Alliance Twin Falls BJJ Review | Twin Falls, Idaho
While spending a week in Twin Falls, we trained at Alliance Twin Falls with our three kids. Before arriving, Professor August Gabiola was quick to respond to our questions and welcomed us to train for the week. Communication was easy, waivers were completed online ahead of time, and the drop-in process couldn’t have been simpler. Visitor pricing also appeared very reasonable.
The youth program meets Monday through Thursday from 5:30–6:30 p.m., offering two gi classes and two no-gi classes each week. Although Professor August owns the academy, Professor Jeremiah Hooker taught the youth classes during our visit.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| 🥋 Competition Focus | Recreational |
| 👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly | Excellent |
| ✈️ Drop-In Experience | Excellent |
| 🧼 Cleanliness | Excellent |
| 👦 Kids Program | Very Good |
| 🏢 Facility | Very Good |
| 🚗 Parking | Good |
| ⭐ Would We Return? | Yes |
Kids Program
Each class was run a little differently, which kept things fresh throughout the week. Classes included warm-ups, conditioning, games, situational training, live sparring, and technique instruction. Rather than following the exact same routine every day, the instructors mixed things up while still maintaining good structure.
There were roughly 20–30 kids on the mats each evening with two to three instructors actively coaching. Most students were white and gray belts, with a couple of yellow belts mixed in.
Professor Jeremiah did an excellent job running the room. You could tell he has a wrestling background, which we appreciated, and he consistently emphasized being a good training partner, practicing safely, and taking care of each other. During live rounds, the instructors were attentive and frequently stopped submissions before they were fully applied, prioritizing safety over letting children fight until they tapped.
One area we’d have liked to see improved was the live rolling format. The kids didn’t rotate partners very often, so some rounds became repetitive over the course of the week.
Facility
The academy was very clean and offered plenty of mat space for the class size. There was enough seating for parents, although it could become tight during busy classes. The bathrooms and changing rooms were clean, with designated areas for shoes and bags. We didn’t notice any showers, and while the gym didn’t have foot washing stations before stepping onto the mats, that’s something we rarely see outside of larger competition academies.
Parking was easy, but finding the entrance the first day was surprisingly difficult since there wasn’t much exterior signage. We actually ended up following a group of jiu-jitsu kids inside to make sure we were in the right place.
Atmosphere
Alliance Twin Falls has a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. The students and parents were friendly, and our family felt comfortable training there from the first night.
This isn’t a gym we’d describe as highly competition-focused, at least for the kids program. Instead, it feels like a strong academy for hobbyists, families, and kids who want quality instruction in a positive environment without the intensity of a major competition school.
Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting Twin Falls and looking for a place for your kids to train, we’d feel comfortable recommending Alliance Twin Falls. We can’t speak to the adult program since we only attended the youth classes, but our experience with the kids’ program was positive from start to finish.
Would we train here again? Yes. If we were passing through Twin Falls, we’d happily stop in again. In particular, we’d enjoy getting more time on the mats with Professor Jeremiah, whose wrestling influence and emphasis on safe, technical training made a positive impression on our family.
