Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu

The best Jiu-jitsu academy in the Bay Area period! All the coaches have a great attention to detail, and make it fun/ welcoming. Super high quality training partners, who really make it feel like family. Ralph would regularly be in the gym and is an awesome dude who is always watching and giving little tips on how to improve our move.

I’ve been training here for a while, and it’s been an incredible experience. The instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about Jiu-Jitsu. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, the environment is welcoming and focused on helping everyone improve. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn self-defense, get in shape, or just be part of a great community.

Mahalo Che and the rest of the AM crew for the hospitality and Aloha! Awesome instruction and tough rolls. Che is one of the best teachers I’ve ever come across. Explains even the most difficult techniques in an easy to learn manner🙏🏾 Mahalo!

Top tier training partners, inviting community, multiple classes a day for all levels. Whether a beginner wanting to try Jiu Jitsu for the first time or wanting to sharpen your skills and take your game to the next level, Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu has a place for everyone.

Awesome BJJ school! I dropped it as a visitor for a couple weeks while in town. Everyone was very welcoming and had great BJJ. The quality of the instruction was top level, especially enjoyed Tay's class. Super high level instructor.

I've been training at Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu in San Francisco for a few months now, and I couldn't be happier with my experience. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed into a supportive and friendly community that genuinely cares about your progress and well-being. [Instructors] The instructors are top-notch, offering a wealth of knowledge and experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They are patient, attentive, and always willing to help you refine your techniques. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced practitioner, you'll find the classes challenging and rewarding. [Schedule] One of the standout features of this gym is its comprehensive schedule designed to accommodate busy work and life commitments. For me, sometimes I have to commute to Santa Clara from SF, I would just take the morning class. Sometimes, I want to push harder, I will combine the conditioning class and BJJ class together. You can always find a class that fits your schedule, making it easy to stay consistent with your training. [Facility] The facility is clean, well-maintained, and equipped with everything you need for a great training session. The mats are in excellent condition, and the overall atmosphere is one of respect and camaraderie. [Location] The location is also fantastic, situated just two blocks away from the Civic Center BART station. This makes it incredibly convenient for anyone commuting from different parts of the city. [Community] What sets this gym apart is the sense of community. Everyone here, from the staff to the fellow students, is supportive and encouraging. It's not just about learning BJJ; it's about becoming part of a family that helps each other grow both on and off the mat. If you're looking for a place to train in San Francisco, I highly recommend Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu. It's an incredible gym with a fantastic team that will help you reach your goals, no matter what they are.

My daughter Alessandra loves Jiu Jitsu classes at Ralph Gracie. She loves personal training with instructors because she rough houses in a way that she could have if her father was still alive. She has learned so much here and we look forward to continuing her training!

The best Jiu Jitsu academy in the world. I’ve been around the world and this is where I consider home. True Jiu Jitsu directly from the original masters. A family community, a safe and fun training environment full of respect and hard working people. Amazing staff and students.

The best Jiu-Jitsu academy in the Bay Area period! All the coaches have a great attention to detail, and make it fun/welcoming. Super high quality training partners, who really make it feel like family. Ralph would regularly be in the gym and is an awesome dude who is always watching and giving little tips on how to improve our move.

Was referred to this academy by my professor. Dropping in was easy and they were very accommodating. Guys there were very welcoming and patient. Black belts are willing to roll with this white belt and really work with you. Professor Tay explained the drills very clearly to figure out what to do. Neighborhood is a bit sketchy but getting an Uber or taking BART isn't bad.

Located two blocks from the Civic center Bart station, on Howard Street. This is the headquarters for Ralph Gracie and his cousin Rhalan Gracie, whose family started Jiu Jitsu in Brazil. Competitive training for both Gi and no Gi training. They also provide excellent striking classes, for those interested in pursuing mixed martial arts (MMA training).

