Real mat. Real coaches. Real Madera.
Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, kids classes, and Women's BJJ. First week free. No pressure.
5/5 Google rating
325 S Pine St
Adults and kids
We Have Heart
Tell him whether it is for you, your kid, or both. He will point you to the right first class.
Wear athletic clothes and bring water. If you already have a gi or gloves, bring them. No need to buy gear before you try class.
Try the gym for a week. No pressure. Ask questions before you decide.
BJJ and Muay Thai give you a place to practice hard things with coaching. You learn what to do when you are tired, pressured, frustrated, or new — and that starts to show up outside the gym.
BJJ does not pretend size and strength stop mattering. It teaches the pieces that make them less decisive: frames, base, escapes, grips, leverage, breathing, and staying calm when someone is pressuring you.
That is why the art works for smaller people, older beginners, and anyone who has ever felt outmatched. You are not learning to overpower everything. You are learning how to improve your position.
Class gives kids a safe place to try, get stuck, reset, and eventually get it. That is where confidence actually starts to show up.
Start with the basics and train at a pace you can sustain. Some adults stay recreational. Some eventually compete. The first job is just learning how class works.
Most members started with no martial arts background. For the first visit, the goal is simple: learn the basics and train with people who remember what starting felt like.
BJJ, Muay Thai, open mat, and strength work run through the week. Some adults come for fitness, some for self-defense, some to compete. Start with the basics and build from there.
Little Champs builds confidence through structure, repetition, and real coaching. Kids learn how to try, get stuck, reset, and keep going.
Women's BJJ with Coach Kyle, plus every class open to all. Train with people who will show you the ropes.
Filter by Little Ninjas, Little Champs, adults, or Women's BJJ. Text Coach Chris before your first visit so he can point you to the right class.
Movement, balance, listening, obstacle-style drills, and getting comfortable on the mat.
More structured martial arts: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, striking basics, partner drills, focus, and confidence.
BJJ, striking, strength, combat fitness, and open mat for beginners, returning students, and competitors.
Women's BJJ with Coach Kyle, plus open training time. Women also train in the regular BJJ, striking, and Saturday classes.
Schedule is a working guide. Class times can change around events and holidays.
BJJ is grappling - no punching, no kicking. You learn control, escapes, leverage, and self-defense from the ground up.
Try BJJ this weekMuay Thai is Thai kickboxing: punches, kicks, knees, elbows, footwork, conditioning, pad work, and controlled contact.
Try Muay Thai this weekKids are grouped by age and readiness, so the class matches where they are.
Little NinjasAges 3-5: movement, balance, listening, obstacle-style drills, and getting comfortable on the mat.
Little ChampsAges 5+: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, striking basics, focus, partner drills, and more structured martial arts training.
Morning strength and conditioning plus combat fitness support the people who want to train hard without needing to fight.
Ask about strength trainingYou do not have to compete to train here. But it matters that the standard has been tested. Madera Martial Arts athletes have earned 33 medals across documented Central Valley tournaments and beyond, including kids and adult divisions.
Competition results linked to public Smoothcomp records.
Coach Chris Arias opened Madera Martial Arts in 2017 after years of coaching at another gym. He teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai.
The name is Madera because the gym belongs to the city. Put it on your rash guard or your fight banner and it should mean something — you're not representing a logo, you're representing your town.
If I'm the best person on the mat, I'm not doing my job. I want every student who walks in here to eventually surpass me.
Short excerpts from public Google reviews. Rated 5/5 stars from 15 reviews.
★★★★★
"Everyone is very warm and welcoming."Amaranta Galindo
via Google
★★★★★
"family oriented, fun and definitely place to be"family lipira
via Google
★★★★★
"The family atmosphere. The discipline. The commitment."Sarah Roggenkamp
via Google
★★★★★
"my son felt comfortable enough to join everyone."lourdes guzman
via Google
Recent training, belt promotions, fight nights, and everyday work from Madera Martial Arts.
Yes. Your first week is free. No pressure. Text Coach Chris before you come in.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is grappling. There is no punching or kicking. You learn how to escape bad positions, control space, and use leverage so a smaller person can survive and defend against someone bigger.
No. Most people start with zero martial arts background. The classes are structured so beginners can learn at the right pace.
No. Adults start at different ages, sizes, and fitness levels. You can come in tired, rusty, nervous, or brand new. The point is to build skill and conditioning over time, not to show up already ready.
No. Competition is optional. Some students compete, and the gym has a real competition standard, but most people train for fitness, confidence, stress relief, self-defense, and community.
Striking classes can include contact and sparring as students progress. Beginners start with pads, drills, movement, and controlled practice.
Yes. Madera Martial Arts has Women's BJJ on the schedule, and women also train in open classes. Beginners are welcome.
Yes. This is not just a kids program. Adults train BJJ, Muay Thai, open gym, and strength work through the week. Some families have both kids and parents on the mat.
Most beginners do well with two classes a week at first. That is enough to learn and recover. If you want more, Coach Chris can help you build up without burning out.
Little Ninjas is for ages 3-5. Little Champs is for ages 5 and up, with more structured Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, striking basics, and partner drills.
BJJ has no striking. Kids learn positions, escapes, control, and how to tap safely. Coaches supervise and scale the class by age and experience.
Kids build confidence by being put in situations where they fail, try again, and eventually get it. Over time, that confidence shows up in how they listen, move, and carry themselves.
Wear athletic clothes and bring water. If you already own a gi or gloves, bring them. No need to buy gear before your first class.
Text or call the gym before your first visit.
Madera Martial Arts
