WELCOME
Welcome to The Arena, San Diego’s Combat Sports gym. We are the largest Martial Arts school in North America, offering Beginners to Pros more than 150 weekly classes in 12 different Combat Sports, Martial Arts and Strength & Conditioning programs.
Our San Diego gym classes include Boxing, Filipino Martial Arts, Grappling, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, S & C and Wrestling. This is the biggest program of its kind in the U.S. and our training is known worldwide.
CLASSES
Our weekly San Diego classes include Boxing, Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, Submission Wrestling (No Gi Jiu Jitsu) and Greco-Roman / Freestyle Wrestling. We also offer some of the best Accelerated Training and Fight Camp programs in San Diego.
Besides being the largest Combat Sports gym in North America, each one of our programs are individually among the biggest in the USA. Our Jiu Jitsu program alone leads the country with 50 adult classes, and our other programs such as Boxing are close behind.
TRAINING
Training at The Arena is different than at other San Diego gyms. Due to our background and history, we’ve had strong ties with members of the Armed Forces since we first started in 1949. This focus had led to a constant emphasis on effective training for the field, the street and in competition. Consequently, we do not (and will never) offer “Cardio” classes.
We simply don’t believe in poor training with even worse technique just to get in shape. Instead, our philosophy is to train for real while still increasing fitness. “Real” doesn’t mean getting hurt or being too aggressive, and we don’t tolerate any bad attitudes here. But it does mean doing things the right way. So if you want the best, most realistic training available, we’re the clear choice in San Diego.
COACHES
Our 12 Coaches comprise one of the most experienced and accomplished teams of Combat Sports and Martial Arts trainers in the world. With an average of over 25 years of experience per coach, we have a tremendous amount of knowledge and mastery to share with our students.
Our San Diego Coaches include the legendary Master Baret Yoshida, a 3x IBJJF Jiu Jitsu World Champion and 3x ADCC medalist / 10x ADCC vet. We also have future UFC Hall of Fame fighter Chris Leben and 4x Team USA Olympic Boxing Coach / US Armed Forces Head Coach Basheer Abdullah. Together, our Coaches provide world class instruction for any level of athlete.
ABOUT
Founded in 1949 as the Southern California School of Judo and Jujitsu, we’re the oldest continually operating Martial Arts school in North America. In 2006, we moved to our current San Diego location and updated our name to match our mission to build the best Combat Sports gym in the world.
THE ARENA PROGRAMS
THE ARENA SCHEDULE
North America’s largest Combat Sports & Martial Arts program.
MONDAY
28
CLASSES
TUESDAY
28
CLASSES
WEDNESDAY
28
CLASSES
THURSDAY
28
CLASSES
FRIDAY
25
CLASSES
SATURDAY
10
CLASSES
SUNDAY
5
CLASSES
THE ARENA COACHES
THE ARENA FACILITY
27,000 square feet. San Diego’s largest Combat Sports & Martial Arts gym.
THE ARENA SUCCESS STORIES
BOXING
Ulises Sierra"This is our home. I love it here. Everyone trains hard and is dedicated to perfecting their craft and I like to be surrounded by that."
JIU JITSU
Sergio Hernandez"I've been training with Baret since the very beginning. So when he came to The Arena, I was here right away. It's been great."
KICKBOXING
James Ewton"I've been training here for 7 years. I really like the way they put classes together. I feel their method of teaching is the best way to do it."
MMA
Baby Joe Taimanglo"There are so many great coaches at The Arena. It all comes together where everybody can come in and get great training."
MUAY THAI
Adrian Morilla"All the instructors are always here, they're always on time, they're squared away, they know what they're doing. I love training here."
WRESTLING
Adrian MorillaAlex Trinidad"What brought me here is that it's not a cardio gym. It's learn to fight. The instructors are the best. They're Pros in everything they do."
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THE ARENA BLOG
Check out our latest info.
Boxing Coach Joe Vargas’ Incredible Weight Loss Transformation
Boxing Coach Joe Vargas discusses his love of running out in nature and how it contributed to his huge weight loss and transformation in this past year. Don’t wait, start today. Every journey begins with one step! VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Coach Joe Vargas: There’s something about
What is Your Motivation for Training?
We’re all walking different paths. Coach Charles Martinez discusses how everyone we interact with on this martial arts journey has different goals and motivations. We should help build each other up instead of letting our egos and greed dictate how we treat each other. Leading
David Da Silva Surfing at Sunset Cliffs
How you do anything is how you do everything. The study of martial arts will permeate into all sections of your life. Here’s Arena front desk worker and Jiu Jitsu practitioner @David DaSilva discussing the parallels between a life of surfing and training the art