There are a lot of different Jiu-Jitsu gyms out there, but Kaizen is a newer gym with a unique…read moreapproach to the smaller details which translate into a huge difference in technique. The word Kaizen itself means continuous improvement; it's not about ego or brute strength. The instructors here have created a conscientious and intentional culture that is welcoming for all people, men, women and, children, all shapes and sizes. Also, the mats are exceptionally clean!

Just changed locations! Still in South Pasadena with the same great staff & coaches. Coach Brian…read moreteaches the 4 year class and is so great with the kids. There's ample parking out back & new paint job outside with the same familiar clean black & white design. Inside has nice lighting and is surprisingly very cool on a hot day. Excited to see what changes come with this location compared to the last one.

We've been bringing our kids here for a little over a year, and I can't say enough good things…read moreabout Professor Rich, his team, and the community they have built. Rich is incredible with kids. He has a great balance of being patient, encouraging, and supportive while also knowing when to be stern, set expectations, and hold them accountable. He teaches so much more than just jiu-jitsu, he teaches discipline, respect, confidence, perseverance, and important life lessons that carry far beyond the mats. One of the biggest things we've noticed is how much our kids' confidence has grown since they started training here. It has been amazing to watch them become more comfortable in themselves, more resilient, and more willing to take on challenges. His entire team is also fantastic. You can tell they genuinely care about the kids and are committed to helping them learn, grow, and become better both in jiu-jitsu and in life. The community here is something special as well. There's a welcoming, positive atmosphere among the coaches, kids, and families that makes this place feel like much more than just a jiu-jitsu academy. We're incredibly grateful for Professor Rich, his team, and the guidance and positive influence they've had on our kids. We truly cannot recommend this place highly enough!

We've been coming for about 3 months. Since training here, our little one has gained confidence in…read morehow she moves, gaining core and lower body strength. The social-emotional aspect, including teaching kids how to play fair and treat each other with respect in how they move and interact physically is awesome.

Logic Pasadena is a clean family friendly and vibrant place to learn jujitsu. All the professors…read moreand coaches are kind and first class. No shady types here! My son and I have been practicing jujitsu for over a year now and it's the best decision I ever made. Highly recommended!

My child has been practicing BJJ in this Pasadena location since early 2021. Professor Bence is…read moreremarkable when teaching techniques and making sure lessons are well understood. He is very patient and his personality facilitates the art for both, children and adults. I highly recommend this location!

