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Roots Kickboxing BJJ
4.9 ★★★★★ 52 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Union City, 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 5–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule rootskickboxingbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 510-431-2752
Hours
| Monday | 12–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12–9 pm |
| Thursday | 12–9 pm |
| Friday | 12–9 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Chris provides a great introduction to Muay Thai and the basic fundamentals.”
“All I ask from my sons is that they put in the effort and improve just a little more every time they come to class.”
“They pushed me to become a better martial artist and helped me progress to the point where I was able to compete.”
“The coaches are phenomenal—skilled, passionate, and supportive—making it easy to see progress whether you’re a beginner or experienced.”
Other martial arts here
“I started with Muay Thai, and Coach Jamie’s combination of kindness, patience, and toughness helped me grow, even with no prior experience.”
“boxing) for a couple weeks, keeps it simple at first and gradually builds the combo.”
What members say
“Friendly community, knowledgeable coaches, and decent price.”
“The coaches are phenomenal—skilled, passionate, and supportive—making it easy to see progress whether you’re a beginner or experienced.”
“5 Star Gym - me and my family visited yesterday and their classes are structured and the quality of instruction is top notch.”
“I've seen way more improvement in my technique here than anywhere else, even after just a few sessions.”
“Most gyms put a lot of emphasis on memorizing combos, coaches rarely adjust your form & don't incorporate enough conditioning.”
“Under the guidance of Coaches Vitor and Barry, I trained for my first two competitions and made some amazing friends along the way.”
From the reviews
I began my martial arts journey at Roots, and it’s been a life-changing experience. I started with Muay Thai, and Coach Jamie’s combination of kindness, patience, and toughness helped me grow, even with no prior experience.
Great team with youth Jiu Jitsu classes, fair pricing and great teacher to student ratio. If you want to enroll your kids in a martial arts class, definitely check out this place!
Many of my old gym buddies switched to Roots, truly a hidden gem in the bay area! Coach Jamie focuses on one theme (i.e. boxing) for a couple weeks, keeps it simple at first and gradually builds the combo. I've seen way more improvement in my technique here than anywhere else, even after just a few sessions.
Roots has truly become a second home for our family. The coaches are phenomenal—skilled, passionate, and supportive—making it easy to see progress whether you’re a beginner or experienced. What we love most is how inclusive the gym is.
New to BJJ? Start at Roots Kickboxing BJJ
Roots Kickboxing BJJ 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 Roots Kickboxing BJJ
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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