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Learning jiu-jitsu in the South Bay and Silicon Valley
This guide covers the academies of San Jose and Silicon Valley: Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Campbell, and out to Morgan Hill. It is the deepest scene in the Bay, holding Caio Terra's headquarters and the American Kickboxing Academy. 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
Only academies with verified information appear on the map. Grey pins mark verified addresses for academies still being confirmed.
10th Planet San Jose
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants no-gi from day one under a 10th Planet black belt who teaches the classes, with a free first class to try it
Why we say it: A no-gi 10th Planet school taught by Alan Sanchez, a 1st degree black belt, with a free first class (verified 2026-07-24)
Franchise networkNo-giFree trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: take a free class and see if it is the right place for you
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A no-gi school: the 10th Planet system trains without the gi
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1277 Old Bayshore Hwy, San Jose, CA 95112
- Instructors
- Alan Sanchez, presented on the own site as a 1st Degree 10th Planet black belt who teaches the classes
American Kickboxing Academy
Who this academy suits
Someone drawn by the fight-team mystique who still wants real jiu-jitsu: adult and youth BJJ programs inside the sport's most storied MMA gym, with a trial day to start
Why we say it: The own-site menu lists Adult and Youth Jiu Jitsu and offers a Trial Day booking (verified 2026-07-24)
Kids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site offers a Schedule Trial Day booking; specific terms sit behind the booking flow
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 7012 Realm Drive, San Jose, CA 95119
- Instructors
- Ron Keslar is the head jiu-jitsu coach
Caio Terra Academy San Jose
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants to start at a world champion's own association headquarters, with two free days to decide first
Why we say it: The Caio Terra Association headquarters, led by Caio Terra, with a published free two day trial of all programs (verified 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Franchise networkFree trialNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: a free two day trial of all programs
- Class schedule
- A full weekly schedule is published on the academy's own Schedule page; both gi and no-gi run, with exact times on that page
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 855 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
- Instructors
- Caio Terra leads the academy, presented on its own site as a 12-time world champion
Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Jose (Saiko Fitness & Martial Arts)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a structured Charles Gracie fundamentals track under a senior black belt: a dedicated Adult Beginners class plus a BJJ Fundamentals class each week
Why we say it: The grid runs Adult Beginners (Mon/Wed 8 PM) and BJJ Fundamentals (Tue) under Professor Cristiano Xavier, a 4th degree black belt under Charles Gracie (verified 2026-07-24)
Someone who wants gi jiu-jitsu and judo under one roof, including a dedicated Judo Fundamentals class
Why we say it: The grid includes a Judo Fundamentals class (Fri 6 PM), and Professor Rob Miyashiro holds a Kodokan judo black belt alongside his BJJ black belt (verified 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Franchise networkStructured curriculumWomen's program
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- Adult Beginners run Mon/Wed 8 PM, BJJ Fundamentals Tue, No-Gi Fundamentals Thu, judo Fri; women's self-defense Tue; kids weekday afternoons and Saturday
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, plus judo, for kids and adults
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1323 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128
- Instructors
- Professor Cristiano Xavier (4th degree black belt under Charles Gracie) and Professor Rob Miyashiro (Kodokan judo black belt and 2nd degree BJJ black belt)
Daruma Dojo (Milpitas)
Who this academy suits
A Milpitas beginner who wants a dedicated BJJ room in-city (rare here): a Fundamentals on-ramp and a Monday-through-Saturday schedule under a 3rd-degree black belt, with a trial to book
Why we say it: This Milpitas room runs a Fundamentals track and Mon-Sat classes under a 3rd degree black belt, with a bookable trial (verified 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Structured curriculumNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site offers a Book Trial Class booking; specific terms sit behind the flow
- Class schedule
- Classes run Monday to Saturday, with weekday sessions at 11 AM, 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 PM, plus Friday/Saturday kids, judo, and open mat
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 61 Serra Way, Suite 206, Milpitas, CA 95035
- Instructors
- Prof. Alberto Juarez, presented on the own site as a 3rd degree black belt under Ricardo Barros and a judo black belt
Daruma Dojo (Sunnyvale)
Who this academy suits
A structure-minded beginner who wants a named on-ramp: a Fundamentals track billed as a 32-class blueprint to blue belt, plus a BJJ 101 class, under a 3rd-degree black belt
Why we say it: The own site runs a 32-class Fundamentals blueprint and a BJJ 101 class under a 3rd degree black belt, with a bookable trial (verified 2026-07-24)
Structured curriculumNo-giKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site offers a Book Trial Class booking; specific terms sit behind the flow
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids tiers from ages 4-6 up through teens
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 548 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
- Instructors
