New Mexico Jiujitsu Academy — Local services in Albuquerque

I was going to write this review after the introductory 15 minutes I spent with Justin after having my mind BLOWN by a trap and roll, but I figured I should probably finish out the class before I jumped to conclusions.Then I realized I could never write a proper review until I finished out the free 10 day trial (which I made sure to squeeze as many classes into as possible). Once that was up I figured I should at least get my first stripe at 20 classes before I made any assumptions. Next it made complete sense to wait until I got my second stripe and was allowed to spar so my review contained all that was available (Not to mention Muay Thai, Wing Chung, and Judo). Of course, you can't REALLY review a place like this until you have spent HUNDREDS of hours there, shed blood, sweat, and tears, become a part of a huge community of some of the most wonderful people around, and allowed such an amazing lifestyle to truly propagate through your entire being….. so now, after 2 years of training, 5 days a week, getting the first stripe on my blue belt, I feel like I can say...

I think i'll wait for my Purple belt!

But seriously. This school has been such an integral catalyst for change in my life that I feel forever indebted to it. Justin and his team have built something truly marvelous here and they welcome new people with open arms. This is the perfect balance of self defense, exercise, community, and sport. I have come up through the ranks here with some of the finest individuals I have ever known. The children's classes are top notch and the kids get a fantastic education while having fun and learning to defend themselves. We call the kids "bully-proof" and I think it is the perfect description. If you have ever seen a UFC fight go to the ground and thought "Man, I would love to be able to do that," or you just need some more exercise, this is the place to be. I cannot wait to meet you. Chances are,...

Very bad communication from the lady that works the front. She never gave us a copy of a contract she had us sign at the beginning of our sons first class. We didn't have time to read it because class was starting. She also never explained what exactly we were signing after knowing we hadn't had the time to read the contract. Since a copy was never given, we never read the contract we had signed until my boy decided this was not the kind of martial arts he wanted to do. We go in to cancel and that's when the copy of the contract was given to us saying we have to pay $250 cancellation fee! If we were not rushed to sign the contract and given a copy in the first place, then we would have been able to read what we had signed and cancelled before the trial ended. The trainers were very good and I have no complains on their behalf. Although I feel like we were scammed into signing something we were clearly, unfairly, not given the fair chance to read. Why didn't she give a copy in the first place? So we can't read what we signed and get screwed in the process? I even noticed it said, I herein and acknowledge receiving a copy of this document for my records. I signed it, she didn't give me a copy, in fact, she gave me the original one AFTER we decided to cancel a month after the trial ended. I swear I asked her about a contract and she said nothing of one even though that's exactly what I was signing! Don't bother asking the lady questions because I don't think she even knows what's on the contract she's giving you to sign. She said we can take our boy out any time at no charge! They say it's heirsay because we don't have no proof of this situation, but they have...

This is the only school in town that teaches authentic GRACIE Jiu Jitsu!!! The Gracie system prepares the student for the STREETS, not for the tournaments or the "demonstrations." I have been attending this SCHOOL since February, and I have a lot of good to say. First off, its a 100% positive atmosphere! All the coaches are nice, no intimidation, no bullying, and certainly no "next big thing fighters" that roll their eyes at you because you may be "interrupting their camp." No Cobra Kai here! I've been to many different "Gyms," "Clubs," and "Dojos" in the ABQ area, and NMJJA is definitely a SCHOOL! They TEACH you with an actual CURRICULUM, and there are many Martial Arts to choose from (Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, etc.). Its not a "Black Belt Club" where you come in off the street and get tapped out for an hour, and learn nothing (like teaching a drowning man how to swim). Its not a dojo that keeps people at yellow belt forever because "Well, that's how we do things." And its certainly not a place were you drill a random techniques, or mindlessly hit pads. --- I've said enough, sign up...