David MedinaWhen I was little, I used to be one of those kids who’d stay up past my bedtime to watch cool MMA fights on the TV. Granted, my dad liked putting them on late-night, and when I started recognizing which fighter was who, he quit trying to send me back to bed.
I hadn’t really kept up with the scene in a while, but it made a return to my life when my personal trainer suggested I try and incorporate it into my routine. And hey, it’s free strength training and self-defense in one! Now if I could get over the fear of getting hit.
It can be tricky to find a good martial art you want to focus on, much less a school. Luckily, I had friends at the gym to help me round up martial arts schools here in El Paso so we can all try a session or two! Ready to channel your inner dragon?
How much does it cost to get lessons at a martial arts school in El Paso?
Getting lessons at a martial arts school in El Paso can set you back anywhere from $100 to $600 a month, depending on the number of sessions undertaken as well as the minimum commitment time to the program.
1. Championship Martial Arts
Address: 2000 Lomaland Dr Bldg 2, El Paso, TX 79935
Contact Details: +1 915 592 5425, cmaelptx@gmail.com
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Closed on Sunday
Don’t let the name trick you, this academy isn’t just for tournament-level learners! Plenty of folks’ first brush with martial arts is likely in their childhood, and Championship Martial Arts was quite the popular pick among families!
Right off the jump, we appreciated the range of programs available for young learners at various skill levels. Their programs started for children as young as 4, going up to teenage classes starting at 13 and above.
That said, students might not have the time to head to lessons, especially those in school. Luckily, some of the parents we got to chat with on our visit mentioned Championship’s scheduling to be flexible, allowing weekends or after-school sessions!
All of these came at surprisingly competitive price points as well compared to other martial arts schools and gyms around. This is definitely a plus in our book for learners looking to pick up a new hobby without having to plan a strict budget!
On the other hand, a few students did let us know that the class sizes were pretty large for the number of instructors they had. Those looking for more individualized lessons may want to consider their private lessons instead in these cases.
The instructors make practice fun and very interactive
“My son has been attending Championship Martial Arts for about 2 weeks now and he absolutely loves it! He’s with kids his own age group and the instructors make practice fun and very interactive. The exercises are easy to follow for his age range.”
– Ms. Nuryev Ortega, Google Review
I’ve seen how my daughter has changed so much
“I’ve seen how my daughter has changed so much and gain so much confidence. She started as a 7yr old to now she is part of the masters club, Demo team and now part of leadership. I 100% recommend it. I can’t thank enough all the instructors and everyone.”
– Ms. Maria Ramirez, Google Review
2. Ocelotl Martial Arts Academy
Address: 2400 N Mesa St suite d, El Paso, TX 79902
Contact Details: +1 915 500 9619, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM | 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Closed on Sunday
If you’ve looked into martial arts schools here in El Paso, there’s a chance you might have spotted the Ocelotl Martial Arts Academy already. Having a good training space is crucial to picking up any routine, and theirs was a favorite among locals.
We couldn’t resist a visit, and boy were we in for a surprise. Their training facilities were pretty wide, with plenty of mat space to have large class sizes and multiple lessons ongoing! There was even some room left over for those looking to train solo.
Students we got to chat with were happy to say this expansiveness included the amenities as well! The facilities reportedly came equipped with plenty of shower space and waiting areas to cool down from the lessons.
With that in mind, it can still be pretty daunting to commit to a program. In these cases, we were pleased to hear from the staff that they offered trial classes for those just wanting to see if the lessons fit their style and budget.
If you’re planning to get a trial lesson, we’d still recommend booking early! A few students at the gym mentioned having difficulty reserving spots in the academy’s lessons and seminars.
The facility is incredible
“The facility is incredible! They have lots of mat space, multiple showers in both restrooms and several heavy bags. The lead instructor Ivan Rios is very knowledgeable and the owner Liliana Sanchez is very courteous and professional.”
– Mr. Miguel Rios, Google Review
The hospitality here was very inviting
“I live in and train in Houston, I’m from El Paso and if I were ever to move back this would be the gym I would train at. The hospitality here was very inviting (from both Instructors, & students) and the facility itself was very clean and organized.”
– Mr. Andrew Miranda, Google Review
3. Black Sheep BJJ
Address: 6104 N Mesa St STE B, El Paso, TX 79912
Contact Details: +1 915 745 7909, blacksheepbjj[email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Closed on Sunday
Any practitioner would know Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been a top pick for learners looking for a good full-body workout! With no shortage of BJJ practitioners in El Paso though, we were surprised to hear quite the number recommending Black Sheep as their go-to!
