Primal MMA Academy

Expérience négative: My experience with Primal MMA Academy was both sketchy and disappointing. One of the coaches texted me to confirm my trial setup call on July 2nd and when it came time they never reached out and when I tried reaching out to them via phone I got no response either. Then I look them up on Google and their facility is marked as "Temporarily closed." and the coaches' website page on their website was abruptly gone. And today I find out they closed their official Instagram page as well. Had my hopes up for nothing... Primal MMA if you see this review, please reply to me, that would be really appreciated and hopefully we can set something up.

Expérience fantastique: I tried the 7 day trial and ended up doing Jiu Jitsu for about 4 months! I got addicted to the sport. The people there are such a great and welcoming community! All hard working and providing exceptional coaching! Whenever I'm back in Toronto, I'm definitely visiting Primal. Whoever wants to join, women or men, I can only recommend it! Do the free trial and you will not regret it! They also have an amazing Gym upstairs and the atmosphere when the sun sets in the evening with the CN Tower is just beautiful! Amazing work out atmosphere! I heard their boot camps are also very challenging! A lot to explore at Primal! I'm so glad for that opportunity to be part of the Primal Academy Family. <3

Expérience positive: Great space with good leadership. They offer tons of classes at different times of day. On the pricier end, but you get what you pay for.

Expérience fantastique: I really loved my time there ,the coaches are amazing, friendly as well as the staff members

Expérience fantastique: Compared to like an F45, One Academy, etc., Primal Academy will get you moving real weight, focusing on strength, and is like 3x bigger than most places you will see so you don't feel like you're in a moshpit of people for your hour workout. In the east end, Ive been to all of the places and believe that it's the best place.

Expérience fantastique: Well today was my second BJJ class. Prices are balanced. Just wanna let everyone know, this place where you reborn. People in here and the staff are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Providing you gear that you needed. Pretty far away from ego and toxic people. Again i want to remind you combat sports need discipline. For me it’s all or nothing. People are dedicated and focused. Always encouraging you and guiding you. Coaches are watching you all the time to make sure you are on the right path. You can always ask and learn. I wanted something more than gym and here i am with Primal Gym. When you come in, remember.. someone busier than you is training right now.

Expérience fantastique: In my opinion, this is the best gym in the city. I might be a little biased, but here's why: I started working out there to meet some body composition goals I had for myself. I am an actor, a personal trainer and a musician with a fitness background. I was hesitant to join and get started with Justyn coaching me on nutrition because I had accumulated a fair bit of knowledge about these topics on my own (including seeing a dietitian not long before that). Aesthetics are pretty important to me, but after the pandemic everything was really falling out of place and I just needed guidance. I definitely got it. Slowly but surely I learned how to properly track my macros and began working out consistently at Primal. i adopted other healthy habits that Justyn coached me on, and I built a lot of muscle and lost a lot of body fat. Not only that though, the program design of the workouts at Primal are really well thought through for hypertrophy and increasing athletic performance. I know a lot of the body composition changes I've experience are in large part due to those workouts. I won't lie, they can be really challenging, but they are also a lot of fun. I don't track my macros anymore but I have picked up on so many hacks now that eating intuitively comes so much more easily to me, and I am pretty much able to maintain my physique while not tracking these days. I am someone who needs a team environment to stay motivated in my routine. I do not like working out alone. Seeing the same faces push themselves through the same workout I am going through is extremely motivating to me. The personalities of all of the team members are always friendly and never intimidating. I have been to a lot of gyms in my life, and no gym is perfect, but when I walk in there 3-5 times a week, I feel at home and I think all the other members feel the same way. There is no price tag on that for me. If you feel you need a solid routine with professionals you can trust, sign up here. Maybe consider a little nutrition coaching on the back end. ;)

Expérience fantastique: Very welcoming environment and they did a very good job teaching me jujutsu I recommend trying it out

Expérience fantastique: Primal MMA Academy is awesome. I tried their jiu-jitsu classes a few months back, and it was amazing. They've got it all when it comes to fitness areas. The variety of classes is impressive, and the prices are fair for what they offer. The coaches are both professional and friendly. Highly recommend it if you're looking to explore different fitness areas!

