Nor Cal Fighting Alliance Santa Rosa

My son did a drop in for two days and has really wanted to train here for awhile. Professor Dave and his wife Jessica were super awesome and open to him coming down and training. Professor Dave is a phenomenal instructor and teaches the kids just as serious as teaching adults which is really important to me. Very detailed in his teaching and patient. I also noticed there is all walks of life that are welcome here. Older, younger, athletic, over weight and out of shape. Seems to me this gym try’s and works with everyone and help them succeed at their goals whatever that may be. If we lived closer this is the gym myself and my son would want to be a part of. For now we will hopefully come back and do some more drop ins as my son gets ready for some high level competition, but this place really is amazing and doesn’t get any more high level and better then this. Thanks!

This is the best No Gi Jiu Jitsu in Northern California. I have been coming to this Gym for over 10 years now coming from Bay Area. I wish I could train there more often. I recommend this gym to everyone. If you want to learn great Jiu Jitsu, then this is the place for you. They have a great kids’ program. I can see that kids love this place.

As a volunteer parent helping out with the Nor Cal Fighting Alliance little kids jiu jitsu class, and someone who trains with the adults in jiu jitsu, I am constantly in a state of gratitude and amazement that we are as lucky as we are to have David Terrell teaching us the art of jiu jitsu. Not everyone realizes how elite David Terrell is in the sport of jiu jitsu (most likely due to the fact that David is as humble as he is talented). If you are in that category I would encourage you to look him up for yourself—suffice it to say he is one of the best ever.
I have been helping with the 3-7 year old class for a couple of years, and it is clear to me that David truly loves his students. It is equally clear that they love him back as is evidenced by all of the handmade cards, drawings, and notes that he receives from the little kids on an almost daily basis.
Coach Dave’s devotion to his students might only be matched by his patience; I often see him going above and beyond what his basic duty as martial arts coach would require. In the little kids class there is a wide range of personalities and attention spans, and not surprisingly, there are some kids who are locked in and ready to learn on their 3rd birthday, and others who have trouble staying focused until they are much older. Jiu jitsu is not easy for anyone to learn; it is scary sometimes, it hurts sometimes, and it requires a degree of discipline that is not innate any but the very rarest among us (children and adults included). Coach Dave has a gift for getting the most out of all of the diverse souls who embark on the jiu jitsu journey with him. Every once in a while there is a student who requires a little more patience on a given day, and where your average parent (such as myself) might fall short, David always seems to have another level of unflappability.
That being said, while it is rare that a student is unable to stay in the class due to lack of ability to focus or because of disruptive behavior, it does happen and usually all that is needed is a short break from class to gain a little maturity. There is no shame in taking a break in order to grow. Most parents find that with a couple of months off their student is able to return to class and become a successful jiu jitsu practitioner.
Jiu jitsu is not easy; it takes discipline (from your child and you alike), but it has been my experience that if you take 1 step towards meeting that challenge Coach Dave and NCFA will take 10 steps toward you. If you are considering sending your child to 3-5 days per week of one-on-one attention from one of the greatest athletes of our generation then I would highly recommend you do so, and I think you will not be disappointed.

I do not write a lot of reviews (I believe that this is my third ever), but I felt compelled to write this one. My son Reid started at Nor Cal Fighting Alliance roughly three weeks ago, and at first it was really rough...he was uncomfortable and mostly unwilling to engage, but through the great support of the owners David and Jessica he turned the corner. My son now loves going to his training, and that says a lot for an almost six year old fairly shy boy to love it. Every session I am impressed with the very hands on approach of head coach David Terrell and the other instructors, and how engaged Jessica is with the kids...many times she was the reason my son got on the mat, and I cannot thank her enough for this. The parents of the other kids are awesome, very welcoming and supportive, hard to complain when we are going through it together. If you are looking for somewhere to have your child thrive and potentially shine, then you must give Nor Cal Fighting Alliance a chance. We will see where this goes and how long he stays with it, but regardless of duration this training center and its team has had a major positive impact on my son, and for that I am forever grateful.

