened in Honolulu in 2012. Please fix the AC in the…read morecycling/zumba/yoga room! The AC always seems to be broken whether it's the room or the outside workout area. I'm so tired of working out when the air is too thick to breathe. We have to open the doors to get some air circulation in the room and that's not enough! We all pay a lot for the gym membership and deserve better! Other than that, the coaches and staff are bomb! The cycling instructor AJ is the best and I now understand why it's so hard to get into her class every week!

Took their self defense seminar last month and it was really a great experience!…read more The majority of the class was a presentation, but the information was very useful and worded in a non victim blaming way. I've gotta say, that was my biggest fear about the class going in. As a survivor of sexual violence it was really important to me that their that the information be fact based and non accusatory. The last 45 minutes was simple self defense tactics used when there is no other option and was accessible for anyone despite physical shape. I was instructed to engage physically with the instructors, something I've not done since my attack. It was very uplifting that in a few hours I was able to trust and engage with them in a way that would of scared the crap out of me previously. I found my experience with Charles Gooden to be very empowering and positive. He's a great person. My only critique would be the name of the course. As someone who has been victimized signing up for a course called "Don't be a Victim" was something I really had to talk myself into. I think the name would turn off a lot of women who have been in my position. But name aside, I highly recommend the course! I'm definitely attending the level 2 course.

Master Charles and his team are amazing! They have accommodated us tremendously through the…read morepandemic offering online zoom options. We appreciate him and his team! My son loves his taekwando class.