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Ricardo Franjinha Miller teaches his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students at Paragon Academy

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is very well respected in the Jiu-Jitsu community. We are a part of a bigger school known as the Alliance team with origins in Rio and Sao Paulo Brazil. Paragon has been a monster in the tournament scene, winning many team titles and producing the best American Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in both gi and no-gi. 

Where will your Jiu-Jitsu journey take you?

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BJJ Fundamentals

Kickstarting your journey with a strong foundational understanding of the art, these classes include a brief warm up, skill-based technique drills, and light positional work. Under the guidance of instructors, students will begin live rolling with the goal of improving technique while having a blast.

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Two men practice Jiu-Jitsu, with one man in full guard

All-Levels Jiu-Jitsu

It's rare to see athletes of every level training together in a single practice room, but it is one of the coolest things about Jiu-Jitsu. White, blue, purple, brown, and black belts drill and roll with each other on weekdays during this early morning class.

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Two young men hand fight while training no-gi BJJ and wrestling at Goleta's MMA gym

No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu

Give your gi a chance to dry out;

enter the world of rashguards and underhooks. Our program covers

the nuances of no-gi takedowns, submissions, and other techniques that are highly applicable for self-defense and mixed martial arts.

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Kids watch as two coaches demonstrate BJJ techniques

Advanced Jiu-Jitsu

Here you'll gain an in-depth understanding of submission holds and positional control. This class breaks down the finer details of BJJ with live training exercises, attacks, defenses, and escapes. We work hard in this class, getting in good rolls within a supportive yet challenging environment.

Two men wrestle during Paragon's grappling classes

Judo/Wrestling

The process of getting the fight to the ground is often neglected in a sport where most of the action occurs on the ground. We teach Judo and wrestling on alternating Fridays. The best complement to your ground game is a strong takedown game. 

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Grapplers in gis train together in the California sunshine
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Meet Our Instructors
John Sandoval

In 2008, John was drinking about an 18 pack of beer and smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. In need of change, he tried his first Jiu-Jitsu class and fell in love. He immediately quit drinking and smoking, and lost nearly 100 lbs.

Noticing the positive changes in everyone around him on the mats, John began volunteering his time to help newcomers. Now a black belt and owner of Paragon Goleta, John continues to share the art of Jiu-Jitsu with everyone brave enough to change their lives for the better.

