Valhalla Jiu Jitsu

Updating to adjust my rating to five stars from four.
I think my perceptions were unfairly biased by the fact that I just don’t really enjoy Brazilian Jiujutsu. I’ve gone back to boxing instead… but that’s a personal preference, and shouldn’t reflect on the quality of A.J.‘s instruction, which is top-​notch, or on his club, which is friendly, welcoming, an excellent workout, and a great environment to train in.
BJJ might not be your thing, but if it turns out it is, this is the place to train.

I had a great experience with AJ and all at Valhalla Jiu Jitsu. I found the environment to be very positive and conducive to learning. He was very thorough and would always take the time to walk everyone through the drills. It’s a mellow atmosphere that I strongly recommend… good for both strengthening the body and mind.

Amazing academy, phenomenal instructor, and probably the coolest group of people you can roll with.
I’ve been grappling for over a decade and have spent a lot of time grappling internationally as well, and AJ ranks up there as one of the most technical instructors around. He is patient, humble, passionate about the art, and always looking out for his students. The curriculum makes logical and smooth transitions from class to class, and each month there are fresh new themes (ie drills month, spider guard/​X-​guard month, etc). Questions are encouraged, not shunned. AJ will even help tailor techniques to your style/​body type, which is nice. He even welcomes techniques from all grappling arts!
The students at this academy are equally as awesome. Everyone has a cool head and they are all very friendly. If you are training for a tournament, they will roll hard with you (and smash you), and if you are just looking for a good workout they will roll very mellow and calm too. If you just want to drill with people they are always more than happy to help you out with that too. Nobody tries to rip your head off (unless you ask), which is nice. I’ve been to a TON of gyms, and I have never found a mix of students so awesome anywhere. You will feel welcome and a part of the team from day one.
There is something here for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned grappling veteran (BJJ, Judo, Wrestling, etc.) or this is your first rodeo. Come in and try it out for yourself, you’ll see what I mean.

Alright here’s the skinny on this academy based on the 6 – 7 months that I’ve been there
PROS:
–Very affordable price especially for students, along with the fact that there’s no contracts or enrollment fees makes this the best deal around, while still delivering a high quality gym experience for the cost.
–Awesome set of training partners, in and off the mat, ranging in age experience and competitive attitudes that keep the environment challenging yet still playful.
–The curriculum offers diverse attention on all aspects of grappling from Judo to Wrestling to Self-​Defense to that Zen Jiu Jitsu Flow maaan.
–Classes are at night along with a Sunday open mat which works great for most people’s schedules of work or school.
–Facility is very well kept. Everybody is reminded to wash their gis, belts, and no gi gear regularly to keep a clean gym. No unhygienic practices here.
–AJ is a very open minded and detailed instructor who really cares about differing goals of his students and won’t make you feel like just another membership. You get a bit of insight behind his philosophy of Jiu Jitsu and you get a feel a bit of a feel for his personality through his teaching style and maybe his style of teaching isn’t for everyone but he keeps it real and imo his authenticity makes for a welcoming and relaxed environment.
CONS:
–You don’t get a complementary dragon or battleaxe for signing up.

Absolutely loved AJ. He is incredibly passionate about the sport and patient when teaching. AJ also encourages students to ask questions and to teach each other. He welcomes students of all levels and provides discounts for college students, which makes bjj affordable, especially when compared to other bjj studios in Orange County. I’m no longer living in Irvine but if I was, I would still attend his classes. Thank you for everything, AJ!

Valhalla Jiu Jitsu is a truly an exceptional school. AJ has cultivated a positive, supportive, and ego free environment to train in. His passion for the art is evident from the minute you meet him. AJ has a welcoming and inclusive attitude. His teaching is both thorough and technical, providing students with broad foundation of knowledge to build on. AJ takes time to address the individual needs of his students. Often these moments are used as an opportunity to highlight the nuances of and reasoning behind a position or movement. Though I have not been a student here long, I already feel at home.

