Gracie Barra Costa Mesa

Moved to this school after starting at a different Gracie Barra location in sfv.
Very welcoming and real people.
Professor Scott and Louie are great and putting the right people together for maximum learning. Example: you’ll roll with someone who has similar goals to you.
You’ll know that the instructors are looking out for your best interests and safety, but you’ll also find great competitors to train with if you’re looking to take it to the max.
Great school.

I took my son here about one month ago. He is nine and we wanted to try some new sports. We walked in the door unannounced and they were very helpful, respectful, courteous. They immediately got him in a class so he could start and see how he likes it. They said the first week was free and lent us a gi. My son went to four classes and they spent lots of time with him to help him adjust. Additionally the other kids in the class were respectful and helpful. In the end my son decided it was not his thing. I returned the gi. No high pressure sales. Overall a great experience and would recommend. I wish my son had more of a passion as this place looked and felt like something that would have a positive influence on his development.

Before choosing this school, I tried Art of Jiu Jitsu and 10^th Planet. The big deciding factor was my interaction with the people. It feels like you were walking into a family environment. Professor Scott and his team are great! Everyone helps out to make each other better. I am proud to call this my school.

Words can’t accurately express how much I cherish this gym. I moved here from LA and these guys were all open arms, going over and beyond with encouragement and support, even beyond martial arts. Professor Scott, John, Josh, and everybody else truly care about their students, their art, and their gym. They always have my best interest in mind, and never, ever my wallet. This gym is exceptionally special, and if you are even considering joining a gym, you owe it to yourself to come check it out.
Also, the yoga on Sunday’s has the best teacher I’ve ever had!

Agree with all the great reviews here. The only thing that I can add is that Professor Scott Carr has a PHENOMENAL children’s/kid’s program. This review is more for the children’s program. We drive more than 23 miles EACH way and pass at least 4 other Gracie Barra and a number of other jiu jitus schools to come here for the children’s and young adult’s program.
As an experienced and passionate jiu jitsu practioner who trains under a Rickson Gracie Black belt, I had been looking for a long time for a school that teaches kids basic effective jiu jitsu that they can use to defend themselves with. This is not an easy task it turns out. So many schools teach sporting jiu jitsu. Kids and woman have no need for spider, X, reverse X, single leg X, De La Riva, berimbolo, etc… when they are trying to defend themselves on the street. I compromised and enrolled my kids at the local GB school. After three years of helping out and also personally instructing my kids on the side, we finally had to change. My eleven year old daughter was submitted by a same-​sized male beginner, with only a week’s experience at anotherjiu jitsu school’s summer jiu jitsu camp, while in her closed guard. For the readers who don’t know anything about jiu jitsu, that situation is completely unacceptable. The closed guard is what made jiu jistu famous. The closed guard is what Royce Gracie used to defeat bigger stronger opponents in the early UFCs. On another occasion, my daughter also could not get out of another beginner’s mount control. She knows the De La Riva and X guard but they obviously did her no good. Granted, my daughter is a mellow girl. That is why we enrolled her in jiu jitsu. She needs to learn to defend herself.
I first knew of the Gracie Barra Costa Mesa Chidren’s program two years ago when I saw their 12 year old female student beat all the boys in her division at a local GB tournament. She lined up all the boys and submitted every single one of them using solid basic jiu jitsu. Remeber, boys at this age of 12 – 13 are stronger and definitely do not want to loose to girls. All the boys were trying their best not to loose. The boy in the finals match refused to tap and subsequently went to sleep. All the dads in the stand who have daughters cheered. That is what jiu jistu is about, using solid basic techniques over speed and strength. The same female student repeated the feat six months later at another tournament. She again lined up all the boys and went through every singel one of them, winning from the bottom and the top, using solid basic jiu jitsu.
Scott Carr teaches the kids basic solid jiu jitsu that works. His attention to details is very impressive. He is a professional teacher who has obviously worked on his craft. He and his assistants personally watch every single kid do the technique to make sure that it is done correctly. All the kids pay attention and are respectful of their instructors. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am about his children’s program. They even work on basic judo and wrestling takedowns. The biggest complement that I can give and have given is to go to the school and to refer colleagues and friends with children. Heck, we drive at least 23 miles each way, in traffic, to go to the school. That should show you how passionate I am about my kids learning good solid basic jiu jitus from Scott Carr and Gracie Barra Costa Mesa.

great BJJ school! Lot of people to train with, the elevated mats are awesome and provide great give for takedowns. Professor Scott is really knowledgeable, friendly, organized, and great to roll with.
whether you’re a beginner or serious competitor, you will find all the right people to get good training with. Not into rolling, looking for striking, they got that too! a full stand up set up, to release some stress on the heavy bags.
Their facility on top of that is awesome with nice bathrooms and showers!
I have trained at many places, and this one is definitely up there, if you’re in the Orange County area and looking for a fun training session, check this place out.

Great school with high quality instructors, friendly and open students and great facilities.
The floating mats are great for practicing takedowns and are way better than puzzle mats. I also like that the school isn’t in a strip mall where there’s a bunch of on lookers in the window.

Family! The best way to describe this place! My kids have been training here for six years and they love it! My daughter trains 5 – 6 days a week and plans on taking it all the way to black belt. With the training she receives here she’ll do it! Scott is a great professor and has brought this place to another level! The training and instruction here are phenomenal!

