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I’ve been training with Jaime and Humberto Perea since 2015. I knew absolutely nothing about any of the Mixed Martial Arts classes and techniques. They both helped me so much along the way. I’m proud to say that these two have helped so many people like me in their own MMA journeys – from the beginner to the more experienced fighter. No matter where we have trained together, a group of peers would gravitate towards the Perea’s for extra help during classes and open mats. It only makes sense that they have their own gym to teach and help more students. These classes have both given me a strong workout and helped me feel more confident in Striking and Jiu Jitsu techniques. Plus I remembered what it’s like to have fun training again! I look forward to training more at Chop & Chops MMA!

Kinetic Kickboxing – Menu with Prices – 2620 E Walnut St, Pasadena

When Michael Mills told me he was putting together a kickboxing training program program, I got excited. I first got to know Mike in a business setting, but it wasn’t long before I started doing some weight training with him. As a guy that is very active, does triathlons and acts like he is 30 years younger than what his mom keeps telling him he is, Mike’s workouts were a revelation to me. Precise, effective, informative and never had I been so sore, in all the right places, as I was after his sessions. So I knew that if he applied himself to a kickboxing program, I wanted in! I was not disappointed. I was joined by 3 other students. The chemistry was great and the class energy was high. There were very beginners as well as more seasoned ranges amonst us. For me, a little over competitive and with a lot of prior martial arts experience, I was able to work at my own pace/effort while encouraging and being encouraged by the other participants. The class was fun, supportive and intense (I left it all on the mats!) Michael is one of the brightest guys I know, inside and out of the gym. He has devoted his mind and energy into understanding how our bodies work and how to make them work better. He is also an accomplished kick boxer. As someone who, in his earlier days, has instructed Taekwondo to young people and possesses a black belt, I was impressed with his competency and style. He is able to combine power with technical proficiency… that is not easy! I have been a part of many other kickboxing classes/programs. I have found many ‘kickboxing’ classes are really just high intensity workouts… which is fine if that is all you desire. Few classes combine the technique development that Micheal brings to the class along with the intensity and effort to make it the best workout you could ask for. I do not know of another kickboxing class I could rate higher based upon technique development and workout intensity. If you have not experienced a workout with Micheal, and you want to develop your kickboxing chops, regardless of whether you are a beginner or proficient, you should take at least one class… then you will see what all the fuss is about!

Kali Strength and Conditioning – Menu with Prices – 1121 N San Fernando Blvd STE F, Burbank

THIS GYM IS GREAT! If you want a great workout and earn your dinner, this is the place to be! The coaches are super friendly and have helped me maximize my strength and skills. The staff is also super nice and If you want to stop by and check it out, they offer a free week trial. There’s a small parking lot so it get’s full sometimes, but you can always park at sprouts nearby. It is right next to metroPCS. There’s open gym early in the afternoon, if you want to do your own workout. Later in the afternoon they have cross training classes every hour from 4 – 8 pm. Most of the workouts usually have body weight movements or using free weights. EVERYONE IS WELCOME, they are very accommodating to all skill levels, so if you don’t know what you’re doing don’t worry about it! If you wanna get accurate body composition measurements they also have an INBODY!!!!! ALL YOU HEALTH NUTS OR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE, COME AND GET IT!!!

Modern Martial Arts and Fitness – Menu with Prices – 2318 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena

Dropped in to my first class at Modern Martial Arts a couple of days ago. The coaches are very friendly and helpful with newcomers. You first check in at the front desk which one of the coaches will help you register and sign a waiver. Then they will let you borrowed a gi/pants and boxing gloves/shin guard if you don’t have any. They offer Muay Thai, Wrestling, BJJ/NO GI, and MMA. If you have the energy you can learn striking, standing grappling and ground work all on the same day/night to balance out. BJJ class you start with warm up which I missed so I won’t talk much about that but I think it was around 5-10 minutes . The coaches explains a technique and then a variation of it based on different outcomes which I thought was awesome. We would drill for that then near end of class you would either positional spar/full spar. I’m really bad at names but the main 3 coaches would run the drill with me and did a little bit of sparring. Every time I asked a question they would explain the best they can. During the sparring, even though I was completely lost they kind of lead me to the technique we learned in class to try even if I can’t pull it off. End of class you line up against the wall bowed and shake hand/high fives No gi/Muay thai classes was run pretty much the same as the BJJ class. There is 5-10 minutes of warm up, techniques and sparring near the end. I’m a very shy guy but I think the students were nice and giving me enough space where I felt comfortable. A couple of them talked to me first, the guy with the spiderman rashguard and the girl with brownish/yellow pony tail. There’s 2 changing room in the back and a restroom. The white mats felt amazing I doubt you will get mat burns here. There’s parking in front of the gym and in the back. The gym is 2-5 minutes away from 210 freeway. They have a fighter Savannah Em from One Championship that train/coaches here too. I highly recommend this gym for people that have never done martial arts.

