Great training at the Judo program run by Charles. He takes great care in developing his students…read more Safety is a priority in this class. Sufian, an old school judoka trained in Eastern Europe helps teach when he can. Great class. The students will be great representatives of judo one day. When I'm back living in the area, I'll check out the jiujitsu program.

Amazing caring staff. My kids have been training here on and off for over 10 years! Consistent and…read moredisciplined staff with quality, experience, and patience. They do have a parking lot on the side of the building and there is street parking available as well. Super easy to sign up and great communication kept with families.

If you are in the Castro Valley area then this is definitely the jiujitsu gym to train at. They…read morehave a very strong kids program and adults program, to fit all your jiujitsu needs, whether you are a hobbyist or a competitor. ZMATA is also a Guardian affiliated gym which means they have specific goals to help the youth community, where jiujitsu empowers then to improve themselves and build confidence. As for the mat space, it is clean and well maintained, with foot cleansing stations infused with tea tree oil, to keep the mats safe for everyone (a nice touch). They train champions here and everyone is about improving each other. I was blessed to train an open mat here and regularly see their instructors and practitioners at our NorCal open mat club. Thanks ZMATA!

Z mata is a fantastic place if your kids are serious about their BJJ, Judo or wrestling training…read more Their coaches are led by co-owner Mr. Aaron Zaballos (hence the Z in the name). They employ great coaches and it's a fantastic place to train. (My girls did for several years prior to the pandemic). Zero hesitation to recommend this business.

Are you a middle aged professional like me, with a desk job, craving for some intense, rewarding…read morephysical activity you haven't had in years? Well let me introduce you to jiu jitsu. The people at Alere, coaches and fellow trainees alike, are all very kind and supportive and willing to offer feedback to help you improve your movements (which, as a new white belt, is extremely necessary). I've been training at Alere for about two and a half months and have lost like 15 lbs and gotten much stronger. Come here and join an awesome community.

Jitsu Has Truly Transformed My Daughter's Confidence…read more Choosing Jitsu for my daughter was intentional. I wanted her to learn how to protect herself -- and if needed, to protect her little sister and her friends. I wanted her to grow up knowing she was strong, aware, and capable. What I didn't realize was how much more this journey would give her. When she first joined, she was shy and uncertain, but everything changed once she stepped onto the mat and into a community that believed in her. Having her best friend there made the experience even more special. They pushed each other, laughed through tough drills, and grew side by side in ways only true teammates can. Now it's been two years and counting, and she's still not sick of it -- not even close. If anything, she loves it more than when she started. That alone tells you they're doing something completely right. One of the biggest takeaways she's held onto is: "Never cry on the mat." And she takes it very literally -- but honestly, it's not a bad thing. For her, it means fight harder, stay focused, and don't give up. We get it... but let's be real, moms are absolutely allowed to cry on the sidelines. As a mom, it still scares me watching her train and compete -- that feeling never truly goes away. But her confidence has grown so strong that she's now the one asking me to sign her up for competitions. Seeing her walk onto the mat with purpose and pride is something I never imagined two years ago. I have to give so much credit to Jorge, Coach Chris, and Coach Brandon. They prepare her for every competition with patience, discipline, and unwavering belief in her. They've helped shape her into a girl who isn't afraid to push herself, challenge herself, and trust her own strength. Because of them, my heart is at ease a little more each time she competes. Jitsu didn't just teach her self-defense -- it opened a whole new world inside her. One filled with courage, growth, friendship, and confidence. Watching her transform has been one of the greatest gifts, and for that, I am endlessly grateful.

San Lorenzo BJJ is one of the cleanest gym, I've ever been to. Coach Manny provides great, clear,…read moredetailed instruction and making sure everyone is safe. Coach Manny cares about the development of his students and their understanding of the Art of Jiu Jitsu. If you unsure if this gym is for you, try it out and see for yourself. Manny is always welcoming to visitors and new people who have never done BJJ. From experienced competitors to beginners, all levels are welcome!

Me and both my daughters attended SLZ BJJ and Manny is an amazing professor/coach. All levels…read moreattend and help each other out. Never have me or my daughters had a bad experience with the SLZ BJJ team, place felt more like family.

