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
Pasadena
Sacramento
Oakland
Glendale
Santa Monica
El Cajon
Sunnyvale
Torrance
Whittier
Burbank
Culver City
La Mesa
National City
San Leandro
Alameda
Arcadia
Berkeley
Fremont
Morgan Hill
Santa Clara
Buena Park
Campbell
Carson
Daly City
Downey
Gardena
Imperial Beach
Lakewood
Lawndale
Long Beach
Los Gatos
Monrovia
Mountain View
Newark
Redondo Beach
Richmond
San Bruno
San Mateo
Santee
South Gate
South San Francisco
Alhambra
Beverly Hills
Bonita
East Los Angeles
El Monte
El Segundo
Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach
La Mirada
Manhattan Beach
Montebello
Pacifica
Poway
San Anselmo
San Gabriel
South Pasadena
Alpine
Altadena
Anaheim
Artesia
Bell
Cerritos
Commerce
Corte Madera
Costa Mesa
Cypress
Del Mar
Duarte
East Palo Alto
El Cerrito
El Sobrante
Emeryville
Fairfax
Hacienda Heights
Inglewood
La Cañada Flintridge
Lakeside
La Palma
Lemon Grove
Los Altos
Marina del Rey
Millbrae
Mill Valley
Milpitas
Monterey Park
Norwalk
Orange
Orinda
Palo Alto
Paramount
Pico Rivera
Ramona
San Marcos
San Rafael
Santa Ana
Santa Fe Springs
San Ysidro
Saratoga
Sierra Madre
Solana Beach
Stanford
West Sacramento
Tournaments and seminars in California.
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.
Open mats in California.
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Los Angeles, California
Weekly Wednesday lunchtime open mat (sparring time) at Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy LAX, directly after the 11am all-levels class.
Wednesday open mat details →Santa Monica, California
Weekly Wednesday lunchtime no-gi open mat at Gracie Originals Santa Monica, directly after the advanced no-gi class.
Wednesday open mat details →Del Mar, California
Wednesday gi open mat at Surfight BJJ. Open to drop-ins from any school. $20 per session ($10 upgrade for full day).
Wednesday open mat details →Los Angeles, California
Weekly Wednesday evening open mat (sparring time) at Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy LAX.
Wednesday open mat details →Los Angeles, California
Weekly Wednesday open mat hour in the adult jiu-jitsu program at Valley Martial Arts Center in Sherman Oaks. Visitors welcome per the gym: first class free, $35 per class after.
Wednesday open mat details →Los Angeles, California
Weekly Wednesday open mat hour at Jiu Jitsu Studio on Melrose Ave, directly after the evening class.
Wednesday open mat details →Los Angeles, California
Weekly Wednesday evening open mat at Gomez Jiu-Jitsu in downtown LA. The gym's single drop-in rate ($40, approx. one hour per class) explicitly includes open mat access.
Wednesday open mat details →Altadena, California
Weekly Wednesday evening open mat on the 10th Planet Pasadena schedule (60 min). The gym notes the schedule is subject to change; confirm on the day by phone.
Wednesday open mat details →