Gladiator Jiu Jitsu Family
Gladiator Jiu Jitsu Family, 9509 Central Ave, Unit F, Montclair, CA 91763
About
Gladiator Jiu Jitsu Family offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes for preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults, along with Muay Thai and Nogi/Wrestling. The program also offers birthday parties, summer camp, and kids martial arts summer camps. Students are asked to wear comfortable clothes suitable for sports and to bring a water bottle to classes.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Gladiator Jiu Jitsu Family has been serving Montclair since 2018 and offers preschool, kids, teen, and adult programs in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Nogi/Wrestling, and self-defense. The leadership team includes Professor Kenneth Penn (Black Belt Head Instructor), Professor Denny Meelarp (Adults Coach), Coach Michael Dawson (Kids/Adults Coach), Coach Justin Spencer (Kids/Adults Coach and Office Ninja), Coach Matthew Greensweight (Nogi/Wrestling Coach), Coach Marvin Ruiz (Muay Thai Coach), Coach Kevin Rodriguez (Kids Coach and Office Ninja), and Coach Michelle Penn (Office Manager and Program Director). The program states that it is dedicated to changing lives through martial arts, education, and coaching, and that it strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere for students and family members. It states that martial arts can be for everyone regardless of age, gender, or experience level, and that it uses a realistic and practical approach to self-defense.
Professor Kenneth Penn is an IBJJF NOGI WORLD CHAMPION with multiple IBJJF competition placements, including 1st Place 2018 IBJJF NoGi World Championship and several other podium finishes from 2014–2017. Professor Denny Meelarp served in the Marine Corps from 1997–2019 with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, trained entry-level Marines at Parris Island and Quantico, is a Senior Marine Instructor at Fontana High School MCJROTC, began formal Jiu Jitsu training in 2013, received his black belt under Professor Ken Penn in 2022, and holds black belts in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Judo, and Muay Thai. Coach Michael Dawson, Coach Justin Spencer, Coach Matthew Greensweight, Coach Marvin Ruiz, Coach Kevin Rodriguez, and Coach Michelle Penn are described as active competitors or experienced practitioners, with Coach Michael, Coach Michelle, and others having specific IBJJF, NAGA, and BJJ Tour competition results.
The program describes itself as Montclair's Best Martial Arts school and notes that Montclair members have seen improvements in as little as 7 days. It offers programs for preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults, birthday parties at the academy, and kids martial arts summer camps. Parents are encouraged to watch their children in kids martial arts lessons, and there is also an option for parents to drop children off during classes. One testimonial states that Coach Ken and Michelle are “super positive and encouraging” and calls it “a great place for kids to train and have fun at the same time.” Another testimonial notes that a parent’s kids love coming to class and that their self-esteem, strength, and confidence have “boosted so much.” Additional testimonials describe the academy as having a welcoming, fun, and inviting atmosphere and recommend trying a free class. The program notes that Professor Kenneth Penn provides Jiu Jitsu and self-defense for Montclair families and surrounding communities where he grew up.
Last updated July 2, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Gladiator Jiu Jitsu Family has been serving Montclair since 2018 and offers preschool, kids, teen, and adult programs in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Nogi/Wrestling, and self-defense. The leadership team includes Professor Kenneth Penn (Black Belt Head Instructor), Professor Denny Meelarp (Adults Coach), Coach Michael Dawson (Kids/Adults Coach), Coach Justin Spencer (Kids/Adults Coach and Office Ninja), Coach Matthew Greensweight (Nogi/Wrestling Coach), Coach Marvin Ruiz (Muay Thai Coach), Coach Kevin Rodriguez (Kids Coach and Office Ninja), and Coach Michelle Penn (Office Manager and Program Director). The program states that it is dedicated to changing lives through martial arts, education, and coaching, and that it strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere for students and family members. It states that martial arts can be for everyone regardless of age, gender, or experience level, and that it uses a realistic and practical approach to self-defense.
Professor Kenneth Penn is an IBJJF NOGI WORLD CHAMPION with multiple IBJJF competition placements, including 1st Place 2018 IBJJF NoGi World Championship and several other podium finishes from 2014–2017. Professor Denny Meelarp served in the Marine Corps from 1997–2019 with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, trained entry-level Marines at Parris Island and Quantico, is a Senior Marine Instructor at Fontana High School MCJROTC, began formal Jiu Jitsu training in 2013, received his black belt under Professor Ken Penn in 2022, and holds black belts in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Judo, and Muay Thai. Coach Michael Dawson, Coach Justin Spencer, Coach Matthew Greensweight, Coach Marvin Ruiz, Coach Kevin Rodriguez, and Coach Michelle Penn are described as active competitors or experienced practitioners, with Coach Michael, Coach Michelle, and others having specific IBJJF, NAGA, and BJJ Tour competition results.
The program describes itself as Montclair's Best Martial Arts school and notes that Montclair members have seen improvements in as little as 7 days. It offers programs for preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults, birthday parties at the academy, and kids martial arts summer camps. Parents are encouraged to watch their children in kids martial arts lessons, and there is also an option for parents to drop children off during classes. One testimonial states that Coach Ken and Michelle are “super positive and encouraging” and calls it “a great place for kids to train and have fun at the same time.” Another testimonial notes that a parent’s kids love coming to class and that their self-esteem, strength, and confidence have “boosted so much.” Additional testimonials describe the academy as having a welcoming, fun, and inviting atmosphere and recommend trying a free class. The program notes that Professor Kenneth Penn provides Jiu Jitsu and self-defense for Montclair families and surrounding communities where he grew up.
Last updated July 2, 2026.
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