Essence BJJ Walnut Creek

“Amazing academy with world- class instructors, family friendly atmosphere and a safe environment to train in and learn BJJ! Whether you are looking to compete in the sport or develop your skills/ confidence for self- defense, this school caters to all levels and goals. I started training at Essence BJJ having zero background in any form of martial arts or grappling and after two years of being a member, I can honestly say that I am glad I found this school and decided to join.”

“We’ve had both of our boys training at Essence BJJ Walnut Creek for over a year now, and it’s been a fantastic experience. We come every week for different age group classes, and both of my kids are always excited to go. The instructors are amazing with the kids — they know how to connect with them, earn their respect, and create a really positive and encouraging atmosphere. You can tell they truly care about helping the kids learn and grow, both on and off the mat. The recent remodeling also really improved the facility — it’s a great space now, very clean and welcoming. Highly recommend Essence BJJ to any families looking for a top-notch martial arts program for their kids! Even though I only have my boys enrolled right now, I plan to sign my youngest daughter up in about a year as well.”

“My son started jujitsu classes at here when he was four and a half, and now, at nearly six, he's excited to move up to the next age group. We like everything here so far! The coaches and staffs are awesome—skilled, patient, and dedicated. My son has shown remarkable improvement in both his physical abilities and confidence. The class atmosphere is welcoming and supportive, also teaching children discipline and respect. He's not only learning defense skills and becoming stronger but also developing a calm mind and good manners. Highly Recommend!”

“We love the experience we’ve been having at Essence BJJ. The professors are so kind and so patient while at the same time very observant and helpful. I really enjoy how family oriented the environment is and the outside events they hold really is a great way to get to know parents who already are welcoming. Kaylee and Gabriela do such a wonderful job at communicating and assuring any questions or concerns are answered. I appreciate the newsletters sent to keep us updated on that’s going on and tournaments we can attend. We look forward to being part of such a wonderful team and family.”

“I have been training at Essence for about 9 months. I met a lot of really cool people and learned a lot of really cool stuff, but a series of bad experiences with a particular instructor has pushed me to terminate my membership. Some pros about the gym: - Fairly clean - Mostly good instructors - 6:15 AM classes - A lot of awesome people training there But there are also some cons: - You can only wear expensive gear you buy from them, including rash guards and shorts. - Private lessons with Eduardo are a total waste of time and money (more on this below). - Belt promotions are attendance based. - It's not a very beginner-friendly gym. - Almost no new white belts stick around. There are also major problems with the instructor Eduardo. His method of teaching largely revolves around not teaching, but rather shaming your for not doing it properly. He has encouraged me to never go easy on new white belts, which I think is the main reason contributing to a harsh culture where new people don't stay for very long. His private lessons were an absolute waste of money and consisted of him showing up late, talking about BJJ for 50 minutes, then maybe rolling a few rounds without really teaching you anything, but rather just showing you how much better than you he is at BJJ. When I asked him if we could do some specific drilling around topics I want to focus on he literally told me that I'm paying him for his BJJ knowledge and he will decide what he will teach me. In a recent incident I playfully grabbed (not cranked) a heel hook on him while rolling with the gi, which I didn't know was against the rules, and instead of him stopping and informing me that it was against the rules, he angrily swore at me and then proceeded to talk badly about me to everyone else at the open mat, right in front of me. This was the last straw for me and caused me to get angry and get into a shouting match with him. The owner Vini spoke to me about this earlier on Monday and basically made it clear that I was the one who was disrespectful and it's me who was totally in the wrong, not him. So, I'm done with this gym. I would encourage any new people who are interested in trying out BJJ to try out other gyms before this one. Edit: In reference to your response (which may have been removed): 1. I will retract the statement that "he kicked me in the chest." 2. The other incident was when I was less than a week in and didn't know about your no-heel-hook policy, and I have screenshots of a text message saying that he wasn't injured or hurt. It was then that I was told by Eduardo during a private session that heel hooks are okay with brown belt or higher. He never specified gi or no gi. 3. "Didn't feel safe" around me is a bit of a stretch. Eduardo initiated the swearing match, which you also conveniently left out. 4. I signed up for 10 lessons up front with him when I first started because different instructors had different rates. And to be honest, that problem by itself wasn't bad enough for me to complain or try to change it, I was okay with just eating that cost. The biggest problem I have was with the heel hook incident, the private lesson topic is one I put on this review so hopefully others don't make the same mistake I did. 5. The most recent altercation with Eduardo was the only unforgivable thing about this gym, and it by itself was bad enough to warrant the 1 star. 6. The incident where I "didn't let go of the submission" wasn't a submission, but where I was in the middle of performing a sweep and didn't see that I was pushing him into another group and I also didn't feel his tap. I didn't angrily hold onto a submission like your original response would portray.”