On the bustling corner of South Rowan and 1st Street, amid street vendors and rushing commuters, children walk in and out of East LA Jiu-Jitsu, a martial arts school in East L.A.
Students put on their uniforms, called gis, and tighten their belts before stepping barefoot on the mat. Older kids help the younger children prepare with exercises and stretches, while friendly parents chat on the sidelines.
For the last three years, East LA Jiu-Jitsu, a nonprofit organization, has served the communities of East L.A. and Boyle Heights, offering families an accessible way to learn about a sport that has roots in Japan and later spread to Brazil.
The studio has become a haven for many with a community of over 280 students ranging in age from 5 to 64. In April, East L.A. Jiu-Jitsu will open a new location on César Chávez Avenue and Soto Street in Boyle Heights.
“This is what East L.A. needs,” said owner Ron Mukai, who believes the large growth in students is a testimony to the lack of services offered on the Eastside. “They need community to help raise their sons and daughters.”
Paloma Yañez, whose son attends classes at East LA Jiu-Jitsu, describes the studio’s welcoming community as being like a family. She says jiu-jitsu has allowed her son, who was homeschooled, to come out of his shell. “He doesn’t have a lot of friends, but he meets a lot of kids here, and he loves it,” Yañez said, speaking about her son. “It’s helped him build character.”
That’s among one of the goals Mukai has for his center. He believes jiu-jitsu teaches discipline, resilience and accountability.
“There is a metaphor between the mat and life,” he said. “You come on the mat and you get smashed by somebody you think should not beat you, and you have to deal with that mentally. It never gets easier. That’s what builds a stronger young person.”
Mukai established East LA Jiu-Jitsu in 2022 after beginning jiu-jitsu training at the age of 39. He was exposed to the martial art when he started taking his 5-year-old son to jiu-jitsu classes. Upon encouragement from the coach, who described the martial art as “chess with your body,” Mukai decided to try for himself. “It completely changed my life. I lost 40 pounds. From the first second I was on the mat, I loved it,” he said.
Bringing the sport to the Eastside was important for Mukai, whose Japanese American family has deep roots in the community, dating back to the 1920s. His parents first met when they were students at Garfield High School. Over the years, his family has owned several businesses in East L.A., including Belvedere Bottle Supply, an auto repair shop, a hot dog stand and Tomic Insecticide. Since 2002, Mukai has also owned a large commercial center located on Mednik Avenue and 3rd Street, the place where his grandparents once owned Tom’s Market, a general store.
That strong connection to the community is what drives Mukai’s commitment to serving it. To ensure accessibility, fees for on a sliding scale, allowing students and their families to pay what they can.
East LA Jiu-Jitsu operates with a team of 16. Many are also volunteers, dedicating time to learn the sport they may one day wish to teach.
One of those volunteers is David Rico, a 16-year-old high school student. In addition to taking classes in his own age group, David helps out in classes for younger students. His sister Keyla Rico, a 5th grader, also goes to East LA Jiu-Jitsu and describes how she learned to be more comfortable with herself and overcome her initial fear of hurting others thanks to her training. In doing so, she has built strong relationships at the center.
“They’re very sweet, kind, strong and positive, and we help each other out,” Keyla said of her coaches. “I feel like they’re my family.”
David said jiu-jitsu has helped him build structure. Prior to taking classes, he often found himself involved in risky behavior, he said. However, East LA Jiu-Jitsu has become a positive place for him to spend his time and grow as a person.
“[East LA Jiu-Jitsu] doesn’t want you wandering off doing who knows what. They want you here actually doing something. They helped mold me into a better person,” David said.
East L.A. Jiu-Jitsu is located at 3660 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90063. A second location will open in April at 2450 E César Chávez Avenue, Unit B102, Los Angeles CA 90033. For more information visit eastlajiujitsu.org or @east_la_jiujitsu on Instagram.