You'll almost always feel welcome here. Especially if you are a child, for example, a 12-year-old…read moregirl lost count of an exercise she was doing, and he snapped at her & asked if he needed to count for her! He will call the kids boy or girl rather than by their actual name to make them feel worse. He used the excuse that this is a rough sport to justify his abuse. He even laughed at a little boy who had accidentally gotten hurt and mocked his pain by saying, "Blood, sweat, & tears!" And he didn't even check to see if he was okay or tell his parents what happened to him, what if he got a bruise or god forbid was bleeding?! He views their failures as burdens for him rather than obstacles for them to overcome. And the curriculum is seemingly too random and doesn't focus enough on systems. He will sometimes pressure the good kids for no discernible reason; that makes no sense. So if you believe teachers shouldn't be held accountable but children should, then this place is for you! He couldn't even look me in the eye when he told me to trust his process, but he screams at a little boy to look at him when he is carelessly reprimanding him. He will use any excuse to scream at the kids instead of being more patient with them. My entire journey with him was boiling frog syndrome. All these kids he's tormenting with his childlike screaming and lies are gonna have broken brains, good job! It would be extremely helpful if he asked his students for feedback and found ways to improve his methods instead of losing his temper. He just drops random stuff on us and expects us to do it perfectly. He laughed when I misheard his instructions, and he enjoys humiliating his students in front of everyone and thinks it's good. He'd better get it right if he doesn't want his precious trophies to stop coming in. I have lost my temper here before I admit it. And maybe some kids who need to be pushed, everyone is different. But do you really want to take that risk with every kid? And yes, I overreacted when he posted an Instagram story where he joked about not turning on the a/c during a hot day of 2024. He also had this competition training technique, I think he called Red Alert, where if your opponent is being unfair and breaks your arm, he won't do anything about it. And the sweat test, which I previously mentioned. And as mentioned in my previous review, there was the 200 squats group punishment, but what I haven't mentioned about it was how he unnervingly laughed about the way the tears streamed down their face. That is a form of corporal punishment. And I can't abide that because it is immoral. He often lets the kids play a bit after class, and there was one time when a little boy was playing tag with his brother wasn't playing tag. And they acted like he hit him and threatened him 100 burpees if he did it again. Instead of hearing his side of the story and then Coach Nate mocked him for being scared of Coach Joseph. He has done kind things for them from time to time, but that's not going to cancel out all the harshness he has and still is inflicting on his students. Provoking hope amuses sadists. And I may have misunderstood Coach Martinez jokingly calling some kids liars. I also misjudged the capoeira/MMA coach; he is a good man who just has a really intense way of teaching. He used his dog to distract the students during one of the comp classes, and got mad at them for looking at her. It's an imbalanced power disparity. Then there is the matter of those martial arts camps he is a part of. The way he described them made it sound like he'll break the kid's spirits with pain to "help" them. Kids don't have the option to leave unless their parent(s) or guardians say otherwise. And he said, "We will do in a month what the parents won't dare do in a lifetime." Seems like he thinks he can raise them better. Hardly any kids will tell someone about this abuse since most kids don't do that. I should know, I've been there. They often don't know how to express themselves yet. He hates their innocence, and that fake smile and condescending laugh of his. He said no matter what I say about him, he won't hold it against me. All that talk of integrity, and this is how he acts. He called two young boys weak for having soccer practice every other week, something they can't control. He also mocked me in a direct message on Instagram for having a rough childhood and "taking it out on everyone!" Don't trust this man to respect physical boundaries either. He would often snatch away my headphones to check them out or caress me without my consent. He also forced us to ask a question, so I asked the first one that popped into my head. And it wasn't very good, and the next day he said he had a new rule. Where every question will go through him first before asking a guest coach. "Because some of you have been asking some really stupid questions." He says. That's a wonderful way to talk about your autistic pupil. He also gaslights a lot.

Joseph, the owner and professor is great with kids and adults…read more He is passionate about his work and has a great sense of humor while still very serious about the art.

Enrolling my two kids in Master Machado's Jiu-jitsu class was one of the best decisions we've made…read more His experience, patience, and genuine kindness shine from the moment you walk in. My kids were initially nervous, but as soon as they met Master Machado, it felt like they'd known him their whole lives. He's engaging, warm, and incredibly approachable, which made all the difference for my beginner kids. Whether you're a complete newbie or looking to hone your advanced techniques, this is the place to be. For those who know about BJJ, the Machado family are foundational pioneers of the sport in the U.S.--they truly represent the cream of the BJJ world. Parking can be a bit tricky depending on the time of day (street parking), but it's worth a small effort for the class experience. Highly recommend for families and anyone seeking a supportive, top-tier BJJ environment.

Best of the best and nothing but class is how I would describe Professor Roger Machado and all of…read morehis brothers. With training, it's his attention to the tiny details and his explanations of difficult concepts broken into digestible pieces are what helped me and meeting lifelong friends on the Professor's mats was an added bonus. Thank you Professor for being part of my BJJ path and for all the lessons on and off the mats. You are one of my role models. And thank you to all my rolling partners who've shared generously just like Professor continues to lead by example.

Amazing dojo: clean, friendly, and incredible for learners of all levels. My son has been attending…read morefor 6 months and he loves both Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu classes. The instructors are extremely mailable, able to adjust to the vast personalities that children offer.

