San Jose, California, the 3rd most populous city in California, is a haven for Jiu Jitsu specialists and enthusiasts. The first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies in the city emerged during the 1990s, which laid the foundation for the thriving BJJ community in the city today.
If you want to learn self-defense, improve your health, or compete in BJJ tournaments in San Jose, we listed down some of the best Jiu Jitsu academies and gyms in the area.
1. Guerilla Jiu Jitsu Martial Arts and Fitness
Building a solid foundation is what Guerilla Jiu Jitsu is all about. They offer a holistic approach to learning Jiu Jitsu starting from fundamentals of self-defense and more advanced techniques.
Matt Darcy, Guerilla’s primary instructor and a 3rd degree blackbelt, supports the goals of all Jiu Jitsu enthusiasts starting from 3-year-old kids to high-level experts. Before you commit, make sure that you avail their free trial class.
- (408) 889-5229
- 478 W San Carlos St San Jose, CA 95110
Find them on Instagram @guerrillajjsanjose
2. Ralph Gracie
“Be your Best Self in 2024” – this is the best tag line of the year and Ralph Gracie will help you make it a reality. Aside from the fundamentals and advanced BJJ techniques, they make sure that you get that fitness transformation you’ve always wanted.
If you want excitement while losing weight and keeping your body healthy, sign up now and avail their free trial. Get a feel of how the instructors train their students and see the benefits that you can get from there.
- (408) 320-9848
- 4607 Cherry Ave San Jose, CA 95118
Find them on Instagram @_ralphgracie_sanjose_
3. GloGlo
GloGlo is a gym offering both Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Learning self-defense and changing your lifestyle would be made fun and exciting, thanks to Leonardo Seixas, the founder of GloGlo.
Check out their free trial class if you want to see how they teach their students. They have Gi and No-Gi classes that are divided into kids and adult sessions.
- (408) 921-1456
- 95 Phelan Ave Ste 3 San Jose, CA 95112
Find them on Instagram @gloglobjj_academy
4. Caio Terra
Caio Terra is a 12-time world champion and one of the most popular BJJ experts in history. He started learning Jiu Jitsu in 2003 and received his black belt in 2006, which is the fastest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu history.
Apart from his individual accolades, his Jiu Jitsu academy is also one of the best in San Jose, offering a comprehensive training program for kids and adults. If you’re interested in being around champions, sign up for their free trial and see for yourself.
- (408) 396-3223
- 855 Park Ave San Jose, CA 95126
Find them on Instagram @caio_terra_academy
Other San Jose Jiu Jitsu Gyms Worth Trying
Aside from the top picks mentioned above, we also listed some of the other Jiu Jitsu gyms and academies that would offer the same level of training:
2. American Kickboxing Academy
5. Smash Gyms
6. 10th Planet