World Class Jiu-Jitsu Schools in America

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tobigforyou

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This is a list I compiled of what I think are the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in the United States. Tell me what you think. Do you agree? disagree?
You can add your own too, switch them around.

1.) University of Jiu-Jitsu: San Diego, CA
Instructor(s): Saulo & Xande Ribeiro

2.) Marcelo Garcia Academy: New York, NY
Instructor(s): Marcelo Garcia

3.) Jean Jaques Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Tarzana, CA
Instructors(s): Jean Jacques Machado

4.) Rigan Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Redondo Beach, CA
Instructor(s): Rigan Machado & others

5.) Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: Torrance, CA
Instructor(s): Rorion, Ryron, Rener, Ralek

6.) RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Farmers Branch, TX
Instructor(s): Carlos Machado & others

7.) Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Culver City, CA
Instructor(s): Kron Gracie

8.) Gracie Humaita: Oakland, CA
Instructor(s): Eduardo Rocha

9.) Renzo Gracie Academy: New York, NY
Instructor(s): Renzo Gracie & others

10.) Legends Gym 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu: Hollywood, CA
Instructor(s): Eddie Bravo

11.) Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: San Francisco, CA
Instructor(s): Ralph Gracie, Kurt Osiander, Renan Silva

12.) Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Los Angeles, CA
Instructor(s): Rickson Gracie & others

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LIST BROKEN DOWN:

About Ceaser Gracie, yeah he should be on the list, I don't know every school outhere guys.

Let me break it down:


--------------
1.) University of Jiu-Jitsu: San Diego, CA
Instructor(s): Saulo & Xande Ribeiro

They are number one because of the quality of the teachers. Marcelo Garcia is a great grappler, maybe even better than one of the Ribeiro brothers. But not both together. I think if you want to learn Jiu-Jitsu having the two most successful grapplers in the game in the same room is not too bad.

--------------

2.) Marcelo Garcia Academy: New York, NY
Instructor(s): Marcelo Garcia

Marcelo goes with out saying. Maybe if the Ribeiro brothers had each their own academy, Marcelo would be number 1. He is second because when it comes to learning, having two world champions in the room is better than one.


--------------


3.) Jean Jacques Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Tarzana, CA
Instructors(s): Jean Jacques Machado

Jean Jacques is a legend. probably one of the best grapplers that have ever lived.
And also a phenomenal teacher. And the fact that he actually teaches his classes also bumped him up. There are allot of big names out there who only slap their name on the academy, and don't actually train there everyday.

--------------


4.) Rigan Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Redondo Beach, CA
Instructor(s): Rigan Machado & others

Rigan is a close 4th to his brother Jean.

-------------

5.) Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: Torrance, CA
Instructor(s): Rorion, Ryron, Rener, Ralek

Legendary academy, and the only Jiu-Jitsu Grandmaster that I know of actively teaching in America.

--------------

6.) RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Farmers Branch, TX
Instructor(s): Carlos Machado & others

Carlos Machado another great teacher. Almost a tie with the Gracie Academy.

---------------

7.) Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Culver City, CA
Instructor(s): Kron Gracie

Son of the Legendary Rickson Gracie, and a rising star in the grappling world.
Maybe in the future his academy will rank even higher on this list as his accomplishments continue to grow.

---------------

8.) Gracie Humaita: Oakland, CA
Instructor(s): Eduardo Rocha

Eduardo Rocha an accomplished grappler under Royler Gracie, Pan Am champion multiple times, and has won other prestigious tournaments. He teaches each class.

----------------

9.) Renzo Gracie Academy: New York, NY
Instructor(s): Renzo Gracie & others

The legendary Renzo Gracie. His academy ranked a bit lower, because of class sizes and the fact that he doesn't teach all classes. If the classes were smaller, and Renzo was the only instructor, his academy would have ranked allot higher.

---------------

10.) Legends Gym 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu: Hollywood, CA
Instructor(s): Eddie Bravo

Why did I put Eddie Bravo at 10?
He IS the one of the best no-gi grapplers ever.
The only reason he got 10 is because his classes are all no-gi. I am a bit of a traditionalist, and even though in his academy you will probably get the best no-gi Jiu-Jitsu in the world. I think that is only one part of our martial art.

--------------

11.) Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: San Francisco, CA
Instructor(s): Ralph Gracie, Kurt Osiander, Renan Silva

Legendary fighter, phenomenal teacher, the only reason he got 11th is because he doesn't teach each class. Ralph hops around the different academies he has. If he had one he focused on and trained everyday at, it would have ranked higher.
I chose San Francisco though because even though he hops around, you will probably find him here more often than the others.

