San Diego, California, isn’t just a city rich in history and culture; it’s a hotspot for mixed martial arts enthusiasts.
With a vibrant MMA scene, this city offers a plethora of top-notch gyms catering to every style and skill level.
From Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu havens to comprehensive MMA training grounds, San Diego is home to some of the best facilities in the nation.
Dive into our guide to discover the perfect gym for you in the heart of California’s MMA community.
Table of Contents
THE ARENA
Our Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110
- Phone: (619) 222-5554
THE ARENA is a unique MMA gym with a wide range of martial arts classes. You might expect classes like Boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, and Kickboxing. But there’s even more here to love as they can also teach you Filipino martial arts, Judo, and Greco-Roman (freestyle) wrestling.
Arena also specializes in providing accelerated training and fight camps to bring your fitness and abilities to be competitively ready. The class schedule is packed with options all morning and in the evenings. So if you want to fight at an upcoming promotion, they can help you get there.
If you’re looking to be in one of the most extensive facilities in San Diego and absorb knowledge from many fighters around you, then this would be the place to be. The coaching staff here have many years of experience. Like Master Baret Yoshida, a 3x IBJJF world champion. Plus Chris Leben and Basheer Abdullah.
Victory MMA & Fitness
Our Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 3666 Midway Dr, San Diego, CA 92110
- Phone: (619) 223-5581
Victory MMA & Fitness has been a reliable source of mixed martial arts training since it opened its doors in 2007. The gym has a whopping 140 classes per week with everything you should expect, like Boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, etc.
The skilled coaching staff here make this an excellent choice with classes taught by Jiu-Jitsu master Dean Lister, Kickboxing with Rolando Perez, and Jocko Willink dropping in to assist with the coaching.
Victory produces several amateur and pro fighters consistently and of high quality. Fighters representing this gym include Jeremy Stephens, Toby Imada, and Tomasz “Gorilla” Drwal.
City Boxing
Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Boxing / Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 1059 14th St, San Diego, CA 92101
- Phone: (619) 233-5444
City Boxing | Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing & MMA Gym In San Diego is, as you could expect, primarily a Boxing gym. If you’re looking to focus on advancing in Boxing but still with a couple of options of extra-martial arts on the side, then this is a great gym to choose.
City Boxing offers a few classes for Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and BJJ alongside several Boxing classes divided between Beginners and Advanced students. The gym environment is quite a spectacle with a huge gym floor and a full-sized Boxing ring.
The coaching staff at City Boxing is solid. Denis Grachev teaches Muay Thai and Kickboxing. Carlos Baruch Ferreira leads cage-fighting MMA styles. Boxing classes are run by Vernon Lee and Manny Melchor. You’ll be in good hands here in this downtown gym.
10th Planet San Diego Jiu-Jitsu
Our Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Location: 6008 Mission Gorge Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
- Phone: (619) 282-5855
10th Planet San Diego Jiu-Jitsu and Training Center is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym under the 10th Planet network of gyms. The 10th Planet gyms focus on a No-Gi system of Jiu-Jitsu developed by Eddie Bravo. You can find 10th Planet gyms worldwide, and this is the San Diego representing gym.
This gym is set up to produce MMA fighters who want to get into the cage and be effective.
The gym is primarily focused on this BJJ system, but there are plenty of other martial arts you can learn here. Classes include Wrestling, Kickboxing, Boxing, and Muay Thai.
Instructors at 10th Planet are exceptionally well educated in Jiu-Jitsu, with several black belts teaching here. Such as head coach Richie Martinez, Geo Martinez, Jacob Lee, and Nate Fort. Then you have Priest Smalls leading the Boxing classes and Manolo Hernandez as the MMA coach. Plenty of quality to absorb from here and definitely one to consider.
North Park Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Location: 3363A El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
- Phone: (619) 505-3869
North Park Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a Jiu-Jitsu specialized gym led by Professor Michael Cusi, a black belt under Professor Roy Harris.