- Prof. Alberto Juarez, presented on the own site as a 3rd degree black belt under Ricardo Barros and a judo black belt
GloGlo BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Fitness)
Who this academy suits
A beginner in central San Jose who wants a free first class under a black belt with three decades on the mat
Why we say it: The own about page presents Leonardo De Seixas as a black belt with over 30 years, and the site offers a free first class (verified 2026-07-24)
Free trialKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: the first class is free
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 95 Phelan Ave #3, San Jose, CA 95112
- Instructors
- Leonardo 'GloGlo' De Seixas, presented on the own site as a black belt with over 30 years in the art
Gracie Barra Morgan Hill
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants the standardized Gracie Barra fundamentals track with a free trial, in the south-county corridor
Why we say it: The own site runs an All Levels fundamentals track and offers a free trial via a 3-step booking (verified 2026-07-24)
A woman who wants a dedicated women's self-defense class, entered through the same free trial
Why we say it: The own site lists a women's self-defense class and a free trial (verified 2026-07-24)
Franchise networkFree trialStructured curriculumWomen's program
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site: book your trial class now / schedule your free class today, via a 3-step booking
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 16145 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- Instructors
- Professor Felipe Martins leads the kids and adults program; Coach Charlie Cheng, a purple belt, teaches kids and women's self-defense
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu East San Jose
Who this academy suits
A cautious first-timer on the east side who wants a fixed, named beginner curriculum with ten free days to decide
Why we say it: The own site runs Gracie Combatives, the 36-technique beginner program, with a 10 day free trial (verified 2026-07-24)
Franchise networkFree trialStructured curriculumKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: start your 10 day free trial today
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Gracie Bullyproof for kids ages 5-12
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1310 Tully Rd, Unit 104, San Jose, CA 95122
- Instructors
- Coach Julius, presented on the own site as the academy's coach; belt not published
Heroes Martial Arts (Downtown San Jose)
Who this academy suits
A price-first beginner who wants a cheap, low-commitment first week: $19 for a week, then transparent published rates with a gi included at sign-up
Why we say it: The own pricing page publishes the full sheet plus a $19 first week (verified 2026-07-24)
Someone who wants a downtown room under a senior Ralph Gracie black belt, training seven days a week
Why we say it: Founder Gumby Marques is a 4th degree black belt and the downtown room runs seven days a week per the own pages (verified 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Pricing published Pricing publishedDrop-ins welcomeNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: a $19 first week; it auto-converts to a regular membership if not cancelled
- Class schedule
- The downtown room runs early-morning through evening adult classes seven days a week; exact times sit on the schedule page
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Adults $229/month, youth $199/month, each with a one-time $99 sign-up fee including a gi; $40 drop-in; $19 one-week trial, in US dollars
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi, plus judo/takedown and wrestling classes
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 450 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA
- Instructors
- Founder Alan 'Gumby' Marques is a 4th degree black belt (2006, from Ralph Gracie); the downtown head instructor is Trevor Ireland, a 2nd degree black belt
Morgan Hill Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A woman in south county who wants a women's-only start, with a free trial class and no experience required
Why we say it: The own site lists a Women's-Only program and a free trial class marked no experience required (verified 2026-07-24)
Free trialWomen's program
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site offers a free trial class, no experience required, to try a class and meet the instructors
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 15790 Monterey Rd, Ste 300, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- Instructors
- The own site names the head coach as Andy; surname and belt are not published
Prisma Jiu-Jitsu (Morgan Hill)
Who this academy suits
A south-county beginner who wants genuinely world-class instruction: a Checkmat co-founder and 5th-degree black belt, with a free no-obligation trial to start
Why we say it: The own site presents Leandro Vieira as a 5th degree black belt and Checkmat co-founder, with a free no-obligation trial (verified 2026-07-24)
Franchise networkFree trialKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: book your free, no-obligation trial in two clicks
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 224 Tennant Station, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- Instructors
- Leandro Vieira, presented on the own site as a 5th degree black belt under Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti and a Checkmat co-founder
Ralph Gracie BJJ - San Jose
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a respected competition lineage with a dedicated beginners program and a free trial, seven days a week
Why we say it: The own site runs a beginners program plus gi and no-gi seven days a week with a Free Trial (verified 2026-07-24)
A woman who wants a dedicated women's-only class marked no experience needed, entered through the free trial
