How to Find a Place to Train Jiu Jitsu in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has BJJ gyms from the South Bay to the Valley. Here's how to pick one you can reach in traffic, what visitors should know, and five to try.
Published: October 25, 2026
Key takeaways
- In Los Angeles, the gym you'll keep going to is usually one you can reach without a long freeway drive at rush hour.
- Gracie University of Jiu-Jitsu in Torrance, Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness in Hancock Park, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Downtown LA, Gracie Barra Northridge and Meraki in West LA make a strong shortlist.
- Some of LA's best-known academies ask visitors to book ahead, and Meraki doesn't take walk-ins at all.
- Trials are easy to find in LA, from a free class at Gracie Barra Northridge to a risk-free 10-day trial at Gracie University, so try a few gyms near home or work before you join.
In Los Angeles, every plan starts with a traffic check. Dinner, a doctor's appointment and the gym all depend on which freeway you'd need and what time you'd be on it.
Jiu jitsu works best when it isn't a trip. With a good academy 15 minutes from home or work, three classes a week fits around your life instead of around the 405.
Greater LA has the gyms to make that happen, from the South Bay up to the Antelope Valley. This guide covers how to choose one you'll keep getting to, how to think about gi and no-gi, what visitors should know, and five academies worth trying.
Is it worth driving across LA for a better gym?
Driving across Los Angeles for a bigger-name gym is rarely worth it, because traffic ends up deciding how often you train. A good academy down the road will usually teach you more, simply because you'll be on the mat more often.
If you work downtown or on the Westside, an academy by the office means you can train early or at lunch and drive home after the rush. Several of the gyms below hold classes at 7 a.m. or earlier.
Training close to home may keep you off the freeway entirely. The South Bay and the San Fernando Valley have the biggest clusters, and our Los Angeles page runs from Lancaster down to San Pedro, so you can see what's close to your door.
Should you train gi or no-gi in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is an easy place to train either gi or no-gi, and many academies teach both. The 10th Planet system, which is no-gi only, has its headquarters downtown.
If you already know what you like, check how often it runs before you book a trial. At Meraki in West LA, for example, there's a gi class every weekday morning and no-gi four times a week.
If you're new and undecided, a gym that teaches both lets you try each style before you pick a favorite.
What should you know before visiting an LA gym?
Visitors are welcome at plenty of Los Angeles academies, but the best-known ones usually want to hear from you first. A little planning saves a wasted drive:
- Book ahead. Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness asks visitors to call or email to reserve a spot, and Meraki doesn't take walk-ins at all.
- Ask about the dress code. Some academies are strict about gi colors and patches. Cobrinha, for one, accepts only white or blue gis and has its own rules for no-gi attire, so ask what to wear when you book.
- Budget for a pass. At the time of writing, 10th Planet's Downtown LA headquarters charges $40 for a day, $100 for a week and $220 for a month.
If this is your first time training away from your home gym, the etiquette in our guide to dropping in while you travel applies here too.
If you live here, try before you commit. Trials are easy to find in LA, from a free class at Gracie Barra Northridge to a risk-free 10-day trial at Gracie University.
Five Los Angeles gyms to check out
Five well-rated Los Angeles academies make a good starting point, spread from the South Bay to the Valley. Each has a name most local grapplers will recognize, and together they have classes for gi and no-gi players, beginners, women and kids.
| Gym | Area | Gi or no-gi | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gracie University of Jiu-Jitsu | Torrance, South Bay | Mostly gi | Complete beginners, and anyone focused on self-defense |
| Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness | Hancock Park, Central LA | Both | Anyone who wants a structured path to the advanced class |
| 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Downtown LA | Downtown LA | No-gi only | No-gi fans, and visitors who want a day or week pass |
| Gracie Barra Northridge | Northridge, San Fernando Valley | Both | Valley families, with kids' classes from age 4 |
| Meraki | West LA | Mostly gi | Beginners who want a private intro first |
Gracie University of Jiu-Jitsu (Torrance, South Bay)
Gracie University of Jiu-Jitsu is the Torrance headquarters of the Gracie University program, on West Carson Street. It has more Google reviews than any other gym on our Los Angeles page.
The teaching here is built around self-defense rather than tournaments. New adults start in Gracie Combatives, which needs no experience and runs every weekday and on Saturday, with some classes as early as 7 a.m.
Students above white belt move on to the Master Cycle, which trains in both the gi and no-gi. There's also Women Empowered, a self-defense program for women, and kids' classes from age 3.