Started training here about a year ago and it was one of the best things I could've done for myself! I'm stronger, fitter, and a happier person in general. As a complete beginner the coaches were all so helpful, and super welcoming. Now a year later my jiu-jitsu has improved so much, I can't wait to see where this journey takes me!

Ralph Gracie San Francisco, a place that change your life for better mentally and physically. It is a huge honor to be part of this family. Hopefully your friends and family are ready to hear you talking regularly about how good bjj is lol

Amazing instruction by Tay and the team. Love this place and the people really do treat you like family... in the way siblings beat up on each other to make each other stronger (j/k)

If you're a middle aged man in a midlife crisis, look no further than Ralph Gracie jj to give you a new purpose in life. This sport/gym will be your new mother, father teacher, preacher etc etc .. Also, Tai and Halan are my heroes

A legendary institution that deserves all the reputation it has built. The entire Bay Area BJJ scene is rooted here which adds to the spirit of the school. The quality of instruction and students is competitive with the most elite international institutions (I've visited most of them) and the personalities make for a great social environment.

it's a great academy. From bjj, strength conditioning, and striking classes the community from within is one of the best parts. Skill levels range from hobbyist/people needing exercise to competitive fighters training for televised bouts. Come train!

Awesome gym! Great vibes. It's kind of like being in Fight Club, only everybody talks about it and nobody gets their teeth knocked out. Learn how to fight in a safe environment. These guys are legit!

Just recently I started working out at the Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in San Francisco, and I must say it's been an amazing experience. Everyone there is very supportive and welcoming to first time students. I'm really excited and looking forward to continuing my journey as a student there in martial arts!

I got my kids involved in jiu-jitsu here about 1.5 years ago, and then I signed up myself a few months later. This place very rapidly became our second home. Not just because we go there several times a week between the kids' classes and my own training, but also because of the environment and team spirit. Everyone training here is on the same page: they love jiu-jitsu. And whether it's for competition or just for staying in shape, everyone is treated like an equal. I haven't run into a single big ego or bad temper. Even when I get obliterated or mercilessly choked, I can tell it's out of love. Everyone is just trying to get better and help others get better as well. Ralph himself is around frequently. For a guy that could literally rip me to shreds, he couldn't be nicer. When we first signed up he told me the place was a family and he makes sure you feel that way when you're there. He always takes the time to say hello and shake my hand. He treats everyone with the utmost respect and is extremely cordial. When he's on the mat, he's intense but with purpose. His instructions are precise and his direction is effective. You really LEARN. The professor I work with most is Tay Crivello. He instructs the 7AM and 11AM weekday classes. He's basically the epitome of what you want in a martial arts professor: patient, intelligent, thoughtful with his instruction, and absolutely deadly. He makes sure you know why you are doing what you are doing as you are doing it, so you get a lot of usable practical theory as you learn the moves. That he somehow selects the best possible playlist on any given day is a plus. He's also a sharp dresser if you catch him outside of a gi. Jiu-jitsu here isn't just about the jiu-jitsu. It's about the whole package of being a part of a team and feeling like an extended family. I just wanted to get in shape and make sure my kids knew some self-defense. What we got was a proud community we're happy to be a part of and wouldn't dream of giving up.

Amazing instruction, both in the gi and no gi. Tay Crivello is one of the best instructors I've ever seen, in the US or Brazil. Great training partners and school vibes too!

