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The Grappling Lab
5 ★★★★★ 22 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Garden Grove, 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
- 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 thegrapplinglab.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (714) 712-0538
Hours
| Monday | 8–10 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 8–10 PM |
| Thursday | 7:30–9 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Highly recommend for all levels, but especially for beginners looking for fundamentals.”
“Classes will feel like a private class sometimes.”
“Highly recommend for all levels, but especially for beginners looking for fundamentals.”
Other martial arts here
“I wasn’t looking for a gym to get buff or be some sort of MMA machine, I just wanted to feel better about myself body and with time about myself.”
What members say
“Friendly environment and great instruction at The Grappling Lab!”
“Highly recommend for all levels, but especially for beginners looking for fundamentals.”
“Everyone is also very welcoming and it's a comfortable environment.”
“Edwin explains technique in great detail -- he has an eye for common little mistakes in jitz like guard retention and grip fighting.”
“No shame, just sweat and smiles.”
From the reviews
Been working with Edwin from the start of my BJJ journey and it’s been a great experience. It’s been 8 months and Edwin’s knowledge is on a different level. It helps that he has a masters in motor control, so his class is structured to really help you learn and ingrain the movements.
Coach Edwin is my first jiu jitsu coach and I could not have asked for a better one! He is super chill and very kind but when it’s time for jiu jitsu he’s completely locked in which I really appreciate as a coach. He teaches jiu jitsu in a way that makes sense and isn’t confusing.
I first met Edwin while taking his group BJJ classes at a local gym. I ended up transferring to a gym closer to my house for a little while but then sought Edwin out again for 1on1 lessons about a year later because I wanted his help preparing for my first competition. There’s no getting around it.
This school just opened up and I think it's a gem waiting to be discovered by the grappling community. Edwin is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and uses his advanced knowledge of sports science and body mechanics to create a very unique approach to teaching the art.
New to BJJ? Start at The Grappling Lab
The Grappling Lab 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 The Grappling Lab
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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