Professor Jaime Reynoso and Professor ‘Big’ Jim are among the team to learn from in BJJ. You’ll also be able to learn some Muay Thai under Profe Francisco de Los Cobos here.
You could focus your time here with a very experienced team in the Gi.
Undisputed
Our Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 4151 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
- Phone: (619) 299-2699
Undisputed is a fitness gym that provides classes in martial arts, including Boxing and Muay Thai. There are also combat conditioning classes that utilize TRX and kettlebell exercises to increase your fitness.
The primary focus at Undisputed is to offer confidence and fitness-building classes that are suitable for kids, teens, and beginners. It still has enough here for adults to get fit and increase their skills, too, but I might say that this won’t be the place to make you a complete pro.
Still, the gym facility is a high grade at Undisputed. I would recommend this for beginners or family people who have kids or teens they’d like to take with them! They have a variety of heavy bags, a good-sized mat floor, and even a boxing ring so you can mix up your training.
Bonita Martial Arts Academy & Fitness Federation
Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 4130 Bonita Rd, Bonita, CA 91902
- Phone: (619) 356-3728
Bonita Martial Arts Academy & Fitness Federation is another family-orientated MMA gym on this list, with a particular offering for those who want to focus on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There is still Muay Thai/Kickboxing available in fitness classes and skill classes.
What is especially good here for families is that they have Jiu-Jitsu for just about any youth age group. There are classes just for 3-5-year-olds, 5-8-year-olds, and 8-13-year-olds. If you have multiple kids who want to learn Jitsu in a comfortable environment, this is a good option.
I’d recommend this gym to anyone who wants to improve their fitness and lose weight or to families with a particular preference for BJJ. If you wish guidance to advance far into an MMA career, you might want to keep looking.
Steel MMA and Fitness
Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Muay Thai / Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 5910 Santo Rd
- Phone: (858) 987-0113
Steel MMA and Fitness have a particular specialism for Muay Thai fighting. They have many Thai boxing classes almost every day for 8-12-year-olds, then 13 years and older. Adults aren’t left behind, either, as they can progress through beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes to excel in their learning.
Muay Thai aside, you can also learn Jiu-Jitsu Gi and No-Gi, and even a little bit of Wrestling. If you have a specific preference for Muay Thai as your primary skill set but want to cover the grappling side, too, this could be a perfect option.
The coaches here include Carl Gebhart, Jeremy Vargas, and Jorge Gamez. The team here has helped produce several fighters who compete at a high level across Muay Thai tournaments. It’s an excellent spot for building confidence in the art of eight limbs, for sure.
Premier Fight and Fitness
Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 9764 Campo Rd, Spring Valley, CA 91977
- Phone: (619) 750-9459
Premier Fight and Fitness is a mixed martial arts gym that offers programs across striking and grappling proficiencies. There are programs for youth and women’s only groups and even private training that you can take advantage of.
You would be able to level up your skills across multiple disciplines here. Classes include Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and even Yoga. Beginners can start with their unique Striking Fundamentals class, and experienced fighters can join in the Advanced Striking with permission from the coach.
This is another gym on the list with several programs for kids and women groups. There is a good range of classes available daily, with most focusing on striking if that’s what you want to practice the most. Which makes it a good location for you and your family.
Gamebred Training Center
Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Gym Type: Mixed Martial Arts
- Location: 861 Harold Pl STE 205, Chula Vista, CA 91914
- Phone: (619) 934-8688
Gamebred Training Center is a gym highly focused on getting the best out of each fighter. If you are looking for that dedicated training experience to bring your skills to a fight-ready level, this could be the place for you.
The instructing team at Gamebred has deep experience in fighting professionally, with coaches like Herman Terrado for MMA, Nestor Flores for Striking, and Nick Barnes for BJJ and Muay Thai.
The class schedule is pretty diverse as there are classes for Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Yoga, and Muay Thai. Some classes will help your body prepare for fights if you want to push yourself, with Strength & Conditioning and Practice to spar and improve.