I used to train at Ralph Gracie Academy when I was a minor. My girlfriend at the time was also a minor that would go with me. Some of the guys and a couple of the instructors would hit on my girlfriend, and we couldn't do anything about it. I won't go into details into what they said or did to her, but it really upset me and her a lot. I was a tiny white-belt at the time when this was happening. The thing about "Gracie" gyms is that it can sometimes attract dirt bags (d-bag). It's ironic how I came here to defend against bullies, and yet bullies were attending classes or teaching them. Pedos attended Ralph Gracie when I went, and they might still be there. When I first started training, I weighed maybe 100lbs tops. A REALLY good instructor looks out for the kids that train with the adults. I can't even tell you how many times these HUGE guys would slam me to the ground or rip my arm in a kimora like it was a fight for their life. And I was too scared to speak up, and my instructor didn't do sh*t to stop it. I remember one guy I rolled with roughed me up HARD, and I went in the bathroom crying. I was just some tiny high school kid at the time. Needless to say, I hated this place. And it's SUPER expensive too. Compared to other academies. I must say that Ralph Gracie himself was a good man. Every time he walked in, he would talk about respect and how we're all family, and so on. And everyone behaved. But as soon as he left, the d-bags went back to being their normal selves. I honestly wished he would have taught classes every day. The BEST MMA gym is unfortunately far in the Central Valley. I went to Merced MMA, which is a school under Grandmaster Flavio Behring. NO ONE there is a bully. And if bullies came, Professor Marcos would kick them out. And no one went hard when rolling with kids. I never knew what "family" was in MMA gyms until I went there. Professor Marcos really looks out for everyone, even the little guys. And training with Grandmaster Flavio Behring once a year is super dope too. I finally got the courage to tell my experiences training at Ralph Gracie Academy. I'm now older, stronger, and smarter. To anyone reading this, maybe things changed. Maybe no more bullies attend Ralph's academies. The latest reviews seem good. Just beware that "Gracie" gyms can attract bullies.

I have been coming here with my family for a few months now. Everyone here from the front desk to all the coaches are amazing. Gizelle who handles the backend stuff like memberships is very responsive even after just having a baby shes still responding to students via email and making sure everything is good. Very sweet lady and seems to be on top of things at the gym. Her husband Rhalen is an amazing human and coach. Such a nice guy. On a few occasions he'll see me doing something wrong and correct me. Small adjustments makes all the difference. He'll show me something and might take me awhile to get it down but he's very patient. He'll compliment me on my jits even though I suck lol but hey it helps with my confidence haha. Rhalen made a statement after class one day. He said "Keep showing up, the tables will turn". As a white belt I really needed to hear that lol. My kid does the JiuJitsu class and he loves coming here. His coaches are amazing as well. Mike , Gia , Lorelei and all the kids coaches are great with the kids. Niko who coaches the striking classes is one chill individual. He brings his dog to the gym sometimes and his dog Rocky is just as chill as him. Taye, another one of the coaches shows great technique in ways easy to understand and execute. Very patient with the students, friendly and humble. He's also the best dressed in the gym. That guy is always lookin sharp! Ueslei teaches the conditioning class. Great energy and encouraging individual! Roger teaches the stand up classes. His classes are intense which reminds me of my days training Sanda with Cung Le. I like going hard once in a while. Ralph Gracie. The man. On a couple occasions I've seen him on the phone stop who he was talking to to show my wife and oldest child who also train here how to do a technique properly when he noticed that they were doing a move improperly. He would stick with them until they got it down. Showed patience and dedication to his students. He really wants to make sure you're doing the technique properly. The guy really cares. I have a big family. I have five kids. 2 of them myself and my wife all train here. Waiting on my 3 other kids to train here too when they feel they are ready. I started JiuJitsu back in 2008 at Ralph Gracie Mountain View also where Bj Penn started. I trained there for about a few months, got an injury and busy with "life" and never went back until recently in 2022. I really regret stopping. I'm not stopping this time. I see JiuJitsu as a lifetime commitment now. I'm addicted to learning and improving and always looking forward to coming to class. When you join Ralph Gracie academy you're not joining a gym. You're joining a family. My wife and I had recently lost a child in 2020 and JiuJitsu has been a blessing in helping with my PTSD. JiuJitsu has been a form of therapy for me. I highly recommend!

Great Jiu Jitsu gym, I started my training there and I've travelled around and it remains the highest quality instruction and instructors around.

