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Learning jiu-jitsu in the North Bay
This guide covers the academies of Marin County and Petaluma, north of the Golden Gate: San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo. It is an all-independent scene, with no franchise flags. For someone just starting, the real question is not "which academy is best" but "which one fits me." This guide exists to answer that question.
Map
Every academy with a full entry is pinned on the map, and neighborhood-level pins say so. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Bay Jiu-Jitsu (Mill Valley)
Who this academy suits
A Mill Valley beginner who wants a dedicated jiu-jitsu room with a low-cost way in: an academy running since 2008 under a third-degree black belt, with a 3-class local intro for $39
Why we say it: The own /about page presents founder Stephan Goyne as a third degree black belt, and the /adults page publishes a local-student intro of 3 classes for $39 (captured 2026-07-24)
A parent in southern Marin who wants a kids program at a dedicated jiu-jitsu room: the Miller Ave location runs its own kids schedule
Why we say it: The own site publishes a dedicated Mill Valley Kids Schedule for the Miller Ave room (captured 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Kids classesPricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A local-student intro deal of 3 classes for $39, booked through the studio's Mindbody registration source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- A Mill Valley adult schedule and a separate kids schedule are published, booked per class through the studio's Mindbody system; exact times live in the portal source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A dedicated kids program at the Mill Valley room with its own kids schedule source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 384 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Stephan Goyne, founder and co-head coach, presented on the school's site as a third degree black belt (black belt since 2010), leading a bench of black belts source · 2026-07-24
Black Sheep Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A Marin beginner who wants world-champion lineage without leaving the county — with a fundamentals track split from intermediate
Why we say it: The site names the owner's lineage and title and publishes a dedicated fundamentals track with a free trial (verified 2026-07-31)
Someone who needs daytime mats — weekday noon classes daily plus 7 AM starts three days a week
Why we say it: The published schedule carries daily noon classes and three 7 AM slots (verified 2026-07-31)
Schedule verified Free trialKids classesDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free trial, sign-up on the website source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- Seven days a week: up to six daily slots Mon/Wed from 7 AM, weekday noon classes, weekend mornings source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids in two bands: 5–7 and 8–12 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 725 Center Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930 source · 2026-07-31
- Instructors
- Owner Woolf Barnato (Ralph Gracie black belt, world champion), co-operator Danny Speirn, and five more named instructors source · 2026-09-03
North Bay Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A Marin beginner who wants a long runway to try before committing: a free two-week trial at the county's longest-running dedicated jiu-jitsu room, with beginner Foundation classes mornings and evenings
Why we say it: The own site publishes a free two-week trial site-wide (captured 2026-07-24), and the schedule runs adult Foundation classes at 6am, 9am, and in the evening across the week
A woman starting jiu-jitsu who wants a women's class and a woman on the coaching staff: a women-only class runs Saturday mornings, and the bench includes a female brown belt
Why we say it: The published grid lists a Women Only class Saturday 9am, and the instructor bench names Sonia Lastreto, a brown belt (own site, 2026-07-24)
An early riser who trains before work: adult classes start at 6am four mornings a week
Why we say it: The schedule runs 6am adult classes Monday through Thursday (Foundation, Development, and a no-gi lab), captured 2026-07-24
Schedule verified Free trialWomen's programKids classesNo-giEarly morning classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free two-week trial, the school's published new-student offer source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- Adult classes run early mornings (6am), mid-mornings (9am), and evenings across the week, with a women-only class Saturday 9am and an open mat after it; kids run by age Monday to Thursday afternoons source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids classes run Monday to Thursday afternoons in three age bands (4 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 13); the Foundation and Development split of the oldest band is gone source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 5420 Nave Drive, Novato, CA 94949 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Tryfon Stathopoulos, presented on the school's site as a black belt and founder, leading a bench of black and brown belts that includes a female brown belt source · 2026-07-24
Practical Martial Arts (PMA)
Who this academy suits
A Corte Madera beginner who wants a real beginner BJJ class and a free first one: a dedicated Beginner BJJ Adults/Teens class runs weekly at a family dojo established in 1993, and the first class is free
Why we say it: The /schedule grid lists a Beginner BJJ Adults/Teens 15+ class (Wed), the school states it has run since 1993, and the site offers a free first class (captured 2026-07-24)
A family wanting kids and adults training under one roof: kids programs three days a week alongside adult classes, with a free first class
Why we say it: The /schedule lists kids programs Mon/Wed/Sat or Tue/Thu/Sat in four bands plus Beginner Teens, and the site offers a free first class (captured 2026-07-24)
A beginner who wants to mix grappling and striking: BJJ shares the mat with Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA in one dojo
Why we say it: The /schedule runs Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Combatives, and MMA alongside the BJJ program (captured 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Free trialKids classesNo-giStriking classes too
