I have been to some of the more expensive gyms in town, and while towel service and mirrors are…read morenice, this place will get you in shape faster than anything else. If you have a sense of humour, you'll also have a good time. The most popular class is cardio kickboxing, which is a fitness class with a focus on core, legs, and pushups. In addition, there's some partner drills. Two things make it way better than the other boot camp style classes I have taken. First, George has spent years training as an Olympic swimmer and then kickboxer in Russia, and he brings these advanced techniques to the gym, so the workout is more efficient and more effective than the typical trainer who got a three month personal trainer certificate. Second, this is really functional: it's the drills you would do if you were planning on kickboxing. You will get a lean, toned kick boxer body very quickly. One girl who has never worked out started just after me, and in two weeks I could see the difference. My partner last week was a young looking fifty year old guy, who lost twenty pounds in six weeks doing this workout. The people in the class range from out of shape mom types, to SFU students, along with a few kickboxers who stay for the kickboxing as well. Mostly women in the class, but I can usually find a guy to partner with. The best deal is the monthly unlimited, and for an extra $20 or so, it lets you try all the classes. Just for fun, I have also tried the kickboxing class, which turned out to be great. I had taken a few martial arts (karate, judo) classes as a kid. These classes focus on the basics, and he teaches it so the techniques really make sense. He usually throws in a story about some guy getting hurt in the ring for doing the wrong technique, but it comes off funny, not scary. I don't plan on ever stepping into the ring, but it's very cool to finally learn the right way to throw a punch and a kick. The third option is the self defence class, which is very different. You won't sweat in this class, but you will learn practical moves, which appear to work. Again, I hope to never get in a fight, but it's fun to learn. I'm a firm believer that a good teacher makes all the difference. I really like George: he's highly qualified, he's definitely tough enough, but he's also very funny, in a very Eastern European way. Even if you don't live in the neighbourhood, it's worth a trip to check this place out.

I hate working out. I'm the one happily sitting in the pub scarfing back nachos and beer while…read morewaiting for my friends to finish their hot yoga/boot camp/crossfit classes. I reluctantly decided to start exercising, just to try to avoid all those yucky medical conditions that attack couch potatoes. A friend suggested kickboxing so we tried out Reality Martial Arts and... I can't believe how much I like it. It's a great workout that's also super fun, which I honestly believed to be impossible. It's nice to know that all the exercises we do are specific to kickboxing training, instead of the random moves you do in regular fitness classes. Don't expect the bells and whistles of a fancy gym - this is for 'real' training. The instructors are great and welcome guys and gals of all shapes, ages and fitness levels - no need to feel intimidated here. The schedule is very convenient, with loads of evening classes. For those who want to focus more on fitness than technique, they have cardio kickboxing too. Definitely the place to go to have fun, learn a new skill and get a complete workout in a friendly and supportive environment. Never thought I'd say this about a gym but I love this place!

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, Gracie Barra Vancouver & Raz Chan Fitness presented Women's…read moreSelf-Defense Seminar as a fundraising event for Battered Women's Support Services. Seventeen women attended and it was excellent!! Much gratitude to Raz Chan, Anica Simon, Max Rathburn, Norm Leung, Andrea, Robert and Carla. It was excellent!!

Before coming to Gracie Barra, I had already been a hardcore MMA fan for years. That said, I'd…read morenever really trained in martial arts before and the few attempts were awful: I tried wrestling in college, but the program at my school consisted of doing around 600 crunches and countless push-ups while rarely actually receiving any instruction on techniques. The judo program I tried was filled with "alphas" who were more intent on putting new guys through the floor more than anything else. As such, you can understand my hesitation about joining a martial arts gym again. It was something I was naturally curious about but, given my prior experiences, extremely nervous. So after doing a LOT of research about all the various schools in the Vancouver and Richmond areas, I settled on Gracie Barra and now, a year later, I cannot imagine having chosen any other gym. One thing that really sets GB apart from other gyms is how beginner friendly their method of instruction is. New students are paired off with more experienced students who are more interested in helping and encouraging more than anything else. If you're not in the best physical shape or have never trained in a martial art, this is hugely beneficial. It'll encourage you to keep going and ensure that you keep getting better, learning all the time. GB emphasizes the "family" aspect, which means that all the students are there to help each other grow, not crush each other to satisfy their egos. Because of this, GB has a really, really positive atmosphere that makes it easy to learn and that'll keep you coming back until suddenly, you realize that you're not the new guy anymore. That's another thing too: Gracie Barra has fantastic people. Whether it's the instructors or your fellow students, these are all people that you'd genuinely want to hang out with. Even if it wasn't at all something you were expecting or looking for when you joined, you WILL end up making friends here, from all walks of life. I cannot overemphasize how huge a boon this is, especially for beginners. The bottom-line is this: if you're really interested in martial arts and want to get in shape, give this place a try. It doesn't matter if you're grossly out of shape or laughably uncoordinated and clumsy; GB WILL make you better without EVER annihilating you or making you feel badly about yourself. If you're nervous about trying a martial arts gym, there is nothing to fear about GB: just great people and great instructors. As for the technical aspects: Gracie Barra's bread and butter is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and there are students and instruction at all belt/skill-levels, with classes divided accordingly. There are also classes for muay thai, boxing, and conditioning. The average Gracie Barra class follows this structure: Warm-up (5-10 minutes genuinely geared to WARMING YOUUP, not making you puke) Technique 1 (usually a takedown, demonstrated, then drilled back and forth with a partner) Technique 2 (something on the ground, either a transition, escape, or submission) Technique 3 (again, something else on the ground, generally a natural extension of technique 2) Sparring So yeah, if you're at all interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or curious GO TO GRACIE BARRA! You will not regret it. There is no gym that is more supportive to your growth both as a person and as a martial artist.

