BJJ school recomendation in Los Angeles

[fjavier]

I currently live in West Los Angeles and I am interested in training in bjj. Does anyone have any good recommendations. The schools that I know about and interested in hearing opinions about are:

1) Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club (Marcos Vinicius di Lucia)
2) Rickson School: I know Rickson is amazing, but I hear he hasn't taught a class in at least a year and most of the beginner classes are taught by purple belts. Any one have any other info?
3) Rey Diogo school
4) Aloisio Silva school
5) StreetSports BJJ (Renato Magno)

Any information/opinions would be helpful. Thanks !!!

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by fjavier

I currently live in West Los Angeles and I am interested in training in bjj. Does anyone have any good recommendations. The schools that I know about and interested in hearing opinions about are:

1) Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club (Marcos Vinicius di Lucia)
2) Rickson School: I know Rickson is amazing, but I hear he hasn't taught a class in at least a year and most of the beginner classes are taught by purple belts. Any one have any other info?
3) Rey Diogo school
4) Aloisio Silva school
5) StreetSports BJJ (Renato Magno)

Any information/opinions would be helpful. Thanks !!!

How bout 10th planet? the twister is pretty good, but he loves no gi.


http://www.thetwister.tv/10PJJ.htm

[SweepEm]

If you're thinking of going to Aloiso's school, you may as well add to the list other schools in the South Bay: Gracie Torrance, the Machado's, Bob Bass, AND Shawn Williams school in West Hollywood.

I didn't know that Rickson's beginning classes are taught by purple belts but I'm sure the Rickson purple belt is adequately prepared to be a great teacher.
My only question is how much that class is in comparison other schools.

My recommendation is go to ALL of the BJJ schools you're interested in, watch a class, then take a free class.
Ask questions to the instructors and the students.
Look at the benefits of a small vs large school.

I'm very biased since I train with Rey Diogo and recommend you stop by to check out school out.
I can train at any BJJ school in the LA area.
But I am where I am by choice and there are many choices.

When I first started with Rey, he was the most passionate and caring BJJ teacher I've ever trained with. When Rey shows a move, he goes to each and every student on the mat. He won't show a new move until he's satisfied that each and every student can do the move he has just shown.
I've trained with other teachers that will show a move and then leave the room to be on the phone or talk to friends while some students aren't doing the move properly or have questions.

ALL of the schools you've listed will be great schools, it's just which school YOU will enjoy.

[Miss Teak]

There's Caique jiu-jitsu out in Carson, but I think that may be South of where you're looking.

[JackMan]

Train with Rey Diogo it you live in West LA area. If you live in South Bay area train with Bob Bass. Both very good instructors.

[fjavier]

One of the things I am looking for is a school in which it is the same person doing the teaching. My concern is that if one is continously taught by different instructors they fail to take notice of ones development. By having a consistent teacher they provide insight into ones progress or lack of.

Is Rey Diogo school always (or at least a large part of the time) taught by him?

On a side note: is it important to look for a school that does well in BJJ competitions? Is that an indicator of a good school?

[OmaPlata]

[QUOTE=fjavier]One of the things I am looking for is a school in which it is the same person doing the teaching. My concern is that if one is continously taught by different instructors they fail to take notice of ones development. By having a consistent teacher they provide insight into ones progress or lack of.
QUOTE]

This is true. But a good instructor will call the person teaching the class that night or day and find out who exactly came to class and maybe get some feedback from the temp. instructor.
It does suck to tap out a blue belt when you are a white belt and nobody see's it, as used to happen to me all the time. I was cursed at advancing

[Tap-r-Snap]

[QUOTE=OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by fjavier

One of the things I am looking for is a school in which it is the same person doing the teaching. My concern is that if one is continously taught by different instructors they fail to take notice of ones development. By having a consistent teacher they provide insight into ones progress or lack of.
QUOTE]

This is true. But a good instructor will call the person teaching the class that night or day and find out who exactly came to class and maybe get some feedback from the temp. instructor.
It does suck to tap out a blue belt when you are a white belt and nobody see's it, as used to happen to me all the time. I was cursed at advancing

well, this can be argued....i myself am a high blue belt and have caught a few purps that I train with, but that doesnt mean that i should be recognized as a purple belt. There are a few white belts that i train with that i KNOW by most standards would be blue belts by now, but they catch me every so often with a sweep, or an awkward omoplata. The majority of the time though, its O soto garri to side mount, knee to belly-then full mount, attempting the americana-as he defends, cross the locked arm over his face/head and roll into the arm lock. Like butta, so i dont think they should be promoted to blue.

