Ares Arizona Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

1660 S Alma School Rd #118, Mesa, AZ 85210, USA

4.8 (87 reviews)

Disciplines

Gi No-Gi Self-Defense Wrestling

Classes

Adults Classes All Levels Black Belt Instruction Competition Class Fundamentals Kids Classes Private Lessons

Facilities

Mat Space

Culture

Welcoming Environment

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Ares, AZ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | Mesa's top Jiu-Jitsu school. Adult & kids programs for self-defense. Free class today!

Reviews

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Julie Kotzbach

My husband has been going to AEM for years. Our son joined this year too. He attends classes multiple times a week at a flat rate. The coaches are fantastic, great seminars and lessons, the location is convenient, and there is a family vibe between everyone that goes to this academy. Highly recommend if you're interested in BJJ for yourself or your family or looking for a new BJJ gym to join.

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Posted 1 year ago
Peter Settles

This place is truly amazing. I’ve never done any martial arts or wrestling or fighting. I took my family for an intro class and it was exactly what we’ve been looking for. Something for me, my wife, and my daughter. Very inviting! Going into a gym for the first time is always intimidating. Between the other students, the coaches, and the atmosphere that intimidation goes to zero almost immediately. This is the kind of place that makes advanced students better but also gives white belts a seriously well balanced base in fundamentals. You will not regret checking this gym out.

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Posted 2 years ago
James Richardson

Im from Ares BJJ Omaha and popped in for a 6am no gi class on vacation. I was very impressed with the instructor, Scott. I felt welcomed and he was very attentive and knowledgeable. Everyone in the class was super nice and fun to roll with.

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Posted 2 years ago
Nick Engelmeier

fantastic BJJ school. Paul has a HUGEuropean following, many students to train with and if you are a female he has the best women's BJJ program in Arizona!

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Posted 2 years ago
Michael McAndrews

A couple months in confirms I made a great choice in Professor Paul, his outstanding instructors, students and BJJ Academy.

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Posted 2 years ago
C-Dub Rizzle

Great school, great people, awesome instructors! We've been part of the Ares family for almost 2 years now and I can honestly say this is a great place to learn jiu-jitsu at any level.

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Posted 3 years ago
Brittney Lopez

I had my 2 kids(10G & 11B) enrolled in the youth class and I have nothing but good things to say. Coach Brenden is really great and very patient with all of the kids. There were so many different kids of all ages, experience and physical abilities and everyone was encouraged and attended to. Ares jiu jitsu really makes you feel welcome and they have created a great family friendly dynamic. The price of the classes were absolutely worth it. My kids were pushed more and learned more in a month compared to the 4 months at their last place. I would highly recommend this place to anyone

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Posted 3 years ago
Dana Lundquist

This academy is an incredible place to train and grow in my journey to becoming a seasoned Jiu-jitsu practitioner under the 10x world Champion professor Nava.

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Posted 3 years ago
Sean Cannon

Blue belt here. I dropped in for a class yesterday and I couldn’t have had a better experience. Everyone was welcoming, the facility was clean and spacious, and the athletic talent of the students was top notch. I had the pleasure of rolling with Paul towards the end of class and he skillfully reminded me that there are levels to this sport and he’s exponentially further ahead in the journey. In addition to Paul, I think we had 7 or 8 black belts in class and it was an honor and privilege to be surrounded by so much knowledge. Every few minutes one of them would casually mention an observation for something I could adjust and improve. It was almost like a private lesson in a group setting. I would highly recommend this academy and I look forward to dropping in again in the future.

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Posted 3 years ago
M K

Best place to do jiu jitsu. Excellent instructors, lots of fun and life changing in the best of ways. Get in here already, what are you waiting for!?

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Posted 3 years ago
Dan Ensing

Excellent family owned gym with world champion instructors and a large selection of Jiu Jitsu and strength and conditioning classes. I've been training here since I moved to AZ in 2018 and it is truly a family experience.

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Posted 3 years ago
Nate S

Great people. This is the place to train!

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Posted 3 years ago
N J

Coach Nava runs an incredible program. I had the honor of attending class as a guest. Due to personal circumstances, i was only able to attend one class but I had a great time and felt immediately welcome in their gym. From the moment I made contact with the school i felt like this was a place i could see myself growing long term. The gym is a spacious and immaculate facility. The students are respectful, friendly, and welcoming. The senior belts roll with anyone and dont shame and bully junior belts for wanting to roll with them and test their abilities.

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Posted 3 years ago
Ron Fleming

Coach Paul and the staff here are amazing. Both my daughter and I are taking lessons here and couldn't be happier with the coaching staff and facilities. Train with confidence here.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
Rick Siegrist

Nothing but love for this team.

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Posted 4 years ago
Jonny Sarol

The best gym in the valley! Paul is an amazing coach, teacher, and person. A killer on the mats! The instruction, coaching, athletes here are all 10/10

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Posted 4 years ago
shaune corriere

Love this place! John Cabay is the best instructor I've ever had

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Posted 5 years ago
Luís Dias D'Oliveira

Great Jiu Jitsu club, top notch instructors, with a family welcoming atmosphere.

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Posted 5 years ago
brian mitchell

My experience at Ares BJJ is always beautiful. Great instruction, great friends great atmosphere.. its truly a special place....

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Posted 5 years ago
Reana Froment

Nava Ares BJJ is family friendly, kind, professional and the people feel like family! If you or your children want to get rock solid education in the sport of Brazilian Jiujitsu, look no further.

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Posted 5 years ago
The Jeff Edwards

Just finished my first class at Aries Arizona Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and as someone who has trained ask over the country... What a great school to train at!!! Friendly people who are excited about Jiu Jitsu and love the sport make for such fantastic training partners. I will definitely be going back and continuing to train with such skilled people and look forward to continue sharpening the sword!

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Posted 5 years ago
Vin Vallejo

An amazing place to get in shape with the whole family 👪. Self defense, learn to be a ninja and self discipline.

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Posted 5 years ago
John Cabay

Best gym in AZ. We are a family, we Ares, and we train hard

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Posted 6 years ago
Tom Gaughan

One can find good jiu jitsu in a lot of places. Finding good jiu jitsu in an atmosphere that is welcoming and make you WANT to train is what was and is important to me. THIS is that place. The instructors here are fantastic. Everyone is helpful and they have a kid program that can’t help but put a smile on your face. Don’t be completely fooled by all the friendliness - want to compete and roll with the big boys and girls? Yeah this is the place for that too!

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Posted 6 years ago
Rich Pudleiner

Fantastic family friendly academy. It starts at the top. Paul Nava is a marvelous owner and Professor. He has built a strong network of reputable and caring coaches. Upper belts are caring, honest, and competent. Classes are offered throughout the day starting at 6AM including a fantastic kids program.

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Posted 6 years ago
oxford coma

I’ve been doing BJJ for a little over four years, and have trained with Paul for two of them. This place and this team are my home away from home and a part of my family. I drive 40 minutes from downtown to train here, in spite of there being many closer schools, because I love training here. I recommend Ares Arizona BJJ to anyone looking for major positive impact in their lives.

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Posted 6 years ago
Steven Collins

Paul and Leslie Nava and all his coaches have created an amazing atmosphere of learning. I love being part of this family and community! BJJ will change your life, and if you ever want to take that step ... Ares BJJ is the place to start the journey!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
C A

I am a new member of Ares but my husband and daughter have been attending for about a year and love it! I never thought I would have any interest in Jiu Jitsu but after watching my daughter in her kids' classes, I fell in love with the sense of family and community that comes with this Academy. The people here embody the kind of values and respect I want my family to be around! The instructors are terrific at every level! The members are friendly and I felt genuinely welcomed when I started as a new member. I have learned so much in the short time I have been training and love the sense of accomplishment and confidence that is built after every class. I would recommend this place to any family who is looking for a safe, respectful, and welcoming community!

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Posted 6 years ago
Brendan Tierney

GREAT place to train and grow, as a martial artist, student, friend, teammate and person. True professionalism, love and appreciation for one another, the form and welcoming to all levels of experience. A true gift. ❤️❤️❤️

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Posted 6 years ago
ING. JOSE ARTURO ESCAMILLA PENAGOS

Excellent instruction and excellent environment!

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Posted 6 years ago
Rafael “Centenario” E

My family joined, but my three sons mainly go ages 14, 13, and 7 years old. I find the academy to be a great place for people of all ages. The coaches are patient, understanding and will knowledgeable of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu art, and a very youth friendly environment. "It's a Great Academy" ~The Espinoza Family~

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Posted 7 years ago
Rahanah Mah Bey

Awesome training studio! Very welcoming! Jonathan is a great instructor! He is very patient and extremely skilled! Everyone should try Jiu-Jitsu here!

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Posted 7 years ago
Darren Eyring

Working out here has improved my life.

