"BOAAAAA VERY NICE, A+ KELLEY!"-- Romulo cheering for me across the room when I finally landed that…read morestubborn move. "KELLEY COME ON MAN, YOU HAD THE SWEEP. C+" -- also Romulo from across the room when I botched a move I had down. ______________________________ I trained at Rómulo's for 2 years and it was by far the highlight of my time in San Francisco. I had great training and made the best of friendships there, so forgive me as I wax poetic about a place that fostered some of my favorite memories. The instruction and training was fantastic. People are diligent when it's time to train, and during drills, coach will walk around with fellow black belts watching students like a hawk, ensuring everyone is learning the moves properly. Further, coach and others pushed me just the right amount to help me grow in my own way. They will for you too. The community was incredible as well. People are supporting each other inside and outside of the gym, basically like a family. Whether it's small businesses, new music bands, or a member's stand-up comedy gig, the people pull together for each other. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. They've helped me grow not only as an athlete, but as a human being too. In the end, I can't recommend Rómulo's enough. They brought me in, beat me down, patched me up, and sent me off with a new definition of love and camaraderie. It'll be tough finding a gym that even comes close. If you visit (as you should), say hi to the gang for me. God I miss them.

This is the best jiu jitsu gym in San Francisco. I've been doing martial arts for 10 years. The…read morelead instructor is an excellent teacher and fighter. The vibe in the gym is friendly and respectful. If you want to learn well in a friendly and supportive environment that is serious about training, this is your spot

1/3/2023 update I have been training here at Studio86 under…read moreCoach Yukito since January 2020. It has been a great time learning and building a good foundation of jiu jitsu. I am much more flexible, and can move a lot easier now after getting rid of 15 pounds of extra fat (and keep them off)..... Looking forward to new progress in 2023. Coach Yukito is very knowledgeable in all areas of this art including and not limited self-defense, sport jiu jitsu, competition, healthy life style, etc. He dives into technique details of each move, and helps us to develop. The studio is super clean. The community is supportive to learning and growth. No matter you are a new person who never tried jiu jitsu before, or a seasoned practitioner, it is a great place to train. See you on the mats :)

Interesting studio with many returning members. I took several No Gi classes on Wednesdays and…read moreFridays. I was new to jiu jitsu and from my experience it was geared towards those who are more experienced. Not as much attention and care for newer people as the experienced people. Coach Yukito is friendly, patient and provides kind feedback. Coach Flora less so.

Great value for your workout! The coaches are knowledgeable on technique with boxing and form…read more I bought the Groupon for one month and have made it my goal to be consistent with working out this month. They make it easy to go to a class as you don't have to sign up for a class prior to attending. You can just show up and they can accommodate you. My choose this gym because it convenient from my work and I can walk here after work. The only thing is that they make you purchase their shirt as part of their "uniform" policy if you go and are there for their Groupon. Shirts are $13 each which is not bad, but just beware and know this beforehand.

My girlfriends and I have been talking about getting together for a work out class for the past…read morecouple of months. When one of them found a Groupon for Empower: 5 group kickboxing classes for $19 (according to Groupon, originally $200), we decided to go for it. Our first class was on Wednesday, August 10th at 5:30pm. Johnny taught our class and he was awesome! Would make sure our technique was correct without making us feel like we were doing it completely wrong. Great in a class atmosphere if you get a little shy in group classes. We started off with jumping jacks as part of our warm up. Then we paired up and he taught us boxing combos. We would take turns punching and blocking/receiving. Great way to get out aggression. Most of the class was spend doing this. Then we went into their version of burpees, running in place, and some kind of crab/bear/spider crawl. When I was giving up during my crawl, Johnny kept cheering me on. We ended with crunches (which luckily for me, weren't too bad) and of course high fives to finish up the class. This isn't in the fine print for the Groupon, but it's only valid for their Monday or Wednesday class at 5:30pm, so keep that in mind before purchasing. For those who get off at 5:30pm or later, I wouldn't suggest getting this as you can't apply it to any other classes. Great first class. I haven't worked out in over a year, so it was nice breaking a sweat and punching out some pented frustration. Looking forward to my second class!

If you train and are traveling like me, or a local, be sure to check them out. Friendly, flexible…read moreschedule and great training. They also have weights and a little work out place. Nice and clean!

