Matt BeckerTeacher first.

“A place where character, discipline, and confidence are taught with patience, care, and heart.”

We’ve known Matt and Dione for over 13 years, and I can say without hesitation that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu La Jolla is a truly rare and special place. It’s more than just a martial arts school — it’s a place where character, discipline, and confidence are taught with patience, care, and heart. Our three children, all different ages, have had the joy and privilege of learning from Matt over the years. He teaches not just techniques, but life lessons — how to stay calm, think clearly, and move with purpose. And he does it all with genuine kindness and a quiet strength that makes students feel seen, respected, and supported. Matt is one of those rare teachers who leads with humility, compassion, and deep expertise. His approach is thoughtful and intentional — he takes time to explain, to encourage, and to connect with every student. Combined with Dione’s warmth and professionalism, they’ve created an environment that feels like family. Watching our kids grow under their guidance has been one of the great joys of our lives. If you’re looking for a place where your child will not only learn how to defend themselves, but how to walk through life with confidence and respect — this is that place.

— The West Family

“Matt has taught my husband and ALL 8 of my children Jiu-Jitsu since a very young age.”

The Becker family have been wonderful to work with, especially with my family. Matt has taught my husband and ALL 8 of my children Jiu-Jitsu since a very young age and they still carry his words of wisdom with them. He is gifted in many areas and is a wonderful role model for my kids. My eldest son is now 20 and is coming back for more after being away for several years! I currently have two boys ages 6 and 7 taking class there and they are always eager to share their stories as soon as I pick them up. Matt’s experience is unmatched. Not only does he carry a wealth of knowledge about Jiu-Jitsu, he teaches young children practical life skills! He and his wife are very professional and have treated us like family from the get go. They are a wonderful example to the community and small businesses.

— Judy E.

“I went to literally 6 different jiu-jitsu schools looking for one that focused on self-defense.”

This is a fantastic place to train Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Let me take a few minutes to describe what sort of training to expect (it may or may not be what you are looking for), and why I think this place is so good. The jiu-jitsu taught here is geared towards self-defense first, as opposed to competition. I went to literally 6 different jiu-jitsu schools, looking for one that focused on self-defense. And none did. They will all TELL YOU that what they teach is useful for self-defense, but that’s because they want you to sign up. Almost every place really cares about competitions. This is important, because the sort of jiu-jitsu techniques and training that work well for competitions don’t work well for street self-defense, and vice versa. If your goal is to train for competitions, then this may not be the best place for you. But if your goal is to train for self-defense, then it is an excellent choice. Aside from the fact that the training is geared towards self-defense, this place is great for several other reasons. First, the training is structured. There is a clear curriculum for the first belt (blue), and all the classes for that belt follow a rotating sequence. Each class is stand-alone, meaning that no matter when you start, your first class will make sense. At Gracie Jiu-Jitsu La Jolla all the beginning classes make sense, are stand alone, and are doable by anyone, regardless of athletic ability. Also, the people here are really friendly and supportive and cool. There is zero macho attitude. The training is serious, but everyone is supportive and friendly. This also means that the training is safe. The goal of people who have been here a while is to help the people who are new, not to submit them or overpower them or use them as fodder for tournament preparation. And it all starts with Matt, the head instructor. He’s very clear, very supportive, and has no arrogance or attitude. And he’s got a great sense of humor as well. The attitude of everyone at the school is great, and it’s because of the tone and example he sets. [FWIW, I’ve studied a number of martial arts, beginning in the early 1980s, and am currently an instructor in a different martial art.]

— Rick Grush

“Matt created an incredible program for my father-in-law who suffers from Parkinson’s.”

I’ve practiced mixed martial arts at many studios over the years and none compare to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu La Jolla. The owners Matt and Dione are great family people and have created a wonderful environment of learning jiu-jitsu at a high level. I was so impressed with Matt’s ability to teach, I asked him to put a program together for my father-in-law who suffers from Parkinson’s. Matt did a lot of research and created an incredible program that’s safe and has helped improve his mental and motor skills. I highly recommend Gracie Jiu-Jitsu La Jolla.

— Steve Sillman

“As a former U.S. Army Ranger, I have never experienced a higher level of instruction.”

If you want to learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, this is the place to go, regardless of your sex, age, or experience! I have been training at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in La Jolla for the past three years. As a former U.S. Army Ranger and Special Forces medical sgt. I spent years training with numerous instructors. However, I have never experienced a higher level of instruction than I have with Matt Becker! He is by far the best Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor in San Diego County, hands down. I was introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in 1995 while in the Army, and found it was the most practical, realistic, and fundamentally sound fighting technique I had ever experienced. Upon leaving the military in 1998 I was disappointed I could not find a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu certified instructor in San Diego. Finding Matt Becker has fulfilled my desire to continue training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with a certified instructor of the highest quality under the umbrella of the Gracie family in Torrance, CA.

— Kyle St. John

“Best instructor ever because he always knows what a student needs to know to become better.”

We most definitely recommend Gracie Jiu-Jitsu La Jolla. It’s a wonderful school run by Dione & Matt who always make you welcome. There are different age level classes and vacation time camps. Our son has been attending classes with instructor Master Becker for 7 years from grade 3 to Sophomore now. Master Becker is a great role model for the children. Our son has learned how to be Bullyproof and we cannot stress enough how much this has helped our son at school and his overall self-confidence. This is what our son says about Master Becker: “Best instructor ever because he always knows what a student needs to know to become better.”

— Helen Hirst