Three members go into detail about the hesitations and fears that they had prior to trying out and joining Paragon kickboxing. You'll see what helped these members overcome their fears and where they are today. Enjoy a free orientation on us. Choose your sport, location, and share your contact information with us, so that we can get you on the mats!
SportBoxingKickboxingJiu-JitsuTRX Suspension TrainingRocksteady/Parkinson's ProgramMasters/Seniors BoxingKids Boxing/KickboxingKids Jiu-JitsuTeens Jiu-JitsuLevelBeginnerIntermediateAdvancedGym LocationSanta BarbaraGoletaLet's do this! Once we receive your information, a member of our team will reach out to you and get you scheduled for a free orientation.
SportBoxingKickboxingJiu-JitsuTRX Suspension TrainingRocksteady/Parkinson's ProgramMasters/Seniors BoxingKids Boxing/KickboxingKids Jiu-JitsuTeens Jiu-JitsuLevelBeginnerIntermediateAdvancedGym LocationSanta BarbaraGoletaLet's do this! Once we receive your information, a member of our team will reach out to you and get you scheduled for a free orientation.
Services
Our brand new location featuring an open floor plan with two main sections and an outdoor workout area. After a significant background in physical conditioning, Adam began training Jiu Jitsu in 2006. Now a Paragon black belt, Adam has been hooked on BJJ since his first class. He has competed and medaled in many tournaments and looks to make training as fun as possible for whomever he is teaching.
Reviews (22)
Andrew Myers
Dec 31, 2021
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I've always competed in sports, triathlons, and weight lifting. Now in my thirties I wanted to try something new and challenging. Paragon Jiu Jitsu was my answer. I had never done anything like it before. Honestly, the first month was really hard. I was tested physically and mentally. The instructors were knowledgeable and patient. The Fundamental Classes were invaluable. The community of BJJ at Paragon was super welcoming and encouraging. After the first month, my fitness and confidence improved greatly. By month three, I started getting some submissions and becoming more proficient at the fundamentals
Karen M.
Dec 31, 2021
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I've always competed in sports, triathlons, and weight lifting. Now in my thirties I wanted to try something new and challenging. Paragon Jiu Jitsu was my answer. I had never done anything like it before. Honestly, the first month was really hard. I was tested physically and mentally. The instructors were knowledgeable and patient. The Fundamental Classes were invaluable. The community of BJJ at Paragon was super welcoming and encouraging. After the first month, my fitness and confidence improved greatly. By month three, I started getting some submissions and becoming more proficient at
Caroline Dillerud Sellami
Nov 13, 2021
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Oleg Kazakov
Jun 08, 2020
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Jennifer S.
Jan 23, 2020
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I don't know how else to say it, but this gym has changed my life for the better! I even sought out a new job to make sure I could pay the membership--worth every penny. I started out kickboxing, and have now trained jiu jitsu for the last two years. The sport is amazing, especially for women in regards to self defense and self confidence. And the instructors are dedicated, extremely proficient, patient, motivating, and fun. As a few others have noted in their reviews--Paragon becomes family! If you've been on the fence about trying boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, or jiu jitsu (GREAT kids
Jessica S.
Jan 22, 2020
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Cj Jones
Sep 20, 2019
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Chris J.
Aug 22, 2019
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Tanner C.
May 17, 2019
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Aracely C.
Apr 01, 2019
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The instructors here really know what they're doing, I have been taking classes here for 4 months now and I have learned so much in so little time. Additionally, my body is slowly turning into a chiseled masterpiece. They are very experienced and patient, they have great deals, and they know how to teach in a way thats easy to learn!
Bruno V.
Jun 07, 2018
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I dropped in on vacation, but will be moving to the area this July and am exciting to be training here. I went to a BJJ class (no gi) with Adam BenShea, and the instruction was great.
My standup is trash, and the warm-up (duck-unders, throw-bys, arm drags, etc.) was functional and got me into grappling mode.
The class covered two submissions from closed guard, one arm lock and also the kimura. I typically love using the kimura from any position *BUT* closed guard, and found that Adam's cues helped me love the kimura unconditionally.
As a white belt with about 15 months experience, I was
My standup is trash, and the warm-up (duck-unders, throw-bys, arm drags, etc.) was functional and got me into grappling mode.
The class covered two submissions from closed guard, one arm lock and also the kimura. I typically love using the kimura from any position *BUT* closed guard, and found that Adam's cues helped me love the kimura unconditionally.
As a white belt with about 15 months experience, I was
Aaron Diggins
Oct 10, 2017
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Jarrell G.
Sep 25, 2017
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Paragon SB is a great gym with solid programming and a great reputation. While, I train predominately at one of the other locations, the SB location is definitely the Mecca of all the schools in the surrounding areas. With a ton of mat space, a boxing ring, and training every day of the week, you can't go wrong here.
Between open mats between the 3 locations in the area (Santa Maria, Goleta, and Santa Barbara), great instruction, and just a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend Paragon as not only a gym but as a team.
Between open mats between the 3 locations in the area (Santa Maria, Goleta, and Santa Barbara), great instruction, and just a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend Paragon as not only a gym but as a team.