Expérience positive: Facilities are nice. Price is high and you get what you pay for, for the most part. Class schedules and striking gym could be enhanced, but I think that’s already in the works. Generally the place is run well and the instructors are all amazing. If I could change one thing - the cancellation fees if you can't make a class are very expensive, and the rules for cancelling are stricter than my dentist. Life happens, and being punished financially for it feels bad. The pressure of losing money if you're going to miss a class also creates a negative feeling towards attending classes.

Expérience fantastique: Very friendly yet competitive environment which makes it perfect for new members whether you’re experienced or not!!

Expérience fantastique: I attended there free course of ji-jitsu for a week. I really recommend every one who are interested in martial arts. I am very grateful that I joined their team for some time. Coaches were very excellent and very clear of their actions. Environment was very nice as well as the people I worked with. They have categories their training schedule and have a very strict policy towards their work. It was my bad luck that I have to leave this place due to my work else there is no problem with this place.

Expérience fantastique: Great trainers, great friendly atmosphere, the training was fun and safe and they are very accommodating!

Expérience fantastique: I've been training at Primal for about 10 months now and I absolutely love it. I have the full membership which is amazing value because you can take unlimited classes. I train jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and boxing. The space, culture and coaching is top notch. All the coaches are great but a special shoutout to Jack who is our boxing coach. He is excellent at building foundational boxing skills and his teaching / coaching abilities are elite. I would recommend this place to anyone. Come train. You'll thank yourself later.

Expérience positive: great spot, great people, great workouts and training sessions

Expérience fantastique: I took the free week trial and I highly recommend going if you're interested in mma or just fitness in general, staff was welcoming and helpful in setting me up for my classes and it was a clean and professional setting. I'm definitely going back in for drop in classes which most don't even offer as an option. And what I was taught actually stuck.

Expérience fantastique: The people here are extremely nice and very understanding of ur situation and are able to adapt to it if need be. Good gym and their training is very fun and informative

Expérience fantastique: Great bjj gym

Expérience fantastique: Lots of fun, experienced coaches and a good workout!

Expérience fantastique: Tried the 7 day trial and had a great time. The classes were very fun and we still covered enough technique for me to learn something new every lesson.

Expérience fantastique: I would highly recommend the women’s BJJ classes. The instructors are excellent, welcoming and positive, and I was able to learn a lot each class, despite being a beginner to martial arts. The instructors are able to break down complex actions such that they’re easy to understand, sequential and build upon existing knowledge. The gym itself is also very clean, well-equipped and the staff are very helpful and friendly.

Expérience fantastique: I recently completed the 7-Day free trial at Primal MMA. It's a great opportunity to try out the gym and the classes it offers for people who might be interested in trying something new. I participated in the Women's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes and they were great! All the instructors were great, and were accommodating to the fact that some of us had no prior experience with the sport. I feel like I learned a lot in just 1 week. They even had Gi's to borrow so you don't need to have your own if you're just starting out The staff at the gym itself are also great; they're always helpful, and polite. Overall I would highly recommend Primal MMA!

Expérience positive: I participated in the 7 day free class challenge. I only took Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) classes, so that’s what my experience in based on. The staff is very friendly, and seems happy to help. Booking and rescheduling classes is easy and accessible (by phone, text, website) so that’s nice. The coaches try their best to make the learning and moves as easy to understand as a beginner might need. However, some coaches do need to understand that many beginners will have zero knowledge of terminology, foundations, basic moves before we practice the big moves. Their intention is right though, and they’re always there to help practice, and make things easier. There’s also a women’s BJJ class which I quite enjoyed, as someone identifying as female. That class really focused on basics for someone of a small frame trying to protect themselves. Their feedback receiving process shows initiative to become a better place but it might have been more useful if they approached the consumers with more direct, and pointed questions about experience and room for improvement. Overall, I will consider trying out more of their classes, and encourage people I know to give this place a chance. I see potential in this place because their intent is right and the approach is strong! Thank you, Primal MMA! ~Shivani

Expérience fantastique: Amazing gym, loved the BJJ coaches. Positive people, and everyone is inclusive of new guys.