Been looking for a mixed martial arts gym for some time now and accidentally stumbled upon this…read moreplace while walking my dog. Spoke with the owner Stefan about what they taught (boxing, grappling, wresting, Jiu Jitsu, muy Thai, and much more) and where the name came from. If you are familiar with the Skrap Pack you know they are comprised of some of the best fighters in the business Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields, Nate Diaz, Nick Diaz, Daniel Roberts, and David Terrell. Gilbert, Stefan, Moses, and Sean all world class athletes/pros teach multiple classes a day and they also bring in multiple professional/champion athletes each week to train with the class as well. For the price you are getting top of the line training with pro athletes, clean equipment, and a fun/competitive environment for all experience levels, ages, and genders. The added bonus you are probably burning close to 500-1000+ calories a workout. I would highly recommend stopping by and chatting with some of the people here and trying it out. Might be what you look forward to everyday, I know I do!

Such a great experience as a new white belt going to class! It can be scary being so new - I've…read moretried many gyms in the city and this was the first as a beginner I felt like I learned the most and retained the most. This was because of a combo of: 1. Clear visuals about what the different positions are 2. Moves that are outlined - you try the move, and then repeat it over and over again in speed/resistance 3. Then you have the opportunity to try it in sparring, which lets you really remember it! Definitely recommend and will be back - folks were super nice and welcoming!

Bay Jiu Jitsu is, by far, the best jiu jitsu gym I've ever trained at. I learned more in the nine…read moremonths I spent with them than I had in the previous five years, training elsewhere. They've ruined other gyms for me. Since leaving SF, I've traveled around CA, but haven't been able to find any gyms of a similar quality. Bay Jiu Jitsu is a special community with a level of elite instruction that's genuinely hard to find elsewhere, especially one that's welcoming literally to anyone, beginner or otherwise. Very few BJJ gyms offer any instruction in takedowns-be it wrestling or judo. A huge amount of gyms train nearly entirely on their butts or from their knees. Every instructor at Bay knows high-level takedowns and defense. We all grapple standing and are training takedowns constantly. The instructors here are incredible. All of them compete and their records in tournaments, to my knowledge, is excellent. Bay Jiu Jitsu is also the only gym I've ever trained at that constantly surveys the class for questions. Unlike the general, "Any questions?" at the end of a complex technique, they literally go around the room asking "what questions do you have?" It's such a simple thing, but very indicative that the gym is just operating at a much different level. The instructors actually help you to improve your game and learn the sport. You're not just mindlessly doing moves out of context that you may never use. Here, we work techniques and positions, and map out how to see them, what successful principles for passing open guard are, for example. So, you're constantly learning in a deeper and more meaningful way. Rather than an individual technique, you're learning how to think for yourself, how to figure out large-scale, applicable, perspectives/rules to operate under when faced with fundamental positions of the sport. All the instructors are talented and can actually teach. When they break down ankle locks, it's not just showing you one version of the submission three times and having everybody go and drill it incorrectly. The instructors will break things down, incrementally, and in-detail. Then we regularly attempt it with coaches going around the room, making adjustments, and then doing additional demonstrations and instructions. I don't think they ever just go through the motions with moves here. Everything we do has a point or reason to it. Bay Jiu Jitsu is the only gym I've been to (and this is dope) but it's the only gym where instructors ask individuals from the class, what do you want to work on? What's something you're struggling with or curious about? And we'll actually do it. Instructors here give a damn about you as a person. They track your success, watch you during sparring, and hold you accountable to reach your potential with feedback, advice, and encouragement. They have no uniform requirement. You're not forced to buy a gym rash guard or spend hundreds of dollars on their gis. They don't charge you for promotions. They teach you how to actually train smart. So many gyms don't do this and it's ridiculous, but here, they teach you how to avoid preventable knee injuries during takedowns/positions, how to fall correctly, etc. When there's sparring, there's pretty much always a person walking around, keeping individuals from falling into a teammate-blowing out their ACL or kicking them in the head needlessly. I could ramble on for ages about the gym. You'll train with loads of rad, high-level people here. Nobody has an ego. We're all willing to help out. You don't deal with people cranking your jaw to get a submission. Everybody's cool and will train hard, at times, but in a safe way. The gym does movie nights, goes out to bars, goes dancing, and has bonfires throughout the year too. If you're looking for it, you can make friends. I love the gym and the people here. If you have the chance to train at Bay Jiu Jitsu, you absolutely must.

They are really a diamond in the rough. The staff is really flexible with my ever changing schedule…read moreand the coaches are very skilled and patient- I look forward to my progress.

Dropped in a while ago. Easily the biggest mat room and highest average level of skill in the city…read more Everyone was friendly and the upper belts all offered to roll. They also have a lot of time slots in their schedule so if you can only make early mornings or late nights this is a good spot. They have showers too and parking is decent.

