Beginner BJJ in Pleasanton — your first Fundamentals class
If you have never done Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, your first class at Ground Rules Academy is Fundamentals. Teens and adults, all levels, built to get you moving on night one without pretending you already know the art. We train at 7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F, Pleasanton, CA 94588.
Pick Fundamentals on the trial page, look at the schedule, and show up.
What class you actually take
We do not run a separate “intro only” hour. Fundamentals is the beginner class, and it remains useful after you are no longer new: warmups, drilling, live or situational reps, then sparring that matches the room. Advanced is for systems work. Open Mat is self-directed — drop-ins welcome — and is a poor first visit unless we tell you otherwise.
Kids 5–13 have their own track: Sprouts and Buds. This page is for the adult/teen on-ramp.
Women train in the regular Fundamentals, Advanced, and Open Mat sessions. There is no women-only class.
Gi days, no-gi days, what to wear
The live schedule labels the days. Current pattern: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are gi; Tuesday and Thursday are no-gi; Saturday Open Mat is gi or no-gi. Sunday closed.
Gi class. Wear a gi if you have one. If you do not, wear a fitted athletic shirt and shorts or athletic pants without zippers, belt loops, or open pockets. You do not need to buy a uniform before the trial.
No-gi class. Rash guard or a fitted shirt, plus shorts without pockets and hardware. Bare feet on the mat; shoes off before you step on.
Arrive a few minutes early so you can find Suite F and say you are on a trial. If you have a medical or mobility question, contact us or call/text (925) 400-8805 before you come.
What the first night feels like
You will not be expected to already understand jiu-jitsu. I founded the academy in 2024 after twenty years of teaching. I’m a BJJ black belt, and I still teach chemistry at Las Positas College. The habit is the same: name the principle (base, leverage, where the weight actually is), then make you feel it. Can’t remember the exact steps? Control the center of mass. That is also the idea behind The Book. More of my story is on About.
Leave your ego at the door. Fundamentals is a class, not a tryout. It’s not about the numbers or who looks experienced. It’s about personal growth, and that starts on night one. You will meet people who have trained longer than you; they are not an audience you have to impress. If live sparring is part of that hour, say you are new. If something is wrong — pace, contact, a movement you should not do — say so.
Keep training in Fundamentals until Advanced is an honest next step, not a dare. The rest of the week is on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Pleasanton. We joined JG Academy / Aspire to Inspire in 2026, so you can visit sister mats including SubCulture / JG Livermore and other JG schools. I wrote that up in GRA Joins JG Academy. Livermore, Dublin, CA, and San Ramon students already make the drive. Pricing stays on its own page.
Ready to train? I’d love to welcome you to the mats for a free trial class.
Ground Rules Academy
7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 400-8805
groundrulesacademy.com
Get directions
Beginner BJJ in Pleasanton — your first Fundamentals class
If you have never done Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, your first class at Ground Rules Academy is Fundamentals. Teens and adults, all levels, built to get you moving on night one without pretending you already know the art. We train at 7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F, Pleasanton, CA 94588.
Pick Fundamentals on the trial page, look at the schedule, and show up.
What class you actually take
We do not run a separate “intro only” hour. Fundamentals is the beginner class, and it remains useful after you are no longer new: warmups, drilling, live or situational reps, then sparring that matches the room. Advanced is for systems work. Open Mat is self-directed — drop-ins welcome — and is a poor first visit unless we tell you otherwise.
Kids 5–13 have their own track: Sprouts and Buds. This page is for the adult/teen on-ramp.
Women train in the regular Fundamentals, Advanced, and Open Mat sessions. There is no women-only class.
Gi days, no-gi days, what to wear
The live schedule labels the days. Current pattern: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are gi; Tuesday and Thursday are no-gi; Saturday Open Mat is gi or no-gi. Sunday closed.
Gi class. Wear a gi if you have one. If you do not, wear a fitted athletic shirt and shorts or athletic pants without zippers, belt loops, or open pockets. You do not need to buy a uniform before the trial.
No-gi class. Rash guard or a fitted shirt, plus shorts without pockets and hardware. Bare feet on the mat; shoes off before you step on.
Arrive a few minutes early so you can find Suite F and say you are on a trial. If you have a medical or mobility question, contact us or call/text (925) 400-8805 before you come.
What the first night feels like
You will not be expected to already understand jiu-jitsu. I founded the academy in 2024 after twenty years of teaching. I’m a BJJ black belt, and I still teach chemistry at Las Positas College. The habit is the same: name the principle (base, leverage, where the weight actually is), then make you feel it. Can’t remember the exact steps? Control the center of mass. That is also the idea behind The Book. More of my story is on About.
Leave your ego at the door. Fundamentals is a class, not a tryout. It’s not about the numbers or who looks experienced. It’s about personal growth, and that starts on night one. You will meet people who have trained longer than you; they are not an audience you have to impress. If live sparring is part of that hour, say you are new. If something is wrong — pace, contact, a movement you should not do — say so.
Keep training in Fundamentals until Advanced is an honest next step, not a dare. The rest of the week is on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Pleasanton. We joined JG Academy / Aspire to Inspire in 2026, so you can visit sister mats including SubCulture / JG Livermore and other JG schools. I wrote that up in GRA Joins JG Academy. Livermore, Dublin, CA, and San Ramon students already make the drive. Pricing stays on its own page.
Ready to train? I’d love to welcome you to the mats for a free trial class.
Ground Rules Academy
7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 400-8805
groundrulesacademy.com
Get directions