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INSPIRATION · FAMILYMENTORSHIPKola Ajose is such a mentor to me and an inspiration to me.Douglas HandaREAD STORY +MENTORSHIPDouglas HandaI have trained in Martial Arts for most of my life. I have a 4th degree black belt in Japanese Shorinji Kempo, Israeli Krav Maga and an Instructor level or also known as E1, I also have trained in Shotokan Karate, Kenjutsu (Japanese sword skills), Boxing, Muay Thai and some Judo. I have trained with some of the best coaches and sensei's from America to Japan. But I must honestly say Coach/Professor Kola Ajose is the best Coach/Professor/Sensei I have ever trained under. I am now 54 years old and always keep in shape but Coach Kola Ajose has got me doing techniques that I would never thought I can do. It is like I am 25 again. And if I do something wrong Coach Kola will call me out on my mistakes, then corrects my mistakes. Jiu Jitsu is my new passion and love. Kola Ajose is such a mentor to me and an inspiration to me. I am Blessed to have the honor to train under him. There is no other Coach/Professor like Kola Ajose. My son Yutaka also trains at Kola Ajose's Jiu Jitsu Academy, and Coach Kola has taught my Son traits and characters that I could not. Coach Kola trained my son so well I no longer need to worry about him, because I know he can handle any situation good or bad. Coach Kola Ajose has helped turn my son into responsible, confident and an honorable young man. My son Yutaka is now a force to be reckoned with but at the same time, he is very compassionate and caring too. Coach Kola Ajose is loved by all his students, especially in my family. I will forever be a student of Coach/Professor Kola Ajose. To all who read this testimonial, sorry this is so long.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
FAMILY · BELONGINGFAMILYCome as you are and become who you want to be.Ricky NagayoREAD STORY +FAMILYRicky NagayoAs a black belt in karate I wanted to teach my kids karate the way I taught others including their mother. When they were little I taught them, as they grew older it became less and less. As they grew older they also lost interest especially being the only two students. One day my niece Justene asked Makayla if she wanted to try jiujitsu. She did and immediately fell in love with the art. 2 days a week quickly became 4 to 5 sometimes 6 or 7 days a week. At first I did not want her to learn martial arts from someone else let alone an art I did not know myself. I even practiced on occasion with Justene’s dad JB but never wanted to join just wanted to know something in case I had to defend myself on the ground. One day JB’s wife asked Makayla’s mom, other parents and I if we wanted to try jiujitsu at Kola’s. We both loved it. I started going every day sometimes training till 1am. We even joined the Muay Thai class. One of the things I love the most is sharing the mat with my family. My son started with Muay Thai and recently tried a jiujitsu class with Coach Cesar, Julio and Will and liked it. My family does Martial arts at Kola’s where he created a family environment. Come as you are and become who you want to be. Set goals and achieve them.My first day there I was startled by a tap on my shoulders from a child who just wanted to say hi. That was the first of many that day from kids and adults I have never met. A practice that’s a must when walking into the gym and leaving a practice that sets the family tone Coach Kola has created.All the instructors have one goal in mind to pay it forward. If you want to join a gym there are many in the Bay Area. If you want to join a family see you on the mat.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
MENTORSHIP · CONFIDENCECONFIDENCEOne of the best mentors, teachers and coaches I could ever have asked for.Govanny DuranREAD STORY +CONFIDENCEGovanny DuranMy name is Govanny Duran and I have been a member of Kola Ajose BJJ Academy for a decade, which has proven to be a really beneficial experience for me. I came into jiujitsu at an early age and I couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere. The individuals at the gym are more like family then teammates and I’ve met some of my closes friends from the gym. Coach Kola has continually studied and trained Brazilian Jiujitsu for many years and one thing I can tell you about him is he loves jiujitsu with a burning passion. He will give you his all to make you the finest version of yourself at all times if you give him the same energy in return. Coach Kola is without a doubt one of the best mentors, teachers, and coaches that I could ever have asked for. Jiu Jitsu has not only had given me the tools to defend myself if needed, it has also has helped me build confidence. Also giving me the tools to believe and know I can achieved anything I set out to do.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