New students get a risk-free 10-day trial with unlimited training, and you can start with a free private intro lesson. That makes it a natural first stop for complete beginners, and for anyone whose main goal is self-defense.
Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness (Hancock Park, Central LA)
Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness is an Alliance academy on Wilshire Boulevard in Hancock Park, a central spot if you live or work along the Wilshire corridor.
The timetable starts at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and climbs through several fundamentals levels to advanced classes for blue belts and up. New adults can also join a four-week beginner's course that runs three evenings a week.
No-gi runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there's a women's class on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and kids can start from age 3.
Visitors should call or email ahead and ask about the dress code at the same time. It's a strong fit if you want a clear path from your first class to the advanced room.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Downtown LA (Downtown LA)
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Downtown LA is the headquarters of the 10th Planet system, on South Grand Avenue. It teaches no-gi only.
Beginners have 19 classes a week to choose from, split between fundamentals and mixed-level sessions, and advanced students have their own classes on top.
Passes are on sale through its website, which makes it ideal for no-gi fans in town for a few days. At the time of writing, a pass costs $40 for a day, $100 for a week or $220 for a month, though the Sunday leg lock class is for members only.
Gracie Barra Northridge (Northridge, San Fernando Valley)
Gracie Barra Northridge is on Nordhoff Street in Northridge, toward the northwest end of the San Fernando Valley. Its adult program runs from fundamentals through advanced classes, with no-gi sessions alongside.
There's a women-only class open to all levels, and the kids' program covers ages 4 to 15. That makes it a good match for Valley families who'd like everyone training at the same gym.
The doors open at noon on weekdays and stay closed on Sundays, so plan on lunchtime or evening classes. You can book a free trial class through its website.
Meraki (West LA)
Meraki is a jiu jitsu club on West Olympic Boulevard in West LA, open since 2017. An all-levels gi class runs at 6:15 a.m. every weekday, which helps if you want to train before the 405 fills up.
Fundamentals classes run Monday to Thursday evenings, and no-gi runs four times a week. There's a women's class on Friday mornings and a kids' program from age 3.
Meraki doesn't take walk-ins. New students start with a 45-minute private intro and a 3-day free trial, with a gi provided and a card needed to start, which makes it best suited to beginners who'd like one-on-one time before their first group class.
If you stay, membership is $275 a month at the time of writing.
What if none of these gyms is near you?
If none of these five gyms is close to home or work, Los Angeles has plenty more to choose from. At the time of writing, our Los Angeles page puts more than 150 on one map, each one open and checked for jiu jitsu at its address.
If you live south or southeast of the city, Long Beach and Anaheim have pages of their own, and our Irvine page covers most of Orange County.
Once you have two or three names, read up on how to tell a real BJJ gym from a pin on a map, then book a trial at each.
Final thoughts
Los Angeles rewards the jiu jitsu student who plans around traffic. Pick a gym near home or work, look at when its gi and no-gi classes run, and use the trials before you sign up.
The famous academy across town will still be there for a weekend visit. The gym you can reach on a Tuesday night is the one that will make you better.
FAQ
Which Los Angeles gyms teach no-gi only?
In Los Angeles, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Downtown LA teaches no-gi only, as the headquarters of the 10th Planet system. If you want both styles, Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness, Gracie Barra Northridge and Meraki each put no-gi classes on the timetable every week.
Do Los Angeles BJJ gyms take walk-ins?
Some of the best-known Los Angeles BJJ gyms want you to book ahead rather than walk in. Meraki requires a booked trial, Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness asks visitors to call or email ahead, and 10th Planet's Downtown LA headquarters sells passes through its website.
How much does BJJ cost in Los Angeles?
BJJ prices in Los Angeles vary from gym to gym, and many academies only share them when you ask. At the time of writing, Meraki charges $275 a month after its free trial, and 10th Planet's Downtown LA headquarters sells a day pass for $40.
Where can I train BJJ in the San Fernando Valley?
The San Fernando Valley has one of the biggest clusters of BJJ gyms in greater Los Angeles. Gracie Barra Northridge, with fundamentals, no-gi, women's and kids' classes, is a well-reviewed place to start.
Are there women's BJJ classes in Los Angeles?
Several Los Angeles academies run women's BJJ classes. Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness has one on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Meraki holds one on Friday mornings, Gracie Barra Northridge runs a women-only class, and Gracie University teaches its Women Empowered self-defense program.