BJJ Gyms in California, United States

GJJDOC - San Dimas

We are an established Black Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Self-defense Academy certified under the Jiujitsu Global Federation (JJGF) and recognized by the International Brazilian Jiujitsu Federation (IBJJF). ​ We have been in the martial arts business for over 15 years and are proud to be the friendliest and safest place to learn traditional Self-Defense Style - Brazilian Jiujitsu in the city of San Dimas and the neighboring cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Pomona, Covina, La Verne and Claremont. We focus on smaller group classes in order to provide better instructor-student interaction. We are a group of family-oriented working individuals and students. Our common goal is to be a black belt on the mat and (off the mat) in all other areas of our lives.

American Elite Grappling (AEG)

American Elite Grappling (AEG) is the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program based at the legendary American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California. Founded in 1985 by world champion kickboxer Javier Mendez, AKA has been the premier Mixed Martial Arts gym in the Bay Area for over three decades and is widely recognized as one of the best MMA gyms in the world, having trained numerous UFC champions. AEG was created by Ron Keslar, who serves as head instructor of American Elite Grappling and as an AKA coach. Ron is a 2nd degree black belt under Leandro Vieira and began his grappling career in grade school with wrestling. He previously competed as a professional MMA fighter in Bellator, Strikeforce, and King of the Cage before transitioning to coaching. American Elite Grappling offers one of the most well-rounded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling programs in the United States, with over 20 gi and no-gi classes offered weekly for kids and adults, focusing on technique, fundamentals, and competition training. While AKA is known for champion-level fighters, at its core it is a family-friendly gym that caters to everyone from beginners age 4 to 65+, to those aspiring to train and compete at any level. The gym offers professional instruction in kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and MMA. AKA has been voted Best of Silicon Valley since 1985 and continues to focus on quality instruction and teaching solid technique across all martial arts disciplines.

Heroes Martial Arts

Heroes Downtown opened in 2009 and is the first of the Heroes Martial Arts studio. in 2018 Heroes moved across the street to our current location at 450 S 1st Street in a historic, refurnished brick and skylight building 100 years old. Heroes Martial Arts is located in the thriving SoFa district downtown. Perhaps the hippest neighborhood in all of San Jose, SoFA is home to a wide variety of businesses and organizations, ranging from cafes and restaurants, clubs, art galleries and creative firms to health and fitness gyms and yoga studios. The downtown location has classes seven day a week with early morning, morning, early afternoon and evening classes available for our Adult programs. The facility is constantly being decorated and features art from the local community (and students).

10th Planet San Mateo, CA

Your one stop for all things NoGi Brazilian Jiu Jits in the Peninsula area. Offering BJJ to everyone in the San Mateo, Belmont, Foster City, Redwood City, Burlinggame, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Palo Alto and Mountain View area. A great place for everyone to learn Jiu Jitsu regardless of athleticism and skill level. Adam “Big Red” Sachnoff is the head instructor and owner of 10th Planet San Mateo. Adam was introduced to 10th planet Jiu Jitsu through Eddie Bravo’s first black belt Denny Prokopos. Prokopos trained Adam to be a world champion competitor and a great instructor. Adam’s goal is to positively impact as many people’s lives as possible through his teaching of Jiu Jitsu. He believes everyone can benefit from training in BJJ. Jiu Jitsu forces those who are out of shape to work up a sweat, BJJ forces those who are socially awkward to communicate with their peers, it forces those who are arrogant to check their egos, it forces those who lack friends to constantly be around nice people who care about them with similar interest. ADCC Trials 1st Place 2012 Blue Belt NoGi IBJJF Worlds 2010: 1st Place Purple Belt NoGi IBJJF Worlds 2011: 3rd Place Gracie worlds and Nationals Purple belt Nogi 2012: 1st place 2012 Niburu Warrior of the year

Enso MMA

Enso MMA is Santa Barbara County's only 24/7 martial arts gym, offering comprehensive training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, MMA, Wrestling, and kids' programs. The gym cultivates a welcoming community where personal growth, empowerment, and fun are at the heart of everything they do, guided by the mantra "join a community, not a gym." Founded and led by head instructor Jacob Sandoval, Enso MMA brings together decades of martial arts expertise. Jacob's journey began at age 10 with wrestling, where he became a CIF champion at Bishop Diego High School. He later trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under IBJJF Hall of Famer Rubens Charles "Cobrinha" at the renowned Cobrinha headquarters in Los Angeles, earning countless gold medals. Jacob expanded his skills into boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA, competing successfully in both amateur and professional divisions, including Muay Thai competitions in Thailand. The gym is known for its friendly, supportive environment that welcomes practitioners of all levels—from complete beginners to experienced athletes. With clean, well-maintained, spacious facilities and a team of skilled instructors, Enso MMA provides top-notch, system-based instruction focused on building both physical skills and character. The community emphasizes respect, good humor, and personal development, creating a space where everyone feels encouraged to progress and become the best version of themselves.

Checkmat Valencia

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. Brazilian jiu-jitsu was formed from Kodokan Judo ground fighting (Ne-Waza) fundamentals that were taught to Luiz França and Carlos Gracie by master Mitsuyo Maeda. Brazilian jiu-jitsu eventually came to be its own art through the experimentations, practices, and adaptation from the Judo knowledge of Carlos and Hélio Gracie, who then passed their knowledge on to their extended family. BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self-defense. Sparring (commonly referred to as “rolling”) and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system. Since its inception in 1882, its parent art of Judo was separated from older systems of Japanese ju-jitsu by an important difference that was passed on to Brazilian jiu-jitsu: it is not solely a martial art: it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical fitness and building character in young people; and, ultimately, a way of life.

Checkmat Santa Rosa

Experience training that strengthens your body, sharpens your mind, and brings genuine enjoyment to every session. Jiu‑Jitsu offers a powerful path to personal growth—building confidence, reducing stress, and creating a sense of progress that feels exciting and deeply rewarding. Every class leaves you energized, focused, and eager for more. Learn practical grappling techniques and gain confidence in your ability to control and submit opponents. Our classes are welcoming to all ages and fitness levels.

Morumbi Jiu Jitsu & Fitness Academy - Simi Valley

At Morumbi Jiu Jitsu Academy, we are a family-focused community dedicated to authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We are proudly led by Professor Fabio Leopoldo—a 6th-degree black belt and multi-time World, Pan-American, and Brazilian National Champion. Under his expert mentorship, dedicated practitioners like Guilherme Monteiro have been taught to train at the absolute highest level, bringing this standard of excellence to our Morumbi Simi Valley location. Together, we provide world-class instruction in a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment for kids, teens, and adults. Beginner-friendly classes, supportive coaches, and a clear path from your first class to improvement. Results are often seen in just a few weeks – even if you’ve never trained before.