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Gracie Barra Garden Grove

5 ★★★★★ 34 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Garden Grove, California

Part of Gracie Barra

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons 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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • 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 gbgardengrove.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (714) 655-6050

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9:30 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9:30 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9:30 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9:30 PM
Friday 2–9:30 PM
Saturday 6 AM–9:30 PM
Sunday Closed

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 Gracie Barra Garden Grove, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 17 mentions

“If you’re thinking about taking up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or getting your kids into it, Professor Alex’s professionalism and dedication to his students are second to none.”

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Teens BJJ 2 mentions

“I have a college student, a high school student and an elementary student in Barra Gracie Garden Grove.”

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🩳 No-Gi 2 mentions

“I attended the adult, no gi Jiu Jitsu class held on Thursday evenings.”

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🥋 Gi 2 mentions

“I attended the adult, no gi Jiu Jitsu class held on Thursday evenings.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“They offer many programs for all age and skill levels as well as private lessons.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 4 mentions

“You will learn self defense, you will improve your fitness, you will make friends and you will have fun.”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“Great for all skill levels, all age levels and all genders.”

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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 Gracie Barra Garden Grove — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

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 34 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 9 mentions

“I have trained with Alex for over five years and can say that he is one of the very best instructors I have trained under.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 7 mentions

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I highly recommend Gracie Barra Garden Grove for anyone looking for high-level Jiu-Jitsu in a welcoming environment.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 14 mentions

“The coaches are very nice and approachable, Coach Alex always conduct kids classes with focus on technique and discipline combined with playful and friendly environment.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 5 mentions

“The coaches are very nice and approachable, Coach Alex always conduct kids classes with focus on technique and discipline combined with playful and friendly environment.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“The programs are well-structured and truly competition-level, so you know you’re getting serious, quality training.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 13 mentions

“I've been going to Gracie Barra Garden Grove for a while now, and would recommend it to anyone looking to learn a new skill, or to take their training to the next level.”

From the reviews

Google only lets me post one review but I’ve returned here about a year later for another class and it’s the same great place it was before. Highly recommend checking these guys out! Professor Alex and Justin were great - thanks for letting me train again!

★★★★★ — Andy, Feb 2026

Gracie Barra Garden Grove is buy far one of the best places to learn not only Brazilian jui jitsu but good team building and good morals. Professor Alex is amazing at what he does and sends a great message to all his students.

★★★★★ — Karley, Sep 2016

Coach Alex does a great job instructing and mentoring his students. He is a great communicator at all levels. It doesn't matter if he is speaking to adults or engaging with the youth of his program the point and precision of what is being taught will always be learned.

★★★★★ — Coach, Mar 2017

I think it is hard to find an instructor who is good at both teaching and performing the skill itself, and Alex D'Hue is one of those people. I have trained with Alex for over five years and can say that he is one of the very best instructors I have trained under.

★★★★★ — Oliver, Jan 2015

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 34 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Garden Grove

Gracie Barra Garden Grove 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 Gracie Barra Garden Grove

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 Gracie Barra Garden Grove

12062 Valley View St #101, Garden Grove, CA92845

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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.