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Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu
4.7 ★★★★★ 35 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Pleasant Hill, 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
- 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
- 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 graciefighter.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (925) 827-5455
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9 PM |
The classes they run
“Also great if you're looking to compete or just train for recreational or self defence purposes.”
“Also great if you're looking to compete or just train for recreational or self defence purposes.”
“He has an amazing ability to break things down so beginners can easily understand and advanced students can grow.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Everyone there has been incredibly welcoming and Coach Guga is an amazing teacher.”
“From day one, I felt welcomed into a positive, respectful, and hardworking environment.”
“But that quickly went away as everyone was very nice and supportive - always happy to show you a move or give advice to get better.”
“It’s not just about technique (which they teach exceptionally well), but about building confidence, discipline, and community.”
“When competition time comes, most of the students place at the top of their respective class and it's easy to see why.”
“Cesar Gracie is there all the time and he pays attention to who is coming regularly and getting better.”
From the reviews
I have been training at Gracie Fighter for about two years and would recommend it to everyone! It's great for self defense, mind development, strength, and exercise. Professor Guga teaches at a very understandable pace and teaches techniques that can be applied in real life.
Best place to learn and practice Brazilian JuiJitsu in the Area. The coaches are top of class and make sure that you learn while having a good time, not to mention they train full respect. When competition time comes, most of the students place at the top of their respective class and it's easy to see why.
The best place to learn jiu jitsu, and gain strength and confidence and friends. Cesar Gracie is there all the time and he pays attention to who is coming regularly and getting better. It is exciting to train with so many people who are so good and so supportive. The head instructor, Sean, is very good and nice.
I’ve been training at Gracie Fighter for 6 months and cannot recommend it enough. Everyone there has been incredibly welcoming and Coach Guga is an amazing teacher. He has an amazing ability to break things down so beginners can easily understand and advanced students can grow.
New to BJJ? Start at Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 Cesar Gracie 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.
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