Tried out the women self defense class. Very informative. Instructor was very patient and showed us…read moremany practical useful techniques. Will definitely come back to learn more

This past Sunday at 1:00 PM, about 22 brave souls gathered at my synagogue here in SF for our very…read morefirst Krav Maga self-defense session--and let's just say, you do not want to mess with this crowd now! We learned how to start defending ourselves, disarm and disorient an attacker, throw a well-placed kick (if necessary!), and even mastered the 8-elbow method of defense--which sounds like a dance move but is decidedly not. We also got a quick intro on what to do if faced with a gun or knife (hint: don't stick around). Huge thanks to everyone who came out and supported this powerful and empowering afternoon. Massive thanks to the Combat Krav team (Joel, Rob, Saban and Tony) for their great passion, positivity and wise advice! Keep smart and keep sharp!

Before working with RJ, I felt intimidated by strength training, especially in a gym that often…read morefelt like a male-dominated space. Despite being an active person (practicing yoga, pilates, dance, biking, climbing) I had never properly learned how to lift. I tried group strength classes at various studios, including Equinox, but I was never sure if my form was correct or if I was targeting the right muscles. Movements like squats, bench presses, deadlifts, pull-ups, and hip thrusts all felt unfamiliar. RJ completely changed that. He made strength training approachable by breaking down techniques in a way that made sense and reshaped how I thought about training and eating. Growing up I was told women should focus on cardio and "toning" rather than lifting heavy, and because of that I never understood the benefits of progressive overload or proper fueling. RJ helped me unlearn those outdated ideas and showed me that lifting heavy wouldn't make me bulky--it would make me stronger, more capable, and help me achieve the physique I actually wanted. He gave me the confidence to lift heavier and push toward my goals (especially glute growth) and I loved seeing my progress! I also went from zero pull-ups to three in a row. The physical gains were exciting, but the biggest transformation was in my mindset. Now, I walk into the gym knowing exactly what to do. If you want a trainer who truly knows their stuff and will help you feel stronger and confident in the gym, RJ is the one!

Training with RJ has absolutely transformed my body. I am 6' 2" and it has always been difficult to…read moregain weight and increase strength, but in a year, I grew 10lbs of muscle and went from benching and squatting half of my body weight to my full weight. RJ created a personalized workout plan to steadily and safely increase the load by using body weight to dumbbells and eventually barbells. He also emphasizes the importance of mobility exercises and my hips and shoulders feel better than ever at age 36. Most importantly, RJ is just a great dude to kick it with and our sessions have been something to look forward to every week. If you're searching for the best trainer in the city, look no further!

I've been training under Ralston and his father Carley for almost 3 years now. Ralston is a very…read morepatient, generous, and talented professor. Like his father before him, Ralston puts a lot of emphasis on the solid fundamentals of jiu jitsu to ensure that no matter your belt level, you always have a very strong core foundation. And like his brother Clark, Ralston has some really cool tricks up his sleeve too, such as a solid armbar clinic similar to his brother's omoplata series. Before every class, we always have a 20-30 minute warmup that consists of the usual drills plus a good chunk of yoga stretches, which I've come to value as it not only helps my game, but also my old age lol

Ralston's expertise and approach has me hooked on jiu jitsu. If you're looking for a gym where…read moreyou'll immediately feel welcome and excited about BJJ - this is it. He's extremely skilled and breaks down techniques to benefit and build on skill across any belt level. I was anxious about my inexperience and unsure if I would feel comfortable. I quickly overcame that and instead feel empowered from the positive environment and addictively challenging training with Ralston. He truly cares, is a lot of fun, and is committed to making sure you get the most you can from BJJ and his classes. Come roll, you won't regret it!

I trained at CMA for almost three years. I had no prior Muay Thai experience and felt welcome from…read moremy first day. There's a variety of instructors and classes that are all great. Private lessons offerings are available as well if you really want to ramp up, I learned a ton and the sport is something I'd recommend to anybody if you're on the fence about picking up a new hobby. Only leaving because of a move, but I'll still drop in if I'm ever back in the City. I highly recommended

I've been training at this gym for about three years now, and it's honestly like a second home…read more Coaches Dave and Joe are amazing, they really care about each person's growth, whether you're a beginner or experienced. The atmosphere is super friendly, and the community is one of the best parts. Everyone pushes each other, but there's zero ego, just good energy and support. I've learned so much here both in and out of training. I couldnt recommend it more! (: