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ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay
4.9 ★★★★★ 81 Google reviews · BJJ gym in San Francisco, California
Part of Alliance
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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule alliancebjjsf.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 415-630-7619
Hours
| Monday | 6–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30–9:30 am, 12–1:30 pm, 8:30–9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30–9:30 am, 12–1:30 pm, 8:30–9:30 pm |
| Friday | 5–7 pm |
| Saturday | 1:30–3 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I really enjoyed their welcoming atmosphere and approach to fundamentals.”
“Dear Prospective Parents, I waited a year to write this review and it only discusses the children’s curriculum (I have 3 kids attending class here).”
“Lucio and Victor provide a very efficient framework for new beginners to the sport, and have a wealth of deep knowledge for more advanced practitioners to learn.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Both Lucio and Victor are completely invested during the classes, and provide the best coaching whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced.”
“Lucio and Victor provide a very efficient framework for new beginners to the sport, and have a wealth of deep knowledge for more advanced practitioners to learn.”
“Being part of the Alliance family has been a privilege—my teammates and the people in my academy are not just skilled but also supportive and inspiring.”
“Victor, Lucio, and any other of the students are more than willing to help you master the technique while having a great time.”
“If you're new to the city and looking to join a network of great people and get in the best shape of your life, you owe yourself a visit here.”
“I have been training at Alliance SF for about a year now, and I can confidently say that it has been an incredible experience.”
From the reviews
Alliance BJJ SF is the best school to practice BJJ in in the broader Bay Area. The two metrics that potential BJJ hobbyists should use when picking a school are the quality and number of 1) high level instructors and 2) fellow students. Alliance BJJ excels in both metrics.
I've never regretted going to a class at Alliance BJJ SF. OK, maybe once or twice when I showed up and realized I was hungry and tired after a day of work. Funnily, the training makes me forget about those things quickly and I leave feeling rejuvenated and uplifted. Lucio and Victor are methodical in their teaching.
I've been training in Alliance BJJ SF for over a month now and my experience couldn't be better. Lucio and Victor are great instructors, very technical and attentive to the students' journey. The environment is clean, and the team is respectful and friendly.
I’ve been training at Alliance for 5 months and it has been nothing but a great experience. I was nervous walking into my first couple of classes but Victor and Lucio were always very welcoming. In addition to a very clean mat space, the teaching is top notch!
New to BJJ? Start at ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay
ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay 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 ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay
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.
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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site