I've been training with RGSF since... the summer of 2017 so I've experienced both the old RGSF and new RGSF. And let me tell you, this place has developed into something better like character development in your favorite TV shows, movies, whatever. The people here are always willing to help. No matter how confused I've become with the drills, moves, etc... they're always willing to be there and help you out, help teach you the proper ways to execute what's being taught and even show tips and tricks to be able to do everything with the least effort as possible. If you want to learn BJJ with some of the best people, this is the place to be. When it comes to rolling itself, it's no joke here. The people here are legit, they definitely will make you think, push your limits, and you might learn a thing or two from each roll you do. Of course, if there's anything specific you want to practice, people here are typically more than willing to help you practice the situations. Classes with coaches like Tay, Teddy, Holland, Nick Greene, Teddy, and many more will surely show you that there's more to BJJ than you'd ever think. Finally, they give a huge emphasis on feeling like a Family. Master Ralph Gracie emphasizes this every time we see him, his black belts emphasize this everyday. Overall, this place is welcoming, amazing, and truly worth learning from... and maybe eventually competing with.

General Review: The students and coaches here are very supportive, friendly, and technical! Multiple classes are offered in a day starting at 7AM to 7PM, you just have to go to the class that suits your schedule best. There's also an open mat on Sundays led by Papa Frankie! We love papa Frankie! :) Classes are always led by a black belt instructor at kid's class, fundamentals, and advanced gi/no gi classes - note that they start on time. Personal Review: I usually train in women's classes every M-W-F 6:30PM. There's at least 10 ladies training in an evening most of the times. I think the ladies' team here is bigger compared to other gyms - it's a huge plus because it's less intimidating for any ladies who wants to start training jiujitsu. They are very welcoming, friendly, nice, and at the same time badasses too! The classes are led by Teddy Vida with the help of other blackbelts Nico and Ron. I admire their dedication and punctuality! I have to say I love the bond that is developed among the coaches and the ladies on and off the mats. #TeddysBears Gi and no gi coed classes are awesome too! I recently started taking no-gi trainings seriously and have been learning a lot from Mike and Tony! If only my work schedule allows, I would have taken 7AM no gi classes everyday with Mike. Overall, it''s a great academy to train! Great community! I'd recommend training here specially to the ladies!

Great place to train, I was able to do a drop in class. The facility is big and they have a very large mat space for a beginners and another one for a big class. There is a $40 drop in fee and they do have showers as well just in case you need to shower off before hitting the bart.

I came to RGSF about 9 months ago. I wish I would have done it sooner. I've trained at a number of gyms. Every gym has pros and cons, but RGSF has nearly everything I think is important in a jiu jitsu gym. 1. The instructors are as good as they come. I primarily take gi classes from Rhalan Gracie in the evenings and nogi from Mike Murrell in the mornings. But I also take classes from Teddy, Tay, Tony Tone, Papa Frank, and others. All of them are phenomenal teachers. They're also wonderful people--welcoming, supportive, incredibly hardworking, and committed to helping all of their students get better. It's everything you could hope for from a team of instructors. 2. The students are great. Before I started here, I heard rumors that the people at RGSF just wanted to smash each other and went way too hard all the time. That's not true at all, it turns out. People definitely go hard, but they're technical, intentional, and mindful of their training partner's level. It's exactly the way it should be. 3. The gym has lots of students. That means there are almost always a few blackbelts and many higher belts on the mat. So you always have high level training partners to learn from. In my experience, the higher belts are always happy to roll with lower belts, so everyone benefits from their experience. It's not unusual to see a blackbelt hanging out after class to explain some technique to another student. 4. Classes start and end on time--important if you're trying to sneak in a training session during the work day. And since there are a multiple classes each day, there's rarely an excuse not to train. 5. The facility is awesome. The mats are huge--a rare thing in San Francisco--and there are three showers (in the men's locker room), which means you don't have a bottleneck after class. There are other reasons to train here. But those are the most important, in my mind. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to train with, or a better group of instructors to learn from. I'd recommend RGSF to anyone.