Expérience fantastique: Great knowledgeable coaches and overall great bunch of people! Highly recommend

Expérience fantastique: Primal is a great place to learn the fundamentals of boxing- regardless of your prior boxing experience. The instructors, staff, and other members are all very welcoming!

Expérience fantastique: I was training BJJ at PrimalMMA for about 6 months last year and I can totally recommend this place to everyone. Since I started BJJ I was training at several BJJ Gyms (Germany/Pennsylvania/New York City/Toronto) and in my opinion PrimalMMA has the most welcoming atmosphere and the coaches have a very high level of knowledge. The techniques are explained in a very understandable way and it was always fun to drill/sparr with the other members. Everyone is supportive and it is awesome that their women's class grew so big over the past year! So if you think about giving BJJ a try.... This is the place to go to in Toronto! Thanks to the Primal Team for the great experience.

Expérience positive: Had a great experience during the Brazilian Jujitsu class was very informative and well explained. The trainers are super friendly and help you with all the questions you have. Recommend it!

Expérience fantastique: Good place, reasonable price, good sparring class. Overall it’s a competitive gym.

Expérience fantastique: Came in for the free trial and everyone was very welcoming and accommodating to me as a beginner. Had an incredible time and brought my friends along with me for the trial, they loved it too. The people who work and train here know what they're doing and were very helpful during classes, I highly recommend coming here for training if you can.

Expérience fantastique: This gym is very friendly. It has good equipment and is in a decent size. Coaches are good too. The only downside is that pupils are mostly casual.

Expérience fantastique: good gym and good grappling

Expérience positive: Shawn was an awesome trainer. I tried the free 7 day pass, and tried the woman only BJJ and Kick boxing classes. BJJ was supposed to be woman only but the men were also practicing their lesson in the same space. Thanks for the unique experience.

Expérience fantastique: Hannah was amazing and told me all about the programs they offer. The class was amazing and I will be coming back soon.

Expérience fantastique: Great gym! Has everything you need for MMA Amazing facilities and trainers

Expérience fantastique: Primal is a great place to start your Martial Arts training if you ever want to try it out. I didn't think I would ever end up liking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but their 1 week free trail period gave me a chance to attend various different classes and that's how I discover my interest in it. I have been training for the last 6 months, primarily under Roya who has been an amazing trainer! Primal offer woman's only BJJ classes, and it's a great way to get some workouts in, learn some self defense moves and train with a really nice community of individuals, especially if you are feeling nervous about starting martial arts training.

Expérience fantastique: I can't believe I've never left a review for Primal! I started training with primal approximately 5 years ago. I was a rogue blue belt with mma experience looking for a home. Primal welcomed me with open arms, and I have to say invested in my growth and development heavily not only as a martial artist, but as a person. Professor Egor, owner and black belt head instructor at Primal is invested in his students growth and success as much or more than themselves! The culture is one of respect, safety, and striving for excellence. An amazing combination to fuel human development and potential. With the massive strength and conditioning gym upstairs, and regular bootcamp classes it is the dream gym of any dedicated athlete or martial artist. The last thing I'll say is that the culture is very much one of extended family, the bonds formed through training are like no other in life. You really get close to people through training and that is such a strong part of the gyms culture and appeal for me. Full transparency, I felt so much growth and development in Primal that in fall 2021 I began to teach some classes and now am teaching Jiu Jitsu regularly at the gym. If you feel drawn to training martial arts or to get in shape I highly recommend trying their free week trial and to see if it's right for you! Cheers

Expérience fantastique: I’ve tried out other gyms in Toronto and nothing beats primal. The instructors are great and their members always make you feel at home. If you haven’t already tried this gym make sure you do you won’t regret it.

Expérience fantastique: Good principle based instructions. Lots of class times, morning, lunch and evening. Positive encouraging additudes with most practitioners. Solid level of experience.

Expérience fantastique: Signed up my 6 year old daughter for the BJJ program here and she absolutely loves it. The facility is big and clean, with a comfortable area for parents to watch their children have the lesson. Pricing is reasonable and the flexibility is great as you aren't forced to pay a weekly or monthly rate, so there is no pressure if you can't make a class or your kid is just not feeling up to it that day.

