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Ralph Gracie Berkeley Jiu Jitsu Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 86 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Berkeley, 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 — 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
- 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 ralphgracieberkeley.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (510) 486-8000
Hours
| Monday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 8:30 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–1 PM |
The classes they run
“They have something for everybody, they have beginner classes, kids classes, no gi, sauna, weight room, sometimes ice baths, and great smiles!”
“They have something for everybody, they have beginner classes, kids classes, no gi, sauna, weight room, sometimes ice baths, and great smiles!”
“Nia teaches women’s classes twice a week as well as general classes.”
“They have something for everybody, they have beginner classes, kids classes, no gi, sauna, weight room, sometimes ice baths, and great smiles!”
“The whole team at RGB brings amazing energy to the mats, making it a fantastic place to train, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced competitor.”
“And if you’re looking for one of the toughest and most fun open mats in the Bay Area, their Sunday session from 10 AM to 12 PM is the place to be!”
“Whether you are a beginner looking to learn self-defense techniques or an advanced practitioner wanting to refine your skills, you will find the right class for you.”
“There are tons of great people here of all skill levels, an amazing team-based environment, and a highly experienced head instructor, Eduardo, with 35 years of experience.”
Other martial arts here
“The school has several black belts teaching occasionally in addition to the head instructor and also offers nogi, judo and kickboxing classes.”
“With an incredible team led by the legendary Ralph Gracie, along with Eduardo Fraga for BJJ and Newton Casemiro for Judo, the technical level here is top-notch.”
What members say
“There is also a blend of American style Jiu Jitsu taught by other great black belt professors also.”
“How can such serious and awesome dedicated instructors (led by Eduardo Fraga and supplemented by a host of other black belts) create such a friendly and welcoming environment.”
“How can such serious and awesome dedicated instructors (led by Eduardo Fraga and supplemented by a host of other black belts) create such a friendly and welcoming environment.”
“Whether you are a beginner looking to learn self-defense techniques or an advanced practitioner wanting to refine your skills, you will find the right class for you.”
“It’s a competition academy and it shows in both the level and philosophy of training and results they get (🥇🥈🥉) The academy, lockers, and common space have always been very clean.”
From the reviews
I've trained at various gyms before permanently finding a home at Ralph Gracie. There are tons of great people here of all skill levels, an amazing team-based environment, and a highly experienced head instructor, Eduardo, with 35 years of experience.
I’ve trained at Ralph Gracie BJJ for a few weeks this summer and it was awesome. Prof. Fraga and his team were super welcoming, kind, and helpful. I loved the quality of instruction, the focus on proper technique and details, and Prof.
This Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy is by far the best gym I have trained at. The instructors are both highly skilled and great teachers. The class is split into conditioning time, drilling and free sparring, allowing you to train your personal fitness, get instructions from the teachers and put everything you learn…
Having competed in many sports from ultimate frisbee and rugby to rock climbing and distance running I found Jiu Jitsu last year and have not looked back - a fascinating sport made incredible by my favorite gym.
New to BJJ? Start at Ralph Gracie Berkeley Jiu Jitsu Academy
Ralph Gracie Berkeley Jiu Jitsu Academy 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 Ralph Gracie Berkeley 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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