Once they got rid of Kurt they lost everything good about them. My son was asked not to come back because their new instructor doesn't know how to discipline the emotionally intelligent way Kurt did. If you are looking to have your child learn discipline, emotional regulation through body awareness and one-pointed focus instead of just hurting, then this is not your place.

Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu is a great place to train with a huge variety of instructors and classes, although I have not been to all the classes taught by all the instructors, Tay and Gianni are doing new-school and advanced techniques in their gi class, Mike is doing No-Gi that will mentally and technically improve your game, Papa Franks woodchoppers sessions stick to the basics techniques that work and although I haven't been to Rhalan's or Teddy's classes I know that their sessions are game changing. Overall I totally recommend stopping by to train, just make sure you come at a good time because most times parking is tough (as San Francisco usually is).

RGSF is my like second jiujitsu home. I started going there after Kurt had left so I can't say anything about how the place was before that fateful day. But I can say that I like this school. Everyone is friendly, multiple black belts on the mat, awesome gi and no gi programs, and a solid group of women's team led by Teddy, lovingly dubbed Teddy's Bears. It's amazing how close-knit and supportive this group is while still being badasses. Unfortunately, parking is a bitch around here. But, civic center BART station is just a couple blocks away, so it's a non-issue for me.

When I canceled my membership not only did it not cancel, I started to get double charged. I had to talk to 2 billing companies to get it resolved, and put a block on my credit card. Technique is good, depending on who is teaching. The facility is good in terms of mat space. For the longest time there was only one shower so that was tough until they made it so there was 3. There was also a time when there was rain damage and it took a long time to add fresh mats, and I fell on concrete multiple times during that transition. Some of the training style has changed over the years, and will probably continue to evolve.

This place is legendary. Ralph and co are a family and it shows. Nothing but respect for these folks - they've developed some of the best grapplers in the world right here.

At Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu, I found my dojo. The community at Ralph Gracie SF provides a supportive, intensive, and enjoyable world class instructional environment, on top of a fantastic work out. I find myself surrounded with a solid group of individuals, and feel that management prioritizes the individual and takes the time to get to know each and everyone of us. If you are looking to start a lifetime of jiujitsu practice, or to just have some fun for a day, this is the place to be.

Great gym! The instructors and people are awesome and there's a lot of mat space. The afternoon classes are structured: 15 min warmup 45 min drills 40 min rolling - 6 rounds of 6 minutes with 30s breaks

I love coming to Jerry and Rhalan's classes - they're hard, focus on good basics, and also make me want to learn more and more. The culture is supportive and welcoming and doesn't take itself too seriously, but also a good amount of order and structure and respect. The instructors and fellow students are great at pushing me to learn new things and realize my limits were in my head. Recently the curriculum has gotten even better with the focus on street applications and takedowns. Highly recommend as a place to start and grow with Jiu Jitsu.

TL;DR: Great gym for gi and no-gi. Mats are great, there are showers, environment is inviting, instructors are top notch. Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu San Francisco is a great gym. The mat space is very large. There are showers for bathing after training sessions! I travel sometimes and make time to visit gyms when I do, but I'm happy to call this place my home gym. First, the skill level of BJJ players there is great. There isn't much dogma, or constraints to learning, people love the sport and art and authentically strive to be better. It doesn't feel "competitive", but rather, gym members are... motivated. They care about their art and strive to improve themselves. It isn't much of a place of egos, but rather, one of dedication, humility and hard work. Second, the people are great. There is a wide range of skill levels. There are often visitors from other gyms and they are very welcome to train. The atmosphere is one of camaraderie, sharing and learning. It's a very positive attitude and experience. Gym members are cordial, welcoming and friendly. Great people at all skill levels, beginner to advanced. Finally, the instructors are top notch. It is such an honor and privilege to have as instructors such as Mike Murrell, Tay Crivello and Rhalan Gracie. The instructors know their craft very deeply. There are classes for all skill levels. The instructors will zoom in with the appropriate level of detail for individuals while drilling. The instruction is consistent and follow a theme that can go for weeks (or months). It's the kind of instruction that makes people really understand both the fundamentals and the advanced cases. The instructors pay attention to the students and help them achieve their goals. Whether it is competing or just improving their game. Highly recommended!