Expérience fantastique: All great classes and a really positive community in Primal. Sean D. is a great teacher learned a ton about BJJ, looking forward to continue training

Expérience fantastique: Nice gym and welcoming community!

Expérience fantastique: Really great staff were helpful and were able to help me learn the course I wanted even with a chronic health condition

Expérience fantastique: I went to this gym pre pandemic and did the kickboxing, boxing and bootcamp classes. The instructors are very friendly and their schedule is great for a morning or evening person. To have a full MMA gym plus full fitness facilities is great. Unfortunately I work from home now and it is too far but I wish the best for the Primal Bootcamp and MMA team

Expérience fantastique: I've been coming here for over a month now and it's fantastic. Instructors are great and very knowledgeable about their areas of expertise. The gym also has everything you need.

Expérience fantastique: The staff is really awesome. I especially love the boxing class with Jack. Great environment. Welcoming & professional; if you're reading this, you should just go give it a shot.

Expérience fantastique: I'm genuinely just in love with this place. It sounds totally lame and cliche to say that it's changed my life but it absolutely has. I joined to train, but along the way also found confidence and an incredible community. Like if I could just live in this gym and never go home I probably would. Stepping into any new training space for the first time can be super intimidating, but the staff at Primal are just so kind, helpful, and welcoming. From the start the environment feels super inclusive, fun, and non-judgemental. The coaches are also just so good: striking, jiujitsu, yoga/stretch, and fitness - all of it! Everyone works to accommodate the different skill levels and abilities and teach in a way that makes you want to keep pushing and get better. While my primary focus is striking, I was so excited to also be able to start training BJJ. This was something I'd wanted to do for a long time but felt really nervous to try. Lucky for your girl here, Primal has a jits class just for women! As a 5'1, 103lb female this very much appealed to me because it's allowed me to get more comfortable in the space and the sport, before jumping into rolling with guys twice my size. We have an unreal instructor, Marianna, who couldn't be more passionate about the sport and trying to get more women into it. She can also rock absolutely anyone and does it with the sweetest smile on her face the whole time. Anyways, this is so long...but if you're looking for a great place to invest in your physical and mental wellness and make some friends, come to Primal for sure.

Expérience positive: Too expensive. $79 per week for full access (classes plus use of fitness equipment). $3,588 annual. About double what I paid for my last MMA gym (current prices).

Expérience fantastique: In terms of facilities, this is the best BJJ gym in the city. It has two floors and is absolutely massive. I've been doing BJJ since 2007 and Toronto bar none, has some of the worst rolling spaces of all the cities I've been too. This is not the fault of the gym owners, more so the fault of high business rents that force a lot of gyms into using basements or undersized spaces. The two exceptions are Toronto BJJ and Primal - both of which are multi-floor gyms. Primal has MMA cages and an outdoor area that is used for Bootcamps in the summer. Egor is a nice dude and the run a free open mat on Sundays that is open to everyone, members and non-members alike. In terms of instructional quality, I can't speak on that as I haven't attended a traditional class yet. I've been doing BJJ for 15 years and I'm at a stage where I mostly go to gyms to roll and sharpen my skills and get one on one learning but the students here are pretty sharp so I can only assume they get good instruction. Complaints? Just for me personally, I prefer more nogi grappling. I just don't enjoy doing gi anymore and have a hard time finding a full nogi gyms that fit my schedule. Primal is 50/50. This is just personal preference though and as a black belt, I think everyone should spend time doing both starting from white to at least purple.

Expérience fantastique: Just a great spot overall. If you're new to martial arts, you'll find a great place to learn. If you're experienced, you'll have plenty of opportunities to challenge yourself. - The environment is positive and welcoming. They manage to combine good humour with an appropriate level of seriousness. - The instructors are solid and clearly have a passion for the art of teaching. They live and breathe this stuff. - There appears to be a well-defined curriculum. If you only go occasionally, no problem. But if you go regularly you will build skills progressively. - Generally, there is a strong sense of community. I'm still new, but it really seems like a lot of the students are friends. Thanks, Primal!