Very professional the trainers are very dedicated to their work I highly recommend them, thank me later

I absolutely love this place. Go to their website as I have a more extensive testimonial on my experience training MMA in this gym. My main message: don't be intimidated, train to defend yourself, train for fitness and health, train for your mental health.

My daughter has trained her for 3 years and I started about 2 years ago. This place is our second home and honestly don't know what we would do without it. We've made some of our very best friends here and love the extremely welcoming atmosphere. There is always someone here to support you and push you to be your best. Dave and Jess are the type of people that everyone wants in their community. They give back so much and do their best to be as involved as possible with making this area the best community it can be.

We love this place. Gyms can have strange characters that make your experience unenjoyable but not at nor cal. There is always a helping hand and a friendly FAMILY atmosphere. I walk in and out of this place a better man everyday. Thank you Dave and Jess fighting to survive such trying times. Northern California wouldn’t be the same without your academy. We are all bless to have such a great place to train and learn. Please support the local businesses and especially Nor Cal Fighting Alliance.

First, let’s talk about the location itself. Conveniently located on Piner Road near Hwy access. Always super clean. The owner, David, prides himself on the appearance of his business and it shows! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a piece of garbage on the floor. Have you ever walked into a gym only to be greeted my the smell of B.O.? NOT THIS PLACE! Aside from the sanitizing precautions they take, the floors are cleaned everyday at the end of the day to keep that clean smell going! The equipment in this place is solid. Everything from the punching bags to the free weights. This place has everything you need to get a great workout in! I personally love the boxing classes they offer. They are beginner friendly but will also give you an intense cardio workout. Don’t listen to the 1 star reviews of scorned individuals! Come check it out for yourself and you will see why the best people train at NCFA.

I had the privilege of attending open mat on a Saturday while on vacation in Guerneville. I was super impressed with the level of jiu jitsu and camaraderie this team practices. David was extremely warm and welcoming. I’ve trained at 50+ gyms on the road over the years and this was easily in my top 5. Everyone was safe, tough, technical and respectful. The mats were clean, the facilities were tidy and everything was very well organized. I highly recommend this gym to anyone looking for a good community or just some hard rolls. 10/10 and will definitely be returning.

Awesome place, love the community, the trainers and the value that comes from their dedication to their crafts. They accommodate anyone from a family with preschoolers to helping professional fighters improve. Will always continue to support our local MMA gym.

I trained there a few years back now. Hands down the best thing I could have done for myself. Fast forward a few years and a guy tries to swing on me but, thanks to wonderful gym and staple of society, especially Dave, i went into the matrix. I never got touched and actually felt bad for the guy wearing that "shiner" for like a month or more.

I love this place sooooo much!! My sister asked me to come try boxing with her and I was terrified!! I felt so vulnerable and like the coaches would laugh at me. I was so wrong! They helped me so much and never laughed or judged! Any time I had a question they were happy to help! This is seriously the best place for anyone from beginners to someone doing it for years!!

I don’t only love this place but I LOVE the people. I was so nervous to start boxing... as I don’t know anything about it. But the coaches and the members help me when I don’t know something or need help with my technique. I never feel out of place there. The best academy around!

The training I have received from Dave and others at Nor Cal Fighting Alliance has saved me from some tough situations many times in the last 15+ years. The training has given me the strength and control to effectively subdue aggressors with minimal damage to both me and the would be attacker. Thank you Dave and Nor Cal Family.

Best place to train in Northern CA. Our entire family trains there now, after starting our son when he was 6! This place will make your life better.

All levels are welcome!! Awesome new Muay Thai classes and traditional boxing classes.

Pro certified trainers also offer work 1 on 1 sessions!!

My arms are usually my trouble area to lean out. Going to NorCal fighting alliance has helped me make my arms shredded. I love a killer workout. Thank you so much!!!

Best place to train no doubt about it! Don’t worry about the haters. Come check for yourself and see all of the great training this place has to offer for all ages and skill sets.

Great place. David is an amazing coach,trainer, and Pearson.