Team Andre Cia Paulista Jiu Jitsu

Some of the staff and trainers there are awesome, such as Nick Knight, and if you wanna just learn Jiu Jitsu then this is a good place. That’s all I have to say that’s positive unfortunately.

I’m going to keep this part short because a lot of people have said it already: this place is great. The instructors are great; they are all very different, the students here are all friendly. The training is tough but people are careful and respectful about injuries.
Here’s some additional information:
From what I’ve observed, since jiujitsu became such a large component of modern MMA, a lot of gyms will position themselves as MMA gyms that only have jiujitsu as a component. My impression has been that Cia Paulista is primarily a jiujitsu gym. As a result, it still retains some traditional elements that MMA gyms may have lost. For example, we do things like line up by rank, bow to instructors, bow to the front of the class, start in certain positions based on rank, etc. And I want to emphasize that it’s not done in an «oh, I’m better than you! get in your place!» sort of way! But it can still be a bit jarring for people coming in from a school that didn’t have you line up ever, which is why I’m noting this down.
Also! A lot of people compete! But this gym isn’t a competitor-​outputting-​machine. If you choose to go to competitions, then everyone will be helpful and supportive, but if you choose not to, then you won’t get any less attention than the competitors get. I’ve seen places make the mistake of treating non-​competitors as less important. Not this one!
Finally, what’s one sign you can think of that a place is a safe environment? Did you say «babies!»? Well, probably you didn’t, but it’s a good one. Because, if people feel safe letting their tiny childrens run around and play and explore the gym, then probably it’s a pretty safe place, right? Well, guess what? There are babies! I REST MY CASE.

I have been training here for just over a year now and am still loving it. A female friend of mine wanted to get into the sport for self defense, so we began checking out several different schools in the area. She felt very intimidated by a lot of the other schools but immediately felt at home in this gym so this is where we stayed. Andre has proven to be one of the most talented and invested martial arts instructors I’ve ever learned from and his other instructors are knowledgeable and make learning this sport a lot of fun.

I started training here in June 2013, about a month after I moved to Sacramento. I had never previously done Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) or martial arts but have been very active in sports my whole life. I started going here on a bit of a whim and because of the free week trial and that it was so close to where I was living.
In short, BJJ is an awesome activity. It has challenged me mentally and physically and I have steadily felt myself build skills and improve since I started (8 months ago). I love activities where I can get a great workout that has components of strength, flexibility and flow and this is definitely one of them.
Coming here and having zero martial arts experience was intimidating for me personally but I am glad I stuck with it. More so, there is really a great community at this gym and that has been one of the highlights for me. Andre is a giving teacher and coach who is sincerely interested in your improvement. All the other teachers (Chris, Nick, and Manny) all bring something different to the table as well.
If you’re looking for a new hobby, physical activity/​exercise, or have always been interested in the martial arts, I could not think of a better place.

An amazing place to train at. They’re very welcoming and consistently do well in competition.

I am one who loves being active, but seriously hates lifting weights, or running in place. Team Andre Cia Paulista introduced me to a whole ‘nother world of working out.
About Andre: 2^nd Degree black belt as mentioned in other reviews. Andre puts a huge emphasis on the little details of every technique. These little details go a long way; It allows you to apply a move using the least amount of energy necessary to gain leverage on your opponent — one of the fundamental concepts of Jiu Jitsu.
The gym: It’s in a warehouse building setting with abundant parking. It doesn’t smell musty like some gyms, and more importantly, there is plenty of air flow and lots of room to hang out if you decide to come early/​stay later.
You: Just go. The first week is free. Oh! and students have special rates :)

I met Sensei Andre 4 years ago. He is very professional, caring and a very honest person. My son is 5 years old and loves Jiu jitsu, I didn’t think twice or looked around, I put my son to train with Sensei Andre, not just for his knowledge, experience, he is a very well prepared martial art teacher. Sensei Andre is a good person, he cares about his students development, he is very kind, so I know my son is in good hands. I love to see my son so happy and excited
after the classes, he comes home asking when is the next time he will train again!
Big place, clean, where people respect each other, there is not ego or selfishness, Sensei Andre is a great mirror of what is make yourself the best when you have all reasons to just give up…
Team Andre Cia. Paulista is just a big family where people cheer up for each other… There is one for all, all for one!

