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Payback Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 13 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Pittsburg, 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 5–11) — 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 paybackjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 925-206-9228
Hours
| Monday | 6:30–8:30 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30–8:30 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30–8:30 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30–8:30 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 6:30–8:30 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9:30 am–1:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“What started as a sport my daughter and I could do together, soon turned into a passion inspired by Coach Antonio.”
“Fast forward two years and under Coach Antonio’s guidance my daughter have been able to compete at the same tournaments together.”
Other martial arts here
“Came into Payback Jiu-Jitsu without any grappling/BJJ experience and only have been training Muay Thai all my life, thought it was time for a change.”
What members say
“Antonio is a great instructor, and I feel like I was able to learn a lot of things quickly, plus the other members are always kind and helpful.”
“Coach Antonio is welcoming, professional, and a stand up guy who brings a lot of knowledge and experience to his coaching.”
“Coach Antonio is welcoming, professional, and a stand up guy who brings a lot of knowledge and experience to his coaching.”
“Coach Antonio is calm, patient, and makes sure everyone is doing the techniques correctly instead of rushing through class.”
“Fast forward two years and under Coach Antonio’s guidance my daughter have been able to compete at the same tournaments together.”
“The kids spar/apply what they learn, so you can really see the progress and confidence building over time.”
From the reviews
Came into Payback Jiu-Jitsu without any grappling/BJJ experience and only have been training Muay Thai all my life, thought it was time for a change. Coming in to a gym being new to BJJ at an older age can be unsettling since you may feel that you have "started" late BUT you definitely don't feel that vibe at Payback…
What started as a sport my daughter and I could do together, soon turned into a passion inspired by Coach Antonio. Fast forward two years and under Coach Antonio’s guidance my daughter have been able to compete at the same tournaments together. Memories that will last a life time.
I’ve trained under coach Antonio for almost two years and during that time his dedication to helping his students has been amazing. He always is looking to see how he can improve as a coach and how he can help his students improve.
Payback Jiu Jitsu has been great for our sons. No nonsense, solid instruction, small class size. Coach Antonio is calm, patient, and makes sure everyone is doing the techniques correctly instead of rushing through class.
New to BJJ? Start at Payback Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Payback Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy 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 Payback Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
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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