EDJ School of Jiu Jitsu Riverside – Menu with Prices – 5105 Jurupa Ave Suite C3, Riverside

What a pleasure it is to be able to train under Professor Juan Pablo Garcia and the coaches he has under him. As a female, I initially was intimated to take classes with males, but they have a BJJ Fundamentals class for females, and this class was very instrumental in developing my confidence. Coach Kim is very supportive and diligently breaks down technique that is understandable and makes the class fun to be apart of. Coach Kim also teaches the Kids Class and I absolutely love her patience and the passion she has working with children. Both Coach Mario and Coach Alex are right up there with the caliber of teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Coach Alex will break down movements and explain details and isn’t afraid to show you multiple times til you get the technique down. Coach Mario is great at conditioning and overall is helpful with nutrition and BJJ. There are not enough words to describe training under Professor JP. He is so informative and what I appreciate the most is the dedication he has to all his students. I cant imagine making myself available to everyone, however, he does a great job doing it all. He is passionate about BJJ and overall wants to spread that passion to his students, and I was hooked right away. I have had the pleasure of training with this team for over 2.5 years and it has been very rewarding.

Shred415 Sawmill – Menu with Prices – 6610 Sawmill Rd, Columbus

What a great workout! This was just what I needed to get in before eating a bunch of Thanksgiving food. I came while they were doing the free classes for their grand opening. My favorite thing about the workout is that everyone can benefit. Whether you’re super in-shape or just getting started, you can go at your own pace and burn a lot of calories. There’s a nice large gym room with treadmills along one wall and weights & benches along the other. You alternate between doing cardio on the treadmill and strength at the benches. It’s essentially high intensity interval training with some strength. The instructor did a good job of preparing us for what was coming next and there were lots of changes so you never get bored. Additionally, I was really impressed with the bathroom. It was so clean and well put together. There were towels, lotion, mouthwash, tampons, pads, everything a woman could need!! (I’m sure the men’s was also well equipped) While Shred415 is out of my current graduate student price range, I’ll keep an eye out for this franchise after I graduate.

Sanctuary Fitness – Pasadena – Menu with Prices – 182 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena

I’m sitting on the couch in my apartment 4 hours after my workout at Sanctuary Fitness and I suddenly felt the urge to write a review. I’ve tried a lot of different workouts over the years, and this place is really something else. I think the main draw for me is that each class feels almost like an obstacle course. I’ve previously tried Barry’s and Basecamp and while I liked those workouts a lot, the constant back and forth between a floor exercise to a bike or a treadmill made the classes feel monotonous. I would almost get the sense of physical torture as I tried to keep track of when it would all end. At Sanctuary, the workout is set up as multiple stations in a loop around the room with the hugest variety of equipment I’ve seen (Bulgarian bags, kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, battle ropes, med balls, rowing machines, etc etc). Moving from one station to the next around the room and feeling that sweet sweet satisfaction of reaching the last station is incredibly motivating. I love that I get to work toward a physical “finish line” as I push through the loop of stations. I also really appreciate the variety they manage to introduce in the classes. I’ve been to around 10 classes now, and they switch up the time intervals at the stations and the number of rounds around the room, keeping things interesting. Some classes (I think Sunday classes only, but I might be wrong) are partner based workouts, which I’m usually terrified of but are actually really fun at this studio. I’ve taken classes with almost every instructor, and I’ve loved every single one. They’re positive and motivating without pushing you too far, and very attentive to form, which is incredible if you consider how many people they have to monitor in a single class. They take the time for some core work, a stretch, and a lot of self-love at the end of the every class and it honestly feels like free therapy. I would consider myself a somewhat anxious fitness person. I feel very awkward in a group class, I’m not one to high five or learn people’s names, and I’m usually very self conscious about how I look/sound/smell as I sweat it out. At Sanctuary, I’ve felt the most comfortable I’ve ever been and I realize now what an incredibly accurate name they’ve chosen for themselves. I grunt, I sweat, I pull faces, I even high five. It is truly a safe zone to test your physical limits free from any judgement. And after you leave that safe zone, you ride a high from the workout that lasts you past your shower, reading time and cat cuddles, and compels you to stay up past your bedtime to write a long, wordy love letter to Sanctuary Fitness, the workout-studio-love-of-your-life. Just try it, it’s great.