SELF-BELIEF · GROWTHSELF-BELIEFThe only person you have to beat is yourself!Anirban SenREAD STORY +SELF-BELIEFAnirban SenI have been a martial artist for over 20 years, and I have been training in jiu jitsu for the past 3 years at the Kola Ajose Jiu Jitsu Academy. Firstly, I will state that I wish I had started jiu jitsu much earlier in my life. Secondly, I will also state that I wish I had met Coach Kola, Coach Sam and Coach Gino much earlier in my life. I also wish that I had introduced my daughter to jiu jitsu much earlier in her life. As such, we play with the cards we are dealt. I am thankful to have found such a supportive, family oriented academy, with so many like-minded people to be a part of.Coach Kola is truly an awesome human being. He is an incredibly humble and passionate teacher and his qualities and personality reflect in all of us, his students. He is also a fierce advocate for each of us and wants to see each of us become the best versions of ourselves possible. He leads from the front and spends as much time on the mats as he expects of his students. He is very old school in this mentality, as this dedication to his students simply does not exist in this day and age.Each of the instructors has their own unique qualities, which only enhance the environment and quality of jiu jitsu being taught at the Academy. The attention to detail and pace of learning are so that it is relatively simple to learn the art. The techniques are proven time and time again, and if they don’t work for the smallest, weakest person, we examine them to figure out why. We are encouraged to ask questions and explore to make jiu jitsu our own.Coach Kola runs a robust competition program, and while it is not mandatory to compete, there are plenty of opportunities to test yourself at any number of competitions throughout the year. The community is incredibly positive with everyone supporting and encouraging each other. We are truly a family and I have found some of my closest friends and brothers and sisters on the mats at the Academy.On a personal level, Coach Kola has encouraged me to celebrate myself. He fosters this message of self-esteem and self celebration with all of his students. I have found that my daughter’s mental health and personality have improved greatly from being a part of the KABJJ community, with some of her closest friends and role models also being her fellow jiu jitsu practitioners.The facilities are clean and meticulously maintained daily. There is plenty of mat space with two floors for multiple simultaneous classes. There is a small weight room and a parents’ lounge. Parking is always plentiful.If you are looking for a gym where you will be welcomed and be able to learn true effective jiu jitsu for self-defense, I would highly encourage you to check us out. The only person you have to beat is yourself!TAP CARD TO CLOSE
PATIENCE · INSTRUCTIONALL LEVELSGreat place for beginners and seasoned people in Jiu jitsu.KotoREAD STORY +ALL LEVELSKotoBeen with Kola for a while now and that’s due to him being a great instructor. He’s patient with his students and you can tell he is passionate about jiu jitsu. Great place for beginners and seasoned people in Jiu jitsu.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
DEDICATION · FAMILYDEDICATIONI don’t know of any other teacher who’s dedicated to the craft as much as Kola.JB DacasinREAD STORY +DEDICATIONJB DacasinFirst and foremost, I want to say that there are many gyms out there, but none of these gyms are Kola’s gym. Being a long-time friend and student of Coach Kola’s, I have trained at many gyms and I wouldn’t want to train anywhere else. The mat culture is open and welcoming, many students come from other cities and towns to train here. Some students come as far as San Francisco, Sonoma, Danville, Vacaville, and Reno. I’d rather drive the 45 minutes and train here than go to any other schools 5 minutes away from me. I don’t know of any other teacher who’s dedicated to the craft as much as Kola. My whole family trains here and that says a lot. How many gyms do you know can say both parents and kids train under one roof? I highly recommend that if you’re in town and want to train, come by.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
CONFIDENCE · YOUTHGROWTHOur kids have changed in ways that I never would have thought possible.Tammy WongREAD STORY +GROWTHTammy WongThanks to BJJ, our kids have changed in ways that I never would have thought possible. They are sharper and more composed. They are willing to work hard and will not give up when things get tough. Their confidence has grown tremendously. Coach Kola holds his students to a high standard. He expects them to listen, focus, ask questions, and work hard. I have never seen such a good group of respectful students. His commitment to his students is extraordinary. He is always open to staying late to respond to questions. When students ask questions to have a deeper grasp of a move, Coach Kola becomes quite enthused. He aims to assist his students in achieving their personal goals. Together, the kids all put in a lot of work and have grown close. Families travel together to attend competitions, and we all help out with each other's kids. KABJJ is our second home.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
