Jiu Jitsu has absolutely exploded in popularity over the past 10 years, and that means one thing: there are SO many gyms to choose from!
The answer to "what is the best Jiu Jitsu gym in the world" is totally subjective, but here are our picks.
1. Team New Wave Jiu Jitsu
New Wave is a "pros only" gym based in Austin, TX. They train in a private facility at Roka (a sunglasses company) headquarters.
The head coach at New Wave is Jiu Jitsu legend John Danaher. His most famous athlete is #1 ranked Gordon Ryan, but other notable competitors at New Wave include Giancarlo Bodoni, Garry Tonon, and Luke Griffith.
OK so putting New Wave at the top of this list might be cheating a little bit since not everyone can walk off the street and sign up here. It is a private gym after all. But they have the top coach (John Danaher) and top athlete (black belt Gordon Ryan) in all of Jiu Jitsu so there is no way we could say anyone other than New Wave is the best Jiu Jitsu gym in the world.
2. B-Team Jiu Jitsu
B-Team is no stranger to coming second! In fact, their name is a tongue-in-cheek joke about how many of their athletes (Craig Jones notably) have a penchant for bringing home silver medals in the world's biggest Jiu Jitsu tournaments.
Unlike New Wave, B-Team does have an open program. While this gym is home to elite pros like Nicky Ryan and Nick Rodriguez, it has a fully built out Jiu Jitsu program that anyone can sign up for.
Training at B-Team is equal parts awe inspiring (you'll run into top pros training for events like CJI and coaches like Dima Murovanni), hilarious (their social media antics are ridiculous and funny), and difficult (it's one of the toughest training rooms in the world). One thing to note is that B-Team is a no-gi only gym. So if you're looking to train in the gi, it's not for you.
3. Legion American Jiu-Jitsu
Legion is the brainchild of American Jiu-Jitsu star Keenan Cornelius. He opened this gym in San Diego at the start of 2020, in one of the most spacious and beautiful facilities we've ever seen.
While Keenan doesn't teach at Legion, his roster of gi and no-gi coaches is very impressive. This gym also has one of the strongest beginner programs in the world.
If you're in Southern California, Legion is a must see. They also have a great open mat on Sundays if you're visiting from out of town.
4. Renzo Gracie New York City
Also known as "the blue basement," Renzo Gracie NYC has been home to dozens of elite athletes over the years. It's actually where John Danaher and his squad of athletes including Gordon Ryan sharpened their skills.
While Professor Danaher and his athletes have left New York for Texas, Renzo Gracie's gym is still an amazing place to train and also just a must-visit place of Jiu Jitsu history.
What Makes a Jiu Jitsu Gym Great?
There you have it, our picks for the best Jiu Jitsu gyms in the world. You might be asking yourself "what makes these gyms so good?" Well in our eyes, here are the important criteria:
- World class coaching
- Excellent training partners
- Large facility
- Amenities (showers, parking, etc)
- Location (a nice facility in the middle of nowhere won't be able to attract enough high level training partners)
What do you think, does your gym belong on this list?
