No-Gi Open Mats in San Diego
14 San Diego rooms train submission grappling without the gi, led by the 10th Planet schools in Midway and Chula Vista and big competition rooms like Legion in Miramar. No-gi open mats mostly run on weekends; check each gym's schedule.
No-gi gyms & academies in San Diego
Listings updated July 2026, official links verified · Schedules and details are community-sourced: check with the venue before you go.
Balboa Park Open Mat Lawn
Balboa Park Open Mat Lawn, Downtown, San Diego.
El Cajon Wrestling Room
El Cajon Wrestling Room, El Cajon, San Diego.
Kearny Mesa Jiu Jitsu Center
Kearny Mesa Jiu Jitsu Center, Kearny Mesa, San Diego.
North Park Grappling Club
North Park Grappling Club, North Park, San Diego.
South Bay Submission Academy
South Bay Submission Academy, Chula Vista, San Diego.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu San Diego
No-gi focused grappling academy in the Midway district, part of the 10th Planet system.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu South Bay
No-gi-only 10th Planet academy in downtown Chula Vista led by second-degree 10P black belt PJ Barch, running adult, kids and women’s submission grappling programs since 2016.
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.
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.
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.
The Arena MMA
Large combat sports gym in Point Loma covering MMA, BJJ, boxing and Muay Thai.
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.
Find training partners in San Diego
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Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between a gi and no-gi open mat?
- A no-gi open mat is a free sparring session without the kimono: you roll in a rash guard and shorts, with no collar or sleeve grips, closer to submission wrestling. Many gyms welcome both gi and no-gi grapplers on the same mat.
- What should I wear to a no-gi open mat in San Diego?
- A rash guard and grappling shorts without pockets or zippers; a mouthguard is strongly recommended. If it's your first visit, message the gym beforehand. Most academies welcome respectful drop-ins, sometimes for a small mat fee.
- How do I find no-gi 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.