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Your first class is free; book a free intro source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- Adult BJJ runs Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (including a beginner adults/teens class Wednesday), with Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA on other evenings; kids meet three days a week source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids programs three days a week: Little Dragons (4-6), Beginner Kids (6-12), Intermediate and Advanced, plus Beginner Teens source · 2026-07-24
- Programs
- Gi and no-gi BJJ for adults and teens, with a beginner class and advanced gi and no-gi classes source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 5768 Paradise Dr, Ste F, Corte Madera, CA 94925 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Owned and taught by Mike and Karen Valentine; the BJJ coach's belt rank is not published source · 2026-07-24
Rolling Oak Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A Petaluma beginner who wants structured fundamentals under experienced coaches: gi and no-gi fundamentals run on the weekly grid at the town's deepest current BJJ room, staffed by four black belts
Why we say it: The recurring grid lists Gi Fundamentals (Mon-Wed) and No Gi Fundamentals (Tue/Thu), and the own site names four black belts on the bench (captured 2026-07-24)
A woman who wants a women's no-gi class: a Women's No-Gi group runs twice a week
Why we say it: The recurring grid lists a Women's No Gi POD Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-7:30pm (captured 2026-07-24)
Someone who wants to sample before joining: a free Sunday no-gi open training is open to everyone at no charge
Why we say it: The own site publishes a free No-Gi open training, open to practitioners from all academies with no charge to attend, Sunday 11am-1pm (captured 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Women's programKids classesNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- No standard new-student trial is posted; a free Sunday no-gi open training is open to all at no charge source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A full weekly grid: gi fundamentals and sparring Monday to Wednesday, no-gi fundamentals and sparring Tuesday and Thursday, judo Friday and Saturday, wrestling on weekends, a women's no-gi group, and a free Sunday open mat source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids in tiers: Acorns (3 to 5), Sprouts (5 to 8), Junior Jiu-Jitsu (8 to 13) on weekdays, with a Saturday Seedlings judo class (8 to 10) and a Junior Tree class (10 to 13); the Saplings name is gone from the grid source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 345 Lakeville St, Petaluma, CA 94952 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- A bench of four black belts with no single designated head; two are second degree (Brett Bryon and Michael Stratton Jr.) source · 2026-07-24
Tech Lab Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A Novato beginner who wants a coach-led room with a free week to start: two black-belt co-founders run the mats, and new students get a one-week free trial with loaner gear
Why we say it: The own /instructors page presents co-founders Lucas Crawford (black belt 2022) and Bruce Suzuki (black belt 2021), and the site offers a one-week free trial with loaner gis (captured 2026-07-24)
A parent starting a young child: a Parent and Me Little Ninjas class for ages 3-4 plus a kids BJJ program from age 5
Why we say it: The /schedule page lists a Sunday Parent and Me class for ages 3-4, and the homepage states the BJJ program is open to ages 5 and up (captured 2026-07-24)
An adult who wants no-gi: a dedicated adult No-Gi program for all levels under a black belt
Why we say it: The own /instructors page states Cole Franson, a black belt, teaches the adult No-Gi program for all levels (captured 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Free trialKids classesNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A one-week free trial for new students, with loaner gis available source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A 2026 schedule is published, with a Parent and Me class Sunday mornings and the full weekly grid in a downloadable PDF; BJJ is open from age 5 source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids BJJ from age 5, plus a Sunday Parent and Me class for ages 3-4 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 113 San Marin Dr, Novato, CA 94945 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Lucas Crawford, co-founder and head instructor, presented on the school's site as a black belt awarded in 2022, teaching alongside co-founder Bruce Suzuki and Cole Franson, both black belts source · 2026-07-24
Academies being verified
We are re-confirming the essentials: class schedules and trial mechanics. Each academy joins the full guide once its facts meet the bar.
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Old School Martial Arts (OSMA) · Official site222 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960 · (415) 456-1557 · A free trial class, signed up for on the siteLast checked: 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
Which academies in the North Bay offer a free trial?
Black Sheep Jiu Jitsu: Free trial, sign-up on the website; North Bay Jiu Jitsu: A free two-week trial, the school's published new-student offer; Practical Martial Arts (PMA): Your first class is free; book a free intro; Rolling Oak Jiu Jitsu: No standard new-student trial is posted; a free Sunday no-gi open training is open to all at no charge; Tech Lab Jiu Jitsu: A one-week free trial for new students, with loaner gis available
How do I book a trial class?
It differs by academy. Where we could verify the booking method, it is listed under "Your first visit" in that academy's entry; otherwise, asking through the academy's official channel is the most reliable route.
I'm a complete beginner. Can I just show up?
It differs by academy. Entries show where a fundamentals program and first-visit process are verified. For the rest, check with the academy before visiting. For what a first class actually feels like, see the beginner posts on our blog.