Modern Martial Arts and Fitness - Martial arts school in Pasadena - 2318 E Colorado Blvd, USA

Owner/head instructor Justen Hamilton is an incredibly effective teacher and a gem of a human being. What a welcoming environment he’s created here at Modern Martial Arts. Justen got me ready for most of my MMA fights. The victories were his as well. I can attest that he teaches practical, effective martial arts that work in fights and self defense situations. I absolutely recommend trying a class and a personal training session. You’re in good hands!

Highly recommend training here. The environment is exceptionally welcoming and inclusive, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their skill level, feels at home. The coaches and fellow gym members are not only friendly but also genuinely supportive, taking care to provide guidance and encouragement. Safety is a top priority here, so there’s no need to worry about injuries during sparring sessions.

I’ve tried out a bunch of BJJ gyms in LA and honestly, nothing compares to Modern Martial Arts. Head instructor and owner, Justen Hamilton, is a kind and knowledgeable person who’s amazing at breaking down techniques and concepts SO well. Additionally, the community is friendly and respectful which was a huge contributor to why I chose Modern Martial Arts as my home gym.

I joined Modern Martial Arts & Fitness back in June of this year and was pleasantly surprised by the warm and inviting culture at this gym. To me, the culture is paramount for longevity as a hobbyist in this sport, and I believe they've truly excelled in fostering a positive and uplifting culture that is suitable for people of all skill levels to train and personally develop. I've trained at several other gyms in the past that advertised a similar culture, but when I actually began training and experienced the weekly routine, it didn't feel genuine. At the other gyms I've been to, egos were not left at the door, and during training people would try to "one up" each other, often escalating to the point that led to injuries and keeping you out of training for an extended period. My experience at Mod has been the complete opposite, and I feel that the staff and fellow students at Mod have created an environment that is inclusive and welcoming. This allows everyone to learn and grow at their own pace, regardless of their skill level. I'm not saying injuries can't happen, even with a culture like this, as given the nature of the sport, it can occur (just like in any other contact sport), but having a supportive team that cares about each other's well-being greatly reduces that risk in my opinion. The instructors, Justen, Savannah, and Justin, are skilled, knowledgeable, and excellent teachers. They take their time to explain techniques in detail, are always open to answering questions, and spend time with each student to ensure that everyone understands the techniques and can execute the moves effectively while developing good habits. It's great to receive feedback from the instructors to validate that you're learning properly. They offer Muay Thai, BJJ (Gi and No-Gi), Wrestling, and MMA classes, which provides a good variety of classes to take and disciplines to learn if you want to expand your skillset. I highly recommend this gym to those starting out for the first time, as well as to those more experienced individuals looking for a family-like environment to develop their skills.

Fun, Friendly atmosphere with great instructors. Modern Martial Arts and fitness is the best gym experience I’ve had. I’ve trained in may Thai and boxing on and off for 5 years. I didn’t understand grappling at all and I’m so glad I ended up at modern. I did a free intro class with a friend and the owners were kind enough to let me stay for 2 classes that day. Although Jiu jitsu and wrestling felt very complex at first within a week I was beginning to understand more. The instructors are open to questions during and after class and even training partners had answered my questions about certain positions. I even scheduled a 1 on 1 private with an instructor to go over specific questions I had. The Muay Thai Classes are a little more fitness focused but every class has light sparring so it’s a good way to test what you’re learning. When rolling or sparring everyone is communicative and tries to keep their partners safe. Partners adapt their roll for size or for people recovering from injuries. If you get injured or are on vacation you’re able to pause or defer your membership until you return. The space is all white so it’s clean and is swept down after each class. It’s easy to identify if anyone has a small cut or scrape and it can be addressed quickly with a first aid kit and hygiene in the back. I’ve been here for a few months and absolutely love it.

I came into the gym as an absolute novice who was honestly pretty apprehensive about trying something so unfamiliar. What struck me on my first day was not only how inviting and supportive the instructors were, but how positive and uplifting the entire gym was. I can't say enough good things about the culture that has been cultivated here and I strongly recommend it to newcomers and returning practitioners alike. All the coaches are eloquent, patient, and attentive, the mats are kept very clean, and the prices are solid for what you're getting. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes here have done me a lot of good both physically and mentally and I would encourage anyone on the fence to give them a try.

Cherie and the Coaches at Modern MMA are amazing! The classes were extremely beginner friendly and everyone taking classes there was super nice and welcoming. I highly recommend Modern MMA to anyone thinking about taking a class, this is the place to do it.

I’m so happy to have found Modern Martial Arts! I started training BJJ here a few months ago after moving to the area and I highly recommend it to people of all levels. Justen is a very technical and detail oriented coach. He breaks down advanced concepts in a way that is easy for anyone at any level to understand. The facility is very clean and there is plenty of street parking. Also, the gym culture here is great! A genuine sense of community and everyone is very friendly and welcoming!