I originally joined as part of a challenge, but what made me stay after those first weeks was the…read moreincredible community, coaches, and training environment. Everyone here is so knowledgeable and patient with new learners. That made starting something as intimidating as a close combat sport feel much more approachable. I also appreciate that there are plenty of women in each class (both the noon and evening sessions), which has made me feel more comfortable and confident showing up and training. If you've ever thought about picking up a new hobby or becoming a competitor, I highly recommend giving both the jiu jitsu and kickboxing classes a try at Mindset MA. Shoutout to Coach David for onboarding me within a 5-minute time span!

My kids are growing stronger with each BJJ class! I'm glad my kids joined Mindset Martial Arts &…read moreFitness.

I've been training here for many years, and I can honestly say this is one of the best gyms in the…read moreBay Area. It's not just for fighters--it's an incredible place for hobbyists, beginners, and anyone looking to get in shape. At the same time, some of the Bay Area's top fighters train here. I was one of California's highest-ranked amateur MMA fighters, and today I'm one of the state's top professional fighters--even though I only compete once a year! Come check out Bay Area Fight Academy. Everyone is welcome!

I went in to check out the gym after the head coach told me I could come by anytime, and I was…read morealready pretty nervous since I'm new to MMA. Unfortunately, one of the staff members -- a heavier-set guy with glasses -- came across as rude and dismissive toward me, which made the experience uncomfortable. As a beginner, first impressions matter a lot, and instead of feeling welcomed I felt talked down to. The head coach himself seemed respectful, which is why I'm leaving this review honestly instead of just writing the whole gym off. I just think new people should be treated with more patience and respect, especially when they're stepping out of their comfort zone to try something new.

My son started Taekwondo here and earned his black belt. It helped him improve his focus, build…read morestrength, and gain confidence. He now does Judo there as well and, even though the classes are challenging, he really enjoys them. Seeing how much he benefited, I also enrolled my daughter in the Little Warriors program. The instructors are kind, caring, and wonderful with the kids. We've had a great experience and would definitely recommend them!

We love Do Martial arts! Our daughter has been attending for several years now and has gained so…read moremuch strength and confidence through her experience. The instructors are also kind and teach with both rigor and gentleness. She loves taekwondo and has grown so much! We recommend them for a positive environment to learn taekwondo.

Excited to be back with Billy, Ray & Ali! The coaching staff at Silverback MMA & Fitness are…read moreexperienced instructors who work with you to meet your fitness goals. They offer many classes such as cardio kickboxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing and more! Youth classes are offered as well! Bring the whole family and get ready to sweat!

Coach Billy and Rk4 teach useful techniques in actual fight. Quality training with coaches paying…read moreattention to everyone. I like that they keep the size of classes small so they can pay enough attention to every fighter. Everyone is very respectful and friendly at the gym. It's obvious that coaches are passionate at what they do!

My son loved going here for his training the other kids welcomed him and showed him a some stances…read moreand the trainer was very helpful and would do a one on one with the kids. If we still lived in the bay we would definitely still have him go.

I've been training at the kennel for a little over a year now, and I can say it's one of the best…read moredecisions I've made. Coach Arvin is great at what he does. He doesn't just show up to run a class. He truly wants to see you improve, pushes you to your limits, and isn't afraid to call you out when you're not giving your best. I also attended the strength and conditioning classes with Coach Paul, and I highly recommend it. His sessions are well-structured, challenging, and designed to build real, functional strength that complements boxing training perfectly. On top of all that, the front staff is great -- always friendly, welcoming, and super helpful with any questions or scheduling needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your training, this gym offers everything you need with the right people to back it up.

Great gym with great coaching staff. This is a competition level gym with coaches that treat the…read morestudents as family. There are alwas people preparing for fights, but every student get the same level of training. The coaches will not let you train with bad technique; this applies to all ages. From child to adult, they make sure to drill with technique and energy.

Guy was kind of rude. Ignored us for awhile and was kind of passive aggressive. We decided not to…read moreenroll our child.