Three Academies.
One standard.
Each location runs its own weekly schedule across BJJ, boxing, kickboxing, MMA, wrestling, and Kajukenbo. Walk into any of them — the room feels the same.
“The mind will quit a lot sooner than the body will.”
Karen Darabedyan
Karen Darabedyan trained at Hayastan MMA Academy under Gokor Chivichyan — one of the most decorated submission-grappling coaches in the world.
His training partners include Ronda Rousey, Gegard Mousasi, Karo Parisyan, and Manny Gamburyan. At WEC 44 in 2009, he defeated former champion Rob McCullough.
Read the founder profile →Each location runs its own weekly schedule across BJJ, boxing, kickboxing, MMA, wrestling, and Kajukenbo. Walk into any of them — the room feels the same.
Snapshots from across the three academies — BJJ rolls, boxing rounds, kids on the mat, pros in fight camp. We don't stage photos. We just train.
Color-coded across our schedule so you always know exactly what mat you're on. From four-year-old fundamentals to professional fight camps.
No promo pageantry. These are upcoming bouts for KD MMA pros and amateurs — with watch parties at the Glendale flagship.
Verified Google reviews across our three locations. We don't buy them. We don't farm them. People show up and they write.
The coaching is on another level. Karen has been at WEC — you can tell from the way he breaks technique down. My kid started at 7. Three years later he wins his bracket every tournament.
Best BJJ in Glendale, hands down. The women's only class on Saturday is gold. Coaches treat you like family but don't coddle you.
I've trained at four gyms in LA. KD MMA is the real thing — not a fitness boutique pretending. Pros are on the mat. You learn how to actually fight.
Mat-side cameras at all locations · live stream on YouTube · waivers handled in-person before class.