BJJ Open Mats in San Diego
San Diego is one of the densest BJJ scenes in America: 14 academies in our directory, from the Atos competition HQ in Kearny Mesa to the Point Loma rooms around The Arena and University of Jiu Jitsu. Weekend open mats are the norm here, and respectful visitors are welcome most places.
Gyms & academies in San Diego
Listings updated September 2026, official links verified · Schedules and details are community-sourced: check with the venue before you go.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu San Diego
No-gi academy on Mission Gorge Road in Grantville led by 10th Planet black belts Richie and Geo Martinez, with boxing, kickboxing and a dedicated MMA program alongside submission grappling.
American Kickboxing Academy San Diego
South Bay branch of the famed American Kickboxing Academy in Chula Vista, offering MMA, Thailand-lineage Muay Thai, BJJ and submission wrestling.
Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ
World-renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the Kearny Mesa area, home of one of the top competition teams in the sport.
City Boxing
Downtown San Diego’s original martial arts school, established in 2001, offering 40+ weekly classes in boxing, Muay Thai and BJJ taught by former and current professional fighters.
Gracie Barra San Diego
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the Clairemont area, part of the Gracie Barra network.
Legion American Jiu Jitsu HQ
Headquarters academy in Miramar founded by IBJJF World Champion Keenan Cornelius, known for one of the largest mat spaces in San Diego and a high-level gi and no-gi competition room.
North County MMA
Escondido MMA gym on East Valley Parkway staffed by professional fighters and BJJ black belts, teaching striking, grappling and MMA to adults and kids.
San Diego Combat Academy
East County academy in Spring Valley offering MMA, boxing and Muay Thai with coach Tony Palafox, plus gi and no-gi jiu jitsu for kids and adults seven days a week.
Switch Fitness San Diego
El Cajon gym with an active MMA fight team founded by Bellator veteran Andy Murad, offering MMA, Muay Thai, BJJ, judo and boxing.
The Arena MMA
Large combat sports facility on Sports Arena Boulevard covering MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ and wrestling, with head MMA coach Vince Salvador and former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche on the pro team.
The Compound MMA & Fitness
Oceanside gym open around the clock, with roughly 95 classes a month across MMA, BJJ, no-gi grappling, boxing, Muay Thai and wrestling.
The Training Center
Pacific Beach MMA gym founded by former UFC fighter Chris Leben, home of world champion Baret Yoshida’s jiu jitsu program alongside boxing, kickboxing and wrestling.
University of Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the Point Loma / Ocean Beach area, founded by the Ribeiro brothers.
Victory MMA & Fitness
MMA-based gym of 22,000 square feet on Midway Drive offering BJJ, boxing, Muay Thai and MMA, with ADCC champion Dean Lister among the coaches.
Find training partners in San Diego
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Frequently asked questions
- What is an open mat?
- An open mat is an unstructured training session where grapplers spar (“roll”) freely, without a formal class. It's the easiest way to get rounds in, meet training partners and visit other gyms.
- Can I drop in as a visitor in San Diego?
- Most academies welcome visiting grapplers at their open mats, sometimes for a small mat fee. Etiquette: message the gym first, arrive early, and bring a clean gi and no-gi kit.
- How do I find BJJ training partners in San Diego?
- Drillz matches you with grapplers near you by level and training style, and shows open sessions on a live map. One tap to join. It's coming soon on iOS: join the waitlist to be first in.