805 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

805 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Simi Valley was founded in 2016 and built from the ground up by Joshua “Cowboy” Ruiz, who started his own journey here as a white belt and earned every rank on these mats before taking the helm as owner and head instructor. The academy became an official Carlos Machado affiliate in 2023, establishing a direct Machado family lineage that traces back to Carlos Gracie. Ruiz, a Carlos Machado black belt, brings practical experience from his years as a bounty hunter and executive-protection specialist, shaping a teaching style focused on practical self-defense, technical precision, and a culture with no space for ego. The kids and youth program is a cornerstone of 805, offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to children as young as four. Classes are split into Kids BJJ (ages 4–6) and Youth BJJ (ages 7–12), with both gi and no-gi options. Coach Chase Lovejoy leads the younger groups, using a decade of experience to keep even the youngest students focused and progressing with age-appropriate techniques. The room is run with the same standards for safety and respect that define the adult classes, and it’s common for parents to train alongside their children, making the academy a true family mat. For teens and adults, 805 offers fundamentals and advanced classes in both gi and no-gi formats, as well as open mat sessions and Muay Thai kickboxing. Instruction is shaped by Machado standards: belts are earned, not given, and every student—regardless of age or experience—trains at their own pace with guidance from black and brown belt instructors. The academy is wheelchair accessible and welcomes drop-ins to most classes. The guiding philosophy remains simple: train smart, stay humble, and keep the mat a place where anyone can learn real Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for life.

Amenities