Ralph Gracie Sunset

"I’m a BJJ black belt and instructor, and I’ve trained all over the world—Ralph Gracie Sunset stands out for its welcoming culture, high-level instruction, and inclusive environment, especially for adult women and beginners. The head instructor did an amazing job working with a brand-new student, scaling the lesson to their comfort and skill level while still imparting key BJJ concepts & movements. The techniques taught during lessons are effective and efficient; the details that get highlighted during make the “invisible BJJ” clear and more accessible. Most importantly, as a smaller female, I felt safe, respected, and fully welcomed during live training/sparring. If you’re new to BJJ or looking for a solid, female-friendly school in San Francisco, this is the spot. (Plus there's easy parking and a Bay Wheels station nearby.) Highly recommend!"

"My 2 sons (11 and 8) have been practicing here for several years now and they both love it. It teaches the 8 year old much needed discipline. My 11 year old who has fine motor challenges is learning how to use his body effectively and in a safe manner. Love the energy of all the coaches - firm but fun!"

"If you’re reading this you probably have a lot of questions about IF you or child should do this, and WHERE you should learn. Two quick stories. I’ll start with a quick story about how we started to even consider jiu jitsu for our child. Our friend told us how much she loved San Francisco and how she and her husband were committed to raising their kids here, but the reality is living in any big city sometimes has its challenges, and she always wanted her children to be able to defend themselves if they need to, which makes a lot of sense and is practical. She also dropped that she viewed self defense as rape prevention for her now teen. When her teenager was asked if she’d be ok, walking by herself through a particular neighborhood, her response was confident, and something along the lines of “I can choke someone out in 20 seconds.” Hilarious and the kind of confidence a kid who grows up in a city should have. That got us to enroll our kid in jiu jitsu, and he’s been doing it for over a year, and is now seven. I love how much he enjoys jiu jitsu, as a physical activity but also how he’s developed to be more athletic, better at listening and learning, and is a skill he’s learning to develop over time. I’m excited to see how he progresses over the coming years. As for me, I was inspired watching him train, and have always wanted to learn some kind of martial art as well as do something physical to stay in shape (maybe to get in shape in the first place!). I’m on the older side, so starting wasn’t easy, but now that I’ve been at Ralph Gracie Sunset Jiu Jitsu for a couple months, I’m so glad I started and wish I had started earlier! There are many places to learn jiu jitsu in the Bay Area and in San Francisco. It’s difficult to choose and weigh between how jiu jitsu gyms differ from one another, a particular school’s style, the cost, and location. One thing you may not have thought about is what is the culture at a particular school like, and I think that’s where Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu really shines. You know you’ll get a world class Brazilian jiu jitsu education (it’s Gracie after all), but one very underestimated and underappreciated factor is how comfortable will you be at the gym with the other people who train there, the facilities, and especially the teachers (shout out to Coach Renan and Coach Ralston!). The culture here is fantastic because of its teachers and the people who train there. It’s shockingly friendly - when I didn’t know anyone in class, sometimes others would proactively come up and say hi. There are no big egos here, and more advanced students will help out white belts, and everyone is patient knowing that this is a skill that takes time to develop and you have to start somewhere. I see other students hanging out even outside of the school, grabbing a drink, or even camping together. It’s great. When you’re training at a school that is that welcoming, and genuinely wants you to get better, it’s motivating. It makes you want to come in regularly and more often, instead of somewhere that isn’t as supportive, and it’s easy to skip a class here and there. Culture might be the #1 criteria for choosing a school. So those are some things to think about. If you’re looking for a school for you or your child, at least give Ralph Gracie Sunset Jiu Jitsu a look, and take them up on their free classes and get a feel for what they have to offer. And who knows, maybe it becomes something you do for life!"

"I started at Sunset Jiu Jitsu about 4 months ago never having tried a martial art before and if I had one piece of advice to give to anyone who is slightly interested in giving it a shot, I'd say just now. I thought about training jiu jitsu for over a year before I finally started, and my only regret is not starting sooner. Renan Silva and Rhalan Gracie have both been incredibly supportive and welcoming to me and have created an environment that encourages and rewards progress and personal growth. Everyone who trains at Sunset Jiu Jitsu genuinely want you to get better and to better themselves. Ego is checked at the door and friendships are formed on the mat. Whether you're trying to find a strong community, increase your mental and physical fortitude, or explore a new art from Sunset Jiu Jitsu is the place to train. I can't recommend this gym enough."