Ralph Gracie Berkeley Jiu Jitsu Academy
A premier martial arts academy in Berkeley offering Judo, BJJ, and No Gi for all ages and levels.
Ralph Gracie Berkeley Jiu Jitsu Academy is located at 1500 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States of America.
The Ralph Gracie Berkeley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy has been a cornerstone of martial arts training in Berkeley since it opened in 2005.
Founded under the guidance of the renowned Ralph Gracie, the academy has grown into a premier destination for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo instruction.
The school is led by Eduardo Fraga, 5th degree black belt, a highly respected figure in the BJJ community with over three decades of training and two decades of teaching experience.
His leadership has shaped the academy’s technical standards and commitment to excellence. Newton Casemiro, who earned all his belts from blue to black at the academy, represents the school’s deep roots and internal development.
He began training in 2005 and was personally promoted to blue belt by Ralph Gracie. Alan Joyce, another homegrown talent, started in 2006 and received his black belt from Eduardo Fraga in 2015, becoming one of the first locally developed black belts at the academy.
The coaching team also includes Ahmed White, black belt and former professional MMA fighter, who brings real-world combat experience and over ten years of teaching to his instruction.
The academy offers a structured curriculum for all levels and ages.
It provides a Beginner’s Program specifically designed for white belts, ensuring new students build a strong technical foundation.
Intermediate and advanced practitioners train in the All Levels Program, a mixed-level class that fosters growth through diverse sparring and drilling.
For those interested in non-traditional grappling, the No Gi Program integrates techniques from wrestling, judo, and sambo, expanding beyond standard BJJ rulesets.
Young athletes ages 5 to 15 can join the Kids Jiu-Jitsu program, which emphasizes discipline, confidence, and physical development.
The Judo program welcomes kids, adults, and students of all levels, promoting accessibility and inclusivity.
The facility supports continuous training through open mat sessions, where members practice technique application at their own pace through self-led drilling and sparring.
This combination of expert coaching, diverse programming, and a supportive environment makes the academy a hub for martial artists seeking personal growth and technical mastery.
Ralph Gracie Berkeley Jiu Jitsu Academy is highly regarded as one of the top BJJ schools in the Bay Area, with a 4.9/5 rating from 86 reviews.
The academy is led by Professor Eduardo Fraga, a 6th degree black belt with over 30 years of teaching experience, and supported by experienced instructors including Newton Casemiro for Judo.
It offers a wide range of classes for all levels, including beginners, kids, and advanced competitors, with programs in gi, no-gi, judo, and kickboxing.
The facility is consistently praised for being clean and well-equipped, featuring a large mat area, sauna, ice bath, and fitness equipment.
Training partners are described as skilled, friendly, and supportive, creating a strong sense of community.
The Sunday open mat from 10 AM to 12 PM is noted as a challenging and popular session, drawing elite grapplers from the region.
Multiple reviewers highlight the welcoming atmosphere, high-level instruction, and long-term personal growth experienced at the academy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Address
1500 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703
United States of America
Phone
