Home › California › Monterey › Gracie Jiu Jitsu Monterey
Gracie Jiu Jitsu Monterey
4.8 ★★★★★ 49 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Monterey, 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 3–13) — 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule graciemonterey.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (831) 332-9876
Hours
| Monday | 3–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8:15 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–10:15 PM |
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My daughter is completely obsessed with her classes (Mat Munchkins) - telling everyone about her progress and even holding her own when older kids test her.”
“I’m in the Women Empowered Classes (women only) and just started the co-ed Combatives Curriculum.”
“Highly recommend to anyone interested in learning self defense or anyone who wants to challenge themselves in learning a new skill.”
“From beginners to more advanced students, everyone is welcoming and encouraging.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The instructors are friendly and the atmosphere amongst the students and parents are welcoming.”
“This is helping our entire family as we all learn about being a positive community member and feel empowered to defend ourselves.”
“The mix of social/emotional learning and the foundation for more advanced jujitsu techniques is a great activity for young students.”
“While I was in town for work, I decided to drop in at Gracie Monterey, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience.”
“I have been training there for 2+ years in the Women Empowered classes and Combatives/Master Cycle classes.”
“They have worked with him and given him the space to develop into a focused student who is truly excited to come to class.”
From the reviews
While I was in town for work, I decided to drop in at Gracie Monterey, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. The instructors were incredibly attentive, ensuring that I felt comfortable and supported throughout the class. The staff and fellow students were friendly and welcoming, making it easy to fit right in.
My son has attended 10 bully-proof classes at this fantastic location and just received his first stripe. We love the ratio of instructor to student, the individual attention, and the environment that the staff has created.
We are grateful to have been able to train here while on vacation. We love that it's a self defense school and not for competition. They seem to do lots of fun things for diversity outside of their regular schedule, the locals would love it too.
I highly recommend Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Monterey. I joined about 2 months ago, but from the beginning the instructors have made me feel at home. The instruction is very detailed and we get to practice moves at the right pace for a white belt.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Monterey
Gracie Jiu Jitsu Monterey 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 Gracie Jiu Jitsu Monterey
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 Monterey
ELITE TEAM MONTEREY JIUJITSU
4.9 ★★★★★ 69 reviews
Korean Martial Arts Academy Salinas (KMAA)
5 ★★★★★ 32 reviews
