# Alpine Jiu Jitsu > Annandale, United States ## Overview **Name:** Alpine Jiu Jitsu **Description:** Alpine Jiu-Jitsu is a local, family-owned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Alpine, CA, serving the East County community since 2016. Located just 30 miles east of downtown San Diego and minutes off the 8 freeway, the academy offers comprehensive BJJ training for all ages 5 and up. With over 20 years of combined experience, the academy provides a welcoming, family-friendly environment where students can build coordination, confidence, and self-defense skills. The academy is led by founder Professor Frank Califano, a black belt under Master Fabio Santos (7th degree coral belt), who has dedicated nearly 20 years to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and opened the academy in 2016. The coaching team also includes Tarsis Humphreys, a 4th-degree black belt and multiple-time IBJJF World Champion who trained under Fabio Gurgel at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academy in São Paulo, Brazil. Tarsis brings world-class expertise in pressure passing, guard work, and strategic gameplay. Additional instructors include Deborah Clem, David Goan, Danielle Kaiser, Hector Mena (purple belt), Matt Heinemann, and gym manager Jennifer. Alpine Jiu-Jitsu offers programs for all experience levels including Mini's (ages 5-10), Juniors & Teens (11-16), Adult Beginner/Fundamentals, and Advanced classes in both gi and no-gi styles. The academy emphasizes fundamental techniques, self-defense, coordination development, and competition training. All head instructors are black belts, and coaches are CPR, AED, and First Aid certified. The academy partners with Adopt A Cop BJJ and We Defy Foundation, supporting law enforcement and combat veterans through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. **Status:** Active ## Contact Information **Address:** 1347 Tavern Rd Ste D Annandale, CA 91901, United States **Phone:** 619-980-2691 **Email:** Contact@alpinebjjacademy.com **Website:** https://www.alpinebjjacademy.com/ **Social Media:** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpinejiujitsu/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlpineBJJAcademy/ ## Instructors ### Frank Califano - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** Long time resident of Alpine, coached youth sports for over 15 years. Black belt from Master Fabio Santos (7th degree coral belt). Started BJJ close to 20 years ago, opened Alpine Jiu-Jitsu in 2016. Active competitor with tournament experience. ### Danielle Kaiser **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Found Jiu Jitsu through her children. Training for four and half years. Competed in 2 tournaments, focusing on movement and technique development. ### David Goan **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** 47 years old, proud father of four, married for 19 years. 30 years in construction industry. Started BJJ approximately 6 years ago after witnessing positive impact on his daughter Faith. ### Deborah Clem **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Found BJJ through her children, started with self-defense class at Alpine Jiu-Jitsu and got hooked. Training for 4.5 years. Competed in 2 tournaments in first year, earning third place medal in second tournament. ### Hector Mena - Purple **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Purple belt under Tarsis Humphreys and Frank Califano. Dedicated practitioner and assistant coach with strong work ethic. ### Matt Heinemann **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Middle school teacher for 11 years, coaching high school cross country, soccer, and track and field for 2 years. Started training BJJ 3 years ago to support his son's training. ### Tarsis Humphreys - Black **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Tarsis Humphreys was born on November 4th 1983 in Sao Paulo capital of Sao Paulo state in Brazil. He started training Jiu Jitsu when he was around 13 years of age after a close friend from school showed him a couple fo BJJ moves, namely the armbar and the “mata leao”. After Tarsis witnessed how effective these techniques were he decided to give Jiu Jitsu a go. Tarsis’ first and only coach was the famous “General” of Alliance, Fabio Gurgel. Gurgel graded Tarsis in all his belt, including his black belt in 2006 just after he won the world title for the second time in the brown belt division. After he reached the black belt level, Tarsis Humphreys continued in good form proving he was more then capable of fighting amongst the best grapplers in the world, winning the Pan American Championships that year in both his weight and the open weight (absolute) division. In 2009 after he won both his weight class and the absolute division at the World Pro Cup finals in Abu Dhabi (earning a total of 14 000 dollars in the process), Tarsis told the press he would use that money to invest on tuition for a new profession, though maintaining that he would not leave Jiu Jitsu. Tarsis would later move to the United States of America (2010) where he opened his own academy, though the American experience was short lived and he chose to return to Brazil. Tarsis Humphreys Official Instagram: @tarsisjj Tarsis Humphreys Official Website: tarsisbjj.com (in Portuguese) Tarsis Humpreys vs. Braulio Estima ## Programs ### Mini's **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** This class focuses on teaching Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals while building a strong base for young practitioners. Curriculum develops confidence through simple movements, positions of control, self-defense, exercise, coordination, and basic submission techniques. ### Juniors & Teens **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Takes juniors and teens to a higher level of Jiu-Jitsu training, supporting those who want to compete. Focuses on fundamentals and advanced techniques for success in competitions and self-defense, including wrestling and MMA. ### Adult Fundamentals **Skill Level:** Beginner **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** For first-time Jiu-Jitsu enthusiasts who want to learn fundamentals with no sparring. Focuses on self-defense techniques, basic drills, and warmups to build strength and flexibility. Geared towards white belts through blue belts. ### Adult Advanced **Skill Level:** Advanced **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Developed to take practitioners to the highest level with advanced Jiu-Jitsu techniques. Helps students achieve their goals whether becoming high-level competitors or achieving black belt mastery. Includes judo, wrestling, MMA ground techniques, advanced submissions, competition prep, and live drilling. ### MMA **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** all_ages **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Mixed Martial Arts class combining all aspects of martial arts into one style, including stand-up, clinching, and ground fighting. Covers boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, judo, and Jiu-Jitsu. ### Women's Self Defense **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Women's self-defense classes teaching fundamentals of protection in unsafe situations. All techniques are practical and valuable in real-life situations. ### Main Schedule **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** all_ages **Classes:** ### Kids BJJ **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Classes:** ### Mini's (Ages 5-10) **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** BJJ fundamentals for young children focusing on simple movements, positions of control, self-defense, coordination, and confidence building. **Classes:** ### Juniors & Teens (Ages 11-16) **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Higher level BJJ training for teens supporting competition goals. Focuses on fundamentals and advanced techniques for competition success and self-defense. **Classes:** ### Adult Beginner/Fundamentals **Skill Level:** Beginner **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** First-time BJJ training with no sparring. Focuses on self-defense techniques, basic drills, warmups, strength and flexibility. Geared towards white through blue belts. ### Adult Advanced (Gi & No-Gi) **Skill Level:** Advanced **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Advanced training taking practitioners to the highest level. Focuses on advanced techniques for competition prep or achieving highest levels of BJJ mastery. **Classes:** ### Women's Self Defense **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Women-focused self-defense and conditioning classes. Practical techniques for real-life unsafe situations. **Classes:** ### Competition Team (Invite Only) **Skill Level:** Advanced **Age Group:** all_ages **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Elite competition training for invited students. Advanced techniques and competition preparation. **Classes:** --- **Last Updated:** March 10, 2026 **Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/gyms/united-states/california/annandale/alpine-jiu-jitsu)