[JackMan]

Originally Posted by fjavier

One of the things I am looking for is a school in which it is the same person doing the teaching. My concern is that if one is continously taught by different instructors they fail to take notice of ones development. By having a consistent teacher they provide insight into ones progress or lack of.

Is Rey Diogo school always (or at least a large part of the time) taught by him?

On a side note: is it important to look for a school that does well in BJJ competitions? Is that an indicator of a good school?

Rey Diogo teaches most of his classes. He is very involved with his students and their progress. One of the things you'll learn while studing Jiu Jitsu is that you will learn from everyone, not just your instructor. The instructor is very important, but the team is also very important.

As far as competition goes, if you want to compete, a successful competition team is important. If your not so much into competition it is less important. It's more important to feel comfortable with the instructor, the team and the school in general.

Go to Rey's school and try a free class. See if you like the training and the people. He has the credentials. He was the Pan Am champ last year. Is is a Carlson Gracie Sr. 4th degree black belt and he is a great guy.

[crazyjoe380]

you should got to this school...

5) StreetSports BJJ (Renato Magno)

1.) he doesn't hold back on training certain techniques like other schools..
you go to some schools and they only show you three moves and take up your money..

Renato teaches well.. and there is another school in the valley that's a sister school

www.brazilianjiujitsuclub.com

this one his top pupil teaches there.. his name is chris ...

EXCELLENT SCHOOLS..

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CLUB AND STREET SPORTS..

[crazyjoe380]

[SweepEm]

If Rey Diogo is in town and healthy, he is always teaching.

From Christmas and part of January, Rey and his family were in Brazil visiting family. He had an accident and is hurting right now but he still insists on teaching class and showing moves, even if he's in pain.
Rey's commitment to teaching is a proven fact whether he's at his regular class or doing a seminar.
As I said earlier, Rey doesn't show another move until he sees you know the move he just taught.
How many instructors do that?
You'll never get bored at Rey's classes. He has a routine but every once in a while he'll mix the way he teaches and do something different so you don't get into a rut.
Rey is not a guy that bars guys from other alliances or under other teachers as some guys may do. He's friends with everyone and they are all welcome to the school. Rey is not a Gracie so many people in the US may not know him but his reputation and name in Brazil is HUGE. Some of the biggest names in BJJ come by to hang and sometimes help teach a class or two at our school.
We're a small school so you never get overlooked.

As was said earlier, you can learn from anyone, even someone that has less experience than you.
People get so caught up on belt colors.
If you're a lower belt and catch a higher belt, big deal. You can play it safe and never tap but you aren't learning....
Risk moves to learn new moves.

[Matt in LA]

John Machado is at the Farmers Market on Fairfax and 3rd street.
Try him.
Also, let us know what you thought after checking these schools out.

[LoudenSwain]

Originally Posted by fjavier

I currently live in West Los Angeles and I am interested in training in bjj. Does anyone have any good recommendations. The schools that I know about and interested in hearing opinions about are:

1) Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club (Marcos Vinicius di Lucia)
2) Rickson School: I know Rickson is amazing, but I hear he hasn't taught a class in at least a year and most of the beginner classes are taught by purple belts. Any one have any other info?
3) Rey Diogo school
4) Aloisio Silva school
5) StreetSports BJJ (Renato Magno)

Any information/opinions would be helpful. Thanks !!!

Have you decided yet?

I also live in Santa Monica, within walking distance to Renato's school. However, I go to the Gracie Academy in Torrance and I love it there. I started there because I had a good friend going there. My friend moved away but I still make the drive. I love it there. The instructors there, Ryron, Rener, and Ralek, are amazing. Great communicators and they take great care and detail with their students.

It would be nice to be able to walk down the street to Renato's place. I went in there this week to check things out. The place is a bit small but Renato seemed very cool. If I had the money I would take classes their as well and go twice a day. Morning at Gracie and evenings with Renato. I have also been curious to check out Rey Diogo's place as well.

I would say check out some places. I think you will know when you have found the right place for you. Go where you feel comfortable with the environment and the people. If you go to a place you don't like that much just because it is geographically desireable, it will probably keep you from sticking with JJ.

Let me know what you decide.