How to Find a Place to Train Jiu Jitsu in São Paulo
São Paulo's BJJ gyms run classes from 6 a.m. and at lunch. This guide covers where to train, how to book as a visitor, gi and no-gi, and five gyms to try.
Published: October 31, 2026
Key takeaways
- São Paulo is an easy city to fit jiu jitsu around work, with academies running classes from 6 a.m. and at lunchtime on weekdays.
- Pick a gym near your hotel or office, because crossing São Paulo at rush hour can take longer than the class.
- Most São Paulo academies book visitors and trial classes over WhatsApp, and few publish a drop-in price, so message before you go.
- Alliance Moema, Alliance Pinheiros, Academia Cícero Costha, Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP and Andrei Jiu-Jitsu are five good places to start.
São Paulo may be the easiest big city in the world to fit jiu jitsu around a working day. Plenty of academies open their mats before most offices open their doors, and lunchtime classes are on the timetable at several of the city's best-known gyms.
That makes a big difference if you're here on business. Alliance Moema, for example, runs classes at 6, 7 and 8 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. every weekday, so a class before your first meeting is realistic.
And it isn't only for visitors. Our São Paulo page currently lists 191 gyms, so whether you're here for a week or for good, there's an academy that fits your day.
This guide covers where to train, when classes run, how booking works for visitors, how much no-gi you'll find, and five academies to start with.
Where should you train BJJ in São Paulo?
The best São Paulo gym for most people is one close to where they're staying or working. The city is enormous, and a gym that looks close on the map can mean an hour in traffic at 6 p.m.
If you're staying in Pinheiros, Vila Madalena or near Avenida Paulista, look at the west and central parts of the city first. If you're in Moema, Itaim Bibi or near Ibirapuera Park, the south side has some of the biggest academies in town.
The gyms aren't only in the business districts, either. São Paulo's north and east zones are full of well-reviewed academies, and some of the city's best-known competition teams are based in neighborhoods most visitors never see.
Our São Paulo page puts every gym on one map, so you can see what's near your hotel or office before you message anyone.
Can you train before work or at lunch in São Paulo?
You can train before work or at lunchtime in São Paulo, because the bigger academies build their timetables around office hours. Alliance Moema runs classes at 6 a.m. every weekday, Alliance Pinheiros at 6 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP has a 6 a.m. fundamentals class on Tuesday and Thursday.
Lunchtime is just as well covered. Alliance Pinheiros trains at noon every weekday, Alliance Moema at 12:30 p.m., Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP at 12:15 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and Andrei Jiu-Jitsu at noon on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Weekends are thinner. Several academies run Saturday morning classes, but none of the five in this guide lists classes on Sunday.
How do you book a BJJ class in São Paulo as a visitor?
Most São Paulo academies book visitors and trial classes through WhatsApp, so message the gym before you turn up. It's the main contact at Alliance Moema, Alliance Pinheiros and Andrei Jiu-Jitsu, and the other gyms in this guide ask you to get in touch first too.
Ask about the price. None of the five gyms in this guide publishes a weekday drop-in price, so ask when you message.
Free trials are common. Alliance Moema, Alliance Pinheiros and Academia Cícero Costha all offer a free first class, and Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP and Andrei Jiu-Jitsu offer trial classes too.
You may not need to pack a gi. Alliance Moema and Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP lend gis for trial classes, and Academia Cícero Costha says you don't need one for your first session. If you already train, a plain gi is still the safest thing to bring.
Not every academy takes visitors, and some are for enrolled students only. The usual etiquette for training BJJ while traveling applies too, especially arriving early and paying your fee before class.
Do São Paulo gyms teach no-gi?
São Paulo gyms teach mostly gi, with no-gi as a few classes a week. None of the well-known academies in this guide is no-gi only.
Alliance Pinheiros has the most no-gi of the five, with six classes a week, including lunchtime no-gi on Monday and Friday. Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP makes Friday its no-gi day, and Andrei Jiu-Jitsu and Alliance Moema each run three no-gi classes a week.
What does BJJ cost in São Paulo?
At the time of writing, a monthly membership costs about R$400 to R$590 at the gyms in this guide that publish their prices. Andrei Jiu-Jitsu charges R$399 a month on a recurring plan, and Alliance Moema's recurring men's plan is R$587, with no joining fee.
If you're moving to São Paulo, take a free trial at two or three gyms before you sign up. If you're visiting, ask each academy what it charges per class or per week.
