8 Best BJJ Gyms in San Francisco (2026)
Ranked by the Let's Roll Roll Score™ · Updated June 2026
San Francisco BJJ Snapshot
Why San Francisco for BJJ
San Francisco is home to a committed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, anchored by Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Empire Jiu Jitsu, and Studio86 Jiu Jitsu. It has 10 academies and 3 weekly open mats listed on Let's Roll.
Quick Picks
Where the Top 8 Are
Pins are numbered by Roll Score rank. Tap a pin for the gym.
The Rankings
- 1Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu93EliteGoogle4.9(161)High confidence
Why #1: One of the most-reviewed gyms in San Francisco — 161 reviews at 4.9★.
Best for: Competitors, no-gi & submission grapplers, and brand-new beginners.
- 2Empire Jiu Jitsu92EliteGoogle5.0(85)High confidence
Why #2: Highest-rated gym in San Francisco — 5.0★ across 85 reviews.
Best for: Competitors, no-gi & submission grapplers, and brand-new beginners.
- 3Studio86 Jiu Jitsu91EliteGoogle5.0(60)1 open mat/wkHigh confidence
Why #3: Busiest open-mat schedule in the top 10 — 1 a week.
Best for: Travelers dropping in.
- 4ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay89ExcellentGoogle4.9(78)$29 drop-inHigh confidence
Why #4: A Alliance academy — 4.9★ across 78 reviews.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco gym (4.9★).
- 5San Francisco Jiu Jitsu Academy88ExcellentGoogle5.0(40)Solid confidence
Why #5: 5.0★ from 40 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco academy.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco gym (5.0★).
- 6Magalit Brazilian Jiu Jitsu86ExcellentGoogle4.8(56)1 open mat/wkHigh confidence
Why #6: 4.8★ from 56 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco academy.
Best for: Travelers dropping in.
- 7World Team USA Muay Thai BJJ & Fitness83ExcellentGoogle4.9(27)Solid confidence
Why #7: 4.9★ from 27 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco academy.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco gym (4.9★).
- 8Nimbus Brazilian Jiu Jitsu83ExcellentGoogle5.0(20)Solid confidence
Why #8: 5.0★ from 20 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco academy.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed San Francisco gym (5.0★).
Compare All Top 8
| Gym | Area | Roll Score | Rating | Reviews | Drop-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu | — | 93Elite | 4.9 | 161 | — |
| Empire Jiu Jitsu | — | 92Elite | 5.0 | 85 | — |
| Studio86 Jiu Jitsu | — | 91Elite | 5.0 | 60 | — |
| ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay | — | 89Excellent | 4.9 | 78 | $29 |
| San Francisco Jiu Jitsu Academy | — | 88Excellent | 5.0 | 40 | — |
| Magalit Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | — | 86Excellent | 4.8 | 56 | — |
| World Team USA Muay Thai BJJ & Fitness | — | 83Excellent | 4.9 | 27 | — |
| Nimbus Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | — | 83Excellent | 5.0 | 20 | — |
Which San Francisco Gym Fits You?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you to the best-fit gym from the top 8.
Plan Your BJJ Weekend in San Francisco
Pick the days you're in town — we'll build a roll-every-day itinerary with times, drop-in costs, and directions.
Train This Weekend in San Francisco
The best open mats, no-gi sessions, and drop-in-friendly rounds, Friday through Sunday.
📅 Friday
- Empire Jiu Jitsu — BJJ - Gi (Advanced) · 7:00 AM
- Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu — Muay Thai (All Levels) · 8:00 AM
- Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu — No-gi (Advanced) · 9:00 AM
- Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu — Jiu-Jitsu (ALL LEVELS) · 9:00 AM
- Empire Jiu Jitsu — BJJ - No Gi · 11:45 AM
📅 Saturday
- Empire Jiu Jitsu — BJJ - Gi (Fundamentals) · 7:00 AM
- Empire Jiu Jitsu — BJJ - Gi · 10:00 AM
- Charles Gracie Richmond District — Open Mat · 11:00 AM
- Studio86 Jiu Jitsu — Open Mat · 11:00 AM
- Empire Jiu Jitsu — BJJ - No Gi · 11:45 AM
📅 Sunday
- Empire Jiu Jitsu — BJJ - Gi (Fundamentals) · 7:00 AM
- Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu — Jiu-Jitsu (ALL-LEVELS) · 7:00 AM
- Magalit Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — Open Mat · 11:00 AM
- Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu — Jiu-Jitsu (COMPETITION) · 11:00 AM
- Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu — No-gi (Advanced) · 5:30 PM
Frequently asked
- How many BJJ gyms are in San Francisco?
- Let's Roll lists 10 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms in San Francisco, California. The top 8 are ranked above by Roll Score.
- Which is the best-rated BJJ gym in San Francisco?
- Empire Jiu Jitsu has the highest rating in San Francisco at 5.0★ across 85 Google reviews.
- What's the cheapest drop-in in San Francisco?
- Among the top gyms, ALLIANCE BJJ SF Bay has the lowest published drop-in at $29. Prices in the area vary; many gyms offer a free first class.
- Where are the best open mats in San Francisco?
- There are 3 weekly open mats across 3 gyms in San Francisco. See "Train This Weekend" above for what's on this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
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How the Roll Score™ works
The Roll Score is Let's Roll's ranking metric, from 0 to 100. It's 80% a confidence-weighted Google rating (using a Wilson score, so a 5.0 from 3 reviews can't outrank a 4.8 from 600) and 20% review volume. As verified Let's Roll member reviews and check-ins grow, they'll factor in too. Rankings recompute regularly — last updated June 2026.