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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
Every academy with a full entry is pinned on the map, and neighborhood-level pins say so. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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 source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A no-gi school: the 10th Planet system trains without the gi source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1277 Old Bayshore Hwy, San Jose, CA 95112 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Alan Sanchez, presented on the own site as a 1st Degree 10th Planet black belt who teaches the classes source · 2026-07-24
American Kickboxing Academy
Who this academy suits
Someone drawn by the fight-team mystique who still wants real jiu-jitsu and lives in the San Jose area: adult and youth BJJ inside the sport's most storied MMA gym, with a free trial day for prospective local members, scheduled in advance
Why we say it: The own-site program menu lists Adult and Youth Jiu Jitsu (captured 2026-07-24); the trial-day page now prints a free trial day for prospective local members, scheduled in advance (re-read 2026-09-04)
Kids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial day, printed for new clients who live in the San Jose area and are interested in joining, scheduled in advance by phone or email; not a travelling drop-in source · 2026-09-04
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 7012 Realm Drive, San Jose, CA 95119 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Ron Keslar is the head jiu-jitsu coach source · 2026-07-25
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 source · 2026-09-03
- 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 source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 855 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Caio Terra leads the academy, presented on its own site as a 12-time world champion source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, plus judo, for kids and adults source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1323 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128 source · 2026-07-24
- 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) source · 2026-07-24
Claudio França BJJ San Jose
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a big-facility experience — fundamentals in the evenings, adult slots across the day, free first class
Why we say it: The site publishes the facility size, the full weekly schedule and a free first class (verified 2026-07-31)
A family that wants the whole household training — four youth tracks from age 4, plus published family-membership discounts
Why we say it: The site lists four youth tracks and a memberships page with family and service discounts (verified 2026-07-31)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialNo-giKids classesStriking classes too
Your first visit
- Free trial
- First class free for new students source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- Fully published: adult technique and sparring across morning, midday and evening slots; kids weekday afternoons and Saturday; kickboxing and circuit tracks source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Membership structure published — family discounts, individual plans, a 10% student/military/first-responder discount — but dollar amounts by contact only source · 2026-09-03
- Programs
- Four youth tracks from age 4, including youth striking source · 2026-09-03
- Programs
- Gi and dedicated no-gi classes on the timetable source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 14800 Camden Ave, San Jose, CA 95124 source · 2026-07-31
- Instructors
- Owner/Professor Erik Benaquisto, four more professors, and named striking and conditioning staff — eleven in all source · 2026-09-03
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 source · 2026-09-03
- 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 source · 2026-09-01
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 61 Serra Way, Suite 206, Milpitas, CA 95035 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Prof. Alberto Juarez, presented on the own site as a 3rd degree black belt under Ricardo Barros and a judo black belt source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids tiers from ages 4-6 up through teens source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 548 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Prof. Alberto Juarez, presented on the own site as a 3rd degree black belt under Ricardo Barros and a judo black belt source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 95 Phelan Ave #3, San Jose, CA 95112 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Leonardo 'GloGlo' De Seixas, presented on the own site as a black belt with over 30 years in the art source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 16145 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Professor Felipe Martins leads the kids and adults program; Coach Charlie Cheng, a purple belt, teaches kids and women's self-defense source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Gracie Bullyproof for kids ages 5-12 source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1310 Tully Rd, Unit 104, San Jose, CA 95122 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Coach Julius, presented on the own site as the academy's coach; belt not published source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- The downtown room runs early-morning through evening adult classes seven days a week; exact times sit on the schedule page source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Adults $229/month for four gyms (Downtown, Eastside, Campbell and Los Gatos) with online training included; youth $199/month for three gyms (Eastside, Campbell and Los Gatos); each with a one-time $99 sign-up fee including a gi and no contracts; an adult day pass $40 at all locations; a $19 one-week trial that converts to a membership unless cancelled before the week ends, in US dollars source · 2026-09-06
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi, plus judo/takedown and wrestling classes source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 450 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA source · 2026-07-24
- 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 source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 15790 Monterey Rd, Ste 300, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- The own site names the head coach as Andy; surname and belt are not published source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 224 Tennant Station, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Leandro Vieira, presented on the own site as a 5th degree black belt under Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti and a Checkmat co-founder source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4607 Cherry Ave, San Jose, CA 95118 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Gene Kim is the head instructor source · 2026-07-25
