Over the last decade, MMA has really taken off as a popular sport for kids and adults. It used to be a thing that was considered too dangerous or wild, but now with all the regulations, MMA has become something that the whole family can do together. With different variations of martial arts like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling and many more, you can learn a wide range of disciplines and apply them toward your MMA and fitness goals.
That being said, it probably feels like there are a million different MMA gyms in Los Angeles. It might be hard to choose if you don’t know much about the sport, but that is why we are here today. We are going to share some of the top MMA schools in the greater Los Angeles area, so you don’t have to do all the legwork yourself. Check out our list and get into one of these great gyms so you can start your journey!
PKG Training Center
1401 Westwood Blvd #100
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 575-4500
pkgla.com
PKG (or Punch. Kick. Grapple.) would say they aren’t your average gym. When you come to PKG, you will get the opportunity to learn a variety of martial art and boxing disciplines for every experience level and age from PKG’s list of world class instructors. Here you will get a family friendly and fun environment where you will have the opportunity to be what you thought you could never be. No matter if you are there to learn self-defense, looking to lose some of that belly, try something new or sharpen the skills you already have, PKG has a class for you. The instructors there are great about motivating you the way that works for you so that you can meet all your fitness and athletic goals. They will help you get the results you have been looking for through their training programs and they will help you to build confidence as well. The students here vary in backgrounds and experience so you will fit right in.
PKG was founded by BJJ black belt, Tahi Burns in 2007. It was there that it was decided that they would offer all aspects of martial arts in class including Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing and of course, MMA. What once was a smaller private training center in Culver City, transformed into a state of the art training facility in 2012 to meet the demands of the students and people asking for other types of training.
The mission is to share the benefits of martial arts so that the people that are being taught can experience the same life changing benefits that the martial arts afforded the people that work for PKG. This means that for those that commit to the process, you will see the kind of changes you’ve been looking for. You have to work hard because you will get out of it what you put into it and the team at PKG would love to help you realize your dreams.
Uprise MMA
12015 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(424) 835-4230
uprisemma.com
If you are looking for a high quality instruction in a safe and fun environment, Uprise MMA is a great choice for the whole family. Don’t let the tough vibe fool you, this is a great place to be for you and your family no matter the experience level or age. Uprise MMA started as Way of the Warrior Training back in 2008. They have evolved into what they are today which is a place where you can make you goals and ambitions come to fruition. The motto at Uprise MMA is that “You don’t have to be a fighter to train like one.”
The mixed martial arts program involves a combination of grappling and striking. Through sparring, drills and pad work, you will begin to understand how to use both your Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu skills to compete or defend at any level.
If MMA isn’t your thing you can learn can learn these arts separately and compete in them if you want. In the BJJ program, you will be learning under Professor Gustavo Gasperin where he you will learn techniques, spar and if you want, train for competition.
There are also all levels of classes for Muay Thai. For the beginners you will go over the basic strikes with elbows, hands, feet and knees while teaching the basic understanding of defense. When you are ready to move on to the advanced classes, you will start to sharpen your skills.
In addition, the team at Uprise also offers Kali Eskrima classes for adults wanting to give it a try.
The kids’ program is great too. These classes are for kids that range in ages from 5 to 13 and they will allow your child to gain confidence and feel good about themselves while learning Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They will also learn respect, self-control and increase their overall level of health.
Kings MMA
7624 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 798-4333
kingsmma.com
Kings MMA was founded in Huntington Beach in 2010 by Rafael Cordeiro. Cordeiro was born in Curitiba, Brazil and began training in the martial arts at a very young age. As he grew older, Cordeiro joined the famous Chute Boxe Academy. This legendary gym has churned out many champions in many disciplines of martial arts and Cordeiro ended up being one of the best strikers at the academy. Over a number of years, he took over 50 trips to Japan for fights whether it was him or his teammates. He eventually became the Muay Thai champion of Brazil as well as a championship in the International Vale Tudo Championship.
He retired in his late 20’s after fighting for 13 years and decided he would be better serving the public by teaching as opposed to fighting. He has trained some of the most successful fighters in the world like Maruricio “Shogun” Rua, Murilo Ninja and Wanderlei Silva. He then moved to the United States and opened Kings MMA. He has trained 13 fighters that have won championships and is currently training fighters that fight in promotions like Glory Kickboxing, Bellator and the UFC.