Wow, where do I start..? I love this place! Awesome facility with wood trimmed walls, high…read moreceilings, and traditional tatami mats over a spring floor. The lounge area provides a nice environment for pre/post training discussions. You could spend all day here cause it doesn't feel like a gym. Central location and nearby free parking, which is always a plus. You get so much value as a member. The instruction is top notch. You quickly develop real practical skills and are challenged in the best of ways. The community is welcoming, supportive and fun to train with. I'd come everyday if I could. Highly recommend!

Don't let the unassuming frontage fool you. Once you enter, it's like Mr Miyagi's dojo inside!…read more The foyer is totally Eastern zen and the expansive dojo has real tatami floors. The owner and main instructor Jesse Blue is ask excellent teacher who instructs JKD, Kali Eskrima and has many male and female students. On Sundays, Adam Chan teaches practical Wing Chun and he is one of the best teachers of martial arts that I've ever met in 25 years. Vancouver is lucky to have such a beautiful martial arts school right in the center of the city!

Learn some great self protection and education in multiple martial arts disciplines in a fun and…read morenon competitive enviroment!

Best teacher ever. We have known the teacher for years, his work is amazing! He is so patient and…read morejust so good at getting children's attention and breaking complicated skills down to their level. If you knew our kid then and now(or just compare month to month), you would know for sure that miracle happened !

From the owner: Join our classes for adults and kids and join a community. Come and train striking or grappling and…read morelearn the meaning of control and technique. The journey to blackbelt begins with a strong foundation. We build our ninjas from the ground up. Through the practice of Shokotan karate, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and kickboxing, students learn fundamental life skills like stranger danger, focus, growth mindset, and self-defense. Stripe-by-stripe, belt-by-belt, our students cultivate the physical skill and the will to become a blackbelt — on and off the mats. Sign up for a free 1-on-1 today.

It was awesome to throw axes at targets! We went as a…read morecompany and had a great time with our team bonding event

Excellent tuition. Facilities are really cool And they took…read morecare of my daughter and myself

Been training here for a good 4 years now. I have trained at…read moreother gyms all around BC including Vancouver Island and even some in the US (Portland), I can honestly say the level of dedication they have to their students as well as their instruction methods will absolutely bring out the best in you. No other gym has even come close no matter the space or equipment they have. The instruction at Franco's as well as the community you will find here are second to none. I have never trained harder. Success in the martial arts translates to all aspects of your life , and you will be happy to have started here.

I got referred to this place through a friend. I was trying to get in shape after COVID. I will say…read moreI bought 4 sessions to start but I only ended up using 2/4 sessions. I didn't really feel comfortable, I was a slow learner because I haven't stepped into a gym nothing in over 2/3 years. They don't really follow up with you either. Or give you a remind notice to make sure you will show up. I kinda felt like it was.. like if u come, u come. If u don't, u don't. Which I find unprofessional because even my lash tech will give me a text or reminder few days prior to remind me about my appointment. So I didn't really feel welcomed at this dojo.

Muay Thai Academy is a new muay thai gym that just opened a couple of weeks ago. One of the owners…read moreis Adrian Shead, he is I believe from Thailand. He is currently the coach/trainer of "Petch" the current Glory & Rise World Champion. One of the top kickboxers in the world. Adrian has been coaching for over 20 years and has a world of experience. They have classes starting from 6:30am in the morning to 8pm at nite including kids classes. They have a boxing ring and lots of heavy bags. There are also lots of high quality Fairtex equipment (thai pads etc). The gym is very clean. The people here are very nice, no egos. There is street parking on the side streets. Can't wait for my next session.....

I just called to inquire about having my son join. Adrian answered the phone and was very helpful…read moreand friendly. We are going to check it out next week.

This gym is unequivocally the worst fitness experience in the lower mainland. Equipment is…read moreregularly taken over by personal trainers. In fact, several times throughout the week, at peak periods FW staff trainers hold classes that uses the entire gym making it impossible to train independently. There's only one set of pretty much any equipment which means your often waiting for weights and benches. The washrooms are never cleaned and often in disrepair. Equipment is rarely wiped down by members even if FW actually filled the hygiene stations. It's disgusting. More importantly, it is not a safe space and there's no staff on site if aggressive individuals are present. People regularly fob in large unpaying groups. When asked about this, FW says "there's nothing we can do". You're better off doing pushups in your living room.

Tons of different classes available for those who enjoy the group fitness atmosphere. Classes…read moreinclude: kettle bell training, yoga, spinning, crossfit, boot-camp, circuit training and more. Personalized workout plans can also be provided by Martina and feel free to drop in whenever you like and work out at your own pace. Martina is super nice (although she may look intimidating), water and towels are also available. Equipment is all brand new and really nice. Small space but a great bunch of people and you receive more attention from your trainer due to smaller class sizes. Kids classes are available on some afternoons