Breakdown Academy

I had the opportunity to get instruction from John Evans when he would sub in at the academy I train at. I was always excited when that would happen because I knew we’d be learning something interesting and high level. What John is really good at is taking complicated or awkward strings of movement, and slicing them down into easily digestible steps. There’s a few movements and techniques I’ve learned from him that I still use years later.

being at the ground floor of this new gym, you can’t help but feel there’s something special going on here at breakdown academy. while the gym itself is pretty bare bones in an industrial garage, the training is pretty special.
john evans is a respected figure in the so-​cal bjj scene who’s trained under jj machado, shawn williams, and currently, cobrinha. besides instructing, he also commentates on bjj events including the most recent metamoris event, metamoris underground.
evans’ passion for bjj and his ability to «breakdown» and articulate technique to his students is what makes this gym special. you have a sense of trust in his instruction because evans is not just an instructor but also a student of the game. when he isn’t here instructing, he’s training at cobrinha’s, and when he’s not there he’s probably breaking down bjj film for his youtube channel (BJJBreakdown).

John is an excellent instructor. I started training at Breakdown a few months back after a tip from a fellow student and can honestly say that I come out of every class having learned something new and valuable to help my fledgling BJJ game.
This isn’t a «bro» gym where the white belts (like myself) are hazed or singled out or whatever, you get to learn at your own pace with all of the students in a safe environment. Everyone here is super helpful and not afraid to dispense a little bit of knowledge and tips. John takes the time to not only demonstrate the technique but also explains why it works. Trust me, if you’re on the fence about BJJ, drop in here and you’ll be converted!

John Evans is a great instructor. I was really nervous about joining but he made me feel comfortable and is very encouraging.
Everyone here is really nice and helpful. You can learn at your own pace and someone is always there to help you with the techniques. John is very knowledgeable and is great at explaining and demonstrating the moves.
Overall, it is a lot of fun and you have a lot of awesome people to train with! I would recommend it to everyone.

I’ve been training with John Evans for a couple of years. He’s an amazing instructor and really incorporates the best parts of old school and new school jiu jitsu. The techniques are very updated and competition relevant. One of my favorite things about this school is that wrestling is taught regularly. Many jiu jitsu schools are don’t focus enough on stand up, but John has a very holistic approach to teaching grappling. The mat space is amazing and everyone is super welcoming and friendly to people at all levels. Beginners should feel very comfortable coming in and checking it out at because new training partners are great and everyone at the gym is very easy to get along with. Thanks for reading.

I have trained at quite a few BJJ schools, and I can honestly say that John Evans is the best BJJ instructor I have ever had. He has the uncanny ability to «break down» :) and simplify BJJ in a way that truly helps you understand the concepts and the reason WHY the techniques work. The students are all awesome, the mats are brand new and clean, and John has really created a fun, safe environment to train. He also currently offers a free weekly yoga class to all his students as an added perk.
John truly cares about all his students and closely monitors their progress. My BJJ game has vastly improved ever since I joined Breakdown Academy. Whether you’re new to BJJ or a seasoned veteran, John definitely has a lot to offer. Come by and check it out!

Amazing teacher!!! I’ve been John Evans’ student almost 3yrs and his new academy is amazing. Great mat space with thick mats for our throws. I’ve come from a Judo background and feel at home in Breakdown Academy. I’ve never received such specialized coaching than here. If you have heard his expert commentary on Bjjbreakdown or VerbalTap you’ll understand. Come down and join our jiujitsu family!