All that being said, Kings MMA is still a great place for the whole family to train. They offer programs in Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and MMA. Their kids’ program for Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu is very successful as well. The environment is friendly but will also push you to be the best version of yourself.
True Warrior Fitness
1516 N Gardner St Ste. B
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 484-4662
truewarriorfitness.com
True Warrior Fitness is a premier MMA, Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai training club with a big commitment to individual attention and personalized service for those that are looking to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
All the benefits of self-defense/martial arts training and traditional personal fitness are offered in an educational and exciting environment. They will keep your workouts effective, challenging and exciting at the same time.
These programs are catered to the individual student so they can accomplish all of their fitness and MMA goals. This means if you want to lose some weight while building muscle and learning a practical martial art discipline at the same time, this is the place for you.
Don’t worry if you are new to these martial arts. Beginners and experienced fighters are all welcomed at True Warrior Fitness. If you are just starting or looking to sharpen your skills, you can do that here. The team of expert trainers will sit down with you and discuss your goals and make sure you start heading towards those in no time. All it takes is a bit of commitment because you will get out of this what you give.
Fight Science MMA
4713 W Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 424-7181
fightsciencemma.com
Fight Science MMA is one of the premier MMA gyms in the greater Los Angeles area. To understand why this school is going to be great, you should understand where they came from.
The method that Fight Science has created was molded in 2003 when Ian Harris started teaching his hybrid style of martial arts that he created over many years of training in disciplines like Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wing Chun, Kenpo, Muay Thai and Boxing. The goal was to come up with a realistic self-defense class out of Culver City, CA.
At the time, the UFC and what we know about modern MMA was still very much in its infancy and didn’t even really have a name at the time. During that time, Ian, being the “science nerd” he is, started to look at fighting in a different way. He took a very technical and scientific approach to fighting and felt that what he was teaching was more of a science that an art. This is when he started calling his style “Fight Science.” Because MMA wasn’t legal in California yet, Tim and his students would go to Mexico on the weekends to fight and shortly thereafter, MMA started getting some traction and it was sanctioned and legalized in CA. Two of Tim’s students, Julian Rush and Chad George, became two of the first champions in sanctioned California MMA.
Even today, those original fighters, plus a few others, have stuck around to help Ian Coach at Fight Science MMA to keep one of LA’s best MMA gyms going strong. They welcome new and experienced students of all ages so if you were thinking about trying MMA, stop by Fight Science MMA.
NOHO MMA
5642 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 644-5380
nohomma.com
NOHO MMA in North Hollywood is another premier MMA gym in the greater Los Angeles area. They offer classes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Kali, Kickboxing and have a great kids’ program as well.
Parents love the kids’ program at NOHO MMA because their kids love it! Through embracing the challenges of martial arts, using team building exercises and focusing on learning new techniques your kids will become more respectful, well behaved, confident and attentive. You might even see improvements in their grades as well. So, if you were thinking about getting your child involved in something more that just video games, give the team at NOHO MMA a chance to earn your business.
For the adults, you have your choice of programs as well as an MMA program to melt all the different arts together. You will learn under the tutelage of Professor Steve and his team of experienced coaches. Steve has a long history with the different aspects of martial arts. He is a black belt in BJJ under Alberto Crane, a level 2 Krav Maga Instructor under John Whitman, a 6th degree American Kenpo black belt under Larry Tatum, Juan Serrano and Rick Jeffcoat and a Pangalawant Gurro Serrada Eskrima under Khalid Khan.
The point is that you will get what you need at NOHO MMA. Whether you are here to lose some weight or fight in competition, this is the gym for you.
Black House MMA
2416 Artesia Blvd
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 376-2953
blackhousemma.com
Black House MMA offers some of the best MMA training in the greater Los Angeles area with coaches like Kevin Casey for Jiu-Jitsu, Kenny Johnson for Wrestling and Juan Gomez in Boxing.
Black House MMA is not your normal MMA training facility. It is a somewhere the Tough Media family can come to and work out all of their stresses on the mats. It is more than just a group of fighters, it is a place where people can get together, bond, and train together.
The people that make up the Tough Media family might have their own teams but they come back and meet up at Black House where space is provided for them to meet in Los Angeles.