--------------

12.) Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Los Angeles, CA
Instructor(s): Rickson Gracie & others

WHY did I put the legendary Rickson Gracie at 12?
He is the best fighter our martial art has EVER seen. Why?
Because he doesn't teach there. Yes he goes there every once in a while, but like Ralph's academy he doesn't teach there regularly. Rickson actually moved back to Brazil. But if that was his academy and you could see him there and learn from him everyday, His academy would probably be number 1 or 2.


---------------

There guys I explained my list. and yeah I forgot about Ceaser Gracie, I should have included him.
And maybe Relson Gracie as well. But he has multiple academies, and I don't know which one he trains everyday at.
Where would you guys put him?
 
Last edited:
10th planet has the 10th best BJJ? Do they even do BJJ?
 
i don't understand these rankings. i mean just because you come from one of these schools doesn't mean that you are good. it is the individual, not the label that makes one good.
 
tobigforyou said:
This is a list I compiled of what I think are the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in the United States. Tell me what you think. Do you agree? disagree?

10.) Legends Gym 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu: Hollywood, CA
Instructor(s): Eddie Bravo

11.) Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: San Francisco, CA
Instructor(s): Ralph Gracie, Kurt Osiander, Renan Silva

12.) Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Los Angeles, CA
Instructor(s): Rickson Gracie & others
Click to expand...

Hope theyre not arranged by quality!
 
And how do you know this, have you trained at all these schools? Or are they just the most well known schools? GTFO with your rankings with no way to back it up.
 
About Ceaser Gracie, yeah he should be on the list, I don't know every school outhere guys.

Let me break it down:


--------------
1.) University of Jiu-Jitsu: San Diego, CA
Instructor(s): Saulo & Xande Ribeiro

They are number one because of the quality of the teachers. Marcelo Garcia is a great grappler, maybe even better than one of the Ribeiro brothers. But not both together. I think if you want to learn Jiu-Jitsu having the two most successful grapplers in the game in the same room is not too bad.

--------------

2.) Marcelo Garcia Academy: New York, NY
Instructor(s): Marcelo Garcia

Marcelo goes with out saying. Maybe if the Ribeiro brothers had each their own academy, Marcelo would be number 1. He is second because when it comes to learning, having two world champions in the room is better than one.


--------------


3.) Jean Jacques Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Tarzana, CA
Instructors(s): Jean Jacques Machado

Jean Jacques is a legend. probably one of the best grapplers that have ever lived.
And also a phenomenal teacher. And the fact that he actually teaches his classes also bumped him up. There are allot of big names out there who only slap their name on the academy, and don't actually train there everyday.

--------------


4.) Rigan Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Redondo Beach, CA
Instructor(s): Rigan Machado & others

Rigan is a close 4th to his brother Jean.

-------------

5.) Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: Torrance, CA
Instructor(s): Rorion, Ryron, Rener, Ralek

Legendary academy, and the only Jiu-Jitsu Grandmaster that I know of actively teaching in America.

--------------

6.) RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu: Farmers Branch, TX
Instructor(s): Carlos Machado & others

Carlos Machado another great teacher. Almost a tie with the Gracie Academy.

---------------

7.) Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Culver City, CA
Instructor(s): Kron Gracie

Son of the Legendary Rickson Gracie, and a rising star in the grappling world.
Maybe in the future his academy will rank even higher on this list as his accomplishments continue to grow.

---------------

8.) Gracie Humaita: Oakland, CA
Instructor(s): Eduardo Rocha

Eduardo Rocha an accomplished grappler under Royler Gracie, Pan Am champion multiple times, and has won other prestigious tournaments. He teaches each class.

----------------

9.) Renzo Gracie Academy: New York, NY
Instructor(s): Renzo Gracie & others

The legendary Renzo Gracie. His academy ranked a bit lower, because of class sizes and the fact that he doesn't teach all classes. If the classes were smaller, and Renzo was the only instructor, his academy would have ranked allot higher.

---------------

10.) Legends Gym 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu: Hollywood, CA
Instructor(s): Eddie Bravo

Why did I put Eddie Bravo at 10?
He IS the one of the best no-gi grapplers ever.
The only reason he got 10 is because his classes are all no-gi. I am a bit of a traditionalist, and even though in his academy you will probably get the best no-gi Jiu-Jitsu in the world. I think that is only one part of our martial art.

