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Lycan Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense
5 ★★★★★ 11 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Berkeley, California
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
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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 lycanjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 510-983-4822
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6–8 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I'm looking forward to the growth of our program with a new women's class starting next week!”
“I highly recommend training here whether your looking to get fit or compete.”
“Highly recommend for anyone looking to train or drop in for open mat.”
“Coach Joe has built an incredible jiu jitsu community that feels welcoming to everyone, from total beginners to seasoned practitioners.”
What members say
“Coach Joe and Coach Ken are incredibly knowledgeable and kind people.”
“This location is new but the culture of the team is well established and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, body types and experience levels.”
“I feel so fortunate to have found him as my first coach—he's very welcoming and understanding and cares a lot about the wellbeing of his students.”
“Very welcoming and supportive with a good mix of men and women, and experienced and newer practitioners.”
From the reviews
Joe and Ken are both phenomenal jiu jitsu instructors who cultivate a welcoming environment to learn the sport. This is a great place to start your jiu jitsu journey if you’re new, and also a great place to grow and progress.
Coach Joe and Coach Ken are incredibly knowledgeable and kind people. I’ve had the pleasure of being coached by these two for almost 4-5 years and they are very patient, technical, and are pure jiu jitsu nerds who love to think about and work through complex jiu jitsu issues.
Coach Joe has built an incredible jiu jitsu community that feels welcoming to everyone, from total beginners to seasoned practitioners. He puts an immense amount of time into his students—both on and off the mats—and always goes above and beyond. He’s the kind of coach who’d give you the shirt off his back.
I have been training with Joe and Ken for over four years. They are not only extremely skilled and devoted to the art of jiu jitsu, but they are the nicest people who know how to cultivate a great environment for learning. Their new school is in a great location right near Berkeley Bowl, with plenty of parking spots.
New to BJJ? Start at Lycan Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense
Lycan Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense 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 Lycan Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense
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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