COMMUNITY · SUPPORTCOMMUNITYCoach Kola is one of the most inspiring supportive people I have ever met.Bobby WuREAD STORY +COMMUNITYBobby WuGrateful to be a part of this community/family for more than ten years. The Jiu-jitsu coaching team is one of the best, as well as all the classes offer (Muay-Thai, fitness, MMA) at the academy. When a new student comes, I have seen them welcome as part of the community. There are no egos here, just supportive coaches and fellow students. Because of this, I have seen the core group of students grow bigger and bigger over the years. I have personally experienced the kids classes go from just ten kids to over sixty. I have watch some of these kids grow into great young adults, coaching the younger generation as they come in. Coach Kola is one of the most inspiring supportive people I have ever met. For the children and young adults, Kola would sit down with parents to ensure grades are kept and not suffering due to training. He takes the time to celebrate the success of the kids, both at school or at Jiusitsu competitions. For the adults, he has an open door policy for both training or an ear. I call the academy a second home and proud to call Kola both a mentor and a friend.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
COMMUNITY · KIDSSECOND HOMEWe couldn’t have asked for a better academy/community to be a part of.Honda FamilyREAD STORY +SECOND HOMEHonda FamilyWe could write a novel about all the great things about KABJJ, but we will try to keep it short…! We switched to KABJJ from another Jiu Jitsu gym a while ago and we’ve never looked back. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made. Since then, the academy has become our second home. Our kids thoroughly enjoy the classes and look forward to going everyday. Under Coach Kola’s wings, not only have our kids progressed tremendously in their Jiu Jitsu skills, they have also gained confidence mentally and emotionally. Their teammates are their best friends. They have older teammates that have become their big brother/big sister figures. We couldn’t have asked for a better academy/community to be a part of.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
PRECISION · PASSIONTECHNICAL DETAILHis classes are extremely cerebral.Ivonne MaldonadoREAD STORY +TECHNICAL DETAILIvonne MaldonadoJiujitsu has been one of the best things I’ve challenged myself to learn and I got lucky because I found Kola’s academy because his classes are extremely cerebral, there’s no fluff to his teaching, no fancy moves, just what works. He’s very dedicated and passionate about the art of Jiujitsu and it’s very contagious. I have been coming for five years, I’m a blue belt and in the next few years I hope to earn my purple belt.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
ACCOUNTABILITY · SUPPORTHIGH STANDARDSCoach Kola supports his athletes and runs an exceptional program.Naomi YamasakiREAD STORY +HIGH STANDARDSNaomi YamasakiTLDR: Our family is happy at Kola's and as a parent I think it is an amazing program with a great community. However, this gym is not for everyone. Review below is for the kid's program since that is what we have experience with.My kids have been going to Kola's for almost two years now. My kids were at a different gym for several years, but we started looking for a new gym, because our original gym was very cautiously and slowly coming back post covid, and my kids were ready to start training seriously again.PROSCoach Kola supports his athletes, and runs an exceptional program. He freely and generously shares his time and knowledge with the kids. He cares for each of them and develops each of them to their potential. He cares about them as people as well as athletes. When my kid broke her ankle (totally not Jiu Jitsu related!) he and other coaches were checking in and making sure she was doing okay. I have a kid that rarely competes, but he puts in time to develop her as much as he does for the kids that compete all the time. Coach Kola pushes the kids to work hard with conditioning and reps, but is always developing their Jiu Jitsu brain. How do things work? What questions do you have? He shares a lot of his time answering questions the kids have.The community is a huge plus. Kids are polite and kind. They truly support each other and make Jiu Jitsu a team sport. The parents help each other out and work together to form a lovely group of people that I enjoy spending time with. They are welcoming to new people. As a mom with girls, I appreciate that there is a strong community of women/girls that support each other.CONSCoach puts in a lot of his time and effort and expects the same from the kids. If the kids are talking at inappropriate times or are putting in mid effort he will call them out on it. If your kid needs to be gently nurtured and to learn the joy of Jiu Jitsu through fun games, or if you as a parent can't stand to see them struggling or upset when called out on their behavior then this will not be a good fit for you. I've seen kids cry when called out on behavior like talking or walking off during a lesson. It's strict. I've seen kids cry because they are at the end of their physical abilities. However, the kids all feel like Coach cares for them, has their back and respects them. He will always go to bat for them. Criticisms are aimed at the kid's behavior, not at the kid. The kids see and know that they get results from the hard training, and often ask to go for long training days. Coach has said that it's fine for the kids to cry because he understands that this is serious for them, and it is serious work for him as well. I have a kid who loves strict classroom management and thrives on the focused training. She interprets games as dumbing down and can't stand chaos.FACILITIESThe gym is not fancy. It is basic. It is clean, but it is not shiny. Parking is always available.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
