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Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 191 Google reviews · BJJ gym in San Francisco, 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 4–12) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule ralphgracie.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 650-663-9342
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–1 pm, 3:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–1 pm, 3:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–1 pm, 4:15–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–1 pm, 3:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–1 pm, 4:15–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 8–10:30 am |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“There is a women’s class in the evenings which is a great way to dip your toe in if you’re a female wanting to get started in the sport.”
“She loves personal training with instructors because she rough houses in a way that she could have if her father was still alive.”
“If you are thinking about training for self defense or for completions, you don’t have to second guess about giving Ralph Gracie SF a try!”
“Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, the environment is welcoming and focused on helping everyone improve.”
“My daughter Alessandra loves Jiu Jitsu classes at Ralph Gracie.”
Other martial arts here
“They also provide excellent striking classes, for those interested in pursuing mixed martial arts (MMA training).”
What members say
“They have the best professors than have been doing BJJ and Striking for decades.”
“I’m a pretty small woman and was expecting the sport to be intimidating, but everyone at the gym —from the staff to the students— is incredibly warm and welcoming.”
“I’m a pretty small woman and was expecting the sport to be intimidating, but everyone at the gym —from the staff to the students— is incredibly warm and welcoming.”
“The coaches at Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu are great - attentive and knowledgeable, always ready to offer specific advice on technique or adjust drills to fit your skill level.”
“There is a women’s class in the evenings which is a great way to dip your toe in if you’re a female wanting to get started in the sport.”
“The coaches at Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu are great - attentive and knowledgeable, always ready to offer specific advice on technique or adjust drills to fit your skill level.”
From the reviews
The best Jiu Jitsu academy in the world. I’ve been around the world and this is where I consider home. True Jiu Jitsu directly from the original masters. A family community, a safe and fun training environment full of respect and hard working people. Amazing staff and students.
I've been training at Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu in San Francisco for a few months now, and I couldn't be happier with my experience. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed into a supportive and friendly community that genuinely cares about your progress and well-being.
Excellent facilities with clean mats, well-maintained equipment, and plenty of space to train comfortably. The coaches at Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu are great - attentive and knowledgeable, always ready to offer specific advice on technique or adjust drills to fit your skill level.
The best Jiu-jitsu academy in the Bay Area period! All the coaches have a great attention to detail, and make it fun/ welcoming. Super high quality training partners, who really make it feel like family.
New to BJJ? Start at Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Ralph Gracie 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 Ralph Gracie 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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