Expérience fantastique: I've been training here for over 3 months now and have mostly been going to the boxing and kickboxing classes, but I also attended some of their fun and intense cardio classes. It's a friendly environment and the trainers are very knowledgeable and are able to adapt their coaching so it fits your fitness and fighting goals. I feel a big improvement in my techniques and a boosted self confidence thanks to the great trainers Sean, Ryan, Jack and Rohit that I've been fortunate to meet and get to know. I highly recommend this gym to anyone that wants to do martial arts, either if you're just starting out or if you already have experience and want to take your skills to the next level! See you on the mats, Oscar

Expérience négative: I have bad memories of training here. The cold personalities of the hipsters they engage to run the gym to the underground facility without natural light. Insert gym response here;

Expérience fantastique: Friendly environment and amazing instructors! Thanks a lot to Rohid, Justyn and Prof Egor for helping me out to start my BJJ journey.

Expérience fantastique: I have taken several striking classes around the city and have a background in several martial arts. I Recently took their kickboxing class and had an amazing time. The warmup was full body and martial arts specific ;a very nice change from push ups/sit ups. The bulk of the class time was pad work with a focus on a specific technique. It ended with optional light sparring which had a very freindly and safe atmosphere. I highly reccomend this to people looking to hone specific techniques in their craft as the instruction was superb, technical and informative.

Expérience fantastique: Great Facility , Josh was a stellar trainer to work with. He helped me focus on areas i wanted to improve on and within our 6 week program noticed a vast difference in my strength and conditioning. I will be using this space and personal training program again 100%.

Expérience fantastique: Best mma gym in Toronto. Great instructors and community. I would recommend it to everyone.

Expérience fantastique: If you're looking for top notch training, you'll find it here. Classes for people of all skill levels, practice the basics or prepare for world tournaments with a team that has been there and done that. I personally love the Jiu Jitsu classes, lots of good competition while also keeping a very friendly and ego free environment.

Expérience fantastique: I recently started taking the ju-Jitsu class here. I was nervous as a complete beginner. I couldn’t believe how friendly and welcoming everybody here has been! Professor Egor is a very experienced instructor. Both him and Erin(who runs the Saturday morning class) Have taken time to explain the basics, which has made starting this new journey a lot of fun! After coming to a few trial classes I was sold and have signed up for the year! Looking forward to a year full of new experiences and new friends!

Expérience fantastique: This gym is fantastic! During covid, they moved all their classes to outdoor and stayed open even in the freezing cold. I don't know any other gym in TO that did that. The coaches are all great, with ample indoor space and lots of parking spots. Love the community they have built and found some great friends. If you are interested in getting into barbell training, Olympic lifts and looking for a sensible Crossfit-like program - do Kalons Lift Club. Kalon is AMAZING. Great energy, fantastic programming and will coach you with care to achieve your goals. I took her lift club after covid for 6 weeks. Not only was it soothing to the soul to have a community surround me again, but by the end, I felt like a confident lifter again.

Expérience fantastique: Returned and signed up for the summer shred program as well as the PT program. I was assigned to Josh, who had been professional and motivating through my time here in this program. The pandemic had certainly demotivated a lot of people to become inactive, myself included. The program had given me quite the challenge, feeling rewarded at the end of each session, helping me get back on my goal to remain active. Thank you to Josh and the primal team for their friendliness and positive energy!

Expérience fantastique: I’ve been a member for almost 2 years love the facilities. When the pandemic hit, once they were allowed, they took the classes outdoors. They created socially distanced spaces for each of us to work out, plus we had our own set of sanitized equipment, and our own cleaning buckets to sanitize after. Since the lockdown, they once again had to pivot to create virtual classes which were adapted to use whatever you have as weights or using body weight. I’m happy to say I am physically stronger and healthier because of Primal! I can’t say enough about the coaches: Mike, Kalon, Ryan, Josh, John, Justyn, Thomas, and Lou! Thank you for your amazing expertise and energy!

Expérience négative: I was interested in going to this place, but then asked my friend who had been there before. I only heard negative things. Just based on her experience I will not be visiting. Very rude and aggressive and do not allow opposing voices to be heard.