I am truly happy with our new crew of instructors and students. This Academy has everything from Kids, Women's only, Competition classes for Gi and No-Gi, and fundamentals. Come try it out.

A lot of knowledge and good vibes Been too many gyms in the bay it's the hot bed of martial arts there all world class level trained with the veterans and this place is the shit Ralph is the man he's the real deal a real martial artist a lot of knowledge and nonostop learning each day at first when I herd and I thought Kurt leaveing things would water down boy I was wrong I've been too Cesar's sunset and empire all good places all great instructors I recommend all of them see which crowd fits you best Renan and Kurt are great instructors and good people for me this place fits me best and I say it's worth a try It feels like special place in my opinion. You wont be disappointed

I was going here for a year and a half until I moved to a new gym. I made sure that they knew I was leaving and to stop charging me. That didn't stop them from charging me for the past two months!! Now I'm trying to get my money back and might have to take them to small claims court to get my money back!! Don't go here they will take your money!

Thank you for allowing me to drop in for the early Saturday class! The instructor was patient and knowledgeable, the upper belts were helpful and friendly, and everyone made the experience super enjoyable and worth while. I highly recommend this gym!

Ralph Gracie's SF academy has an amazing set of instructors with a variety of teaching styles. Whether you're brand new to jiu jitsu and trying to learn the basics, looking to learn self defense skills, or a seasoned competitor that wants to understand the latest systems of top athletes like Gordon Ryan, Ralph Gracie SF will meet your grappling needs. It also has great wrestling and Muay Thai classes. Ralph Gracie SF is a fun place to train and I've made a lot of friends at this academy during my last five years training here. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in grappling or self defense.

I travelled quite a bit and trained in a few different gyms around the world (including Brazil where I'm from) and I if had to pick a place amongst all I would Ralph's in San Francisco. (Not to diminish the other place at all) You get all types of instructors, from new school to the most solid basic you can ever find. We are truly family here and I'm yet to see someone not be welcome at the gym. Huge shout out to Rhalan Gracie, teddy, Mike murrel, as Adriano, Ron, Tay, Gianni, Nico, and of course Ralph. How many places can you go where you constantly have 7 black belts on the mat, training and teaching you just because they love being there? Not many in my experience. Community's is strong here and the jiu jitsu is even stronger.

This review is for Kurt. He is patience with the kids and love to push them. My son went here many years ago and he enjoyed it twice a week. It taught him obedience, strength, and self esteem. I want to thank him and his staff for being amazing teachers. You are in good hands.

This is without a doubt the best place to train and learn jiu jitsu in the Bay Area. The staff and instructors are absolutely amazing. They really make you feel like part of the family when you're there. I promise you'll have a great experience if you go.

Great place to learn jiu jitsu. Kurt is one of the top BJJ instructors in the bay area if not the world. There are classes all day long that have have advanced to beginner practioneers. I've trained at multiple BJJ studios in the bay area and this is the best place by far. The negative reviews on Yelp for this place are from individuals that probably got smashed here.

Nothing bad to say about this place! My daughter started jiu jitsu when she was 7 years old at Ralph Gracie Chino Hills with Sean Roberts. Came here to visit and she was able to meet Kurt. Everyone is very friendly place is clean. Convenient location ! Can't get enough of jiu jitsu! You wanna learn good tough jiu jitsu. Come check this place out! Kurt and the team will not disappoint! Can't wait to visit again!

