BJJ Academies in United States.
The United States is the second-largest BJJ scene in the world after Brazil, and the place where the sport went from a Gracie family demonstration to a globally televised competition circuit. The story starts in Torrance, California — Rorion Gracie opened the first U.S. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy there in 1989, and four years later co-founded the UFC as a showcase for the family's style.
Today the U.S. surface is dense and geographically spread. Gracie Barra Headquarters sits in Irvine, California (14988 Sand Canyon Ave). Atos Jiu-Jitsu's HQ is in San Diego under Andre Galvão. New York City is its own concentration: Renzo Gracie Academy in Midtown Manhattan (224 W 30th St, opened 1996) and Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu in Chelsea (250 W 26th St, opened September 2009). Alliance's main U.S. base is in Sandy Springs, Atlanta (5290 Roswell Rd) under co-founder Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti, one of six Rolls Gracie black belts. 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu's no-gi system is run out of Downtown LA (1314 S Grand Ave) by Eddie Bravo, who founded the team in 2003.
The U.S. also hosts the calendar's biggest events: IBJJF Worlds at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach (May 28–31, 2026), IBJJF Pan in Kissimmee, Florida (March 24–29, 2026), and the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship in Las Vegas. The most recent ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship was at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, in August 2024.
Arizona
California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Washington
Tournaments and seminars in United States.
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center · Concord, North Carolina
This IBJJF International Open tournament runs in Concord, North Carolina, contested under IBJJF gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
HYPE Athletics - Dearborn Heights · Dearborn Heights, Michigan
This IBJJF International Open tournament runs in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, contested under IBJJF gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
HYPE Athletics - Dearborn Heights · Dearborn Heights, Michigan
This IBJJF International Open No-Gi tournament runs in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, contested under IBJJF no-gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center · Concord, North Carolina
This IBJJF International Open No-Gi tournament runs in Concord, North Carolina, contested under IBJJF no-gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Slidell Municipal Auditorium · New Orleans, Louisiana
NAGA grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championship in the New Orleans, Louisiana area.
HYPE Athletics - Dearborn Heights · Dearborn Heights, Michigan
This IBJJF International Open Kids tournament brings youth competitors to Dearborn Heights, Michigan under IBJJF gi rules across all belts and age brackets.
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center · Concord, North Carolina
This IBJJF International Open Kids tournament brings youth competitors to Concord, North Carolina under IBJJF gi rules across all belts and age brackets.
Chesterfield Sports Complex · Chesterfield, Missouri
This IBJJF International Open No-Gi tournament runs in Chesterfield, Missouri, contested under IBJJF no-gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Meadowlands Exposition Center · Secaucus, New Jersey
This IBJJF International Open No-Gi tournament runs in Secaucus, New Jersey, contested under IBJJF no-gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Chesterfield Sports Complex · Chesterfield, Missouri
This IBJJF International Open tournament runs in Chesterfield, Missouri, contested under IBJJF gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Meadowlands Exposition Center · Secaucus, New Jersey
This IBJJF International Open tournament runs in Secaucus, New Jersey, contested under IBJJF gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Hanover Sportsplex · Boston, Massachusetts
NAGA grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championship in the Boston, Massachusetts area.