The Sanctuary BJJ & Fitness

Undoubtedly the best BJJ and CrossFit gym in the greater Lakewood area if not all of Colorado! Coach Charlie Minkin and her husband Coach Ben Lowry started this gym in 2012 and never looked back. They poured their heart and soul into their passion of Martial Arts and their hard work shows for it. They train mostly all age groups in BJJ and CrossFit! This gym treats you respect and ultimate level of professionalism. Willing to work with you and push you to levels you thought were unobtainable. Charlie Minkin has an extensive history in Martial Arts and training CrossFit. In 2004 Charlie was on the US Olympic team for Judo and shared the stage with Ronda Rousey! So if you are looking for tested leadership this is the spot. My wife has been going to CrossFit here for years and she has a blast! She loves her peers and loves her coaches. We are proud to call The Sanctuary home. Our daughter will be joining the BJJ side soon and we can’t wait!

Incredible unprofessional studio. I really can not comprehend these people. My children must attend, however I 100% do not recommend, horrible experience with the owner who has proved to be incredibly inappropriate and cultivated a toxic culture of picking sides, bullying and intimidation. I have had a wonderful experience at Easton BJJ Littleton both for myself and as a family with my children, I feel welcomed, embraced, encouraged and accepted, they somehow even convinced me to take classes myself where previously I would never consider it. But this place is not a vibe and I say this boldly ten toes down. UPDATE: When I tell you everything you need to know about this “community” is in their response. You involved your business with my “personal issues” so this is a weird response considering that. Add sharing personal details to the list of your petty unprofessionalism, you give yourself away. But I see you. Great experiences earn great reviews because they provide a great service . And negative experiences gain negative reviews for poor experiences that’s how Google reviews work. See the positive ones?? Those were positive experiences. Your negative is well deserved. Again 10 toes down. And Never deleted. Edited. …I see you edited your response, it was deleted and reposted. You put yourselves right in the middle, literally legally. And now you lie about it? Stand on business. And you are now hostile when I write about MY negative experience. And you were real quick to bring up my “personal issues” unsolicited in your rebuttal. YOU bring up my personal business then tell me to keep my personal business “out of the studio”?? Where was I talking about divorce in my review? Who are you and how do you know this?? I certainly didn’t mention it?! I do not recall saying anything about my “personal business” in my initial review? I think that’s you projecting, cause I didn’t. I kept it professional and you came with the petty disrespect and personal attacks. Is this the community energy you spoke about earlier? Cause it’s giving weird unnecessary hostility and aggressiveness. Is the the BJJ way?? Cause y'all have me wondering. Who would want to be around a business who cosplays as welcoming but look here are your behavior in this review reply. Who’s really the drama?? Oh and one more edit. The reason I’m showing up is because I’m healing from years of physical, mental and emotional abuse by my ex husband, YOUR STUDENT, whom I have a permanent protection order on, confirmed by 3 different courts based on evidence, NOT gossip or “drama”. Becoming a healthier and better person for myself and for my children is my top priority. I’m no longer afraid and I won’t allow YOU or anyone else to interfere with my relationship with my children.That includes every single person at this studio who enables him and whoever wrote this reply whom I find to be absolutely abhorrent. This is how y'all treat mothers?! smdh. I’ll edit and repost as much as I want. Stay mad.

I have been training at the sanctuary for over a year now, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. The coaches, Ben Lowry and Charlee Minkin are top tier and provide exceptional instruction. The gym culture is welcoming and competitive. If you want to compete or are only looking to improve your Jiu Jitsu, judo or conditioning this is the place for you.

I have been a member of the Sanctuary for over 5 years and have 4 kids enrolled in their BJJ kids program. I can say without a doubt this is the best gym in the area, and the results show. Three of my kids have been competing in local BJJ tournaments for several years now and all of them have had great success due to the excellent instruction from professors Ben Lowry (BJJ Black Belt under Rigan Machado) and Charlee Minkin (Black Belt & 2004 Olympic Judoka). These instructors will push your kids hard, teach them discipline, and make them stronger in every aspect of their lives. I have great gratitude and respect for the community they have fostered and for the skills and mental toughness they are instilling in kids every day.

I’ve been a member at The Sanctuary Fitness since 2018, and I can honestly say it’s one of my favorite places to be. Charlee, Lucas, and Ben are amazing coaches who’ve helped me improve my CrossFit-style skills and push myself in ways I never thought I could. I usually hit the 9 a.m. class — it’s always a fun mix of workouts and an awesome crew of people. If you’re looking for a smaller, welcoming community where everyone knows your name and genuinely supports your goals, this is it!