Business Details
Your Premier Martial Arts Academy in Pasadena
At Modern Martial Arts and Fitness, we are dedicated to empowering individuals through comprehensive martial arts training and fitness programs. Established in Pasadena, CA, our academy specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and Mixed Martial Arts, catering to adults of all skill levels. Our experienced instructors prioritize technical precision, safety, and personal growth, fostering a welcoming environment where students build physical strength, mental resilience, and self-defense capabilities. With a focus on inclusivity and community, we cultivate a supportive culture where every member thrives.Our structured curriculum integrates sparring sessions, private lessons, and competition training, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience. Committed to excellence, we provide tailored guidance to help students achieve their unique goals, whether recreational, competitive, or health-oriented. Our facility combines cutting-edge training methods with a family-oriented atmosphere, making martial arts accessible and transformative for all.
Services
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu
Muay Thai
Wrestling
Mixed Martial Arts
Women's Jiu-Jitsu
Private Training
Highlights and features
- Our team consists of certified experts with extensive experience in martial arts.
- We offer diverse classes tailored to individual fitness and self-defense goals.
- Our inclusive culture fosters a supportive and welcoming training environment.
- Private lessons provide personalized attention for accelerated skill development.
- Structured sparring sessions enhance practical application of techniques.
What people say
Highly knowledgeable instructors
Supportive and inclusive culture
Diverse class offerings
Effective self-defense training
Positive impact on fitness
Services
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on ground fighting and submission holds, emphasizing leverage and technique over strength. Our classes cater to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners, with structured drills and sparring sessions. Students develop discipline, problem-solving skills, and physical conditioning while learning effective self-defense strategies.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai classes teach the 'Art of Eight Limbs,' utilizing punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes. Training includes bag work, partner drills, and conditioning exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness, power, and agility. Our instructors emphasize proper form and practical application for both self-defense and competitive contexts.
Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed Martial Arts combines techniques from multiple disciplines, including striking, grappling, and wrestling. Our MMA program prepares students for full-contact competition through integrated drills, sparring, and strategy sessions. The curriculum balances offense and defense, fostering well-rounded combat skills in a controlled environment.
Private Training
Private training offers personalized instruction tailored to individual goals and skill levels. Sessions focus on refining techniques, addressing specific weaknesses, or accelerating progress in a chosen discipline. This one-on-one attention ensures rapid improvement and customized feedback from experienced instructors.
Women's Jiu-Jitsu
Women's Jiu-Jitsu classes provide a supportive space for female practitioners to learn practical self-defense techniques. The curriculum emphasizes escape strategies, boundary setting, and confidence-building in realistic scenarios. Classes prioritize safety and empowerment, fostering camaraderie among participants.
People
Justen Hamilton
Head Instructor
Justen Hamilton brings over 15 years of martial arts expertise to Modern Martial Arts and Fitness. A certified Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he specializes in technical instruction and competition preparation. His patient, methodical teaching style has helped countless students achieve their goals.
Sovannahry Em
Instructor
Sovannahry Em is a seasoned Muay Thai specialist with a decade of competitive experience. He focuses on refining striking techniques and conditioning, ensuring students master both form and practical application in a safe environment.
Stephen Takashima
Instructor
Stephen Takashima combines wrestling expertise with MMA strategy to develop well-rounded athletes. His background in collegiate wrestling informs his approach to takedowns and ground control, emphasizing technical precision.
Katie Miller
Instructor
Katie Miller leads Women's Jiu-Jitsu classes, focusing on empowerment and self-defense. With a background in competitive grappling, she creates a supportive atmosphere where women build confidence and practical skills.
Questions
What martial arts classes are available?
We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Wrestling, MMA, Women's Jiu-Jitsu, and private training sessions.
Are classes suitable for beginners?
Yes! Our curriculum accommodates all skill levels, with foundational classes designed to introduce techniques safely and effectively.
Do you offer a free trial class?
Yes, we provide a complimentary introductory class to help you experience our training environment and teaching style.
What should I wear to my first class?
For most classes, wear comfortable athletic clothing. A gi is required for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu unless otherwise specified.
Are there opportunities for competition training?
Yes, we offer specialized competition preparation for students interested in martial arts tournaments or MMA events.
What are your facility's safety protocols?
We prioritize safety through structured drills, supervised sparring, and proper technique instruction to minimize injury risk during training.
Reviews (7)
Alex M.
Dec 13, 2021
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This gym is simply excellent. Justen, the instructor, is extremely competent and his explanations are very precise and detail-oriented. The breath and depth of his understanding of every technique is incredible. On top of that, the lessons have a clear logical coherence and build on top of one another from one lesson to the next. The prices are definitely more than fair when comparing to other local academies. The culture at the gym is also very friendly and welcoming. Clearly, the instructors place great emphasis on using positive reinforcement and also on making martial arts accessible to beginners
Stephen Takashima
Nov 27, 2021
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Super grateful for Modern. Justen really is an amazing teacher; super analytical and extremely technical. BJJ is young enough that it has been changing and evolving rapidly, so it's super valuable to have a coach who continually tries to challenge and improve his own understanding of the art (which is already unbelievably deep). Instead of getting wrapped up in dogma and tradition, Justen genuinely evaluates the function of everything he does, then breaks that down to ensure everyone understands *why* we are doing something and the underlying principles/mechanics behind it.
Gym culture is super
Gym culture is super
Yi Pan
Nov 21, 2021
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I've joined Moder Martial Arts & Fitness's BJJ class for three months with previous experience. Justen is a solid coach for anyone interested in starting or advancing their BJJ skill. I appreciate how he teaches in a logical and detailed process. I am able to refine where I know and explore the new areas like the attach of legs. Also, his institute is the only one I found with requirement of a fully vaccination. I cannot appreciate his effort and commitment in preserving the sport as well as his students' health.
Rohit Dilip
Nov 18, 2021
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I have been training regularly at Modern Martial Arts for a couple of months now. Normally, I attend all or nearly all classes in a week. I have trained at a couple of gyms previously, and can confidently say this is one of the best gyms you can ask for. Justen's style of training is very precise; he has thought carefully about every position and teaches them very systematically. My BJJ has improved quickly because instead of learning a handful of seemingly random positions each class, we've methodically gone through a variety of positions and learned a sequence of appropriate responses from each
Yusuke Kojitani
Nov 16, 2021
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Modern Martial Arts and Fitness is a great place to train for all levels of BJJ and wrestling. Coach Justen's extensive knowledge and ability to breakdown technique makes learning much easier. The atmosphere of the gym is very open and welcoming. Prices are also comparable or better than other gyms. If you are looking to start training or for a new gym, I would highly recommend Modern!
Cecilia Baron
Nov 07, 2021
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It is always a pleasure to come and train at Modern Martial Arts and Fitness not only for the great teaching quality of Muay Thai but also for the atmosphere. I feel comfortable and welcomed there. I am glad I could find a professional and friendly place to improve my skills and enjoy practicing martial arts. A big thank you for what you do!
Rasheed Akbarut
Oct 23, 2021
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I attended Modern MMA for about two months before moving out of town. Justen, Savannah, and Cherie run an operation that I cannot speak more highly of. As someone without martial arts experience, walking into a new gym learning a new sport can be somewhat nerve wracking, but from the second I walked in and was greeted by Cherie at the front desk, to the first session with Justen and Savannah up until my last, everyone I interacted with engaged with courtesy, respect and a smile. Yes the classes are tough (you will not get a better workout in any other group fitness format), but the feeling of accomplishment
