Checkmat Valencia

I dreaded the thought of looking for a new jiu jitsu school. I finally found a place where I felt comfortable and at home… where people are not out to smash you, but to help you through your jiu jitsu journey.
Of course, fate will have it, due to new work location I needed to find a school near home in Santa Clarita. The dark clouds came over my head when it became a reality. I took off a month before I seriously started looking for a new school due to an injury.
After researching schools in the Santa Clarita area, I narrowed the prospects down to 3 schools. The first being Checkmat taught by Professor Leka and second/​third, well I won’t named them.
Checkmat was the first and only school I visited. I called and Art, Professor Leka’s husband, answered. Honestly, I was looking for everything and anything to make an excuse not to go there. But, Art was so friendly and welcoming I had to go check it out. So, on a Saturday morning I visited. When I walked in, Professor Leka and Art greeted me, along with some other Checkmat team members.
You know, that feeling you get, feeling like a prey surrounded by a bunch sharks ready to feed on you when you visit a new jiu jitsu school? Well, I didn’t feel any of that. Again, people were so welcoming and friendly I wanted to stay. And, most importantly, the gym was very clean. I looked forward to sweating all over the place and never coming back.
After the tour, I took my first class. Lets just say, it was one of the best jiu jitsu class I’ve had up to that point. Professor Leka was so technical, but yet took the time to explain the moves until everyone, and I do mean everyone, understood the movements. It’s hard to explain it, but better understood if you experience it yourself.
After an hour of drilling, it was time to free train. Ok, this is where I thought I’m getting smashed by all these higher level belts. However, all the higher belts I went with took the time out of their roll session to teach me. How awesome is that! No one tried to smash, although I tried to smash them. The key word «tried».
After that class, I knew that was the school for me and there was no need to visit any other schools. I’ve been with Checkmat about 3 months now and I have no regrets. My game has sky rocketed from day one because of Professor Leka’s teaching, and, most importantly, the entire Checkmat team wants to make each other better. Not being selfish, but having the philosophy of, if others get better through your help, you yourself will get better… like a full circle. How cool is that.
So, if you’re looking for a jiu jitsu school, I encourage you to check it out. Hey, the first class is free.
Oh, I didn’t even know who Professor Leka was until I googled her after my first class… oh boy, that’s an entire other story…

This place is a Godsend if you are a jiu jitsu practitioner, fan, and/​or want to learn jiu jitsu. Professor Leka is an amazing teacher, she’s extremely technical, and wants her students to improve every single day. Her curriculum, razor sharp techniques, and her attention to detail is beyond measure. I am learning something new every class, from multiple variations of a move to escapes to counters. I cannot have asked for a better instructor. This arguably has to be one of the fastest growing and best schools for jiu jitsu in all of SoCal. If you looking to learn jiu jitsu, check this spot out, you will be hooked on the first roll!

I enrolled my son (age 7) in the kids class a couple months ago. Honestly, I was a bit nervous because I’m new to any sort of marital arts. After a free trial class, that uncertainty was gone. Leka and the other coaches, Jen & Robert, are friendly, encouraging, yet firm enough to teach the kids respect & discipline… in addition to proper Brazilian jiu-​jitsu instruction.
Now, Riley just can’t get enough. He looks forward to every class and showing off all his new moves. Highly recommend Checkmat Valencia to all parents looking for a great experience for your kids!

Had the wonderful experience of doing business with the Checkmat Family. We encourage the general public to utilize small business in Santa Clarita vs. large coorperations. You will benefit of personalized service. For the most part in our opinion, you should at least visit the facility and talk to staff members. Sit back and enjoy a session of instruction. It’s best for children to feel welcomed and comfortable.
Everyone should review a great business, when possible. This way, the constituents of Santa Clarita can know where to shop and how to select a great business.

I was a guest recently and had a wonderful experience! Great class structure and instruction by the legend Leka Vieira. There were students of all levels which is very important in a jiu jitsu gym. Great facility, quality mats and very clean! I highly recommend jiu jitsu to everyone!

Though this particular school is rather new, I have been with this instructor for many years. At Checkmat Valencia, they have three female brown belts. If you are a woman in jiu jitsu, you know what having higher ranked women there means as far as the atmosphere. There are also good female purple and blue and white belts. Also, the guys who train here are very technical. To men and women interested in jiu jitsu, I recommend this school as you will have great instruction and you will have good people to drill and roll with. It’s not going to be easy but you will improve and have a lot of fun too.

Great place to train jiujitsu. Professor Leka is professional and personable, not to mention very technical. Checkmat is family oriented and everyone is so welcoming. I would recommend Checkmat Valencia if you’re interested in learning jiujitsu.

