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Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

4.9 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · BJJ gym in San Jose, California

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

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 4–15) — 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
  • 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 claudiofrancabjjsanjose.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (408) 377-8577

Hours

Monday 12–2 PM, 4–8 PM
Tuesday 12–2 PM, 4–8 PM
Wednesday 12–2 PM, 4–8 PM
Thursday 12–2 PM, 4–8 PM
Friday 12–2 PM, 4:30–8 PM
Saturday 9 AM–12 PM
Sunday 9–11 AM

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 4 mentions

“The coaches focus on proper technique and discipline, and I've seen week over week improvement in performance, focus, and confidence.”

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🧒 Kids BJJ 24 mentions

“Our family of 4 (myself, wife and 2 kids) train here nearly everyday - we usually do the lunch time classes and take the kids for the evening training.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“The couple who teach the afternoon and kids classes, Anaue and Thamara, are world class competitors who have extensive knowledge of the sport.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“Go visit this gym to get a great workout, gain self confidence and learn self defense skills and meet some really great people.”

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🌱 Beginners

“Coaches were highly skilled and good professors, also lots of great training partners of all levels.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Boxing

“Great environment for all ages to learn Jiu Jitsu and/or kick boxing.”

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🦵 Kickboxing 3 mentions

“The facility is huge and has tons of mat space and punching bags for kickboxing training along with a great weight lifting area and clean bathrooms.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 31 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 3 mentions

“Students receive top level instruction from world class instructors with bjj roots going directly back to Helio Gracie.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 13 mentions

“Really friendly atmosphere for everyone and they recently launched fundamentals class if you are just starting out.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“The coaches focus on proper technique and discipline, and I've seen week over week improvement in performance, focus, and confidence.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“The couple who teach the afternoon and kids classes, Anaue and Thamara, are world class competitors who have extensive knowledge of the sport.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 3 mentions

“Students receive top level instruction from world class instructors with bjj roots going directly back to Helio Gracie.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 8 mentions

“The coaches focus on proper technique and discipline, and I've seen week over week improvement in performance, focus, and confidence.”

From the reviews

I cannot overstate how happy my family and I’ve been to have found this gym. I was immediately drawn in by the family friendly environment when I first visited and the vibes have not changed since, nearly half a year later.

★★★★★ — Henry, Aug 2022

This is the best jiu jitsu gym I've ever been to. I met The Real Claudio there. He was such a great person. He made me feel like I had been training there for a long time. The students and instructor I met there, were some of the coolest people I've met in san Jose.

★★★★★ — Richie, Apr 2020

Great school! Positive atmosphere, knowledgable instructors. With the new gym that they moved to, there is a ton of space for rolling.

★★★★★ — Tim, Aug 2019

awesome place to train! My son has been training here at Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy for roughly 6 years. My daughters and wife have all taking classes here as well. very friendly and professional environment. Great instructors with experience and knowledge.

★★★★★ — Louie, Jun 2015

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 31 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Claudio Franca Brazilian 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Claudio Franca Brazilian 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.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

14800 Camden Ave, San Jose, CA95124

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.