I loved this place, it felt like home. The training is intense and the warmups can kill any beginner, but you continue to go and you get used to it. best attitude is to lower your ego and tap, go easy on yourself but train hard. Teddy and Kurt and great instructors. My only note here is it will take a toll on your body, you need to eat well and sleep well. You also feel like a million bucks after every class because of all the adrenaline.

Started training here 3 months ago after taking a 10 year break from martial arts. Take this place seriously and it will pay dividends. You will be training with the best of the industry. Have a good attitude and it will be returned. The main instructor is a solid family man with an insane amount of experience!!! He has been practicing ju jitsu since the age of Negative 1!!! I think. His basics are so crisp that when you watch him grapple and roll with higher belts you can directly see the application from when he is showing the technique in a slowed down version during instruction which is incredibly helpful and reinforces that the technique works exactly the way he is showing it. Just a solid school. Feel lucky to be able to train there. Also a great group of people who are members. Starting to feel the good comradely vibes too after a few months as people realize I'm taking the skill seriously. Also they have a huge women's class which is awesome because that is critical! Tons of blue purple and black belts everywhere. If you want to learn how to become a stronger and more competent person, come to this gym and stand by to get some.

The facility is nice and the guys were friendly enough, but that's where the positives at Ralph Gracie's studio ends. Maybe I was there on an "off" day, but I felt that the level of instruction and the team's work ethic were unusually poor compared to other studios based on the class I attended. The warmups were pretty dysfunctional in their organization and half-assing every exercise seemed to be the norm. It was not a high quality training environment. Even though the class size was relatively small, about 15 students, the black belt who was present (I didn't catch his name) didn't seem to be doing any instructing at all. I'm tired of self-satisfied black belts like this who rest on their laurels and act like it's some kind of blessing just for them to be present, without having to do any teaching whatsoever. He was also swearing indiscriminately at one point, with kids present. I recognize that it's not the studio's responsibility, but it's also worth knowing that parking is a bitch and the meter maid got to my car THE MINUTE after the time was up, in the middle of class. So have someone drop you off or find a longer-term parking spot if you decide to give Ralph Gracie's a shot. I wouldn't recommend the place.

Taking up Jiu-Jitsu again had been languishing on my to-do list for a while, and one day during a bout of mental housekeeping last year, I decided to swing by Gracie on Valencia Street. The smell of the place instantly threw me back to my days on the high school wrestling team. A lump rose in my gut, and my feet suddenly felt like they weighed 100 pounds each. A big guy with two badly cauliflowered ears lumbered up and shook my hand. With great enthusiasm he introduced himself as Kurt (the instructor) and generally put me at ease. I signed up for the twice-a-week plan, and as I was leaving Kurt said, "the calisthenics will be like nothing you've ever experienced." I had told him I'd wrestled for eight years, so this worried me. For good reason. Each session started with an hour of running, push-ups, sit-ups, rope climbs, jumping jacks and a host of other exercises without a second to pause. An hour. Then 40 minutes of teaching and drills, and finally 20 minutes of free sparring. On my second day, one of my sparring partners was a younger girl who probably weighed all of about 100 pounds. I knew she had a lot more jiu-jitsu experience under her belt, but I thought my strength and weight advantage would more than make up the difference. I told myself to go a little easy on her. Well, long story short... I had to give everything and then some not to get my ass completely kicked. I was lucky to have her on strength. The students (of all levels) were very accommodating to this rusty out-of-shape guy. As with any martial arts gym or dojo, this one was populated by a mix of hard core competitive types and other guys (it was overwhelmingly male) more focused on their own personal development. Anyway, I enjoyed myself for almost four months. The calisthenics were brutal, but as a result I was on the way to being in the best shape of my life. Then I dislocated my shoulder (kayaking). I hobbled my way through a few more jiu-jitsu practices, aggravating the shoulder a little more each time. Until I broke my ankle (snowboarding). Yeah, that was a bad couple of weeks. A year later and my ankle is almost 100%. My gi is still hanging in my closet, and I'm trying to psych myself up enough to enter the doors of Gracie again.