I’ve been to a few bjj schools in the sacramento area. Cia is by far the best I have been to. I was at Cia for about 1 year and have not one bad thing to say about it. Sensei Andre’s bjj is world class and that’s rare in any area. There’s a big difference between a black belt and a world class black belt and you’ll see the difference in the details of the technique. The Cia team is very much a family which is the main reason I like it so much. My old gym was more like testosterone night at the local pub which is why i left it. I have no idea about the incident in which Jeremy L speaks of because I was not there. All I can say is that in all my time there, I never saw anything like that and if it did happen and he’s really upset about a smack to the head then bjj probably isn’t the sport for him. Bjj is one of the tougher martial arts because we consistantly train at full speed. Andre teaches honor, respect and humility. If you have a big ego then you probably wouldn’t fit in. The only reason i’m not training currently myself is my money situation. As soon as I straighten that out I’ll be back in there getting my ass kicked and having the time of my life. For that kind of fun I’ll let Andre smack me in the head after every training session. Do yourself a favor and give this gym a try.

I have been training on and off with Andre for a little over 3 years. I have followed him from his old location to his current one on N D St. I trained with two other teams prior to meeting Andre. And I’ll tell you this, there is a reason I followed Andre. He is by far the best Jiu Jitsu practitioner I have ever seen, and he is a natural teacher. Not just for adults, but for kids as well. My son is now 7 and loves Andre as a teacher and as a person. I am a VERY stubborn person which is a fault of mine, and if there was anyone who has deserved to be smacked it would be me, but Andre would never do that, and has never done that. If you want the best BJJ instruction around come here, we are a family and everyone is welcome. As far as people coming on here and making bogus claims, I don’t know what to say other than, in all my years of going there, I never once saw you, met you or trained with you. So I’m calling BS on you Jeremy L

I have been with Team Andre Cia Paulista for almost two years now. In the two years that I have been with the team, I have had the pleasure learn from one of the best Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu black belts in the world, Andre Glodzinski. Andre’s attention to detail is second to none when it come to his students. Andre provides a safe ego free facility. I, my wife and kids all train at Team Andre Cia Paulista and would with out question recommend this academy to anyone.

I’ve only been here for a few months but I was so impressed with how the staff handled themselves that I couldn’t bring myself to even go anywhere else. Andre has helped me fall even more in love with this sport. At his gym I feel safe and comfortable and as a woman treated as an equal. When I first started coming Andre MADE a point of always greeting me by name and getting to actually know me as a student. I have NEVER seen him act disrespectful towards anyone. First off Jeremy there is a level of RESPECT that you give towards the owner and instructor and if you did by any chance get smacked you probably deserved it. I have never seen anyone get smacked or disrespected for that matter and that’s probably because they don’t act like an idiot like you.

Great staff and Instructors…

I have been training with Andre since he came to Sacramento. The most important thing about a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy is the Jiu Jitsu, and this place is the best. Sensei Andre’s Jiu Jitsu is tournament tested and championship level. Together, we have won many tournaments, some of the biggest in the world; Andre has had multiple Pan-​American Jiu Jitsu Champions over the last several years, for example. In addition, Andre shows everything he knows – we train everything from fundamental moves to the most advanced, complicated sweeps and submissions. There is something for every level martial artist or fighter.
The new location is HUGE! The mat space is great, with tournament mats for the BJJ and a great MMA/​kickboxing area with a variety of bags and fitness equipment. It seems like there is a new piece every day as this enormous new space is filled with training equipment.
Finally, it’s a family gym. We are a tight-​knit team that happily welcomes new members to our team to train and learn with us. If you want an amazing work-​out that gets you in the best shape of your life and leaves you with a smile on your face and a sense of accomplishment, then come train. Team Andre Cia Paulista is awesome.

The new gym space is amazing! I have been training with Sensei for over 4 years and am very pleased with his instruction and ability to help get us tournament ready. Although the gym is very family friendly it produces exceptional results at local and world tournaments. A great atmosphere for those looking to learn and compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.