--------------

11.) Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: San Francisco, CA
Instructor(s): Ralph Gracie, Kurt Osiander, Renan Silva

Legendary fighter, phenomenal teacher, the only reason he got 11th is because he doesn't teach each class. Ralph hops around the different academies he has. If he had one he focused on and trained everyday at, it would have ranked higher.
I chose San Francisco though because even though he hops around, you will probably find him here more often than the others.

--------------

12.) Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Los Angeles, CA
Instructor(s): Rickson Gracie & others

WHY did I put the legendary Rickson Gracie at 12?
He is the best fighter our martial art has EVER seen. Why?
Because he doesn't teach there. Yes he goes there every once in a while, but like Ralph's academy he doesn't teach there regularly. Rickson actually moved back to Brazil. But if that was his academy and you could see him there and learn from him everyday, His academy would probably be number 1 or 2.


---------------

There guys I explained my list. and yeah I forgot about Ceaser Gracie, I should have included him.
And maybe Relson Gracie as well. But he has multiple academies, and I don't know which one he trains everyday at.
Where would you guys put him?
 
Last edited:
Also consider that not all the guys you listed teach at their schools. At one time they all held classes, but now some of them just hire other black belts the take their place or have their students teach. So I would have to disagree with half of your list.
 
Take off most of those Gracie's from the list. You put World Class in the title, Machado & Ralph Gracie's don't produce World Class competitors. Atos - San Diego, Cobrinha - Los Angeles, those are "World Class" schools, because your a 6th-8th degree or a Gracie doesn't mean your World Class.
 
Sorry dude, your list sucks. You might have a chance if you left the rankings off, but your opinions on what makes a school world class are incomplete at best. Can I assume you just got your bluebelt?
 
Gracie Barra America- Carlos Gracie Jr, Kayron Gracie, Marcio Feitosa among a handful of black belts that show up daily

Atos- Andre Galvao (teaches all the classes), Mendes Bros, Bruno Frazatto and Davi Ramos. These guys are always at the gym.
 
That is a name recognition list vs actually being a great school. Listing Gracie Academy and not listing Alliance in San Diego is insane.
 
tobigforyou said:
10.) Why did I put Eddie Bravo at 10?
He IS the one of the best no-gi grapplers ever.
Click to expand...

I'm not a 10PJJ hater, but this statement is whack! His biggest accomplishment is submitting Royler as a brown belt and that makes him the "best no-gi grappler ever." Really? You didn't include Atos with the current class and open class ADCC champion along with all his champion teammates. Not including Atos makes this list just wrong.
 
Can I see your credentials for ranking schools? Have you trained at, or at least visited, any or all of them you are ranking?

BTW, for discussion purposes, I agree that there are some on your list that could be considered Top 10, but some other's, not so much.
 
cadubon said:
Gracie Barra America- Carlos Gracie Jr, Kayron Gracie, Marcio Feitosa among a handful of black belts that show up daily

Atos- Andre Galvao (teaches all the classes), Mendes Bros, Bruno Frazatto and Davi Ramos. These guys are always at the gym.
Click to expand...


I didn't know about Andre Galvao's academy in San Diego.
Yeah I would put if higher than 10th Planet.
 
tobigforyou said:
5.) Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy: Torrance, CA
Instructor(s): Rorion, Ryron, Rener, Ralek

Legendary academy, and the only Jiu-Jitsu Grandmaster that I know of actively teaching in America.
Click to expand...

Francisco Mansur is a 9th degree red belt and teaches in the US.

Also as far as Renzo, in your description I would also include John Danaher (who teaches there every day and draws students from around the country on a daily basis), and the fact that there is an enormous concentration of BJJ, MMA, and overall grappling talent in pretty much every single class. The classes are large and the feel is a little impersonal, but you'd be hard pressed to find that many black belts, All-Americans, etc. training in the same room in another location in the US.
 
making a list like this is just asking for trouble, esp if you arent very intimate with each academy and are just judging from afar on what looks mostly like the big names at each academy.
 
SuperSuperRambo said:
Screaming obnoxiously from the sidelines.
Click to expand...

Haha so well played.

It was almost embarrassing my first tournament when he was screaming above everyone else. Then you realize this guy generally cares for his students and their success. I love how he will always has his guys back and never lets anyone take advantage of them.
 
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