Gracie Barra West Covina

Please Note: This isn’t a short review. If you want a short review, read any other one besides mine. The aim of this review is to provide something different from the usual.
Investing in a Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu academy should always be a careful decision. And I’m not sure if Unilocal!reviews clear away any confusion. Most reviewers are members already who are unwilling to leave negative feedback. On that basis, it’s difficult to find an unbiased review. With that in mind, I don’t have any Unilocal!reviews on Jiu-​Jitsu. However, after many years sampling schools, and after a year and a half here, I feel that I located the right school for me: I am more than happy to share my patient assessment of Gracie Barra West Covina.
Anyway, I have been to many Gracie Barras. This one by far offers the most complete package. Usually GBs are way too expensive, offering all their schools, but for a much added cost. Here the prices are far more reasonable than usual. Eric, the owner, does try to work with you, especially in terms of contract flexibility.
Andrew, the main instructor here, is a gifted teacher. As an English teacher myself, I appreciate how he delivers clear instructions, checks for understanding, quizzes students, and focuses the class on vital details that people commonly overlook. When he models the technique, each move is well-​defined and clearly explained. And as the class practices the technique, it is truly guided; Andrew constantly and actively monitors the class. He can quickly diagnose the problem with a student’s technique and remains with the student until he or she gains competency. He also exercises the right to stop the entire practice and reexamine the technique with the entire class. With my English students, I find myself reteaching the concept throughout the week, just because I believe good teaching isn’t accidental, but so thorough and overlapping, it’s difficult to lose inventory of key concepts. As my last point, Andrew stays in close proximity with his students’ learning. He will pull you aside and show you first hand how to perform a move, especially on open mat days. He rolls with all his students and is excellent at rolling with them at their pace. Personally I have experienced him go from 10 percent to 30 percent effort, and it’s a huge difference.
With the junior class in which my boy is enrolled, I particularly appreciate how thorough Andrew’s teaching is, with the added benefit of his classroom management abilities. I have only been exposed to three schools, and I notice with these junior classes, most instructors are afraid to take control of the class. Instructors allow student misbehavior and the learning climate is difficult for serious students — or for students whose parents don’t want them to get hurt. Andrew addresses misbehavior directly. After the verbal warning, for persistent misbehavior, students do push ups or asked to step off the mat. Consequences sound harsh for what is designed to be a fun environment, but you can also see them as ensuring safety and learning, in addition to continuing crucial self-​control skills which public school teachers have also been trying to reinforce.
The physical and social environment of the dojo is pleasant. The temperature is comfortable, especially during these summer months. The mats are clean. The people who roll here are very respectful and friendly. And for me, social climate is probably the most important factor in choosing a school, because it determines the tone and pace of the class and school curriculum. Personally, I want a school with the right balance between professionalism and friendliness. It can be like a second home without losing a prevailing sense of professionalism and seriousness. Here friendliness means many of the adult students (on average, two to three) assist the juniors and kids classes. Audi, Marxen, and James all contribute a lot to the school, especially the kids and junior classes. This school can remain focused during class, but outside class time, people do want to know how you’re doing. I’ve attended schools that are either too impersonal or too close to a college fraternity. I feel the balance is right here.
As a final note, I have been a student of Cobrinha, Romulo Barral, Mendes Bros, Cleber, Xande and Saulo Ribeiro, Crane, and Orlando Sanchez. I have observed a variety of teaching methods, and most of them lack a few skills that effective teachers understand as second nature. Cobrinha and Andrew are the only two instructors who practice everything that effective teachers practice. Without singling any particular instructor out, you will be surprised out of this list of instructors who will take calls frequently during class or will sit in his majestic corner, chatting away or calling out to students to make corrections remotely.
Gracie Barra West Covina is a great school — the only school in the past seven years that I am willing to review.

A clean, friendly, and ego-​free environment. A great place to learn Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. Plenty of parking and mat space. Professor Andrew and RL are good instructors. Plenty of classes to take in the evening. They have a lots of kids in the kids classes. Tell them that the Big Filipino sent you.

Wen coming here for a little over a month now and it’s intense. I love the atmosphere and environment they provide. The service is here is a plus. Also had the opportunity to watch the little kids class and all I can say that Andrew and Eric are great with the kids. Looking for a place roll this the place to be at.

Gracie Barra West Covina is the place to go to if you want to learn awesome Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! Our instructor Andrew is amazing at what he does. On top of learning great Jiu Jitsu, you can learn Muay Thai, join our boot camp program and best part of Gracie Barra West Co is that you meet some really humble people who are there to help you. Not like other places where you get thrown in the lions den for you to figure out. Everyone at Gracie Barra West Covina is considered family and family helps each other! So if your looking for something different other than a gym come visit GBWC you won’t regret it!