Expérience négative: Heres my experience with primal academy, I was told to show up for a class on a Monday I believe it was, i was running 10 minutes late rushing out the door, so i arrive there 10 minutes after the class has begun, there are no spots for me. No one there knows who I am, I'm not on any list and theres not enough room so I'm turned around. The second time I show up for a class i was booked in for, no one was there. I didn't receive any emails or texts or calls but apparently the class was moved to zoom. After wasting my time twice I decided to leave the program, as a young women with a lot of her hands i cant be constantly showing up to classes that aren't available to me, its kind of ridiculous. I left a bad review after that with a two star rating, basically saying what ive already stated above. They called me and asked me to take it down, which i found unethical which i stated but the guy that asked me to take it down was the one who did my initial consultation so I was well aquatinted and had no problem taking down the review after they apologized. I still left the two star rating up however because i had a two star experience. They then called me again, telling me to take the two star rating down, they said that because I mentioned I'm a business owner myself I should understand the value of reviews, and I said yes of course I do which is why i always give my clients a quality experience, as a business you're vulnerable to being held accountable for your mistakes. Anywho they called about twice again after that telling me to take the review down, I said no, I started to actually get really uncomfortable, it was starting to become harassment which I stated to their employee and after that AGAIN they contact me, this time the owner. I hung up immediately and he began to text me. After I threatened to call the police and told him I was blocking his number he said he would stop contacting me and delete my information from the database. --------------------------------------- Jan 31 2021 I was unable to respond directly to primal response to my review so I will add my response here as a documented written notice. The contents of their response is simply un true and slander, they have taken a very aggressive and unprofessional approach to dealing with clients well within their rights to leave an honest review. Any doubts i had previously about this company have been completely verified and i will be pursuing legal action for slander against me as well as my company. I own a photography and videography service, the members of primal academy tracked down my business and left bad reviews even though i have never worked with them in this capacity before. It is my belief this company should be shut down or severely penalized for its unprofessionalism.

Expérience fantastique: I started with Primal MMA 21 days ago as part of their "21 day program" and have just signed up to become a full-time member. The ease of use of the platforms, variety of classes, and philosophy are all exactly what I was looking for, but the main reason I am staying at Primal is the culture of support, accountability, and rewarding sincere effort; these are some of the reasons are why I plan to stay a member for the foreseeable future. The BJJ coach Mike, in particular, is an incredibly knowledgeable and attentive coach that makes you feel like you're having a private lesson even in a room full of students. If you're reading this far then stop stalling, sign up.

Expérience fantastique: Joining Primal has been one of the best decisions I have made in the recent past. Along with having a great staff and supportive instructors, the culture within the club among its members is second to none. Initially, I was apprehensive about starting BJJ classes as a complete newbie, but the members and teachers have created such a welcoming environment that any nerves I had quickly disappeared. If you are in the east end and are looking to give martial arts a try, I can't recommend Primal enough.

Expérience fantastique: Best Gym in Toronto, hands down. Amazing staff and coaches, great programs and classes. Continuing to smash it through 2020 despite covid. Outdoor programs going strong into autumn/winter. If you're looking for a quality place to train, whether its combat sports or strength training, these guys really are #1. Keep up the good work Thomas, Justyn & Egor.

Expérience fantastique: I have been a member with Primal now for 1.5 years. With the majority of my membership taking place during Covid, they have helped keep my mental and physical health in check, during this pandemic. The outdoor and online workouts they have adapted to are excellent and if you are looking to support local and work with an amazing team of coaches, sign up for their free 21 day trial. I was hooked after my free trial and there is no looking back. I'm in the best shape of my life, thanks to coaches Mike, Ryan, Kalon, Josh, John, Thomas and Justin.

Expérience fantastique: I'm from Toronto originally but I'm living and teaching overseas at the moment. I've been doing online classes with Primal recently and have had a blast. Have attended kickboxing classes, BJJ (no-gi), and Fight Fitness classes via Zoom. The trainers are attentive and mindful to always check in to make sure the online participants are involved and on track.

