Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Pleasanton
Welcome to our hometown mats: Ground Rules Academy, 7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F, Pleasanton, CA 94588. We opened in August 2024 for people in Pleasanton and across the Tri-Valley who want beginner-friendly instruction with a serious standard of learning.
Who trains here
The class mix is built for a busy Pleasanton week — not a place that only makes sense if you’re chasing medals every weekend.
A parent can put kids in Sprouts or Buds, then train Fundamentals later. A college student or shift worker can catch the 11:05 a.m. Fundamentals sessions. Coming back after a long layoff? Start in Fundamentals. You won’t get rushed into Advanced.
Kids train after school on gi days: BJJ Sprouts (ages 5–7) and BJJ Buds (ages 8–13). Teens and adults have Fundamentals — midday on Monday and Wednesday, plus evenings through the week — and Women-Only Fundamentals on Wednesday evening. Advanced is for people ready to think a few steps ahead of their opponent. Open Mat runs Friday evening and Saturday (drop-ins welcome) so you can pressure-test what you’ve been working on. Saturdays also add judo with Coach Greg Prior — throws and standup that feed your BJJ. The live grid is always on the schedule.
We don’t run a separate beginner-only hour. Fundamentals is the on-ramp — useful from day one, and still useful after the white-belt fog lifts. First-night details live on Beginner BJJ. Families looking at youth classes should start with Kids Jiu-Jitsu. Women who want that room can see Women’s Jiu-Jitsu in Pleasanton.
Why the mechanics matter
If you live in Pleasanton and you’ve been looking for a deeper dive into BJJ, this is that room. We break moves down with principles from physics — leverage, momentum, base, friction — and basic anatomy. Can’t remember the exact steps of a takedown? Control the center of mass. That’ll get you further than memorizing choreography.
I earned my PhD in physical chemistry from MIT, and I still teach chemistry at Las Positas College. That teaching experience shows up on the mats: make the idea clear, then make you do the work. The same notes became Ground Rules: Simple Physics for the Grappling Arts. More of that story is on About.
Affiliation, not a second Pleasanton address
After two years of building this community, we joined JG Academy / Aspire to Inspire in 2026. They care about the same things we do — a strong room, student growth, and a place that actually welcomes people. The affiliation is a real resource: you’re welcome to visit affiliate schools.
Livermore, Dublin, and San Ramon students already train here. The drive is worth it, and we’re right by the I-580 / I-680 interchange. Questions before you come? Contact us or call/text 925-400-8805.
I’d love to welcome you to the mats. Book a free trial class and come see the room.
A couple questions
Is there Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Pleasanton?
Yes. Ground Rules Academy is at 7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F. We opened in August 2024 for Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley.
Is this gym good for beginners and kids?
Fundamentals is the on-ramp for teens and adults from day one. Kids have Sprouts (5–7) and Buds (8–13). We don’t run a separate “beginner-only hour” — you start where the learning actually is.
Do you just show moves, or explain why they work?
We teach with physics and anatomy on purpose — leverage, base, momentum, friction — so you can problem-solve when you forget the steps.
How do I start?
Check the schedule, then book a free trial. Or call/text 925-400-8805.
Ground Rules Academy
7034 Commerce Circle, Suite F
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 400-8805
groundrulesacademy.com
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