BJJ Academies in California.
California is the densest U.S. BJJ market and the literal annual finish line of the IBJJF Grand Slam season — IBJJF Worlds has been held at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach every year since 2007. The state's role in U.S. BJJ history starts in 1989, when Rorion Gracie opened the first U.S. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance after years of garage classes in Hermosa Beach. Four years later, Rorion co-founded the UFC as a showcase for the family's style.
Today multiple sport-defining HQs sit inside California. Gracie University HQ is at 2440 W Carson St in Torrance. Gracie Barra Headquarters sits in Irvine (14988 Sand Canyon Ave). Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ is at 4810 Mercury St in San Diego — Andre Galvão's team relocated from Rio Claro, Brazil to San Diego in 2010. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu HQ runs out of Downtown LA (1314 S Grand Ave) under Eddie Bravo. Cobrinha BJJ & Fitness sits at 4929 Wilshire Blvd in Mid-Wilshire under Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles. Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ) opened in Costa Mesa in 2012 under the Mendes brothers (411 E 17th St). Ralph Gracie SF (1166 Howard St, SoMa) opened in 1994, with a Berkeley branch added in 2005.
The competition calendar runs heavy: IBJJF Worlds at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, the IBJJF American National Championship at the same venue, and the ADCC West Coast Trials.
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Jose
San Francisco
Chula Vista
Sacramento
Oakland
Pasadena
Glendale
El Cajon
Santa Monica
Whittier
Burbank
La Mesa
National City
San Leandro
Torrance
Alameda
Arcadia
Berkeley
Morgan Hill
Buena Park
Downey
Fremont
Gardena
Imperial Beach
Lakewood
Lawndale
Long Beach
Los Gatos
Monrovia
Newark
Redondo Beach
Richmond
San Bruno
San Mateo
Santee
South Gate
Sunnyvale
Bonita
Carson
Culver City
Daly City
East Los Angeles
El Monte
El Segundo
Hermosa Beach
La Mirada
Manhattan Beach
Mountain View
Pacifica
Poway
San Anselmo
San Gabriel
South San Francisco
Alhambra
Alpine
Altadena
Anaheim
Artesia
Bell
Beverly Hills
Campbell
Cerritos
Corte Madera
Costa Mesa
Cypress
Del Mar
Duarte
East Palo Alto
El Cerrito
El Sobrante
Emeryville
Fairfax
Hacienda Heights
Hawthorne
Inglewood
Lakeside
La Palma
Lemon Grove
Los Altos
Marina del Rey
Millbrae
Mill Valley
Montebello
Monterey Park
Norwalk
Orange
Orinda
Palo Alto
Paramount
Pico Rivera
Ramona
San Marcos
San Rafael
Santa Ana
Santa Clara
Santa Fe Springs
San Ysidro
Sierra Madre
Solana Beach
Stanford
Tournaments and seminars in California.
Harry West Gymnasium · San Diego, California
This IBJJF International Open tournament runs in San Diego, California, contested under IBJJF gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Harry West Gymnasium · San Diego, California
This IBJJF International Open No-Gi tournament runs in San Diego, California, contested under IBJJF no-gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Play By Play Productions · San Marcos, California
Grappling Industries Gi and No-Gi grappling tournament with round-robin brackets for all belt levels and ages, at Play By Play Productions in San Marcos, California.
Harry West Gymnasium · San Diego, California
This IBJJF International Open Kids tournament brings youth competitors to San Diego, California under IBJJF gi rules across all belts and age brackets.
Alliant University · San Diego, California
North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Gi and No-Gi grappling tournament with divisions for all ages, belt ranks, and skill levels, at Alliant University in San Diego, California.
Venue To Be Confirmed · San Diego, California
AJP Tour (Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro) Gi/No-Gi jiu-jitsu championship at Venue To Be Confirmed in San Diego, California.
Santa Clara Fairgrounds · San Jose, California
North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Gi and No-Gi grappling tournament with divisions for all ages, belt ranks, and skill levels, at Santa Clara Fairgrounds in San Jose, California.
Los Angeles Convention Center- South Hall G · Los Angeles, California
North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Gi and No-Gi grappling tournament with divisions for all ages, belt ranks, and skill levels, at Los Angeles Convention Center- South Hall G in Los Angeles, California.
Open mats in California.
Thursdaytoday
Los Angeles, California
Weekly Thursday 7am gi open mat at Frogtown Jiu-Jitsu: informal supervised training (roll, spar, drill; no formal class). Adult sessions at Frogtown run one hour.
Thursday open mat details →Santa Monica, California
Weekly Thursday lunchtime open mat at Gracie Originals Santa Monica, directly after the noon adult gi class.
Thursday open mat details →Santa Monica, California
Weekly Thursday evening open mat at Gracie Originals Santa Monica, directly after the 6pm adult gi class.
Thursday open mat details →Los Angeles, California
Weekly Thursday open mat hour at Jiu Jitsu Studio on Melrose Ave, directly after the evening class.
Thursday open mat details →Los Angeles, California
Weekly Thursday night open mat (sparring time) at Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy LAX.
Thursday open mat details →Monterey Park, California
Weekly Thursday night open mat at Varsity Jiu Jitsu in Monterey Park, directly after the evening all-levels class.
Thursday open mat details →Friday
San Marcos, California
Friday pre-dawn open mat at San Diego Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (San Marcos location).
Friday open mat details →San Diego, California
Friday morning open mat at 10th Planet San Diego. Listed on the schedule as 'All Levels — Open Rolls' (10th Planet terminology for an instructor-free rolling block). Ages 16+.
Friday open mat details →