Expérience fantastique: Great experience

Expérience fantastique: I got to do one of the hardest classes of my life at Primal! I did the 7 am bootcamp with Lou and even though it was pilates focused, this was anything but your mom's pilates class! I was the most sore I've ever been after a class, in a good way, for a solid 3 days. That's one hell of a workout! As an athlete, I appreciate Lou's attention to detail when explaining the exercises. He also had killer music! I would like to point out, as well, that Primal has the best gym set-up for the Covid restrictions because the mats are well-spaced in the open-air large parking lot. Each person also gets their own sanitation station. It was a wicked cool environment to do a class in!

Expérience fantastique: A great gym requires a great culture. Primal MMA has always been a pillar for the fitness industry in Leslieville, and nothing has changed. A great facility

Expérience fantastique: Very impressed that they have a full line up of virtual classes running for S&C, BJJ and striking during COVID-19! Great to have some social interaction and getting your sweat on while being stuck at home. Pros: Huge line-up of classes Consistent training buddies online Diverse instructors and classes Beginner friendly Cons: I have FOMO because I can't reasonably do every class. One BJJ class was such a good workout I have nightmares about attending

Expérience fantastique: Its a great gym with great staff, especially josh at reception

Expérience fantastique: All around great facility from the instructors to the front desk staff. A wide varIety of MMA disciplines to try for all levels as well as the group fitness classes with knowledgeable instructors. Instructors Justin (BJJ) Raph and Mike do great job welcoming newcomers and making each class a challenge.

Expérience fantastique: Josh is dope

Expérience fantastique: Best spot in Leslieville to train MMA .

Expérience fantastique: Great Gym, good hours, great instructors

Expérience fantastique: Noel Cub! Best in the game! Josh at the front desk adds a lot of humour to everyone’s stay as well! 11/10 gym

Expérience fantastique: Awesome gym!

Expérience fantastique: Great facility and people.

Expérience fantastique: Noel clubb has made my experience here unforgettable! the gym itself is amazing, from what I see the coaches are super passionate about what they do and it makes the entire atmosphere a one of a kind experience! Thank you guys so much!

Expérience fantastique: I've been training at Primal for over a year now. There's no better place in the city to get in shape, learn new skills and be part of an amazing community. Highly recommended to beginners and veterans alike.

Expérience fantastique: Top notch instructors and trainers. Zero attitude and friendly atmosphere.

Expérience fantastique: Quite simply the best mats in the city. Having trouble sleeping? Go pick a fight with one of the patrons with a fancy coloured belt- one rear naked choke later and its lights out.!! You're welcome.

Expérience fantastique: Great place, always feel welcomed no matter what, the coaches are very knowledgeable and patient. After awhile feels like a 2nd home, the afternoon classes Mike Romero teaches are very helpful, as he brings a lot of different perspective to Jiu jitsu. And a very welcoming environment for woman as well as man.

Expérience fantastique: Primal Academy has the best instructors, classes and community. Their MMA programs are amazing for beginners and advanced students with top-notch facilities. All of the instructors are accommodating, knowledgeable and friendly. They are a great community to be a part of!

Expérience fantastique: Love this gym! People here are so friendly and make learning BJJ fun and challenging. I would highly recommend this gym for anyone wanting to take up BJJ or just to get fit!

Expérience fantastique: Excellent facility, welcoming environment and friendly staff.

Expérience fantastique: Awesome place to train, and very friendly as well.

Expérience fantastique: Started training Jiu jitsu a few months ago. It’s a great place I think the people are really nice it’s not stuffy at all. I’m having a lot of fun 3-4 times a week, I think anyone thinking of learning bjj should give it a go and this is a great atmosphere to try it in.

Expérience fantastique: The best place to improve your skills and get more confidence. Nice coaches, great family atmosphere, good for kids and adults alike. Very beginner friendly

Expérience fantastique: The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Great cardio workout while learning a few things. 100% would recommend to friends and family

Expérience fantastique: Been going to Primal for a couple of months now, and I absolutely love it! They've got knowledgeable and helpful instructors. And, a very positive atmosphere!

Expérience fantastique: Due to the COVID-19 regulations, I've switched the Primal's online training. It's been fantastic for staying in shape, and staying motivated while we're self isolating. The technology works great, it's seamless, and you need no workout equipment to participate. Sign up now!

