Z Martial Arts Training Academy

I live in So Cal but I have family in Castro Valley. Whenever I used to visit I just wouldn’t train. Finally I have somewhere to train that is not only convenient but really awesome. I’ve been training for almost 10 years and this is one of the friendliest places to train I’ve ever come across not to mention the training is top notch. I can’t recommend this place enough.

I found ZMATA on Unilocal and read all of the reviews before deciding to give it a try. I was thoroughly impressed with everyone’s comments about the studio, the instructors, and the classes. I was looking for a class I could do with my 12-​year-​old daughter that would give us both more strength and confidence as well as teach us self-​defense. From my very first correspondence with Aaron, I knew this was the place for us. He is both professional, warm and welcoming and has been extremely patient and helpful getting us started. We love Jennifer, who is super patient with us (we are both total beginners). She is a real inspiration to us both! In only our first week, we already feel like part of the ZMATA family. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to get in shape, gain confidence, bond with your daughter, and have an awesome time!

Coach Aaron was extremely welcoming and allowed me to train during non class hours. Was very helpful and detailed with instruction and technique and I learned a few new moves. Gym is clean and spacious.

Daughter is very happy with the training she is receiving. The head instructor is willing to slow down or speed up his instruction to each students ability. Very happy we found this place.

When I heard Aaron was opening an academy in my home town of Castro Valley, I was thrilled. Not only would Castro Valley finally get their first dedicated BJJ academy, it would get an academy run by World, Pan, and National champion in Aaron Zaballos. Aaron has a beautiful academy with a generous amount of mat space that encourages a safe, clean, and welcoming vibe. The skill level of the students is excellent from their kids to their adults. I can tell Aaron invests a lot into his students and cares a great deal about their goals. If I lived or worked in the area, I wouldn’t hesitate to call this academy home.

Aaron was super friendly and welcoming to his gym. The gym has a great atmosphere and technical training. The mat space is huge and everything is super clean. What more could you ask for??? Also has an adorable dog that might greet you if you’re lucky. Definitely the place to train if you’re anywhere near Hayward/​Castro valley!

A Little background first. I am a veteran school teacher. I am over 40.
So — A) I know a lot about teaching and B) It is a bit tricky for me to find a gym that works for an older practitioner. I am a white belt with about a years experience, but this is a review about teaching and the quality of teaching here.
It took me forever to find my first real school. I almost quit several times. Finally I found a great place. Then the black belt quit and the guy who replaced him was awful. I began looking for a new gym. This took forever.
This took forever because I kept running into two kinds of places:
1. Hyper aggressive d-​bag places run by really angry guys. Screaming, obnoxious, awful teachers with no clue how to teach. Attention of the instructor focused on young, hyper fit cage fighter wannabees.
2. Clueless Hippy Dippy instructors. Lots of unsupervised rolling (sparring) without any real feedback. Awful, sloppy instruction. Ignoring everyone and looking at phones. Highly undisciplined classes. No direction.
In general, the very aggressive places had no women or African American students.
So after visiting and observing the teaching methods of about 6 different gyms. I chose this one. Why?
1. Structure and physical challenge.
2. Really good instruction. Not only the move itself but also larger concepts explained in a way that I understand.
3. Incredibly practical moves and advice.
4. Instructors check in on all players, regardless of how likely they are to be professionals or show extreme ability in the art.
5. Every time I go, I can do at least one of the things they are teaching. If you are a newish white belt you know how big a deal this is.
6. The smartest way to approach the arm bar from the mount I have seen, as well as an escape from the armbar that I used recently to frustrate a blue belts attempts to get me with it. (I just managed to stop him, I didn’t beat him or anything),
7. Huge diversity in age, race, gender.
8. Really nice people — when the tatted up muscular guy with the bald head is polite, that’s awesome.
I am only a white belt in bjj, but I am probably a purple or so in teaching. I know what quality instruction looks like and what it doesn’t look like. Check this place out.

Family crisis brought me to Castro Valley for a few days; I needed to get some exercise and was missing my Jiu Jitsu family from Freestyle Martial Arts in Reno, NV. Aaron welcomed me in and ran a superb class. His gentle and patient approach made the class both effective and fun. If I lived in this area, I’d be dialed in with this program. Strongly recommended and huge thanks!

My 5 year old just started @ ZMATA and knowing how «shy» he is with new activities I decided to start him off 1:1 until he got some basic understandings. Aaron was very informative, accommodating, and best of all: very good with my son (so was his daughter who also worked with my son in the session). After the second 1:1 my son feels comfortable with the thought of joining other kids in the group classes offered. I’m excited to see how this will go.