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Posted 8 years ago
Benny Eggers

Excellent school with great instructors! From the time I walked in I felt welcomed. I highly recommend Paul Nava BJJ if you are looking for a place that has a family atmosphere and high level instructors!

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Posted 8 years ago
J

This gym has an amazing culture and excellent instruction. All of the coaches bring a different style to their classes. It’s very family friendly and has an excellent kids program as well. I would recommend this gym for all skill levels (beginner to tournament competitors).

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Posted 9 years ago
AmericanMETV

These people are EXTREMELY friendly, personable, patient and helpful. I felt like I was part of a family on my first day. I recommend everyone interested in Jiu-Jitsu/MMA stop in here. You wont want to leave but you will want to come back! Thank you Paul and the entire team at Nava/Ares Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for having me! - Cee

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Posted 9 years ago
daniel

Not only is the training great but the atmosphere is fantastic. Everyone is inviting and respective to those that are new. Everyone is welcome. The instructions are amazing. Mats are clean. Smilies on everyone's face.

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Posted 9 years ago
Mary Rose

This place has very good installations, amazing vibe, the instruction is top quality, without a doubt, this is the right place to train Jiu Jitsu.

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Posted 9 years ago
Marie Villa

If you're looking for a legit BJJ gym to train then look no further! Most humble and supportive coaches and team I know. My husband & I will drive from Peoria (which can take up to an hour and 15 mins, each way) for our son to train because I know he is being trained by the best & he loves his team!

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Posted 9 years ago
David thomas

I love my club! My family and I have been coming to Nava BJJ since late January, and we love it! The instruction is top notch, with some of the best coaches in the country, and the community, which is larger than any BJJ school that I have been apart of , is extremely welcoming. I would recommend Nava BJJ for anybody looking to compete at the next level, or just looking for a form of exercise. If you are looking for a great kids program, Nava BJJ has one of the best in the state. Great club!

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Posted 9 years ago
steven enriquez

The best in the business! Everyone is friendly and helpful. The Nava family loves what they do and it shows. I recommend NAVA bjj to everyone!

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Posted 9 years ago
Amanda Bowen

If I could give Paul all of the stars I would but unfortunately I'm limited to 5. I'm gonna write a complaint to google about that buddy! I never understood the discipline of martial arts. Nor the strength of brother/sisterhood that Paul has worked his ass off to build his school on. You're gonna get sick of hearing about how this is our second family and how much respect and knowledge that it has to offer its students. If you do then move on. BJJ has definitely changed my outlook on life, it's changed my body physically and mentally and I can't get enough. The instructors, Van Buren, Alex, Blau and Barnes, are on point and very welcoming to newbies. Give it a shot and come on in.

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Posted 9 years ago
K Dworak

Lots of classes with great instructors. Started recently and plan on staying as long as I am in the area. Paul Nava is a super cool nice guy with a work ethic of a great man. Come check out Ares/Nava BJJ.

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Posted 9 years ago
Brendan Coronel

I have been a student under Paul Nava since January 2013. I'm truly thankful for the positive impact that he has made, and continues to make on my life. This school is for anyone, from any walk of life. Come on in and train with us!

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Posted 9 years ago
Antonio Berumen

Attended their Labor Day open mat and had a blast. A lot of really good competitors that will push you to the limit. Defiantly recommend it for anyone who lives out in the east valley!

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Posted 11 years ago
Michael Moronez

Awesome place always keeping training fun. Open mats are one of the best. Same as the coaches.

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Posted 11 years ago
Jacob Koty

Are you looking for a competition driven school? Do you want a teacher that strives to think of new ideas for his students to stay entertained and consistently come to class? Paul does an excellent job on both of these counts, combined with a friendly and knowledgeable atmosphere.

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Posted 11 years ago
Gabriel James

This is the best school out of all of them that I have been to so far, it has changed my life now, and still will later on.

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Posted 11 years ago
Gerod Belnap

Very glad to be a student here.

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Posted 11 years ago
logan cooper

Paul is a great instructor and a great guy. Coming here I hadn't had any type of Jiu Jitsu experience at all. I was a bit intimidated at first, but paul and the other guys were great and make you feel right at home. If your experienced or have none at all, I highly recommend Nava Jiu Jitsu to anyone.