Why we say it: The own site lists a Women's Only BJJ program marked no experience needed, with a Free Trial (verified 2026-07-24)
Franchise networkFree trialWomen's program
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site offers a Free Trial through its enrollment system
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4607 Cherry Ave, San Jose, CA 95118
- Instructors
- Gene Kim is the head instructor
Sandro 'Batata' BJJ
Who this academy suits
A Campbell beginner who wants a free trial at an established, eponymous local room, with the option to watch a class first
Why we say it: The own site is Sandro Batata's eponymous Campbell academy offering a free trial (watch or take), with the address confirmed on its own location page (verified 2026-07-24)
Free trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: come watch or take a free trial class
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2360 South Bascom Ave, Ste E, Campbell, CA
- Instructors
- Sandro 'Batata' Santiago, the academy's namesake and principal; his belt and lineage are not published on the pages read
Serao Academy
Who this academy suits
A Mountain View beginner who wants gi and no-gi under a named head instructor, with a day pass to try it first
Why we say it: The own site runs gi and no-gi under Leopoldo Serao and offers a one-day pass (verified 2026-07-24)
No-giStriking classes too
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The own site offers a one day pass to try the academy; exact terms are not detailed
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, plus Muay Thai and MMA
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 580 N Rengstorff Ave, Suite D (Monta Loma Plaza), Mountain View, CA 94043
- Instructors
- Leopoldo Serao, presented on the own site as a first degree black belt under Eugenio Tadeu, coaching since 1995
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- Facility open Mon-Thu 7 AM-8:15 PM, Fri 11 AM-7:30 PM, Sat 11:15 AM-1:30 PM, Sun 10:15 AM-12 PM
Silicon Valley BJJ
Who this academy suits
A true beginner in the Sunnyvale/Cupertino pocket who wants a real fundamentals track: a dedicated Gi Fundamentals class four nights a week, with a trial marked no experience necessary
Why we say it: The own grid runs Gi Fundamentals Mon-Thu at 5 PM with a trial marked no experience necessary (verified 2026-07-24)
Someone who wants a dedicated, senior instructor: a 5th-degree black belt leading a room with a published weekly grid
Why we say it: Diego Herzog is presented as a 5th degree black belt and the room posts a full weekly grid (verified 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Free trialStructured curriculumNo-giKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: try a trial class this week, no experience necessary, all skill levels welcome
- Class schedule
- Adult Gi Fundamentals run Mon-Thu 5 PM, Gi All Level several days, No-Gi All Level Tue/Thu 6 PM; kids run Mon, Wed, and Saturday
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids BJJ Mon/Wed 4 PM and Sat 11 AM, plus a Saturday toddler class
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1111 Elko Dr, Ste A, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
- Instructors
- Professor Diego Herzog, presented on the own site as a 5th degree black belt under Crolin Gracie
Triune Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a dedicated Fundamentals class most days of the week under a room full of black belts, with the first week completely free
Why we say it: The GymDesk grid runs Fundamentals Mon-Thu evenings under black belts, and the site gives a completely free first week (verified 2026-07-24)
Someone with a daytime-flexible schedule: morning (8 AM) and noon classes as well as evenings, all under black-belt instruction
Why we say it: The grid posts weekday morning and Tue/Thu noon classes alongside evenings, taught by the academy's black belts (verified 2026-07-24)
Schedule verified Free trialStructured curriculumDaily beginner classesNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- The academy's own line: your first week is completely free, seven days to train, no contracts
- Class schedule
- Morning and evening adult classes weekday, a daily evening Fundamentals class, noon classes Tue/Thu, Saturday self-defense, Friday judo, and a Sunday open mat
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi, plus judo, self-defense, and a Sunday open mat
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3194 De La Cruz Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95054
- Instructors
- Philip Hsia (black belt) leads the academy, with fellow black belts Josh Doctolero and Alex Vargas teaching, and Greg Teso running the Saturday self-defense class
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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Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu (San Jose) · Official site408.280.1066 · The academy's own line: schedule a free trial class nowLast checked: 2026-07-24
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Kuleana Jiu-Jitsu · Official site1133 Sonora Ct, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 · (408) 409-5313Last checked: 2026-07-24
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Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Kickboxing (Morgan Hill) · Official site195 Mast St, #110, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 · 408-345-5524 · The own site has a Free Trial link; no descriptive terms are givenLast checked: 2026-07-24
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Ralph Gracie BJJ - Santa Clara2801 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051Last checked: 2026-07-24
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Sunnyvale Jiu Jitsu · Official site1322 S Mary Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 · (408) 773-8096 · The academy's own line: $40 for 2 trial classes and a full gi kitLast checked: 2026-07-24
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.