Sandro 'Batata' BJJ
Who this academy suits
A Campbell beginner who wants an established, eponymous local room and will make a call: the rebuilt site prints the schedule and contact details, and no longer prints the free trial line of July
Why we say it: The own site is Sandro 'Batata' Santiago's eponymous Campbell academy with the Campbell address on its location page (captured 2026-07-24); the rebuilt site prints the schedule and contact details and no trial wording (re-read 2026-09-04)
Free trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- No trial offer prints any more on the rebuilt site; the July line about a free trial class is gone, and the door is a phone call or email source · 2026-09-04
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2360 South Bascom Ave, Ste E, Campbell, CA source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Sandro 'Batata' Santiago, the academy's namesake and principal; his belt and lineage are not published on the pages read source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, plus Muay Thai and MMA source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 580 N Rengstorff Ave, Suite D (Monta Loma Plaza), Mountain View, CA 94043 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Leopoldo Serao, presented on the own site as a first degree black belt under Eugenio Tadeu, coaching since 1995 source · 2026-07-24
- 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 source · 2026-07-24
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 source · 2026-09-03
- 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 source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids BJJ Mon/Wed 4 PM and Sat 11 AM, plus a Saturday toddler class source · 2026-09-03
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1111 Elko Dr, Ste A, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 source · 2026-07-24
- Instructors
- Professor Diego Herzog, presented on the own site as a 5th degree black belt under Crolin Gracie source · 2026-07-24
Solidarity Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A beginner in south San Jose who wants the Caio Terra curriculum without driving to the flagship downtown — free trial to start
Why we say it: The own site states the curriculum and free trial; the network's own page corroborates the affiliation (verified 2026-07-31)
A family with kids from 4 — two children's age bands plus Muay Thai under one roof
Why we say it: The site lists kids, youth, adult/teens and Bang Muay Thai programs (verified 2026-07-31)
Schedule verified Franchise networkStructured curriculumFree trialKids classesStriking classes too
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free trial class, booked through the signup link source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- The schedule page now shows a public Gymdesk timetable: gi Mon to Thu 6:15 AM, Tue and Thu 11:30 AM, Mon to Fri 6:30 PM and Sat 10:45 AM; intro to BJJ Tue 6:15 PM; no-gi Mon and Wed 7:30 PM; kids and teens weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings; members-only open mat after the last class; no Sunday; the trial is still booked online source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids 4–9 and youth 10–13 source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1337 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA 95118 source · 2026-07-31
Titanium Jiu Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A beginner who trains at odd hours — adult gi at noon every weekday plus evenings, free first class
Why we say it: The weekly template shows midday and evening adult slots, and the site offers a free class (verified 2026-07-31)
A woman who wants a dedicated women's mat twice a week in a small independent room
Why we say it: The weekly template carries a women's class Mon and Wed (verified 2026-07-31)
Schedule verified Free trialNo-giKids classesWomen's programDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free first class source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- Adult gi at noon weekdays and 6 PM evenings (gi/no-gi), age-banded kids, women's Mon/Wed, wrestling Tue/Thu, Saturday morning source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Lil Titans (4–8) and Titans (9–15), weekday afternoons and Saturday; Friday competition training source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 5750 Santa Teresa Blvd #35, San Jose, CA 95123 source · 2026-07-31
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 source · 2026-09-03
- 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 source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Both gi and no-gi, plus judo, self-defense, and a Sunday open mat source · 2026-07-24
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3194 De La Cruz Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95054 source · 2026-07-24
- 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 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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Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu (San Jose) · Official site408.280.1066 · The academy's own line: schedule a free trial class nowLast checked: 2026-09-03
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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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Necalli Jiu Jitsu
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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: 2026-09-03
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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
Frequently asked questions
Which academies in the South Bay and Silicon Valley offer a free trial?
10th Planet San Jose: The academy's own line: take a free class and see if it is the right place for you; American Kickboxing Academy: A free trial day, printed for new clients who live in the San Jose area and are interested in joining, scheduled in advance by phone or email; not a travelling drop-in; Caio Terra Academy San Jose: The academy's own line: a free two day trial of all programs; Claudio França BJJ San Jose: First class free for new students; GloGlo BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Fitness): The academy's own line: the first class is free …
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.