Expérience fantastique: Great gym, with helpful and friendly staff.

Expérience fantastique: Fantastic facility, incredible coaches, the only place to train (period)

Expérience fantastique: *update and editing - October 2019* As of writing, I have attended Primal Academy for over 28 months. From mid-2017 onward. This amount of time is approaching what is spent on getting a bachelors degree. And what is striking to me, is that the longer I stay, the more I realize there are probably dozens of members, who have spent 50 months or more attending regularly - years of work. Expect to work. I do mostly BJJ, but I dabble in other martial arts, and I sometimes use the gym. The gym is particularly stunning in the summer because of the open garage doors leading to a view of the sun setting over trees and via rail tracks, and the downtown core lies beyond. Towel service and showers are adequate and clean. The towels are the nice touch that makes this place more premium for a BJJ/MMA/boxing school. There are two levels, separated by a short walk, two doors, and one staircase. FITNESS - They have all the equipment you need, but you don't come to this gym just for equipment. This is a premium gym with a heavy interest in participatory activities (although one could be a gym-rat here and not ever have to talk to anyone if you really wanted to be reclusive). There is also this, as best I can tell, 6-am-cult morning fitness class, and they appear to be totally having fun while working out. I don't get there before 6:30 a.m., so I don't know when they start, but they seem to be dedicated to scampering around and moving weights. Jiu jitsu has a different quality to it, jits does not induce the same sort of "good times" appearances as the fitness classes. It's more like "grunt times". On the one hand, don't expect any safe-spaces while practicing the "gentle art" of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I have found this out over many classes of BJJ, hundreds of classes - many times being choked and limb manipulated in wrongful directions - safely (it can be done by anybody!). The fitness classes on the other hand appear to me, to be totally inclusive of all body shapes. So is MMA/BJJ/Boxing, but BJJ requires pajama-like clothes and an avid boxer will want their own gear. There is just more commitment to martial arts. BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU - This is more-so a traditional academy, focusing on the gi. Classes have a teacher and they run the classes according to a schedule. On the relaxed side of things there are open-mat times scheduled each week (mostly Sunday afternoons and sometimes Friday evenings). The schedule is reliably kept up to date - that's a nice touch. BJJ Classes vary widely in teacher experience level depending on the instructor, because classes are scheduled for morning, noon, and night. Drop-ins should target evening classes, and probably the traditional-style protocol to call-ahead if not to organize info on the waiver. I suspect the school is organized (I don't actually know and I have not inquired), and I also expect the instructor is going to want to know about drop-ins. Don't worry about telling the instructor if you are new to martial arts or grappling, your skill level will become apparent very quickly. TLDR: BJJ - This is not a Gracie Barra-like school. This is a traditional-style school, that focuses on a work-ethic over name-brand instruction. You will get the best out of attending this BJJ school if you attend with the assumption you will attend regularly, over a time-scale of years not months or weeks. Generally I find it 60/40 split instruction/rolling, regardless if 1 hour or 1.5 hour classes (and the end-times are often loose and ago long). Classes are regimented, except for rolling. If you are new to BJJ, this means that you don't have to be experienced to attend class and function well. Instruction is inclusive, but expect flexibility to be extended if not otherwise flexible. MMA - Dedicated crew, with a bunch of legit amateur fighters. The boxing is legit. FITNESS - The gym (up stairs) has all the equipment you will need. The fitness crew seem to be enjoying themselves. I don't know exactly why, probably endorphins, but I don't care to find out. Good for them. This is a premium place.

Expérience fantastique: This place is great! Great instruction, from the basics and fundamentals to the intermediate and advanced training. Fantastic atmosphere and very welcoming community, completely understanding of all walks of life. No goons or sandbaggers, and very positive just being there. Bring your friends, have a great time!

Expérience fantastique: What a great training facility! The gym is well equipped, has knowledgeable coaches and is very clean. Plus they provide clean towels. Definitely worth visiting!

Expérience fantastique: If you're looking for top notch mixed martial arts school in Toronto, look no further! Primal MMA is home to Intelligent instructors, clean facilities, and a motivating environment. When it comes to community, encouragement, and fitness this place takes the cake! This is where you want to be.