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Learning jiu-jitsu on the Westside
Santa Monica, Venice, and West LA hold some of the sport's most storied rooms. 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.
Alliance Jiu Jitsu Los Angeles by Cobrinha
Who this academy suits
A true first-timer who wants a structured on-ramp: a four-week beginner course with three fixed classes a week
Why we say it: The school publishes a dedicated four-week beginner course that feeds into the fundamentals classes on its live timetable (verified 2026-07-14)
A student who wants a room led by a world-champion head coach, as the school's own page presents him
Why we say it: The school's about page introduces the head coach as a 4th degree black belt and lists his world titles (verified 2026-07-14, printed as the school's account)
Schedule verified Franchise networkStructured curriculumNo-giKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- New students start with a four-week beginner course, three classes a week (Mon and Wed 8 PM, Thu 6:10 PM); no experience required, academy uniform required; contact the school for start dates
- Class schedule
- Fundamentals 1 for day-one beginners runs Mon and Wed 8 PM plus Tue and Thu 6:30 AM and 6:10 PM; no-gi fundamentals Tue and Thu 6:10 PM; women's classes four times a week; advanced classes are belt-gated
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Age-banded kids programs weekday afternoons and Saturday morning, ages 3 to 15
- Programs
- Gi and no-gi tracks; no-gi runs Tue and Thu
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4929 Wilshire Blvd #104, Los Angeles, CA 90010
- Instructors
- Head coach Rubens Charles 'Cobrinha' Maciel, a 4th degree black belt with multiple gi and no-gi world titles, per the school's own page
Gracie Originals Jiu-Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A student who specifically wants the Rickson branch of the family teaching line on the Westside
Why we say it: The founder's own about page states the Rickson Gracie Academy years and the 2015 black belt from Kron Gracie (verified 2026-07-14, printed as the school's account)
A beginner ready to commit rather than sample: the school takes no drop-ins and enrolls by text
Why we say it: The site states no drop-ins with text booking, and the published Santa Monica schedule runs adult classes at noon and evenings five days a week (verified 2026-07-14)
Schedule verified Structured curriculumKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- No drop-ins, per the site, and no free trial is published; text (310) 894-0398 to schedule a class
- Class schedule
- Adult classes run at the Santa Monica room: gi Mon, Tue, and Thu at noon and 6 PM with open mats after, advanced no-gi Wed and Fri at noon, and a Saturday noon open mat. The Venice page lists kids classes only. Closed Sunday
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids gi classes at both rooms: Venice Mon to Thu 4 PM, Santa Monica Tue, Thu, Fri afternoons and Sat morning
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Venice: 1800 Abbot Kinney Blvd Suite 1500, CA 90291 / Santa Monica: 1934 14th St, CA 90404
- Instructors
- Erik Soderbergh, who per the school's page trained at the Rickson Gracie Academy from 1999 and received his black belt from Kron Gracie in 2015
Phone (310) 894-0398, text preferred Website Naver Map Apple Maps
MC Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club (Santa Monica)
Who this academy suits
A beginner in central Santa Monica who wants a free first class and a fundamentals slot every weekday evening
Why we say it: The site publishes a free introductory class and the live calendar runs fundamentals every weekday evening (verified 2026-07-14)
An early-morning or lunchtime trainer: 6 AM classes Mon and Wed, 11 AM classes Tue and Thu
Why we say it: The live calendar runs Mon/Wed 6 AM and Tue/Thu 11 AM all-levels sessions with a 30-minute live block after (verified 2026-07-14)
Schedule verified Free trialDaily beginner classesKids classesParking
Your first visit
- Free trial
- New students book a free introductory class through the site
- Class schedule
- Fundamentals run every weekday evening (Mon, Wed, Fri 6 PM; Tue, Thu 7 PM), with 6 AM all-levels Mon and Wed, 11 AM Tue and Thu, Friday evening no-gi, and Saturday morning competition training; the school asks you to arrive 10 minutes early
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids classes Mon to Thu at 4:15 and 5 PM
- Programs
- Gi-based with a dedicated Friday evening no-gi class
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 320 Wilshire Blvd Ste 101, Santa Monica, CA 90401
- Instructors
- Maycon Carvalho, introduced on the school's page as a 5th degree black belt under Aldo Caveirinha and an IBJJF No-Gi World Champion
- Parking
- Free 90 minute parking in the lot behind the building, per the school's page
Street Sports Jiu-Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A first-timer who wants a free trial and a real fundamentals track, with lunchtime options
Why we say it: The live timetable on the school's own schedule page runs fundamentals-and-drilling blocks four times a week, and the homepage publishes a free trial class (verified 2026-07-14)
A beginner who wants an established room: the founder has taught here since 1998
Why we say it: The school's own legacy page states the 1998 founding and the founder's coral belt in the Machado line (verified 2026-07-14, printed as the school's account)
Schedule verified Free trialStructured curriculumKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- One free trial class, booked through the site's trial page or by email
- Class schedule
- Fundamentals and drilling run four times a week (Mon and Wed 5:30 PM gi, Tue noon no-gi, Thu noon gi), with 7 AM classes Tue to Thu, daily noon classes, Saturday adult classes, and a Sunday open mat
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids gi classes Mon and Wed 4:30 PM and Sat 10 AM
- Programs
- Gi-based with no-gi slots on Tue, Wed, and Fri
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 11901 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
- Instructors
- Renato Magno, who per the school's own page opened the room in 1998 and holds a coral belt in the Machado line
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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10th Planet West LA · Official site(213) 799-3477 · Book a visit to try a class; drop-ins are published at $35 per classLast checked: 2026-07-14
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Dynamix MMA · Official site11870 Santa Monica Blvd #102, Los Angeles, CA 90025 · (310) 584-1700 · The BJJ program is led by Gustavo Gasperin, per the gym's siteLast checked: 2026-07-14
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Gracie Barra Culver City · Official site(805) 822-7553Last checked: 2026-07-14
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Kaizen Academy BJJ · Official site2014 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 · Every new student gets a free class, no equipment needed, per the school's siteLast checked: 2026-07-14
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Level Up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu · Official site3249 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016 · (424) 345-5022 · Erik Klinger, founder, per the school's siteLast checked: 2026-07-14
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Sparta Academy · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-14
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Werdum Training Center · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-14
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West LA Jiu Jitsu · Official site1990 Westwood Blvd Suite 105, Los Angeles, CA 90025 · 310-809-4124 · Book a free trial lesson, per the school's siteLast checked: 2026-07-14
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.