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Villanueva Grappling Arts / Six blades Jiu Jitsu La Mesa
5 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · BJJ gym in San Diego, 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
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule jvgrapplingarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (619) 467-7886
Hours
| Monday | 5–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–1:30 PM, 4–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–1:30 PM, 4–7:30 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Julio is truly one of a kind if you want to send your kid to a positive atmosphere with a great role model.”
“On a weekend training trip with a group of friends, we dropped in to an open mat at Villanueva Grappling Arts, Six Blades and had a fantastic experience.”
“He also trains at all levels, so whether you are a beginner or been training for some time, this would be a good place to sign up.”
What members say
“Professor Julio is a great teacher who got his black belt from Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, amazing lineage.”
“He also trains at all levels, so whether you are a beginner or been training for some time, this would be a good place to sign up.”
“This place is great, the practices are well structured and the instructors are very friendly and patient.”
“Professor Julio also is an amazing kids instructor boasting one of the best kids programs in east county.”
“He has a clean facility with a group of students that create a welcome and safe training environment for all.”
“Julio is also an excellent instructor and maintains the same cleanliness, discipline, and positive energy of the University.”
From the reviews
This place is great, the practices are well structured and the instructors are very friendly and patient. My son truly enjoys his lessons and looks forward to attending them. It's a welcoming environment for students of all ages and abilities.
Edit - I have trained here for 1.5 years. It offers highly technical instruction and ample individual attention in an intimate setting that is primed to maximize learning. This is some of the best BJJ training you can receive in a city known for its BJJ.
Julio and his team are awesome. They take such pride in helping every student out and make it such a great experience for the kids. My son started a couple months ago and can't stop talking about it. His confidence has grown and Julio is a huge part of it.
Amazing facility and top notch instruction! Professor Julio is extremely knowledgeable and one of San Diego’s best black belts! Professor Julio also is an amazing kids instructor boasting one of the best kids programs in east county.
New to BJJ? Start at Villanueva Grappling Arts / Six blades Jiu Jitsu La Mesa
Villanueva Grappling Arts / Six blades Jiu Jitsu La Mesa 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 Villanueva Grappling Arts / Six blades Jiu Jitsu La Mesa
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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