How Sunny Dojo Turned a COVID-Era Rec Center Into Serra Mesa's Family Dojo
Starring
Professor Clyde Morgan was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, where he began training Capoeira Angola at age four before discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in New York. He founded Sunny Dojo with his wife Pamela in 2022, building a non-competition, self-defense-focused academy that serves Serra Mesa families from age 4 to 83.
Pamela Morgan co-founded Sunny Dojo after writing the business plan during COVID, when she was furloughed from her job. She manages the dojo's back-office operations---including client communications, social media, and Gymdesk administration---while Clyde leads instruction on the mats.
About the Gym
Sunny Dojo Martial Arts is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing academy located at 2691 Mission Village Drive in Serra Mesa, San Diego. Founded in 2022 by Clyde and Pamela Morgan, the dojo offers Little Ninjas (ages 4-6), Ninjas (ages 7-12), Advanced Ninjas (invitation only), kickboxing (13+), and gi and no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The academy describes itself as "not a competition academy," focusing instead on practical self-defense, discipline, and personal development in a safe, community-driven environment.
Sunny Dojo serves the Serra Mesa neighborhood and surrounding areas, hosting monthly hill walks to Snapdragon Stadium, a fall festival at St. Columba, and dedicated Moms Week and Dads Week events. Saturday mornings feature a Mommy and Me / Daddy and Me class where parents and children train together. Clyde also leads self-defense seminars for young people in the community.
đź“Ť 2691 Mission Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92123
đź“ž 619-880-0273
Summary
This is the story of Sunny Dojo Martial Arts in Serra Mesa, San Diego—a neighborhood dojo founded by Professor Clyde Morgan and his wife Pamela after she was furloughed during COVID. Pamela wrote the business plan over Thanksgiving break at her parents' house, and by the following April they were renting space at the local rec center. They moved into their own location with 15 students already signed up, growing steadily through word of mouth and a post in the Serra Mesa Mamas Facebook group.
The video shows how the Morgans carved out a niche in one of the most saturated martial arts markets in the country by focusing on practical self-defense rather than competition. Clyde—born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and trained in Capoeira Angola from age four—shares how the dojo serves members from age 4 to 83 and is working toward a nonprofit to remove cost barriers for underprivileged youth.