My 3 girls (9 y.o.) go to GB-​Costa Mesa. They love Professor Scott and Coach Josh and Louie. All coaches and Professor Scott are very patient with the young students. I wanted to get them into a sport that would help them protect themselves and maybe compete. After a little over 3 months, their old man is in trouble:) Highly recommend GBCM and Professor Scott

I spent a good amount of time training here several years back and truly miss it. I felt like I owed it to this great facility and team to write a review. Such a fun and friendly atmosphere I wish I was still in the area! I have trained at many different places over the course of many years and it was at this school that I reached my training peak. Professor Mike was a cool guy, easy to talk to and I really miss him and the whole team. There were some incredible training partners there — literally world champions in BJJ. I also loved that there was Muay Thai training here, which many schools did not have. The training was technical, which is of the utmost importance!
I highly recommend this place for people of all ages, shapes, and skill levels!

I was heading over to HQ’s in Irvine but ran late. I got on the Gracie Barra site to find another school that may have a class scheduled around the same time. I came across Gracie Barra Costa Mesa. Glad I did.
Professor Scott welcomed me as well as the other students. His attention to detail is amazing. I think my game improved a lot in just one visit. There are no egos there and everyone is friendly and willing to help.
If I didnt have a home school already, GBCM would be it. If you live in the area, or are a GB student from another school; do yourself a favor. Go train here.

Position Before Submission.
The above adage refers to success in bjj, and if you want to succeed in bjj, position yourself at CBCM. I have been coming here for a little over a year, having transferred from another school in San Francisco. While Mike Buckels has since transferred, the new resident black belt Scott is a great teacher and fierce competitor. In addition, the other professor Jake is insanely knowledgable and every time I spar against him I learn something new that I’ve never seen before.
The curriculum is standard Gracie Barra fare, as is the cardio, but it’s the attention to detail and the personal feel that you get at this gym that make it one of the best. The guys and girls who attend this guy are all courteous and professional, and make learning bjj a great experience.
Whether you’re a kid trying to learn, a teenager in high school or college looking to take charge, or a professional trying to stay in shape, this school has everything you’re looking for and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment after every class.
At the end of the day, a gym is fine, but there is no machine that can simulate the feeling of going against another human being for 6 min. None.

Dropped in for a visit. Great environment, attitude, facilities. Scott was very hospitable and welcoming.
I had a good experience.
Do some work, son. Learn something.

I have been a member of GB Costa Mesa ever since I moved to So Cal 4.5 years ago. I have been to a few martial arts gyms in my day. This gym is the most informative and positive place to train that I have ever seen. I consider many members here to be family.
This gym boasts a kids program that is winning gold medals at every competition. The children are taught the integrity of the art and the competitiveness of the sport.
The family environment of GB Costa Mesa is unparalleled. I always feel at home here and have from my first visit. Staff is personally involved from the person you meet at the door to the person who teaches you techniques.
To any would-​be jui jitsu enthusiast: stop by and learn this timeless sport with a diverse team that is striving to learn while passing along the art.
Happy Grappling…

I would first like to thank Gracie Barra of Costa Mesa, Ca. for giving my son and I the opportunity to train in their house. I call Gracie Barra of Costa Mesa a home for the simple reason that they teach key essential elements that should be found in any home: Brotherhood, Cooperation, Discipline, and Respect! Professor Mike Buckles runs Gracie Barra of Costa Mesa and is a class act and it shows in his beliefs, his teaching, the individuals he allows to teach, and just his over all personality! I highly recommend this school to anyone with a true desire to improve their mind, body, and soul.

My 6 year old son began training with Mike and Jake in the summer of 2010. After 8 months, he has learned so much and enjoys going just as much as he did the first time. We have recommended Garcie Barra Jiu Jitsu in Costa Mesa to a friend and his son has joined as well. If you want a great experience, I highly suggest this facility.

Costa Mesa Gracie Barra is the best place to train Jiu Jitsu in OC. It has something for everyone. 4 yr. olds to high level competitors. If you want to get in shape, learn self– defense and have fun this is the place for you. Are you tired of paying every time your kid takes a belt test or breaks a board, without really learning to defend himself? Bring yourself and your kids in for a intro. class you won’t be disappointed.

I love this school… all of my kids attend and learn a lot each time they go. Professional atmosphere with a family feel.

GB Costa Mesa is awesome.
Mike Buckels is an amazing instructor… very technical, helpful, and a cool guy. Also, he’s one of only a few American Black Belts in the area.
The people who train there are mostly professional 30 somethings like me, who are there to work out and have fun. There’s no UFC wanna be’s or meat heads.
The gym also has a family atmosphere, and many of us dads train with our sons and daughters.
If you are looking to train, have fun, and learn some solid BJJ… Gracie Barra Costa Mesa is highly recommended.

If your interested in learning jiu jitsu for recreation sport or self defense, this is the best school in the oc. The head professor is Mike Buckels. He’s not only a balckbelt in jiu jitsu, but also incredibly gifted as a teacher. There are classes for all ages and skill levels. there are also muy thai classes available. My son and I have been members of the school for almost three years now, and still having fun training on average of 3 days per week. Our mat space is bigger than most schools, built up off the floor for extra give. I have also enjoyed making new friends and appreciate the family friendly atmosphere. As you can tell, I dig the sport and love being part of this school.