Home › California › El Cajon › Adayama Jiu-Jitsu
Adayama Jiu-Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 42 Google reviews · BJJ gym in El Cajon, California
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 2–4) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule adayamabjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 858-353-4140
Hours
| Monday | 5:30 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 5:30 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 8:30 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 10–11:30 am |
The classes they run
“The kids program is also excellent—my kids love Coach Marty and all their teammates, which makes it easy for them to stay consistent and enjoy training.”
“Whether you’re brand new or have experience, this is a fantastic place to train.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Professor Marty and the team do an amazing job keeping things fun and engaging while teaching important skills and discipline.”
“Professor & Owner Marty is super attentive to details and brings out the best in every student, while he and Ellen have created a welcoming community that feels like family.”
“Professor & Owner Marty is super attentive to details and brings out the best in every student, while he and Ellen have created a welcoming community that feels like family.”
“Professor & Owner Marty is super attentive to details and brings out the best in every student, while he and Ellen have created a welcoming community that feels like family.”
“The kids program is also excellent—my kids love Coach Marty and all their teammates, which makes it easy for them to stay consistent and enjoy training.”
“Good culture, solid training, and a clean, organized setup.”
From the reviews
Being brand new to bjj, I didn’t know what to expect when walking into Adayama. I was nervous for sure. But the moment I walked across that door for my first class, I felt like I belonged. Marty and his team have been amazing, so supportive and welcoming! Going to be training here for a very long time!
Marty (owner and head instructor) is the real deal and it’s no surprise Adayama has grown so rapidly. He is both technical and methodical in his teaching and he genuinely cares about each student’s development. The folks that train here (shout out to my 5:30am crew) are like family.
I’ve had an amazing experience at Adayama! From the moment I met Professor Marty, he’s been kind, informative, and incredibly encouraging. As someone new to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), I really appreciate how the classes are structured and taught in a way that’s easy to understand and follow.
We’ve been so impressed with this jiu-jitsu studio! Even though it’s still fairly new, you can already feel the strong sense of community that’s forming here. It’s welcoming, supportive, and filled with people who truly want to help each other grow. Professor Marty, the owner and main instructor, sets the tone.
New to BJJ? Start at Adayama Jiu-Jitsu
Adayama Jiu-Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first BJJ class at Adayama Jiu-Jitsu
Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
More BJJ gyms near El Cajon
San Diego Combat Academy | East County San Diego Jiu Jitsu - Boxing - Kickboxing
4.6 ★★★★★ 62 reviews
East County Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Switch Fitness San Diego | El Cajon Muay Thai - Jiu Jitsu - Boxing - Judo - Yoga
4.9 ★★★★★ 55 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site