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North Bay Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 54 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Novato, 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 6–12) — 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 northbayjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (415) 483-0811
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Tryfon and his team are skilled, patient, and create a positive, family-friendly environment that’s perfect for kids and beginners as well as advanced students.”
“There are great classes for kids, beginners, intermediate and advanced competitors.”
“Tryfon and his team are skilled, patient, and create a positive, family-friendly environment that’s perfect for kids and beginners as well as advanced students.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Excellent instructors for both adult and kids classes.”
“Tryfon and his team are skilled, patient, and create a positive, family-friendly environment that’s perfect for kids and beginners as well as advanced students.”
“I'm grateful to have my family training at North Bay Jiu-Jitsu and I recommend it to anyone- come check it out!”
“Tryfon's attention to detail, welcoming approach and professional yet relaxed environment is one that I would recommend to anyone in the area.”
“Both the adult and kids programs are top notch in every way.”
“There are great classes for kids, beginners, intermediate and advanced competitors.”
From the reviews
If you're looking for a great Jiu Jitsu academy, look no further than North Bay Jiu Jitsu! This place has everything you need to get started, whether you're a beginner or an advanced practitioner.
This school is great. I trained a couple of days with them while visiting from New York. Everyone was super welcoming and helpful. Tryfon was awesome—he stayed after class to go over technique and help me after rolling. I really appreciated how generous he was with his time and insight.
I was exploring the west coast last week and didn't want to go too long without getting in some bjj. I dropped in for a 9am weekday session to train to get some rolls. The team itself was made up of excellent training partners who make you feel like part of their community!
I can’t say enough good things about this gym. Both the adult and kids programs are top notch in every way. The instructors are experts in their craft and create a fun, safe, and challenging environment. The best part is the people.
New to BJJ? Start at North Bay Jiu Jitsu
North Bay 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.
Your first BJJ class at North Bay 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.
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