Before I join any gym or try out a restaurant, I always come to Unilocal to find out as much about the place as possible. I will post a short review and a more detailed review below.
My short review on Checkmat Valencia is as follows:
Regardless of your size, weight, gender or whether you are an absolute beginner or super advanced, if you are looking to learn Brazilian Jiu-​jitsu in a positive and safe environment then this is definitely the place to train. I strongly suggest you come by to try out a class. However, if you aren’t ready to try a class, you can still come by. You won’t lose anything by just stopping by for 5 minutes and watching part of the class and checking out the facilities to see if the gym is right for you.
For a more detailed review, please read on.
Instructor:
The head instructor at the gym is Professor Leka Vieira, a legend in Brazilian Jiu-​jitsu. She is the first female Black Belt in the US, the first female black belt world champion in 1999 and a 3x BJJ world champion.
Not only is Leka a world champion in competition, but she is a champion in the way she teaches as well, focusing on using technique and leverage instead of power and muscle. Since Brazilian Jiu-​jitsu is all about leverage, it is critical to get specific techniques down in order to maximize your leverage to be able to control your opponent who may be bigger and stronger than you. Because of Leka’s experience, she is able to communicate the intricate details to her students in a way I have not seen other instructors do.
However, don’t let her size fool you. I have seen her «tap out» and «submit» men and women twice her size, often outweighing her by more than 100 pounds. She is truly the epitome of what BJJ is all about, using leverage to control someone bigger and stronger than you.
Environment:
I have always believed that the key to getting better at any type of martial art or getting in better physical shape is to stay motivated and the key to staying motivated is having great instructors and a positive environment to train.
I have also believed that the environment of any gym is strongly related to the attitude and mentality of the head instructor. When I first visited the gym, I was nervous since I didn’t really know anyone there. From the moment I walked in, Leka and her husband Art made me feel welcome and part of the family. They never pressured me to join the gym at any time. Instead, they were patient and wanted to make sure they answered any and all of my questions and concerns.
Professor Leka’s mentality is that we aren’t «competing» against other students at the gym. Instead, we are competing against ourselves. The goal for each of her students is to be better than themselves than they were the day before. This mentality trickles down to her students and allows everyone to be very supportive of one another whether we are absolute beginners or more advanced.
Kids Program:
They also have a wonderful kids program there. Professor Leka uses games to teach the kids concepts of leverage. There are also other coaches around making sure the kids are always safe, learning and more importantly having fun.
Facilities:
The facilities is super clean. There is a separate men’s and women’s changing room on the 1^st floor with a bathroom. The mats are cleaned daily. There is also a great space upstairs that will eventually be converted into additional mat space that can be used for private lessons.
Pricing:
The pricing is very reasonable and they have different packages available.
Conclusion:
Regardless of your size, weight, gender or whether you are an absolute beginner or super advanced, if you are looking to learn Brazilian Jiu-​jitsu in a positive and safe environment then this is definitely the place to train. I strongly suggest you come by to try out a class. However, if you aren’t ready to try a class, you can still come by. You won’t lose anything by just stopping by for 5 minutes and watching part of the class and checking out the facilities to see if the gym is right for you.

This place is awesome! It’s very family oriented. The women here are very, very supportive of each other. It has a very nurturing but competitive environment. Leika Viera is a legend and a great instructor…

Great environment, great people, great instructor Leka Vieira is one of the legends in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She played an important part in Jiu Jitsu history. She is not just passing you the technique but she also passing you the mentality of a champion!

I drive all the way from Long Beach to train here. Not only is she World/​Pan Am Champ, her teaching technique is world class too. She breaks the moves down and doesn’t give up on us til we all understand. She’s selfless when it comes to teaching and it’s all about making us better versions of ourselves, not only in jiujitsu but even in life. This academy is super clean and organized. Everything is spotless and you can tell Leka/​management takes pride in this place the moment you walk in.

If you want to learn from the best, then this is your place! Leka Vieira is an incredibly passionate and knowledgeable instructor who loves what she does and it shows. She makes learning fun but also pushes you to be your very best; and that’s on and off the mats. The academy is super clean and very welcoming to anyone who walks through the door. Again, if you want to learn jiu jitsu, look no further than Checkmat Valencia and Leka Vieira!

Not only is Leka Vieira a legend in the sport; she is the most passionate and knowledgeable professor I know. She is able to break down any position and not only show you the moves, but teach you the «why». Checkmat Valencia has a positive, team environment that is perfect for those that want to take training seriously and have fun at the same time. If you are looking for a BJJ academy in the SCV, there is no question that you will be learning from the best at Checkmat Valencia.

I absolutely love training at this gym. Leka Vieira is the best jiu jitsu instructor I’ve ever had by far and quite possibly the best instructor I’ve EVER had in any subject. I was made to feel a part of the team immediately and didn’t have to jump through hoops or ‘prove myself’ to be accepted. Everyone here has the ultimate goal of progressing as a team and helping each other do so and it all starts from the top. Leka leads by example and sets a very high standard when it comes to training with a healthy atmosphere. She loves to teach and it’s obvious in the way she conducts her classes. If you want to train under a Coach that truly will do whatever is necessary to help you, train here.

You’ll find it ALL here! Learn the game and develop your skills with a legend, Leka Vieira. Leka and her husband Art have really created an amazing, family oriented Academy. It’s HUGE, super clean, family atmosphere, with exceptional training sessions.
Want to train just for your health and fitness?
Want to train for that competitive edge?
Want to train to learn how to teach others?
Whatever your personal training goals, Leka joins with you and helps you attain them.
Classes for children and adults, weekdays and weekends.

Leka Vieira is by far the best instructor I’ve ever had. She truly cares about her students and her instruction and teaching methods make techniques clear, simple to execute, and easy to remember. She makes us work our butts off but always promises that we will continue to grow — and I sure have! I can’t believe my level of technique now that I’ve been training with her for over a year and a half compared to my last gym. The gym is welcoming, drama and ego free, and just an awesome team that wants to see each other succeed. Also the gym is so clean you could probably eat off of the bathroom floor. No lie whatsoever. Come roll with us!