Gracie Barra Tarzana

Super clean amazing gym, love everyone there. I train there 3-4 times a week and I always come out feeling like a champ. The place is brand new, well kept and they just make you feel at home. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Hands down, the best gym jiu-jitsu gym in the valley. The instructors Edwin Najmi and Romulo Barral are world class and among the jiu-jitsu elite. Simply google their names as their resumes speak for themselves. The vibe there is friendly and people from all ages and experience levels show up to classes and receive the same treatment. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Nothing but positive things to say about GBT, this studio is one of the cleanest, nicest, coolest atmosphere I've ever been to. All the instructors are beyond humble and very much knowledgeable. I live in the area and decided to stop by the studio for some info and felt as if I was at home with my family. Highly recommend GBT to anyone trying to learn technique, challenge their body, or to just get a KILLER cardio session in. Not to mention they got classes for kids. Thanks for GBT for welcoming me and my family! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Why Your Child Should Learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (at Gracie Barra Tarzana); A Parent's Opinion Although all martial arts--to varying degrees--enhance the learner's fitness, self-confidence, and self-defense skills, arguably, for the child learner Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) offers some unique advantages over other martial arts. Illustratively, when confronted by an aggressive school bully, the child trained in a striking-based martial art (e.g., kickboxing, Taekwondo) would likely defend him/herself by injecting more aggression (e.g., punch, kick) to an already aggressive situation; the end result would likely involve both children being disciplined by the school. Conversely, the child trained in BJJ (i.e., a non-striking martial art) would likely defend him/herself in a controlled, less aggressive, yet highly effective manner (e.g., redirect the punch then takedown and restrain), thereby neutralizing the bully's attack until school personnel arrived; the end result would likely involve only the bully being disciplined by the school, and the victim returning to his/her usual routine--albeit with an added boost to his/her confidence and self esteem. Other advantages to learning BJJ include being comfortable in confined spaces and on the ground--a place where most fights end up--as well as superior strength and conditioning. Disclaimer: The aforementioned narrative is written from the viewpoint of a parent (yes, of course I train BJJ too), not of a martial arts expert, and is not in anyway intended to discredit any martial arts or disrespect any martial artists. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I love Gracie Barra Tarzana.  It's conveniently located on Ventura boulevard and has ample parking in the back. I have been training under professor Edwin Najmi since he opened his academy. I had no clue he was a world champion and you couldn't tell either by his attitude.  He is very humble,  approachable and knowledgeable. Everything you would want from a professor.  One day he competes internationally with the best juijiteiros on the planet, the next day he is here in tarzana teaching us. It's like if you took basketball classes from Kobe Bryant.  What an honor! I have started jujitsu because my husband trains under Romulo Barral in Northridge and he is so obsessed with it. I can honestly say that jujitsu has changed my life. It's not just grappling or self defense. It's not just fitness or cardio.  It's all of the above. I eat cleaner because I want to roll better ergo I sleep better, I have lost a bunch of post pregnancy weight.  I'm literally living the BJJ lifestyle. I have never been so confident and so happy with my fitness plus I can choke my husband now if he wants to try his jujitsu moves on me because now the girl's got some moves too. More...

Reviewed on Yelp