Since I joined a company in the city and ideally would like to continue to train BJJ at lunch I tried out this place. FACILITY: Its big with two separate areas with mats. There is a shower (just one, but its clean) and lockers in case you were wondering. CLASS: Class times are not accurate on the website. There is no 11 am class -- it starts at 11:30 am. There was a very intense 30 minute workout and then we worked on 1 technique (just 1, but it was a cool technique) and then you have rounds. Classes here are 90 minutes. So there's an early morning class, a 10 am class, an 11:30 am class and then evening classes I think (for gi BJJ) PEOPLE/ ATMOSPHERE: People seemed serious but nice. Its cool to meet Kurt Osiander since you can see him on BJJ youtube videos. I was a little intimidated and basically forgot everything I had learned last year but people were still cool. I did not get to roll because I showed up at 11 so by the time 12:30 came I needed to jet to shower and rush back to work. In the end, my work situation and the distance made me decide not to try it out again but I thought it looked like a good place. In another circumstance i would have tried it out some more. PS while i was there two bums started fighting with each other across the street. not a reflection on the gym but it was a little weird.

I started learning bjj at this school, and if I hadn't moved away, I will still be a member. First off, Kurt is a great teacher. The Rhino is world class, and he teaches the basics in simple terms that you can learn and remember. Classes start off with 30 minutes of cardio, and it's is one helluva workout. Aside from the normal stretches, pushups and squats, you'll be doing 30 minutes of lunges, hip escapes, rock climbers, up-downs, fireman carries, bear crawls, crunches, back rolls, front rolls, and every once in a while, rope climbs. The workout can get intense, and it's not uncommon to see someone take a breather, but once you've come consistently, you'll be amazed at how much you can really do. After the cardio there's the technique part of class, where Kurt will show you a one or two moves, and you'll practice with a partner. This is key so that you can learn the movements and positioning required to successfully initiate the technique. Lastly, you end the class with sparring, and depending on the time of day and the attendance, this can be a good workout, or it can be one of the most difficult and intense sessions you've experienced. The guys who roll here are all good, and you'll learn a lot just rolling with them. Most are very professional and looking to perfefct their technique, but you will still face stiff competition every time you roll. The best part, Kurt has no time for guys looking to establish their dominance and break limbs, and I've seen him kick guys out who didn't personify what bjj is about. Kurt is a great teacher, a successful competitor, and if you want to learn bjj and you're in the bay, I can suggest no one else.

World class across the board-- This school is the stomping ground for some of the Bay Area's top jiujitsu athletes, a handful of which are world class competitors. Many of the top Bay Area black belts were bred at this school and has also produced UFC athletes. Kids, womens and adult classes in jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and judo. If you are in San Francisco-- this is the place to train.

I did a 7am kettlebell session with Patrick on Monday. It was great. He coached me on the swing and gave me some good ques to improve. We went through get-ups, carries, goblet squats, one handed swings and two hand swings, deadlifts, pushups, planks, and halos. The pace was more challenging then I'm used to but not overly brutal. I've definitely been slacking so this is a good pace setter for when I work out on my own. The early morning class size was small, so there was time for some personalized instruction which I really appreciated. By the end of the class I was tired but feeling good. I'll be back next week. The mats are huge and the bathrooms are clean. There were dudes rolling on the other mat which was pretty cool since I rarely get to see that in person.

This is a good place for people of all ages to get a great work out. The trainers are great at what they do and they do not discriminate; children will get the same training as adults with the same belt color. Kurt Osiander is the best of his class and has the most useful tips and techniques.

Kurt Osiander is one of the best instructors in the world. I have personally trained everywhere including in brazil. And, you will not find a guy that teaches as well with so much detail anywhere else in SF. I love stopping in to train there. Also all the guys there train hard but are not mean at all. Every friendly even to lower belt guys. A lot of good attention from the better guys with no macho attitude. Wish i could give them 6 stars!