Best BJJ schools in California??

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The Pathologist

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I was wondering if anyone could give me a list of the top BJJ schools in California? I saw that Gracie JJ is in Torance, and I've heard Nick Diaz trains with Cesar Gracie out of Carson? What other schools are out there?
 
Team GracieFighter

Cesar Gracie: Gracie Sports Center
150 Longbrook Way #D
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 827 - 5455
 
so many it'd be ridiculous to list them.

California, especially southern Cali, is ground zero for BJJ in the US.

Google is your friend.

If you are in Brentwood, Westwood, Santa Monica area, then go to Rickson's on Wilshire.
 
<-- Fernando Vasconcelos, 98 world champ, 97-98 pan champ, 2001 US open champ, ADCC vet. its accross south bay galleria
 
In San Diego we have Fabio Santos(7th degree Rickson BB), Rodrigo Medeiros(3rd degree Carlson BB), Carlos Valente(6th degree Rickson BB), Dean Lister(UFC fighter and ADCC absolute Champion, Fabio Santos BB), Saulo and Xande Ribeiro(Xande is BJJ world absolute champ, Saulo is 6 time world champ), and at least 10 other black belts who would be a big deal elsewhere but pale in comparison to those listed above. In LA you have Eddie Bravos 10th Planet, Rickson Gracie, The Gracie Academy, and numerous others as well.
 
In San Diego we have Fabio Santos(7th degree Rickson BB), Rodrigo Medeiros(3rd degree Carlson BB), Carlos Valente(6th degree Rickson BB), Dean Lister(UFC fighter and ADCC absolute Champion, Fabio Santos BB), Saulo and Xande Ribeiro(Xande is BJJ world absolute champ, Saulo is 6 time world champ), and at least 10 other black belts who would be a big deal elsewhere but pale in comparison to those listed above. In LA you have Eddie Bravos 10th Planet, Rickson Gracie, The Gracie Academy, and numerous others as well.

I have an erection right now...

I cant wait till I get to move back to LA.
 
so many it'd be ridiculous to list them.

California, especially southern Cali, is ground zero for BJJ in the US.

Google is your friend.

If you are in Brentwood, Westwood, Santa Monica area, then go to Rickson's on Wilshire.

Ricksons is ridiculuously overpriced and last I heard, he doesn't teach much anymore.

- J.
 
In San Diego we have Fabio Santos(7th degree Rickson BB), Rodrigo Medeiros(3rd degree Carlson BB), Carlos Valente(6th degree Rickson BB), Dean Lister(UFC fighter and ADCC absolute Champion, Fabio Santos BB), Saulo and Xande Ribeiro(Xande is BJJ world absolute champ, Saulo is 6 time world champ), and at least 10 other black belts who would be a big deal elsewhere but pale in comparison to those listed above. In LA you have Eddie Bravos 10th Planet, Rickson Gracie, The Gracie Academy, and numerous others as well.

Of the above, I'd consider Fabio Santos and the Riberos in SD. In LA, I'd probably consider the Machado schools too. Dunno how well they do in comps (not that comps are the be all/end all but it gives some advice) but Rigan Machado teaches in Pasadena IIRC.

Honestly, you can't swing a stick in SoCAL without hitting a good BJJ school.

- J.
 
I train with Fabio Santos and hes fantastic, I cant say enough about him. Saulo and Xande have a nice school but its new and therefore their numbers are low. Obviously when things pick up though they will likely be the school to train at if your goal is competition. Rodrigo Medeiros is good as well, but Id go to the other places first.

I also heard that Rickson is NEVER at his academy. To me its not worth the price unless hes teaching every class. Jean Jaques place is suppossed to be fantastic as well and he teaches alot. If your all about MMA and nogi then Eddie Bravo is probably your best choice. I know some guys that train there and Ive heard Eddie is a great teacher and the atmosphere in the academy is also very good. If self defense is your goal then you cannot beat the Gracie Academy. They are hands down the best place to go if you want to protect yourself. Theyre also getting ready to open a new academy that should be incredibly nice, even nicer than the one they have now.
 
Ricksons is ridiculuously overpriced and last I heard, he doesn't teach much anymore.

- J.


Actually, Rickson's is priced comparably to other top BJJ schools in the Los Angeles area, and much less than you'll see at some places (e.g., Legends). You are correct that he is not teaching much anymore -- so apparently no one is actually getting quality instruction, including Rickson's son Kron who trains there every day. :rolleyes:
 
Actually, Rickson's is priced comparably to other top BJJ schools in the Los Angeles area, and much less than you'll see at some places (e.g., Legends). You are correct that he is not teaching much anymore -- so apparently no one is actually getting quality instruction, including Rickson's son Kron who trains there every day. :rolleyes:

I am just going by memory when I was living in LA around 3-4 years ago and made some inquiries. I imagine the landscape has changed a lot now but at the time, Rickson was charging and insane amount to every other major BJJ school - and at the time I compared it to most Machado schools, BHJJ, the Gracie Academy and a few others (I was looking at strict BJJ schools). Ricksons was pricey and when I asked people who trained there they said he almost never taught. I am spewing I didn't go train at Rigans - it was 10min from my work at the time. Gargh!

If you are going to train somewhere for the name, find out if the name actually teaches anymore. In LA, given the prevalence of so many big BJJ names, you can really afford to be fussy.

- J.
 
Quality training with Tinguinha at Anaheim.

I forgot to mention Tinguinha, Ive heard great things about him. Same goes for Roy Harris, hes apparently another great option if your training for self defense too.
 
I can tell you from experience that you will not be disappointed if you go to Saulo and Xande Ribeiro's school.

I really miss training with them when they used to be in the Ohio/Michigan area.

We now train with Saulo's first black belt in the US... Chris Blanke who really is a great trainer. Everyone in class LOVES training with him. He is very detailed about moves.

Check out my sig for Saulo's offical website. You can get contact info from there.

Wolverine
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