Our kids started jiu jitsu at Silanoe earlier this year, and they absolutely love it. They attend…read moreclasses 1-2 times a week and look forward to every class. The coaches Ivan and Lisa are amazing - incredibly kind, patient, and so good at working with young kids. They create such a positive, encouraging environment that our girls have grown more confident each week. Their front desk, Maria, is also fantastic. She's knowledgeable and super thorough in answering questions. One of the best part is that she often jumps into class to interact with the kids and participates in activities. It shows how invested she is in the program and the kids. We're so grateful to have found Silanoe. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a supportive, well-run martial arts studio!

I wanted my daughter to train in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu because I always heard such great things about…read moreit. I didn't realize there was a Pasadena location but I stumbled upon them recently through a Google search. My daughter had two sessions and loved it. She's 12, and decided to participate in their Women Empowered classes before adding their Compatives class later on. She has no prior Jiu-Jitsu training, but has settled right in. Fred is the owner of this location. He has been nothing short of amazing, but his staff and instructors and have been equally impressive, particularly Crystal, Michelle, and Lilly. They've made my daughter feel so welcome and supported, and now empowered. All the women in the class are just as amazing. They have different programs and membership packages. It's very affordable as well, making it accessible. The facility is fantastic, very clean and modern. Parking is easy, validated for 2 hours I think, but then only a couple dollars after that. Restrooms, locker rooms, and waiting areas are clean and comfortable. I highly recommend this Pasadena location if you're thinking about martial arts. It's a great place to start training and an amazing group of people to be associated with.

I am so shook and confused at what just happened today 09/17 when I took my daughter to the little…read morechamps free "bully-proof" class (second class) from 5-6pm. I had originally reserved this on Eventbrite for Saturday September 5th at 1pm and Saturday September 12 at 3pm. Unfortunately, the time was wrong on their EventBrite page for the 12th because it showed 3pm instead of 1pm. Anyway, we missed the second class and they offered me to go any other day of the week as a courtesy, which I agreed to. So today I showed up with my daughter and I was questioned if I had already been to the "free" class and I said yes, but this is her second (free) one. The girl didn't seem too friendly (my daughter was all excited talking to her and she seemed MEH!), but she brought out a temporary uniform for my daughter and we went into the class. I sat on the back this time and my daughter kept yelling "mom", so I would stand up walk up to the front to make sure she was ok. Every time I stood up to look at her, her uniform was worse in terms of fitting. Her pants were dragging, coat sideways off her shoulder, and belt coming off. I let it be and thought they would fix it (which is what her karate instructors usually do). Eventually, she yelled "mom" again and at least 3 kids were lined up and one of the 2 male instructors was fixing their uniform. I told my daughter "you need to fix your uniform". She then looked at the instructor and said "Can you fix my uniform?" He kept doing what he was doing. No eye contact. Nothing. He finished fixing the other kids' uniform and my daughter was still standing on her own with her sloppy, baggy uniform. Ignored. Although she didn't line up. She spoke up many times, she yelled "mom" at least 3 times and neither of those times was she questioned or cared for. I then said out loud "they're not gonna fix it?" Mind you, the kids were no longer in line, so I told her to come to me and she ran across to the beginning of the mat where I was standing. I began adjusting her pants, which were below her butt, and then my phone fell, I lost balance, landed on my knees, and hurt myself with the wooden tile. Not one of the two instructors said a thing. Did they really not notice ALL that?! I then said "What's going on?! I'm confused?" We are not ghosts! Lol, Can they not see/hear us and offer help? I Looked back and a lady looked at me also confused. I then said, you know what, we're being ignored, let's just go. Took off that uniform and left it on the mat. I'm sure they noticed that. I told the lady in the front what happened she said she would see what happened. See what?! Idk, but everyone else saw. The least the instructors could have said was "Do you need anything?" after all those "mom" callings my daughter did. Was it because she didn't line up that she was ignored, even after speaking up? If this is a learning class, you could at least correct/redirect her, so she can understand why you're not helping her. AGAIN, 2 teachers ignored her. Don't offer free anti-bully classes if you're going to ignore a new kid who isn't a member and hasn't paid for your classes yet (but could have). This whole scenario and my daughter telling me she doesn't want to go back to this class because the instructors ignored her so many times is all I needed to write this review. One star for the older male instructor on September 5th. He was fun, caring, and paid attention to all kids. Otherwise, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu felt very unwelcoming this second time, and this is probably why I don't go based off first impressions anymore.

I cannot stress how much I loved my time at Fight Academy Pasadena. I had been training for 5 years…read moreat different gyms (jiu jitsu) before finding Fight Academy and I stayed there for the last 2 years I was based in LA. EASILY the best training, community, vibes, and biggest improvement in my fitness and combat sports training was here. Savant leads an amazing team of coaches!

Been coming here 4 years and it feels like my home away from home. They are welcoming from day one…read moreand the coaches are high level. The owner Savant was a top 10 featherweight in his prime and always pays close attention to each student. Coach Chris though is light work every time

Alex and Sally run a really great school here. They've somehow come up with a way to cater to…read moreevery experience level and every type of practitioner. They have gi and no gi classes including fundamental classes for both for beginners and the advanced. I say advanced as well because they go over fundamentals but with incredible detail and nuance that even if you've been practicing for years (I'm a purple belt writing this), you're going to pick up details youve never seen before. they're like advanced fundamentals. I describe Alex as a Danaher-lite version. they have membership plans strictly for beginners and also advanced memberships where you can take leg lock classes, takedowns, and MMA classes all the classes taught are from a curriculum curated from Alex's decades of experience. every class builds on each other and it's amazing how much Alex can teach with so much detail. and of course the environment and people here are really friendly if you're hesitant just drop in for a trial class

Came into this with zero grappling experience. Alex and Sally have been a Godsend. Made my first…read morebeginner blueprint session fun and enjoyable. They instill confidence and ensure you're understanding everything being taught. Looking forward to my next lesson.

Over the past year, our son has been attending Eagle Rock Jujitsu, and the experience has been…read morenothing short of incredible. Through the art of jujitsu, he's learned so much more than just self-defense--he's gained confidence, discipline, focus, and resilience. It's been amazing to watch his growth both on and off the mat. The coaches (Edson, Tristan and, Ethan) at Eagle Rock Jujitsu have played a huge role in this journey. Their dedication to the development of each child is evident in every class. They're patient, supportive, and always push the kids to be their best--not just as athletes, but as individuals. Professor Carrão has created a warm, welcoming environment that extends far beyond the training mats. His academy is a place where children and families feel seen, supported, and part of a larger community. It's a rare and special thing. I see you, Bobby! We feel incredibly lucky to have such a top-tier jujitsu academy right here in Eagle Rock, bordering Highland Park. Our hope is that our son continues his jujitsu journey well into adulthood under the guidance and mentorship of Professor Carrão and his amazing team!

We've had such a positive experience with this academy and highly recommend it to any parent…read moreconsidering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for their kids. What makes this place special is the culture the coaches have created -- it's encouraging, respectful and very warm. Coaches Edson, Ethan, and Tristan are outstanding with the kids. They are patient, attentive, and truly invested in every student's development. My child really looks forward to class because the coaches make it a fun environment. The academy teaches kids how to stay calm under pressure, work through difficult moments, and keep trying even when something feels hard. Those lessons carry far beyond the mats and will make a difference in the real world. Sometimes, we even have Professor Carrao teach the kids a move or two so it's a real treat! The instruction is excellent, the environment is positive, and the sense of community is amazing! This academy is doing a fantastic job developing strong, respectful, and confident kids while teaching high-level Jiu-Jitsu. We're incredibly grateful for this amazing academy!