Home › California › San Francisco › Romulo Melo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Romulo Melo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 95 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
- 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 romulomelobjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 415-816-9104
Hours
| Monday | 12:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30–9 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 12:30–2 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“The gym now even offers a dedicated women’s class, helping female students feel confident and supported on the mats.”
“He continues to compete and further develop his technique alongside us, which we all benefit from as the sport evolves.”
“The gym is almost always open even through the holidays and on the days classes are canceled we often have open mat.”
“He anchors his teaching curriculum in competition-tested skill & self-defense.”
“Romulo Melo is an amazing instructor who welcomes students at all levels.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“If you’re looking for a gym with great instruction, a positive atmosphere and a strong sense of community, this is the place to be!”
“The community was very welcoming when I started and Romulo and his team are great instructors, shoutout to Cory.”
“Romulo and his family care deeply about creating a welcoming & nurturing gym culture where people of all ages & skill levels can train.”
“He continues to compete and further develop his technique alongside us, which we all benefit from as the sport evolves.”
“He continues to compete and further develop his technique alongside us, which we all benefit from as the sport evolves.”
“Rómulo is an amazing teacher, the gym is super clean, and everyone greeted me like an old friend.”
From the reviews
It’s been a year since I decided that was time to move on and find a great gym to keep training, always heard about his gym for years, how great they are, so I decided to check it out and never left..
I signed up for Romulo's gym after my first class, and I haven't looked back once in 8 years. Romulo and his family care deeply about creating a welcoming & nurturing gym culture where people of all ages & skill levels can train. You can see how happy people are to see each other.
I've been training here for almost a year now and it's been a really amazing experience. The community is very welcoming and supportive. Everyone trains with everyone. People are pretty laid back, but also take their training seriously.
Romulo Melo is an amazing instructor who welcomes students at all levels. This is the first martial arts gym I ever stepped foot into, and as someone who is often the only female in the morning class, it took me six months to participate in my first roll. Romulo allowed me to take my time and join when I felt ready.
New to BJJ? Start at Romulo Melo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Romulo Melo Brazilian 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 Romulo Melo Brazilian 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.
More BJJ gyms near San Francisco
Studio86 Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 70 reviews
ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay
4.9 ★★★★★ 81 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Bay Jiu-Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 42 reviews