We had the pleasure of dropping by to observe and chat with a few regulars. Right off the bat, their lessons were quite the highlight! These largely covered the execution of various techniques and holds, learning leverage and how to use it accordingly.
Regulars of the school also praised the intensity of the program. It’s no secret that working out can really test your physical limits, though learners were quick to reassure us that the lessons left them feeling sore but not outright exhausted.
Where this can get tricky is that there weren’t many waiting areas available at the facility, making it a little difficult for learners to find spots to cool down before heading home.
With the above in mind, those looking to pick up BJJ and sweat in the process should still give them a call! Black Sheep offered drop-in training, allowing prospective customers to check out whether the lessons fit their style and comfort.
Great coaching with a friendly atmosphere
“Great coaching with a friendly atmosphere! I dropped in here on my way through El Paso and will definitely be coming back whenever I’m in town. Aldo is a knowledgeable coach and leader, the community is very inviting, and I had a lot of fun training here!”
– Mr. Julian Gonzalez-Becerra, Google Review
I loved how they incorporated games with techniques
“Signed my 10 year old son up for the 1st week of Camp they had and he had an amazing time!! He was sore that day lol but looked forward to going each day. The coaches are patient and I loved how they incorporated games with techniques.”
– Ms. Jeanie Mansfield, Google Review
4. Briggs MMA
Address: 811 Southwestern Dr, El Paso, TX 79912
Contact Details: +1 915 701 4411, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM, Tuesday and Thursday: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Closed on Friday and Sunday
Why settle for one when you can learn the best combined martial arts techniques? Whether you’re looking to get into MMA or trying to find a good martial art to mix into your workout, Briggs MMA might be up your alley.
The first thing to jump out at us was the lesson plans! Having a defined routine and schedule is key to disciplining yourself to stick to a program, and students we got to hear from were happy to praise this factor of the academy.
Training was helped along by the equipment available for more focused workouts and exercises like pilates, for example. The school also had safety gear for sparring, which can be pretty handy for learners without a set of proper gear yet.
Speaking of sparring, learners were happy to praise these as well! Many mentioned there being a variety of training partners both among staff and fellow learners, helping learners execute their techniques safely and learn alongside each other.
That being said, we’d definitely recommend visiting the academy or dropping them an email if you want to enroll! A few customers let us know that their phone lines could get pretty busy, leading to long response times.
All the staff are very welcoming and knowledgeable
“All the staff are very welcoming and knowledgeable. If you’re trying classes or are fairly new to martial arts, they know how to introduce you and they’ll also lend you excellent equipment until you get your own.”
– Mr. Logan Armendariz, Google Review
Incredibly educated and knowledgeable in their martial arts
“As soon as you walk through the door, the energy is high, the vibes are good, and the people are amazing. Coaching staff and Professor Briggs are incredibly educated and knowledgeable in their martial arts and teaching.”
– Ms. Brianna Reynosa, Google Review
5. El Paso Karate
Address: 10710 Gateway N Blvd # B4, El Paso, TX 79924
Contact Details: +1 915 822 8818, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Closed on Saturday and Sunday
We’d be remiss not to look for schools covering one of the most popular martial arts out there! Locals we spoke to were happy to point us to the aptly named El Paso Karate for learners looking to pick up karate regardless of age range.
Right off the bat, we walked right into a clean and bright training space. The ambiance was welcoming and more importantly, approachable on our visit, so even nervous newcomers can relax some before getting into a lesson.
It also surprised us to spot several families taking lessons together! A few we got to chat with mentioned the lessons being flexible and easy enough to get into for all ages, making for a unique family bonding exercise.
This did mean the class sizes could be quite large. Fortunately, students let us know that the instructors went out of their way to give every student enough attention to help them work on their form, helping each one keep up.
One last word of advice some learners left was to call ahead to check that lessons were ongoing that day before heading in! Some mentioned that the schedule could be unclear, causing some students to miss certain sessions.
They pay attention to each kid individually
“We did a month trial and we really liked it so we decided to keep coming. Staff is very friendly and attentive. I like how they pay attention to each kid individually when needed. My 7 year old really likes Karate.”
– Ms. Cecilia White, Google Review
All of the instructors are amazing
“My kiddo has been at this karate for almost two years now and it has molded him in so many ways for the better. All of the instructors are amazing and take their time to get to know each kid so that they have a great relationship with them.”
– Ms. Claudia Villalobos, Google Review