  • Is kickboxing safe?
    Our all-levels padwork classes involve striking on focus mitts, Thai pads, and heavy bags. Our coaches are dedicated to teaching proper technique to facilitate a safe and fun learning environment. Sparring is restricted to intermediate and advanced students. The goal of sparring is skill development, not "winning." Therefore, we focus on controlled movements and clear communication with sparring partners to keep everyone safe. However, injuries are a part of any intense sport and may occur during training. If you experience an injury, make sure you get medical attention from a healthcare provider as soon as possible and inform your coaches at Paragon. Even if you are temporarily unable to participate, showing up to watch class and ask questions is a great way to continue learning.
  • What gear do I need for class?
    For your first class, just wear workout clothing and bring a water bottle. You can rent boxing gloves and purchase a pair of hand wraps at our front desk. For our all-levels padwork classes, only hand wraps and boxing gloves are needed. For sparring, bring shinguards, 16oz gloves, a mouthguard, and a groin protector if needed. Headgear is optional.
  • When can I move to a more advanced class?
    Ask your coach if you are ready to move onto the next level of instruction. Depending on a student's attendance and dedication to their craft, the amount of time spent at each level will vary widely. It is important to remember that the key to growing in this sport is consistency. Try to choose a training schedule you are able to stick with for the long haul without "burning out." Remember, this is a marathon not a sprint!
  • Do I need to get in shape before starting?
    Absolutely not! Training martial arts is an amazing way to get and stay in shape. You will find yourself mentally engaged in a way where it feels like fun, not a workout. Our members burn hundred of calories in each class while learning new skills. In fact, Paragon Academy Goleta owner John lost nearly 100 pounds since beginning Jiu-Jitsu, and changed his life in the process.
  • Can I book private lessons?
    Yes! Private sessions are a phenomenal way to accelerate your learning or to get you comfortable enough to join the group classes. Don't hesitate to ask our instructors for more information.
  • Can I compete/fight?
    Our advanced students can compete at local PKB's and book amateur fights. If you are interested in competing, be sure to consistently attend sparring drills and sparring class. Coach Joe and Coach Arturo will evaluate your preparedness and help you get to the level where you are ready to fight.
  • What's the difference between kickboxing and Muay Thai?
    Kickboxing is a general term that refers to striking styles involving both punches and kicks. Muay Thai or Thai boxing is Thailand's national sport. Known as "The Art of Eight Limbs," Muay Thai is famous for its powerful knee strikes, devastating elbows, and dominant clinch. Our kickboxing program at Paragon blends Western style boxing, Dutch kickboxing, and Muay Thai to shape you into a force to be reckoned with.
  • Am I too old to train?
    You'll see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes training together on our mats. Your martial arts journey can begin at any age; we offer kids programs, memberships for adults of all ages, and family discounts.
  • Is Jiu-Jitsu safe?
    Known as the "gentle art," Jiu-Jitsu is one of the safest martial arts as it focuses on control and submissions, with no striking involved. During live rolling, we emphasize using technique, not strength, always with the goal to improve, not win. However, injuries are a part of any intense sport and may occur during training. If you experience an injury, make sure you get medical attention from a healthcare provider as soon as possible and inform your coaches at Paragon. Even if you are temporarily unable to participate, showing up to watch class and ask questions is a great way to continue learning.
  • Do I need to get in shape before starting?
    Absolutely not! Training martial arts is an amazing way to get and stay in shape. You will find yourself mentally engaged in a way where it feels like fun, not a workout. Our members burn hundred of calories in each class while learning new skills. In fact, Paragon Academy Goleta owner John lost nearly 100 pounds since beginning Jiu-Jitsu, and changed his life in the process.
  • Can I book private lessons?
    Yes! Private sessions are a phenomenal way to accelerate your learning or to get you comfortable enough to join the group classes. Don't hesitate to ask our instructors for more information.
  • Can I compete in Jiu-Jitsu?
    Yes! Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is very well respected in the Jiu Jitsu community. We are a part of a bigger school known as the Alliance team with origins in Rio and Sao Paulo Brazil. Paragon has been a monster in the tournament scene winning many team titles and producing the best American Jiu Jitsu practitioners to date. We compete at all levels, from white belt to black belt, in both gi and no-gi.
  • What gear do I need for class?
    For your first class, just wear workout clothing and bring a water bottle. We have gi's available for rent. For no-gi classes, please wear a rashguard or snug fitting shirt along with snug fitting shorts or leggings. For gi classes, you will need your own gi. You can purchase one at our front desk.
  • Is Jiu-Jitsu effective for self-defense?
    When put in dangerous and unavoidable situations, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training will give you a clear advantage over an untrained opponent. The foundation of Jiu-Jitsu rests on the concept that a smaller opponent can beat a larger and stronger opponent using leverage. There are many classes marketing themselves as "self defense," often targeted to women. These are usually made up of unqualified individuals teaching unproven attacks. Dedicating time to learning a true martial art is far more beneficial in terms of developing confidence and skills that can work both on the mat and in the streets.
  • Is martial arts safe for kids?
    Known as the "gentle art," Jiu-Jitsu is one of the safest martial arts as it focuses on control and submissions, with no striking involved. In all our grappling classes, we emphasize using technique, not strength, always with the goal to improve, not "win." Our kids kickboxing classes involve striking on focus mitts and heavy bags. Our coaches are dedicated to teaching proper technique to facilitate a safe and fun learning environment. Sparring is restricted to intermediate and advanced students, and we do not allow kids to land strikes to the head. The goal of sparring is skill development, not "winning." Therefore, we focus on controlled movements and clear communication with sparring partners to keep everyone safe. However, injuries are a part of any intense sport and may occur during training. If your child experiences an injury, make sure they get medical attention from a healthcare provider as soon as possible and inform their coaches at Paragon. Even if they are temporarily unable to participate, showing up to watch class and ask questions is a great way to continue learning.
  • Can my child compete?
    Yes! Paragon enters multiple tournaments each year, and we encourage kids to compete once they are ready. Competition is a great way to accelerate skill development and to teach your child how to handle pressure. Be sure to ask your instructor for more information.
  • Can teens join the adult classes?
    We separate out our classes by both age and experience level. Our instructors will decide if a younger child is skilled and experienced enough to join the teen class. Likewise, instructors will decide if a teenager is skilled and experienced enough to move into adult classes.
  • Can learning martial arts prevent bullying?
    Learning martial arts will give your child the discipline, confidence, and fitness to thrive in situations outside of the gym. Not only will this prevent them from being the target of bullying, it will prevent them from being the bully themselves. We offer a Bully Prevention class every Saturday for kids ages 3-12. In this class, kids will learn to be comfortable and protect themselves in bully situations; they learn how to defend against strikes and get themselves to a safe place using Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and Judo. The goal of this class is not to cause fights, but to teach kids how to calm the situation and keep everyone involved as safe as possible.
  • Is my child old enough to begin training?
    Kids as young as 3 can join our striking classes, and kids as young as 4 can join our grappling classes. We have multiple instructors for each class and are able to split up the classes by both age and skill level.
  • What gear is needed for class?
    Please have your child wear clothes they can workout in and bring a water bottle. Jiu-Jitsu/Grappling: We have gi's available to rent for your trial class. For future classes, you can bring your own gi or purchase one at our front desk. For no-gi classes, only workout clothing is needed. Boxing/Kickboxing: We have gloves available for you to borrow during trial classes. For future classes, you will need a pair of boxing gloves and kickboxing shinguards.
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