Paragon Academy Jiu Jitsu-Boxing-Kickboxing Gym - Santa Barbara, California

Paul Chirdon

Learned a lot, well worth it. Highly recommend

Attended Friday noon NoGi class as a drop-in visiting from out-of-town. A little pricey but worth it.

Very thorough instruction in the technique and one of the coaches spent a good amount of time helping me and my drilling partner get the crucial details.

5(?) minute rolls as long as people are willing to go. I got 6 with different partners. Upper belts helped me learn from mistakes I was making in our rolls and showed me what I should have done (I'm a couple months into training).

Yashdeep Singh

I first started my BJJ training here when I lived in Santa Barbara. Paragon was the perfect combination of coaches teaching you, pushing you, and being cautious of safety for beginners. Since moving from SB I have not found a gym I liked anywhere near as much. Highly recommend for all ages and stages of life.

Andrew Myers

I've always competed in sports, triathlons, and weight lifting. Now in my thirties I wanted to try something new and challenging. Paragon Jiu Jitsu was my answer. I had never done anything like it before. Honestly, the first month was really hard. I was tested physically and mentally. The instructors were knowledgeable and patient. The Fundamental Classes were invaluable. The community of BJJ at Paragon was super welcoming and encouraging. After the first month, my fitness and confidence improved greatly. By month three, I started getting some submissions and becoming more proficient at the fundamentals. Now, I am hooked. If you are interested in getting 1% better every day, then BJJ is a great testing ground to experience those gains and stretch yourself. The confidence you'll gain will spill over into other areas of your life, it has for me.

Robert Rees

If it weren't for the managements cut throat approach to membership/cancellations, this would actually be a good spot to train.

After having surgery (9 months into my 1 year contract) I told one of the owners I no longer wanted to train (wanted to let it heal/not go back to jitsu). He had the nerve to tell me "you shouldn't have signed a contract with me"...

Wow...

I've had several friends who also trained at Paragon who no longer train there for similar reasons.

The instruction was good, facilities top notch (showers and weight room) but the owners business ethics were the deal breaker for me.

I couldn't give them a dollar more and recommend you don't either!

Edit- They state they have a 30 day cancellation policy but they do not... Unless you're moving out of town then this doesn't apply to you. They simply sent the remainder of my account to the collections agency the work with...

Doug Holt

I'm new to BJJ and started from scratch - no wrestling and only a few moths of martial arts as a kid. I was pleasantly surprised at how open and friendly every has been. I've been going for three months and although I'm still very much a newbie, the team has been nothing but supportive. There are men and women of all ages and background. I, myself, am a small business owner in my mid-thirties who wanted to try something different than I had before. I couldn't be happier with my choice and highly recommend giving it a try if you've ever considered it in the past. The environment is non threatening, non aggressive, and supportive - a perfect mixture to learn any art or skill.

David Leimbrock

I just celebrated my 1 year anniversary at Paragon. I'd marveled at jiu-jitsu and been wanting to learn for years - even drove by the place a few times. I didn't have a wrestling or martial arts background, was getting older, and felt a bit intimidated. Joining has been one of the best decisions I've made. The instructors are amazing. Other members - sooo nice and supportive. Since joining, I've lost 40 pounds, removed 3 prescriptions (cholesterol, blood pressure, depression) from my daily routine and have (I think) become a better husband, father and manager. YRMV, but its been transformative for me and I hope it remains part of my life 10 years from now. Thank-you Paragon!

Jonathan Melamed

Not enough nice things to say about paragon! It has always been a home away from home, and To say that the vibe there is a well knit and very open armed family is an understatement, with great instruction from several skilled black belts. The amount of instructors there are enough to balance out the high volume of students, making everyday a learning experience, where you actually feel like you're getting very personalized instruction. There's also such a great variety of people who attend the school there, from all sorts of different fields in Santa Barbara- from doctors and lawyers, to surfers to students, you're bound to make great friends and then know a ton of people around town! Oh and Don't forget the tough training! Theres a body type for everybody, and whether you compete, want to get in shape, or just come to enjoy the vibe, you're in the right place!

Gene Gatz

My Grandsons started at Paragon when they were 5 and 6 years old. They train in Jiu Jitsu and boxing and private boxing. The coaches genuinely care about the kids They are very on top of promoting when the kids earn it and address any issues that come up between them. This is an excellent program for self confidence, strength and balance and anti bullying. As a business owner myself I can see when an owner is present and running the show with a qualified team. I highly recommend Paragon for kids and adults. Gene Gatz-Moto Loco Santa Barbara