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Gracie Jiu Jitsu Santa Cruz
4.9 ★★★★★ 37 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Santa Cruz, 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 (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 graciesantacruz.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (831) 633-7141
Hours
| Monday | 4:30–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 3:30–6:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 4:30–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 3:30–6:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:30–11:30 AM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Great place for beginners and mature Jiu Jitsu guys who want to get back to the basics, which is the foundation of all good Jiu Jitsu athletes.”
“I first came to get my kids learning Jiu Jitsu so they could build confidence and self defense skills.”
“As a woman walking into any kind of martial arts studio can be intimidating with many places having a competitive and machismo culture.”
“At any age, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Santa Cruz is THE place to finally learn the self defense you've always wanted to try but were a little too timid to venture.”
“Steve and crew really made me feel welcomed, I went the first day having no experience whatsoever in martial arts and by the end of class I already felt like family.”
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What members say
“Steve and crew really made me feel welcomed, I went the first day having no experience whatsoever in martial arts and by the end of class I already felt like family.”
“Steve and crew really made me feel welcomed, I went the first day having no experience whatsoever in martial arts and by the end of class I already felt like family.”
“Great place for beginners and mature Jiu Jitsu guys who want to get back to the basics, which is the foundation of all good Jiu Jitsu athletes.”
“At any age, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Santa Cruz is THE place to finally learn the self defense you've always wanted to try but were a little too timid to venture.”
“The studio is clean and welcoming.”
“As a woman walking into any kind of martial arts studio can be intimidating with many places having a competitive and machismo culture.”
From the reviews
This is the place to go if you want to start your Jiu Jitsu journey. They base their philosophy from grandsons of the creator of Jiu Jitsu Helio Gracie. No knarly sparring for beginner people. They base there teaching on learning how to do the art before your body gets exposed to the sparring aspect.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Santa Cruz is awesome! Steve and crew really made me feel welcomed, I went the first day having no experience whatsoever in martial arts and by the end of class I already felt like family.
I love the approach Gracie takes with beginners in the Combatives program. Focus on fundamental techniques and safe training practices before more advanced rolling is a great idea. The program is very structured and complimented with online technique video demonstrations.
The instructors are very welcoming and friendly! The facilities are really cool! It’s a legit Gracie Academy Training Center based out of Torrance, Ca. The Combative class is awesome for beginners! The Gracie BullyPROOF for Kids is a great program!
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Santa Cruz
Gracie Jiu Jitsu Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
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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