I started at Valhalla in January after taking AJ’s class at uci, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. I tried out other gyms as well, but nothing beats Valhalla in price, quality of instruction, and the classroom experience. He’s thirty, which seemed really old to me. But the spark of his youth has not yet been completely extinguished. He’s like the old man from kill bill with the giant eyebrows, he seems archaic but really knows what he’s talking about. Honestly though, I couldn’t ask for more from a gym, and AJ still manages to charge less. You be crazy for not at least giving his class a go with the free first meeting, you’ll be hooked in more ways than one.

I started training with Valhalla BJJ a couple months ago and it’s been a great experience. This was my first BJJ experience and AJ (our gym leader if you will) is a great teacher and a hilarious dude. The guys at the gym are real friendly and are very willing to help you out when you’re confused. The price of this gym is also relatively cheaper than the other ones in the area. No regrets signing up, and am looking forward to continue training here! Thanks AJ!

Great coach, chill people, reasonably priced.
Having trained a handful of MMA/​Karate places in the past I was always kind of hesitant trying new places in fear of egos, overly serious atmosphere, etc; but after a single trial class with a friend I signed up immediately. Great instructor, cool people, I only wish I had signed up sooner!
AJ is a great coach and explains everything really well, and takes the time to help tailor particular techniques to your body type (which helps a ton). We tend to spend just the right amount of time on techniques (both in-​class and week to week) to make sure we have a solid grasp on them and are able to use them in moving to other techniques, sparring, etc. I feel like just in the few months I have been here I no longer feel lost in the Wrestling + Jiu Jitsu game, and can’t wait to really start working on my offense.
Overall best Jiu Jitsu experience i’ve had and I encourage everyone that is interested to give it a try, you will have a great time.

Unfortunately I moved, so I don’t attend Valhalla anymore, but I recommend it 100%. Best bjj gym in the area by far.
I have had 4 different Bjj coaches in my life so far, AJ has been the best for sure. Friendly, easy going, and most importantly, he is a bjj walking encyclopedia. He stresses the basics which ends up building a very strong base for his students. He is very descriptive when he teaches and shows all the minute details, which make the difference between not being able to use a move and actually using it affectively.
I strongly recommend Valhalla jiu jitsu

AJ is a great instructor. Even though there are many people in the class, AJ seems to be able to keep track of your persons interests and struggles. Besides the excellent technical knowledge, he also gives tips about other things in BJJ, i.e. what to focus on as beginners, how to manage your gis, what kind of attitudes you should have in class, the training mentalities, hygiene and more. These arguably are as important as the techniques themselves as they allow you to train for a long period of time without hurting yourself or others.
Classmates are generally nice, and willing to work with and help you out. There is definitely no meat-​head that is out for blood during sparring, which I see sometimes at other gyms. This creates a safe environment to train, learn, and experiment your technique without much worrying about getting injured by your partners.
The price is fair. No contract, month-​to-​month payment. You can cancel pretty much anytime you want. There is discount for student, and Gi purchase discount. You will definitely not be hustled into anything. AJ really tries to create an academic environment as opposed to a business.

Head instructor AJ is not only a great teacher but also a very like able guy. No macho attitudes here, just a friendly learning environment. Definitely check it out!

A really great jiu jitsu school! What separates this school from other ones is that most of the students here are just there to learn jiujitsu and no prove anything to people. No one goes super hard unless you want to do so as well. Everyone is in good spirits with each other and there aren’t any «rivalries» among different members of the gym. There are people in the gym who compete, but most of the members are just students and professionals who want to learn the art. This ensures that the atmosphere is fun and care free.
The facilities are very nice, the gym is clean and reasonably spacious, parking is abundant and the plaza is a nice, safe area. No need to park your car in a sketchy pitch black parking lot in the middle of an industrial park!
I really like the customer service here, which is something a lot of other jiujitsu gyms tend to ignore. Newcomers are treated very nicely. AJ makes sure that they are partnered with experienced members who can guide them through the moves. I’ve never once seen a new comer get beat down just for being an outsider. Of course if you choose to fight hard, you will have to expect the same amount of resistance!

AJ’s not just some talented meathead. The man truly and demonstrably loves BJJ as sport, as art, as intellectual and strategic challenge; he relishes sharing its athletic as well as its self-​defense applications; and he brings all of that to his instruction.
The price is fantastic, but this isn’t some bargain basement training. AJ’s attention to detail, clarity, and patience with instruction is unmatched. He trains for various applications, encourages students to develop their own styles according to body type/​ability/​comfort/​necessity, follows up on lessons, prepares individuals for competition if necessary, and is above all interested in developing his students into BJJ machines.
Plus, he’s a seriously funny and extremely likeable dude.
Along with that eye for detail is a comfortable but rigorous atmosphere. You will be challenged here, but you’ll never be discouraged from developing just because you’re not as experienced as someone else. Classmates run the full spectrum of belt colors and there are often guest trainers/​trainees who sit in and help drill or instruct; and everyone is there to help you get better. Male, female, all ages and skill sets.
Monday and Wednesday evenings are gi classes, Tuesday and Thursday no gi, Sundays open mat, and there are opportunities for private lessons (which dramatically improve your game!).
You really ought to come check it out.

I was visiting from another gym and I was immediately welcomed by the instructor, AJ, and his students. AJ incorporates an organized approach to teaching and occasionally includes some unique «homework» for his students to encourage them to think about their training outside the academy. It clearly pays off! His students are mindful of their own egos and respectful towards each other — a very cooperative environment! I highly recommend this gym for anyone who wants to get some good training.

5 stars is the only way to describe the experience of training at Valhalla. I have been involved in competitive sports for over 15 years including NCAA Division I sports and Aj Albert is probably the best coach/​teacher/​instructor I have trained under in terms of efficiency, talent, and quality of material taught. He is dedicated to giving his students the best instruction possible. There is a solid group of guys that train there all focused on being cerebral and technical, training with respect, and improving with a humble nature. You couldn’t ask for a better atmosphere to train Jiu Jitsu and progress in every aspect of the game. I highly recommend coming in to try it out for free. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Good stuff!

Great instructor and great group of guys that train over there at Valhalla (across from UCI so mostly ugrad/​grad students and young professionals). AJ is one of the most technical instructors around who breaks down each technique step by step until you become a BJJ ninja. Classes are 1.5 hours every Monday, Wednesday, & Sunday and usually consist of a 15 minute warm up, 45 minute instruction/​drilling where the class is split into 2 groups (beginner and advanced) and ends with 30 minutes of grappling.
Valhalla is also the cheapest BJJ school in Orange County with no long term contract which is great for those of us with busy/​sporadic schedules. Mention you are a student and you’ll get an additional discount. No other BJJ school in the area can compete with the high quality of instruction you get for a fraction of the price that you would pay at some of the other big name schools. I believe they currently have a Summer Special which ends soon for $ 50/​month so sign up now!

Valhalla has been a great experience. My first time training and I wish I hadn’t waited so long to start. AJ is a really good guy who genuinely cares about his students success, whatever that may mean to the individual student, be it fitness, sport bjj, self defense, or just a hobby.
I have sometimes found that some of the most knowledgeable brilliant people lacked the teaching ability to effectively communicate all of their knowledge to their students.
AJ is not only an excellent practitioner with many years of accumulated jiu jitsu knowledge but also an excellent teacher and communicator.
Everyone that trains at valhalla is super nice and encouraging, no ego just people trying to better themselves. I can’t say enough about the school. I would encourage anyone to come check it out for themselves. GO TRAIN!

Love Valhalia! Great workout, great knowledge and great teaching. I’d recommend this to anyone and everyone, and already have! AJ is a beast on the mat! 5 out of 5 is easy to give. Very clean and always maintained too. You will be hooked!