Five São Paulo gyms to check out
There's no single best academy in São Paulo, but these five are a good place to start. They're well reviewed and active, and between them they cover early and lunchtime classes, beginners, no-gi and one of the city's most famous competition teams.
| Gym | Area | Gi or no-gi | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Moema | Moema | Mostly gi | Complete beginners and early risers |
| Alliance Pinheiros | Alto de Pinheiros | Both | Lunchtime training and no-gi |
| Academia Cícero Costha | Ipiranga | Both | Visitors who want a famous competition team |
| Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP | Aclimação | Mostly gi, no-gi on Fridays | Lunchtime training near the center, and women |
| Andrei Jiu-Jitsu | Pompeia | Both | Early classes and women in the west zone |
Alliance Moema (Moema)
Alliance Moema is the most-reviewed gym on our São Paulo page by a long way, with more than 1,000 Google reviews. It's on Alameda dos Arapanés in Moema, in a facility of more than 1,000 square meters with over 500 square meters of mats and free valet parking.
It's ideal for complete beginners. Beginners' classes run every day, and the free first class is one-to-one with an instructor, with a gi provided. Classes start at 6 a.m. on weekdays and run until 10 p.m., with three no-gi classes a week.
Alliance Pinheiros (Alto de Pinheiros)
Alliance Pinheiros is on Rua Cerro Corá in Alto de Pinheiros, a good option if you're staying on the west side of the city. Its current timetable has an early class at 6 or 7 a.m. and a noon class every weekday.
It's the strongest no-gi pick of the five, with six no-gi classes a week. People who've never trained get a free private trial, while those who already train can try a group class for free.
Academia Cícero Costha (Ipiranga)
Academia Cícero Costha is the headquarters of one of jiu jitsu's best-known competition teams, on Rua Lino Coutinho in Ipiranga. According to its site, it began as a social project in the neighborhood and has grown into a network of 50 academies in 14 countries.
It teaches gi and no-gi, with high-volume competition training alongside classes for all levels, and it's the only gym in this guide with an English version of its website. The first class is free, you don't need a gi for it, and you message the academy to book a time.
Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP (Aclimação)
Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP opened in Aclimação in 2021, close to the center of the city, and it has a second unit in Cambuci. It's one of the best-reviewed gyms on our São Paulo page, and it has a co-working space and a shower on site.
It's a strong fit for lunchtime training, with classes at 12:15 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. Friday is no-gi all day, there's a women's class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and the academy lends gis for trial classes.
Andrei Jiu-Jitsu (Pompeia)
Andrei Jiu-Jitsu is on Rua Venâncio Aires in Pompeia, in the city's west zone, and says it has more than 25 years of experience. It trains on two mats with more than 250 square meters of space.
There are 7 a.m. classes on Monday and Wednesday, noon classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and no-gi three times a week. A women-only class runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and beginners have their own technique and drills classes. It also publishes its prices, which few São Paulo gyms do.
How do you find more BJJ gyms in São Paulo?
These five São Paulo gyms are a starting point, not the full picture. With 191 gyms on our map, there's very likely a well-reviewed academy closer to your hotel or office.
Our São Paulo page shows them all on one map. Every gym on it is open, has Google reviews and has been checked for BJJ at that location.
If your trip includes Rio as well, our Rio de Janeiro guide covers where to train there, and the same checks for a legit gym apply anywhere.
Final thoughts
São Paulo makes it easy to train, as long as you choose a gym on your side of the city. Look for early or lunchtime classes near where you're staying, send a WhatsApp message before you go, and ask about the price.
Whether you train at a huge academy in Moema or a neighborhood gym in the west zone, a class or two is one of the best ways to see a side of São Paulo that most business trips miss.
FAQ
Can visitors drop in at BJJ gyms in São Paulo?
Visitors can train at many BJJ gyms in São Paulo, but it's best to message ahead on WhatsApp to arrange a class and ask the price. Some academies train enrolled students only, so check before you plan around one.
Are there early-morning BJJ classes in São Paulo?
Early-morning BJJ classes are easy to find in São Paulo. Alliance Moema runs classes at 6, 7 and 8 a.m. every weekday, Alliance Pinheiros trains at 6 and 7 a.m., and Andrei Jiu-Jitsu has 7 a.m. classes on Monday and Wednesday.
Do I need a gi to train in São Paulo?
A gi is needed for most São Paulo classes, because the city's academies teach mainly gi. For a first or trial class you may not need your own: Alliance Moema and Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP lend gis, and Academia Cícero Costha says no gi is needed for the first session.
Do São Paulo BJJ gyms teach in English?
São Paulo BJJ gyms mostly teach in Portuguese, and most of their websites are Portuguese only. Academia Cícero Costha has an English version of its site, and jiu jitsu techniques are easy to follow even when you don't speak the language.
Where can I train no-gi in São Paulo?
No-gi in São Paulo is mostly a few classes a week at gi academies. Alliance Pinheiros runs six no-gi classes a week, including at lunchtime, and Jiu-Jitsu Academy SP trains no-gi all day on Fridays.