Black House MMA is well-known in the fighting community and they have now opened their doors to the public. The environment here is family friendly and supportive and the classes are taught by some of the same coaches that have instructed many successful UFC fighters. These classes are for men, women and children so you and your whole family can come here to experience what it is like to train like a champion. Whether you are young or old, new or experienced, the team at Black House MMA will find a way to push you to the best version of yourself and if you want to try them out, you can participate in a free trial class.
5 Star Martial Arts
4201 Wilshire Blvd #105
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(323) 933-1708
5 Star Martial Arts is based in Los Angeles and is one of the premier training schools in Southern California. They offer Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and many strength/fitness classes for you and your family. The goal is to help you meet your goals by being your guide on your journey. This might be you learning how to defend yourself or it could be because you want to lose some weight. You might also want to become a professional fighter or someone that just competes in tournaments. There is something for everyone here and they high level of coaching you will get from the instructors at 5 Star Martial Arts is second to none.
In terms of Jiu Jitsu, this is a Renzo Gracie affiliate which means you will be taught the same style of Jiu Jitsu as one of the best Jiu-Jitsu fighters in the world and one of the most well-known Gracie family members. The classes will include lots of drilling of techniques as well as sparring. The cardio in Jiu-Jitsu is fantastic so you can kill two birds with one stone if you want to get in shape too.
However, if you are more into striking martial arts, than the Muay Thai program is for you. It is one of the effective striking martial arts on the planet. With that in mind, you will be getting great instruction at 5 Star Martial Arts and learning the “science of 8 limbs” from some of their high level coaches.
The kids’ program is thriving as well. You get the best of both worlds for you child with these sports being both team and individual sports at the same time. You child will build confidence and become bully-proof if there is a commitment to the program. The team at 5 Star looks forward to helping your child grow to be great individuals.
Legends MMA (Permanently Closed)
1516 N Gardner St B
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 646-2902
The team at Legends MMA wants to help you reach all of your goals; whatever they may be.
The classes are taught in an environment that fosters friendship and respect. They value smarts, sportsmanship and skill over brutality and strength. They strive to make every experience for the student one they will cherish for years to come. If you join the team at Legends MMA, you can expect a fantastic workout, and you can look forward to learning valuable and rare skill that will impact your life in a positive way.
Everything is covered at Legends. The program here will provide you with detailed instruction in each specific martial art that is offered or a fusion of the different sports so you can create your own style for mixed martial arts. Work on your ground game with the Legends Jiu-Jitsu teams or hone your striking skills with the extensive Muay Thai program. There are classes that combine the ground work and striking skills to give the student an overall understanding of MMA. These aren’t just programs that were created yesterday; they are programs that have been tested and proven by the fighters that call Legends MMA their home.
The reason you should try Legends MMA is because they give every woman or man, hobbyist or professional, the chance to develop the conditioning and skill of an MMA fighter. Legends MMA has experienced coaches in a luxury facility where students are able to learn skills in martial arts in a motivating and friendly environment. Not only is the environment perfect for learning, the quality training and instruction that is demanded at Legends will allow you to be the best version of yourself through joining this gym.
Robot Fight & Fitness (Permanently Closed)
2028 Stoner Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 478-5425
Robot Fight & Fitness was started in 2006 when Tim Peterson started to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By the time Tim was 20 years old he had become the lead instructor for the BJJ classes at UCLA and their head coach for the competition team. He developed a strong program at UCLA in a short period and the team earned some high honors like bringing home medals from the Pan American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championships and the World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships, which cemented the UCLA program as one that would be competitive for a long time. After he graduated and contemplated a career in law, Tim decided to change his route in life and open Robot Fight & Fitness in 2009.
Robot is an affiliate of One Jiu Jitsu and Fitness which has been a powerhouse in the BJJ community for many years. Giva Santana is the leader of One BJJ in Southern Cal. He is a very successful BJJ competitor having won black belt gold at the Pan American championships in 1999 and 2005. You will learn with the foundation of this successful team and learn what it means to improve yourself mentally and physically.
The Muay Thai program is strong as well and has turned into one of the top Muay Thai programs in Los Angeles. Whether you want to learn Muay Thai for self defense or to incorporate it into your MMA game, the skills you will learn will impact you in a positive way for the rest of your life.
Overall, Robot has a reputation of producing fierce, intelligent and compassionate fighters that will be in great shape so if this sounds like something you’d be interested in, you should give these guys a shot.