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Tribe Athletic Club: Jiu Jitsu & Self-Defense
5 ★★★★★ 50 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Laguna Hills, California
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 4–18) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Website & schedule tribeathleticclub.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (812) 548-7423
The classes they run
“The coaches are patient, encouraging, and hands on when it comes to teaching the little ones proper techniques and helping them build confidence on the mat.”
“The family friendly facility is very spacious and includes an area for weightlifting as well as a comfortable space for parents to sit and watch their kids take classes.”
“My son absolutely loves training jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, self-defense, and achieving fitness goals here.”
“Their patient and detail orientated teaching styles are effective for everyone ranging from total beginners to experienced athletes.”
Other martial arts here
“My son absolutely loves training jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, self-defense, and achieving fitness goals here.”
“Our daughter Celine trains under Coach Amanda for BJJ and Coaches John and Anthony for striking, Pancration, and wrestling.”
What members say
“Coach Anthony and Coach Amanda are both dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable instructors.”
“The family friendly facility is very spacious and includes an area for weightlifting as well as a comfortable space for parents to sit and watch their kids take classes.”
“The coaches are patient, encouraging, and hands on when it comes to teaching the little ones proper techniques and helping them build confidence on the mat.”
“Since joining, I've seen tremendous growth not only in my son's jiujitsu abilities but also in his discipline, focus, and self-confidence.”
“Tribe athletic club is my home away from home - it’s a great space but it has an even greater professor!”
“Coach Anthony and Coach Amanda have provided my three children (5, 6, 9) with guidance, discipline, support, and love over the years and we are forever grateful.”
From the reviews
Tribe Athletic Club is amazing. The atmosphere, the coaches, the fellow athletes, students, and parents are unmatched. Coach Anthony and Coach Amanda have provided my three children (5, 6, 9) with guidance, discipline, support, and love over the years and we are forever grateful.
Tribe is the only school we found in OC that teaches young kids both BJJ and striking from the start—and that’s exactly what we were looking for. Most schools avoid striking for kids, but Tribe understands that children can learn it with the right coaching.
Tribe Athletic Club is a great gym to learn jiu jitsu, wrestling, and mixed martial arts. Coach Anthony and Coach Amanda are both dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable instructors. Their patient and detail orientated teaching styles are effective for everyone ranging from total beginners to experienced athletes.
Tribe athletic club is my home away from home - it’s a great space but it has an even greater professor! I do the adult jiujitsu classes and I have a 6 mo old baby I get to bring her with me and everyone there is so helpful and supportive so I can get my workout it - it’s just that, a tribe!
New to BJJ? Start at Tribe Athletic Club: Jiu Jitsu & Self-Defense
Tribe Athletic Club: Jiu Jitsu & Self-Defense comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first BJJ class at Tribe Athletic Club: Jiu Jitsu & Self-Defense
Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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