Canna Paws
Aug 17, 2017
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Jonathan Melamed
May 10, 2017
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Not enough nice things to say about paragon! It has always been a home away from home, and To say that the vibe there is a well knit and very open armed family is an understatement, with great instruction from several skilled black belts. The amount of instructors there are enough to balance out the high volume of students, making everyday a learning experience, where you actually feel like you're getting very personalized instruction. There's also such a great variety of people who attend the school there, from all sorts of different fields in Santa Barbara- from doctors and lawyers, to surfers
Sam D.
Feb 16, 2017
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Paragon is awesome. I've been going for a couple weeks now for just Jiu Jitsu and it's been great so far. The classes are really informative and challenging, which makes for a great workout both physically and mentally. John has been my instructor for the group sessions and he's really good at explaining the full picture of what is going on for each move.
I also signed up for some private sessions with Sean, which have also been immensely helpful to getting started with Jiu Jitsu (I have no prior experience). He really helped set me up for the group sessions so I knew the terminology
I also signed up for some private sessions with Sean, which have also been immensely helpful to getting started with Jiu Jitsu (I have no prior experience). He really helped set me up for the group sessions so I knew the terminology
Cory Y.
Feb 16, 2017
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Update: I have now been training at Paragon for over 3 years since writing my initial review, so I want to let fellow Yelpers know where I'm at in life after finding this gym. Please read on...
Let's start with the growth of classes and amazing instructors. Not that Paragon didn't have this when i first started, but I want to give credit where credit is due. The. Best. Instructors. Around. Period - not many places have quality jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, boxing, and wrestling instructors under one house. I have been fortunate to train under most of the instructors in all disciplines
Let's start with the growth of classes and amazing instructors. Not that Paragon didn't have this when i first started, but I want to give credit where credit is due. The. Best. Instructors. Around. Period - not many places have quality jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, boxing, and wrestling instructors under one house. I have been fortunate to train under most of the instructors in all disciplines
Lyndsey W.
Feb 05, 2017
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Looking for something to do while visiting friends in SB I decided to try out the kickboxing class at Paragon- per recommendation of my friends. I instantly fell in love and come to the gym every time I'm in town.
Not only is the gym top notch, but the staff is outstanding. Everyone is not only knowledgeable, but helpful and friendly. I've had the privilege taking classes under Gus & Aaron Sr. (kickboxing), Franjinha (Jui Jitsu), and Sean (wrestling). Each one made sure made sure that that not only the newbies like myself were practicing correct technique, but the more experienced
Not only is the gym top notch, but the staff is outstanding. Everyone is not only knowledgeable, but helpful and friendly. I've had the privilege taking classes under Gus & Aaron Sr. (kickboxing), Franjinha (Jui Jitsu), and Sean (wrestling). Each one made sure made sure that that not only the newbies like myself were practicing correct technique, but the more experienced
Tom C.
Sep 21, 2016
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I was in Santa Barbara for 7 months on a travel nurse assignment and during this time I had the extreme pleasure (and pain) of training BJJ at Paragon. This school seems to possess something amazing that is quite intangible to me.
I wanted to train mostly for the self defense aspect of BJJ and was pleased with how quickly I began to pick up on techniques that I was able to pull off during live rolling sessions. This success was heavily attributed to coach Adam benShea. Not only was Adam a phenomenal coach but a great friend. I looked forward to the days we would meet up for 1-on-1 training
I wanted to train mostly for the self defense aspect of BJJ and was pleased with how quickly I began to pick up on techniques that I was able to pull off during live rolling sessions. This success was heavily attributed to coach Adam benShea. Not only was Adam a phenomenal coach but a great friend. I looked forward to the days we would meet up for 1-on-1 training
Ryan P.
Jul 01, 2015
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Paragon is hands down the best place to train on the Central Coast (if not the whole state of CA). Franjinha and Sean have created an amazing atmosphere that ranges from hobbyists to multiple world champions!
I trained at both the SB and Ventura locations for approximately two years. I continue to train with Paragon whenever I am visiting home (Santa Barbara) and have nothing but great things to say about their academy.
I trained at both the SB and Ventura locations for approximately two years. I continue to train with Paragon whenever I am visiting home (Santa Barbara) and have nothing but great things to say about their academy.
Robert Rees
Jun 22, 2012
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If it weren't for the managements cut throat approach to membership/cancellations, this would actually be a good spot to train.
After having surgery (9 months into my 1 year contract) I told one of the owners I no longer wanted to train (wanted to let it heal/not go back to jitsu). He had the nerve to tell me "you shouldn't have signed a contract with me"...
Wow...
I've had several friends who also trained at Paragon who no longer train there for similar reasons.
The instruction was good, facilities top notch (showers and weight room) but the owners business ethics were the deal breaker for
After having surgery (9 months into my 1 year contract) I told one of the owners I no longer wanted to train (wanted to let it heal/not go back to jitsu). He had the nerve to tell me "you shouldn't have signed a contract with me"...
Wow...
I've had several friends who also trained at Paragon who no longer train there for similar reasons.
The instruction was good, facilities top notch (showers and weight room) but the owners business ethics were the deal breaker for
Natalia Wuertzel
Jun 22, 2012
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I used to do my kickboxing classes here and let me tell you, they kick you butt back into shape! I definitely got my body back from the classes that I took here. They have great teachers and great classes. You literally work out your whole body when you join this place! I think it's an excellent business and if you're interested in kickboxing around this area, you should try it out!