Great academy with a world class instructor. Aaron the owner and an instructor is very skilled world champion, who takes his time teaching the fundemintals to beginers like myself. I am able to learn and grow with students of all skill levels. I am Very pleased that I joined Z Mata, and I highly recommend everyone to stop by if you are In the Bay Area. The facility is very clean and in a great location. I can not express my gratitude enough to Aaron and Z mata. It is a very close nit group with a family friendly environment. Once again if you live or plan on visiting the Bay Area I highly recommend stopping by and checking out the academy.

I trained with Aaron last night and he’s a great guy. I showed up at a time when no one was in the gym. Aaron was in the back office doing paperwork but he came out, put his Gi on, and rolled with me. I have been training martial arts on and off for 10 years now and Aaron know what he is doing. He’s a very skilled martial artist, very humble, and a very nice person. The gym is very clean which is one of the most important things to look for when researching a martial arts academy. I am going to send my 13 year old son, my 6 year old son, and my 3 year old daughter (as soon as she turns 4) to Z Mata Jiu-​Jitsu. You should check this place out. I highly recommend it. You will get much more 1 on 1 attention than at some of the other gyms being that this is a new academy. Get in on the ground floor and be a part of something special.

i have been training at Z Mata since March and I love it. I looked around at a few different gyms before settling here and was struck by a few things right off the bat. As soon as I walked in, Aaron was incredibly welcoming and warm with all of the questions I peppered him with. Second was how clean the mats and the gym were. That was a huge plus compared to some of the places I had checked out.
Now, with a few months under my belt I can truly say I love it here. The training is top notch and the people are awesome. Everyone is friendly and also trains hard.
Check out Z Mata and you won’t be disappointed.

Traveled in from out of town and gave Aaron a call to drop in. Totally welcoming. The gym is wonderful and the folks laid back and good for a roll. Aaron is gracious and dedicated to the sport and I am sure will see great success. When in town and wanting a roll, give him a shout out. Interested in training, check out his school.

There are a lot of places to train bjj, but what separates ZMATA is the level of detail Coach Aaron and Coach Cailloux give to their students. They take time to explain how the technique works and do frequent spot checks. They care about their students and know how to motivate them. The location is really convenient and spacious and things are kept very clean. If you want to learn jiu-​jitsu or get better at jiu-​jitsu I would recommend ZMATA jiu jitsu.

This place is awesome. The instructors are amazing and have a wealth of knowledge. There is something for everyone here yoga, kickboxing, kajukenbo, and jiu jitsu. If you have kids and want to get them in a martial art, this is the place to go. It’s in a great location where you can get all your errands done while your kids take class. If you are an adult and want to take jiu jitsu this is a great place to learn from a world champion. You will feel welcomed with their family environment and feel supported by their great instructors.

So where do I begin?! I’ve done martial arts since I was a kid and have been looking for a home since I’ve moved to the east bay about six years ago. I’ve definitely found a home in Z martial Arts!!! Aaron is one of the best coaches I’ve been around and he definitely makes you feel like part of the family. This place is great for kids having one of the best BJJ programs in the Bay Area. If you’re looking for a place to train Bjj without fear of being fed to the Sharks or you have a few injuries you need to look out for then this is the place for you!

One of the cleanest Martial Arts gym I have been to… You just don’t know how refreshing this is.
Pretty AWESOME to get jiu-​jitsu instructions from a World Champion.
Aaron is great with kids and my 10 year old can’t stop talking about what he learns there after every class.
He now calls himself a Soulfighter… LOL referring to the gym affiliation.
I definitely recommend this place to newbies as well a experienced Martial Artists.
Great place… great people… with some badass students.

My son is extremely active. We decided to put him into jiu-​jitsu. Since he’s join ZMATA, he’s been more focus, confident, attentive and patient. I even notice his school work and attitude improving as well. I love that he has fun in class and he looks forward to going. ZMATA has a great schedule for kids and they also have an amazing instructor and assistants. My daughter saw how much fun jiu-​jitsu class was and decided to join as well (after taking a year of tae kwon doe). She mentioned she loves the hands on experience, moves that they do and jiu-​jitsu is her martial arts of choice. I would highly recommend ZMATA for the staff, professionalism and diverse schedule.

Great instructors and great training!

Not Just great instruction, This academy has both advanced BJJ competitor to beginner, every level all sizes. great Members, Great instructor and they are teaching the traditional and New Techniques.
Been rolling with them for a few months and would recommend it to everyone. come check it out family-​friendly. free week to try it out. That’s how we started.