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Posted 13 years ago
jorge godinez

I have been training with Paul at his school for a little over a year now. I have trained at a couple different schools and this is by far one of the best i have ever trained at. Great instruction from a high level black belt under the Nova Unaio family. Lots of experienced training partners ranging from black belts to white belts. Very friendly environment and good people to be around. And if you don't know what brazilian jiu jitsu is come in and give it a try!! Great workout and you learn as well!!

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Posted 13 years ago
Mike Sandoval

This is an amazing school, great coaches, great team/family to support you and an amazing atmosphere. I couldn't have asked for a better place to start taking BJJ. Thanks to all the help and support from Paul and everyone at Nava BJJ, I lost a lot of weight and started getting into the best shape I have ever been in. I am 39 right now and I feel years younger from doing BJJ, I highly recommend this sport and most importantly this school.

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Posted 13 years ago
Nathan Bricker

Paul Nava is one of the top black belt competitors in the state and also an amazing instructor. This is a great place to train jiu jitsu and get in shape! I highly recommend Nava’s gym for any adult or child that is interested in improving their life through jiu jitsu!

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Posted 13 years ago
A A

I am from New Mexico and travel quite alot for work, so finding a good academy to train is often difficult. I had the opportunity and privilage of training with the highly knowledgable staff @ Nava BJJ, they are very friendly and professional. They will motavate you to push and better yourself and ground game. i highly recommend this academy based on my experiences with other schools. Great atmosphere to learn in, and established pedigree. TEAM NOVA UNIAO!

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Posted 13 years ago
Dr. Jenni Larson (Jenni)

I have been training jiu-jitsu with Paul Nava for over 4 years now, since the very beginning. He is an awesome black belt in the Nova Uniao family. I have watched this place grow and thrive. We train hard and we train and compete (if desired) as a family. NavaBJJ has many classes to offer from traditional gi (basic & advanced), no gi, wrestling, judo, & strength & conditioning. They have great kids and girls programs! Paul Nava teaches nightly gi classes and the other coaches are all super knowledgeable. If you're a gal looking for a place to train, come check us out! We've got a great program with girls only classes if you don't want to get sweat on by the boys and we've got a growing girls competition team. If you're looking for a wonderful place to train, this is it!

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Posted 13 years ago
Nate Steen

The team at Nava BJJ has excellent camaraderie & there’s a great “family” feel to the school. Paul Nava devotes himself to the school & puts a ton of time into it & his students. His coaches are all top-notch & every student at every level receives personalized attention. The competition team produces medal-winners in every weight class & age division. If you’re just looking for a way to stay in shape, you’ll definitely be able to achieve that through BJJ. We have several students who have lost substantial amounts of weight since joining & I personally am in the best shape of my life at 31. I definitely recommend Nava BJJ for anyone interested in pursuing BJJ either for competition or just fitness.

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Posted 14 years ago
Jim Calhoun Jimmy

This is a perfect place to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Head coach Paul Nava provides great instruction and leadership for students interested in one of the fastest growing sports in the world, BJJ. I have been attending with my 10-year-old boy for the past 2 1/2 years enjoying; weight loss, improved health, and the excitement of competition. Nava BJJ also offers; wrestling instruction, strength and conditioning and a very friendly atmosphere for beginning and advanced students.

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Posted 14 years ago
Stephanie Varela

I have had the pleasure of being a student of Nava BJJ for about a year now. Nava BJJ has taught me discipline, and the great art of ju jitsu. They have world class instructors, that not only help me but my 2 kids as well. Its a great sport for kids to get into. It teaches them how focus and stay in control at all times. I would HIGHLY recommend Nava BJJ to adults and there children!! Thank you Paul Nava. I appreciate you hard work and dedication to our team and family!!!

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Posted 14 years ago
Chris Rottinger

Paul Nava and the team at Nava Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has changed my life. If you are looking to get into BJJ there is no better place to start, great coaches and great teammates. If you are looking to compete in tournaments or just looking to get in shape this is the place to be!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 14 years ago
Kevin Tyrrell

I've been a student for about a year now and I love it. Nava is a great school with an outstanding group of guys and world class instruction. Couldn't ask for a better place to have been introduced to the sport.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 14 years ago
David Jerry

None greeted me. I was standing there waiting for someone to help me out. I asked a blackbelt who to talk about a trial class and said he didn’t know who was in charge right this minute. Waited another 7 mins and walk out. Good atmosphere by the looks of it. The adult class had about 10-12 people. A lil crowed in my opinion. Oh well.
Posted 2 years ago
Jose Gonzalez

My kids are depressed the owner is mean and gets mad at the kids when there are trying

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago