Canby Jiu Jitsu

“I has been hearing great things about this gym and was genuinely looking forward to checking it out. Unfortunately, I had a negative interaction with someone from this gym, only to later find out she’s one of the coaches, Maria. It was disappointing to see that kind of poor attitude from someone representing Canby. What’s more concerning is that she holds a teaching and leadership position—someone in that role should be setting a positive example, not displaying rude or unprofessional behavior. First impressions matter, and based on this experience, I’ve decided to look elsewhere.”

“This place was supposed to be shut down after the original gym owner suffered a terrible health situation in his personal life. The city of Canby almost lost a whole gym/community Then a guy named Owen and his family decided to step up and change the gym into a non profit and renamed it Canby BJJ. It is now home to so many jiu jitsu practioners and the city has a gem of a community to come train and learn at. Owen and his wife Leah didn’t just stop there though. They have completely renovated the space with new paint, new mats with springs, and rebranded the gym to represent the city! They then proceeded to hire two of the best jiujitsu practitioners in the region to lead the program as head coaches, Charlie Gilpin and Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin. If you google them individually you will see their accolades and how deep their passion is for the sport. They are well recognized and respected in the community and I wouldn’t want my child to train anywhere else if I lived in the neighborhood. This place is special. Thankful to have found this place.”

“Maria and Charlie Gilpin are truly world-class—not just in their impressive Jiu-Jitsu accomplishments, but in the way they carry themselves and care for their students. They bring a rare combination of elite skill, humility, and genuine kindness that sets them apart both on and off the mats. Their passion for teaching, coaching, and mentoring is evident in everything they do. Canby Jiu-Jitsu is incredibly fortunate to have them—Maria and Charlie are an absolute asset to the gym and the community. Highly recommend!”

“If I were starting jiu-jitsu again, I wouldn’t want anyone but Maria and Charlie teaching me. If I moved to Oregon as a black belt, I’d still pick them without question. If I had kids, I’d trust only them to guide them on the mats. Maria is the kindest, most thoughtful, and most technical jiu-jitsu practitioner I’ve ever met. She’s a quiet killer with a heart of pure gold. Charlie, her perfect match, brings the same warmth, patience, and skill. I truly can’t imagine a better pair to build a team that’s safe, welcoming, caring, and world-class. Anyone training with them is lucky beyond words.”

“Canby Jiu Jitsu is great for anyone regardless of age or skillset. The coaches have created a welcoming environment where children and adults can thrive. Maria and Charlie are black belts known throughout the Jiu Jitsu community as the most kind and caring people. Maria is a world class athlete that shares her dedication to the sport and love for teaching kids. Her husband Charlie, a well known competitor, referee and coach, shares her dedication to the kids and families of the gym. Together this duo lead an environment of growth, discipline, and fun. Currently, kids from all across the Pacific Northwest come in to learn from Charlie and Maria. The gym has an open training policy for both kids and adults and anyone is welcome to drop in. The children's program is focused on self empowerment, exercise, fun, and social interaction all while receiving top notch Jiu Jitsu instruction. The Kids can be seen gathering attentively to hear of the daily technique being taught, as well as smiling and laughing with Games that help develop body mechanics and self esteem. The adults program is a welcoming community of people from all facets of life and all areas of Oregon. Folks come from all over to train with Charlie and Maria as well as a host of high level guest coaches. This gym is very unique as the owners are striving to curate a culture where anyone can train, even if he or she is a member of another gym. Just pop in and say high and you will find the gym you have been looking for!”