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Carlson Gracie Wine Country Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offers the perfect balance between a competitive atmosphere and an inviting environment.
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Reviews from Jiu-Jitsu Blog members who have trained at Carlson Gracie Wine Country Jiu Jitsu. Member recommendations raise an academy's Jiu-Jitsu Blog Score.
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I feel like a broken record. I started by bringing my son here back in 2021 when he was 6. I sat on the bench and watched (doing my best not to interfere from the sidelines) the professors, Asa Russell and Sal Spinelli, always do a great job of teaching the kids, being mindful of their attention spans, and making sure they have fun while learning.
A year later, in 2022 my 4 year old daughter, myself, and my wife all signed up too.
What we thought would just be a great way for us all to learn self defense, and get some physical exercise has turned into so much more. We have been blown away by the BJJ community, the friendships, we’ve made, the physical and mental therapy Jiu Jitsu provides. Carlson Gracie Wine Country has become a part of our extended family.
My wife and I decided to bring our son to Carlson, Gracie Wine Country jiu-jitsu. We didn’t know what to expect, but our goal was to build more strength in our son along with more confidence. We have been training now for just over one year and the change in our son have been remarkable. We couldn’t be more happy with the results. The professors and coaches at Carlson Gracie Wine Country jiu-jitsu are top-notch and amazing with children. I would definitely recommend everyone to take advantage of the one week, free training and experience what could possibly be a life changing moment for you and your kids.
Professors Asa and Sal are dedicated to fostering a family-friendly, judgment-free environment that emphasizes sport jiu-jitsu while incorporating self-defense techniques. Whether you’re just beginning your jiu-jitsu journey or looking to advance your skills, this is an excellent place to train.
My 6 year old has been training here for the last few months and it has been an amazing experience. All of the coaches are amazing with the kids and it is a very positive family focused environment.
Our son began training here about 3 years ago. Then, our daughter joined, and soon after my husband and I decided to give it a try! Sure, there are gyms in Temecula with caring coaches but I personally feel this place is truly special. This is a safe space for your kids to learn and grow in their training. It's a place where they can be encouraged and expand their skills whether they are beginners or experienced. I've observed Professor Sal and Professor Asa teaching for years now and can confidently say that their greatest joy seems to come from playing a part (even if it's small) in building confidence in the kids they teach.
As an adult student, I've had the pleasure of learning from them and the other coaches on staff. They have provided extremely helpful guidance and so much support based on my capabilities and have been in my corner for competitions- something I never dreamt of trying as a 42 year-old-lady. That speaks to the specialness of this place. This isn't just a gym. It's a place to truly gather, work hard, enjoy community, and grow.
We’re in town for work and brought the family on this trip. My son signed up for a FREE Week at Carlson Gracie in Wine Country. I was able to meet one of the instructors Asa; He introduced himself to us and made us feel at home. Our son has taken part in the classes for 3 nights & he’s had the greatest experience! The staff, instructors, and classmates made him feel welcomed and they didn’t take it easy on him, They put him right into the mix with the other students! Our family has learned some moves & techniques based off of what he learned in just a few days. Tonight he was instructed by Co-owner Sal Spinelli, he said Sal was awesome! We are thankful our son had something enjoyable to do, thank you for making him feel welcomed & unbreakable! 💪🏽 We highly recommend Carlson Gracie for all ages, looking for self defense taught by true professionals in all aspects!
This gym is by far the best I have been to on my BJJ journey. The Professors and coaches are professional, and possess a wealth of experience and knowledge of martial arts. The facility is clean and the members are welcoming and friendly. Highly reccomended to come in learn this beautiful art from here.
Carlson Gracie Wine Country has been a fantastic experience for my 6 year old son. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed by the friendly and knowledgeable staff and professors. The training environment is top-notch, with a great mix of discipline, encouragement, and fun. My son has grown so much in both his skills and confidence since joining. The instructors and professors are patient, professional, and truly passionate about what they do. We couldn’t be happier with our experience here. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for quality Jiu-Jitsu training in a positive and supportive environment!
Carlson Gracie Wine Country is an awesome school for training . They have a great kids program and a great adult program for anyone, whether you train for a hobby or are a competitor. They have a good variety of times for classes which allows you to train regardless of how busy you are. All the Professors and Coaches are fantastic and create a nice family atmosphere. Not only are the Professors and Coaches great, but so are the students which makes a great culture.
Great environment and very family oriented. The professors and coaches each take their time to answer and help with any question or concern and they take the time to walk you through movements as well. My family has been with Carlson Gracie for a few years and we are happy to say we have found our second home.
Professor Asa & Sal are attentive, knowledgeable, and super down to earth. They're committed to helping students learn and grow in their BJJ journey. The academy has a welcoming vibe and a focus on quality teaching, making it an awesome overall experience for anyone looking to learn or level up their skills.
I enrolled my daughter here at the end of summer. She’s 5 and is apart of the littles class (4-6). Since being apart of the team she’s gained so much self confidence. She has amazing instructors who are extremely patient and work very hard with all of these kids 4-5 days a week to make sure they perfect their goals. We love this place, both my daughter and husband have joined the team and are always happy to go. 10/10.
Simply the best experience visiting this gym and completely worth the drive from LA or San Diego. Gene, aka BJJ Moses, is the most gracious host. We connected on Instagram after I spotted his outstanding videos for gray haired grapplers. He invited me to drop in after answering some questions on technique if I was ever in town. As fate would have it, I was just last week. On his night off, he stayed after the kids class and pretty much gave me a private lesson, inviting me afterwards to stay to join the rest of Oscar's nogi class. The gym is by far the brightest, cleanest training facility I've visited. Good location, easy to find and plenty of parking. Lots of sore spectating space. The kids class looked legit with emphasis on technique, even at the end where most gyms spiral into a game. The kids were focused and engaged to the end. The adults class covered the nogi baseball choke and everyone was kind and safe... Never felt at risk. Thanks, Gene I'll hit you up with a video on insta when I've nailed that half guard entry!
I came in from out of town and asked if I could join a session and they were very welcoming and the gym itself had a lovely atmosphere. i would like to thank the coach and give much appreciation for the people in the class. Thanks again for not beating me up too much! 😃💪🏽🤙🏽
Carlson Gracie Wine Country is a great school if you are looking for a place to train. I dropped in to train here while visiting for work and was well received by everyone. Gene is a great instructor, and I could tell that he puts a lot of thought into his lessons. Great environment, great teacher, and clean mats.
I was in town from Michigan and wanted to get some training in. I'm so glad I did. The instruction was excellent. As a beginner I felt that some parts were simple enough for me to understand while also going into intricate details for the more advanced students. CGWC were great hosts and it was a pleasure training there.
Gene Cook Jr. is a world class instructor. His plethora of medals and championship rankings are great accolades, but you wouldn’t know that by speaking to him. He teaches everyone with humility and gives 100% of his attention. My journey in Jiu Jitsu just began, but I’ve already learned so much from the network of professionals at this gym on and off the mat. The environment is free of ego and the students here adopt the same culture of iron sharpening iron. I give this gym my highest recommendation! 🥋
The nicest and cleanest gym I've seen yet...lots of classes ranging from kids classes to adult classes... I also like the fact that you can get personal lessons and also the gym features noji classes as well... another thing that was amazing to me is you can sign up and get a free week of classes!!!