JuiceBar Juice – Menu with Prices – Norfolk

The JuiceBar is on the right corner of the student recreation center (SRC) once you enter the facility. Most of my classes are in the SRC so majority of my time at ODU is in this building. I normally chill in the seating area in front of the bar in between classes. There’s not a whole lot of seating but the couches are pretty comfy lol. I’ve gotten a smoothie here only twice and it was the Sweet Greens (mango, pineapple, banana, spinach and kale) both times. I get this simply because it has the greens nah mean? The smoothie was not bad, tasted a little too sugary for me but it was bearable. They also have a fridge with others drinks and some snacks like cliff bars and chips. I think it’s pretty cool that ODU planted a JuiceBar in the gym. It’s pretty convenient for students and dem gym rats to grab a protein shake or something fueling before or after their workout. At least we know that this school promotes healthy eating (healthy snacking rather). There’s not much good or bad I can say but definitely skip the Tropical Smoothie on campus and walk to the JuiceBar. It’s worth the walk..

Dayton Ballroom Dance Club – Menu with Prices – 2150 Arbor Blvd, Dayton

This is the best place to take Ballroom dance classes! The instructors are patient and helpful. They making learning fun! You don’t have to have a partner to take lessons. There are always just enough people to fill in as your “partner”. During dance classes, you rotate partners. This gives you a chance to learn from each other. Those who are more advance in some of the dances are always willing to help teach the dance to you. Everyone has so much fun! It is great exercise too! My family has actually noticed I have lost some weight–all do to dancing! Come on out and try dancing with us! You won’t regret it! I will be looking for YOU on the dance room floor!

YWCA Laniakea – Menu with Prices – 1040 Richards St, Honolulu

Since Kaiser offers a free gym membership for those willing to visit a minimum number of times per year, I figured I should make the effort to be less of a lazy pants. After researching several gyms, deciding that I wanted to find a place that wasn’t going to be packed 24/7, I discovered the YWCA would be a good option. The building is absolutely gorgeous and there are several workout areas that offer all sorts of classes. There is a large, heated pool that offers time for laps, free swim, and swimming lessons. Classes take place either in the gym or in room 201. The gym is also available for basketball, although from what I’ve observed, only the guys play. (I’m sure they would be open to a woman playing, but it seems to be mostly men on their lunch break.) The classes are for all ability levels, from high-intensity CrossFit-like sessions to low-impact chair yoga. Most of the high-intensity classes are offered very early in the morning (before 7) or after work (after 4). Sometimes they will offer lunchtime classes, too. They post the monthly class schedules online, but you can also take a printed sheet home with you. Note that the entire YWCA facility is closed on Saturdays, so if you are a weekend workout warrior, this may not be the option for you. They also have a room with weights, treadmills, recumbent bikes, stairclimbers, etc. Some of the equipment in the room is rather old. They have one really nice treadmill and one really nice bike, but the others are really basic. Of course, everyone wants the better equipment, so it’s a roll of the dice for what you’ll be able to get. If you plan to work out at the Y, be aware that you are probably going to be paying for parking. There is very limited metered parking right outside the Y that’s free before 7AM or on Sundays/holidays. There is also parking at Iolani Palace ($1/hr) or at the surrounding parking garages, like Ali’i Place. During prime times (like lunchtime), parking can be sparse. The bus is also a good option, since there are several major transit points right around the Y. In all, the YWCA is a good option for a gym, especially if you are taking advantage of your Kaiser membership benefit.

10th Planet Oakland Jiu Jitsu – Menu with Prices – 301 8th St, Oakland

I’ve been to 5 different gyms over the span of 1.5 years looking for a gym that approaches teaching jiu jitsu with a systematic, incrementally progressive approach as opposed to the (in my opinion) less effective sporadic nature of most gyms that just teach a random move and have you go spar. 10p Oakland and head instructor Mike have by far contributed the most to my development as a grappler. On 10th Planet: The first gym I’ve been to has jiu-jitsu related, no bullshit warmups that do a great job both getting your body warmed up and teaching you positional awareness while helping you build intuition for what goals you have in the numerous positions you find yourself in in grappling. No burpees, no jumping jacks, no ab crunches, no playing soccer – my biggest pet peeve at other schools was warming up for 20-30 minutes wondering if we’d ever get to start learning things. They have an explicit curriculum regarding what you should be focusing on during what weeks, and track your attendance to see if you’re ready for belt promotion or tournament prep or whatever have you. On Professor Mike: Easily the best instructor I’ve had. First, his knowledge of the art is insane, and his competitive accolades speak for themselves. When he teaches something, he can break down every little detail and explain why you do techniques a certain why as opposed to others. Why the grip is this way, where your weight should be, what’s your main objective in this position and what your opponent’s is, how this position relates to other positions you could find yourself scrambling to, the list goes on and on and Mike has never left a doubt in my mind on why we were doing things a certain way. Aside from his expertise, what really amazed me when I came to 10p Oakland was how much Mike cares about his students. I’ve been to other gyms where instructors “care about their students” but that usually only refers to higher belt students and those who have been there a long time. Ever since the first time I walked into 10p, Mike is always persistent in making sure every student, no matter experience level, has their questions answered and drills their moves properly. Even in the large beginner classes he would go down the line at the end of class and have every person’s questions answered. I’ve only ever had one other instructor do this, and that was with a small (~10 person) advanced class. As another example, I’m moving to SF to be closer to work, and when I approached Mike to let him know I’d have to cancel my membership, there was nothing but support and great advice on which gyms I should take a look at tailored to my interests as a grappler, even offering to introduce me to the head instructors at the other gyms. Overall, I couldn’t recommend 10th planet and Professor Mike Hillebrand enough.

Washtenaw Community College Menu with Prices 4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor

I have never really had an issue here. Pros: I have had so many positive professors here. Some professors have stuck out even more, leaving a lasting impact on my school career. There was only one professor I did not so well with; his teaching style did not work for me. To be fair, I also didn’t try to talk to an advisor until it was too late, and ruined my chance at switching professors. Class scheduling. It can be great, or it can be horrible. If you need one specific class that’s only available in one slot, it can be impossible to also take other classes toward your degree that mesh with the one time slot. I get not as many classes can be offered when few others have to take the class, but it can screw toy and lengthen how long it takes to get your degree, especially if you are also scheduling around a work schedule. Most classes are offered in many slots, so they do give variety with most classes, so that can be helpful for most science and math classes. Cons: The parking sucks. Always. No matter what time my class is, 5 other classes with another 20+ students each have their classes at the same time, while other classes for other subjects are also going. Meaning parking lots are always full. If I come early, there’s other classes still running so even more people are here. If I’m late? There’s still no parking except for the far lot behind the school. I wish there was a better parking system. The advisors aren’t great. Your class isn’t working for you? They tell you to talk to the prof, and that there’s not much they can do. Wait times can be annoying unless you have an appointment, which doesn’t work for a last minute visit after class, unless they’re dead. But I have never waited an absurd amount of time to be seen. I love the little nature walk with signs on campus. The walk through the trees is pretty, any time of year.

The Space Between – Menu with Prices – 222 W Hubbard Street, Lower Level SE, Chicago

From exploring the website, I gathered that the organization was independent and intentional, a nice break from the corporate studios in Chicago. Before class, Catherine connected with students to understand what muscles or areas her audience was interested in working on during class. Towels, mats, and blocks are provided for free and mat positions are selected before class even begins. Brilliant idea that allows instructor to control mat spacing and students to select positioning without any communication. The space itself is quaint and beautifully decorated. Some of the studio walls are built with exposed brick, the are chandeliers hanging from the ceiling with dimly lit bulbs, and candle filled lanterns are scattered around the floor. While aesthetically pleasing, the dark room encouraged me to focus on my movement and individual practice rather than the external environment. As the studio grows, I have a couple suggestions to improve student experiences. I encourage the website to maintain instructor bios to allow students to understand teacher’s styles before selecting a class. I found the spacing in between mats insufficient and at times worried the woman in front of me may accidentally kick my head during inversion play. The lockers are quite small to fit work bags and there was only one bathroom and one changing room. Overall the space was beautiful and warming and class was a memorable and eccentric experience ? I appreciate the small scale of the studio and realize some of my suggestions are dependent on space and resources. Cheers to the female entrepreneur who opened the space between!