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    Bay Jiu-Jitsu

    4.8 (68 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Dan B.

    == Factors Breakdown == Attitude / Machismo: None. Totally friendly, humble, etc.. Quality of instruction: Legit. Is it just guys?: Nope. OK for beginners?: Definitely. Are classes cramped?: Sort of. Cleanliness / Odor: It's a tidy place. Convenience: Nearby garage, street parking, 38 Geary MUNI. In one word: Intense. == Class Structure Breakdown == Pre-warmup: On-your-own stretching. Warmup: Brief stretches, jog, pushups x situps, elementary moves. Main activity: Instruction, drills, rolling / sparring. End: No conclusion. Just change, grab your stuff, and leave. Formalities: No bowing, no phrases or vocab to memorize. == Bottom Line == Limited space, but it's clean. A welcoming and learning atmosphere. == Details == A friend asked me to find out the class schedule. I walked in to see four people stretching, just hanging out. Nobody said anything, so I went over to the table trying to find a printed schedule. I was then approached and greeted by a man who started asking general smalltalk stuff but segued into offering for me to take a class. I thought he was going to say that I could watch, but I guess observation is hands-on around here. I walk by this place not infrequently, but it's just about always closed when I happen to be in Japantown. So I took this opportunity to finally see what this school is about, despite only having walked in in street clothes and with a fresh meal in my stomach. I got to borrow a gi which was somewhat comically fitted - the top was a bit oversized and the "pants" were nearly shorts. The ragtag outfit actually helped me feel more informal (read: comfortable) in this new environment. I joined the end of what seemed to be a line against the wall, and not long afterward other students introduced themselves to each other and to me. This is when I learned that some whom I assumed to be veterans of this place were there for their third or even first class, just like me. There was still a little downtime in which music was playing from what might've been an iPod. I don't know what you'd expect to hear in a place like this, but I was totally into the Hall & Oates, Peter Cetera (Karate Kid), 70s, and 80s jams floating in the air. When the music was turned off, class began. I honestly don't remember if anything was playing during class - I was just too absorbed with the physicalities. It turned out that the guy who suggested I jump into class was the instructor, Stephen. When he was talking to me initially, I first thought he might run the place, then his relaxed demeanor made me think he was one of the students. Approachability of staff is a big factor to me. The small handful of us plus the instructor jogged around the room for a few laps then did some laps of various technical footwork. From this point till nearly the end, students kept gradually flowing in to join class. We proceeded with pushup and situp type moves plus fundamental Jiu-Jitsu motions like how to fall, stand up, get up from kneeling, attempt to escape, etc.. The instruction was light at this point and more about watching and imitating movements. Following these preliminaries came the primary phase of the class, teaching us the moves for the day. I got the feeling that Stephen still taught toward the mixed levels of students present, even though the moves were referenced from a posted set of beginner's charts (which I could only squint at from across the room). During the practicing and rolling is where the mat space made its limitations evident. Often I'd see pairs nearly roll into each other, and I ran into the (cushioned) walls or just plain off the mat quite a few times. I didn't notice other pairs hitting the walls; then again, the only person I was really paying attention to was the one trying to choke me and / or snap off my arm. Apparently, you're free to simply get up and leave at any point during the open roll time. It wasn't different at the end of the instructed class either. I don't remember much of an announcement that our time had concluded; either way, people began collecting their belongings, changing, and departing. Rather than view these aspects as a lapse in organization, I'll chalk them up to the relatively informal, quite comfortable environment in this establishment. Will I go back? Yeah, just give me time first to heal away these random bruises and marks I woke up with the next day.

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    Fantastic staff, wonderful teammates, overall great experience with a great group of people.

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    Ask the Community - Bay Jiu-Jitsu

    Any kid classes for 6-7 yesr olds?

    Yes! They have kids classes starting at 4 years old through adults.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Bay Jiu-Jitsu

    n. Stephan: "Go ahead, come at me bro..." Sho'nuff came at Stephan again and it was like WWE prime time kid!

    Mentioned in 26 reviews

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