The Pit is a professional mixed martial arts association and training camp operating in Arroyo Grande, California; with a branch in Henderson, Nevada, and affiliate schools throughout the United States.

In 1986, The Pit was founded in Woodland Hills, California as a training gym teaching the art of Kajukenbo, which is now known as Hawaiian Kempo.

Founder, John Hackleman started the school as a means to teach a more straight forward, no-nonsense approach to martial arts.

When The Pit opened to the general public, Hackleman renamed the school "KuZen" in order to attract kids and families.

[10] In order to add more time for a fitness-oriented curriculum aimed at producing well-conditioned athletes, training katas were eliminated from the original KaJuKenBo formula.