PASSION · COMMUNITYFAMILYThis is not just a jiujitsu academy but a community that feels like family.Moises and Lupe OsirioREAD STORY +FAMILYMoises and Lupe OsirioOur daughter joined Kola’s academy in 2018 at the age of 7. Our intent was for her to learn self defense and never imagined how deeply in love she would fall in love with it. Not just the sport itself, but coach Kola’s ability to teach in a way that instills the passion to learn in all the kids. This is not just a jiujitsu academy but a community that feels like family.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
LOYALTY · MENTORSHIPLOYALTYLearned a lot not just in jiu jitsu but in life.Coco CastilloREAD STORY +LOYALTYCoco CastilloI've been with Coach Kola for 10 years now and learned a lot not just in jiu jitsu but in life also from being at the academy. Coach Kola is like a second dad to me and always looked out for me. Like driving to ALL my tournaments even if it was only 1 match and a few hours away or missing his flights just to stay and be in my corner. We've been in many battles together and made Lots of memories to say the least, and I just want to say THANK YOU COACH for everything! #KOLABJJ #BEANSTAP CARD TO CLOSE
DISCIPLINE · CONFIDENCEDISCIPLINETaught our kids discipline, confidence and how to stand up for themselves.Mike CastilloREAD STORY +DISCIPLINEMike CastilloMy experience has been a great one with Kola Ajose Jiu Jitsu. Our kids started about 10 years ago when there were only around 8 kids total. Was probably one of the best decisions we have probably made. Taught our kids discipline, confidence, and how to stand up for themselves if needed. Kola is like a father figure to my kids and is always there when needed, always looking out for the best interests and sharing his knowledge expecting nothing but hard work in return. There's much more we can say (#IYKYK) but to keep it short the vibe is awesome! The new generation of kids that are there have all the tools to keep the name growing and leave a mark in the Jiu Jitsu world! Grateful for the many years of friendship Professor Kola/CK!!TAP CARD TO CLOSE
EMPOWERMENT · RESILIENCEEMPOWERMENTLearn, grow, thrive and become the best version of myself on and off the mat.Sumi WongREAD STORY +EMPOWERMENTSumi WongWhat truly sets Kola Ajose Brazilian Jiu Jitsu apart from other academies is the exceptional coaching and dedication provided by Coach Kola. Not only is Coach Kola a master of the art of Jiu Jitsu, his ability to inspire and motivate goes far beyond the lessons, moves, and techniques shared on the mat. Oftentimes training leaves me feeling mentally empowered, ready to tackle challenges life throws my way. One of the remarkable aspects of the academy is Coach Kola’s commitment to creating a space where everyone feels like a valued member of the community. The camaraderie and encouragement among both youth and adult members make every class and competition welcoming and supportive. As a woman and a mom, finding an academy where I feel respected and empowered has been truly transformative. While learning Jiu Jitsu, I’ve developed self-defense skills, confidence, and resilience that have seeped into other aspects of my life. I appreciate the pace and technicality of all the training, how I’m learning the art of Jiu Jitsu, and how to own and enjoy every step of my journey. For me, Kola Ajose Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is more than a place to train—it’s a place to learn, grow, thrive, and become the best version of myself on and off the mat.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
CHARACTER · RESILIENCECHARACTERElements of self-defense and development of character.Michael DiazREAD STORY +CHARACTERMichael DiazI have been training with Kola Ajose at his academy since 2016. Throughout the years, I have witnessed the commitment to students, the engagement with parents, and the creation of a community and family. The academy and all instructors dedicate themselves to not only teaching the art of jiu jitsu, but also the elements of self-defense and development of character.The core values of honor and respect can be seen in Kola’s dedication to the growth and development of all his students. Being openminded, and encouraging questions is very special and has helped provide the small hidden details often overlooked in the art.My time at the academy has helped me mature into the person I have become and has given me an opportunity to challenge myself not only physically but mentally as well. It has taught me skills and a sense of mindfulness that is valuable on and off the mat. With all the training over the years, I have seen my own resiliency grow and evolve remarkably. I have learned how to adapt and deal with adversity that has progressed my jiu jitsu but most importantly in life.As a father of young children, I look forward to the day I will be able to bring my own kids to train and am blessed to be part of the journey.TAP CARD TO CLOSE
MENTORSHIPCONFIDENCEHIGH STANDARDSEMPOWERMENTMENTORSHIPCONFIDENCEHIGH STANDARDSEMPOWERMENT