Villanueva Grapping Arts / Six blades Jiu Jitsu La Mesa

You honestly can't go wrong with any of them. San Diego is deep with talent and most of the gyms are really cool with cross training at open mats.  If you are looking for a really friendly and welcoming places, based on how they treated me as a stranger. I rank Alfredo at Barum BJJ #1. Paige from Legion #2. Didn't catch their names but #3 are the folks at Villanueva / Six Blades in La Mesa. I've never had a bad experience anywhere... Except maybe a douchy guy at Jocko's gym once, but if your looking for rolls against super strong tough dudes, there's no cheaper place to get your ass kicked source, 2025 ↗

negative

Depends what you’re looking for more, vacation to an exotic country or jiu jitsu training. You could go to Austin which has B team (Craig Jones et al) , New Wave (Danaher), and other good schools, Fight Factory I think is where the Tacketts train? Or San Diego which is Andre Galvao’s Atos headquarters, or Costa Mesa near LA for Art of Jiu Jitsu (Mendes bros). If you want mostly a cool vacation plus BJJ I would probably go Thailand or Bali. source, 2025 ↗

positive

10th planet San Diego is close to Serra Mesa and has excellent Nogi Jiu Jitsu, judo/wrestling and has a cool, friendly and supporting atmosphere.   I’ve trained in Florida and California gyms for over 15 years and SD 10th planet is as good as it gets. source, 2025 ↗

positive

I’ve traveled to both those locations two to train. There’s a ton of great gyms. Here’s where I went. Everyone was cool with visitors. Some had drop-in fees or gi rentals, some let us train for free.  Texas  -Torres Jiu-Jitsu in Houston  -Renzo Gracie Austin  -Gracie Humita Cedar Park in Austin  -Tried B Team in Austin but they were closed lol  -Rafael Formiga Academy near Dallas  -Marcus Antelante near Dallas (I slept in this morning but friends went)  California  -AOJ in Costa Mesa (didn’t train Mission Viejo)  -ATOS HQ in San Diego -Renzo Gracie LA (didn’t make it to training but I popped source, 2024 ↗

positive

I live in San Diego, but can’t really help you with those choices and your given criteria. I only train jiu-jitsu and primarily in the gi. Victory has a good fundamentals program run by Adam Mazin. I haven’t trained at The Arena since Baret Yoshida left (it’s a Six Blades affiliate now). I’ve trained at 10th Planet, but people seem to love it. Alliance (on Miramar Rd) is probably where I’d go if I was looking for one gym that does both well. source, 2024 ↗

positive

I just moved to Austin last month, and it really is the Mecca of jiu jitsu, at least right now. It might change in the future, but you can easily train with the best in the world (if you’re willing to pay for it). Before Austin, I was on a six month road trip training jiu jitsu around the country; went down the east coast from NJ to FL, then Texas, then went up the west coast from San Diego up to Seattle. What I can say is there is nothing like Austin. SoCal and the NJ tristate area have a ton of options for jiu jitsu, and I met a ton of cool, incredible people, but pound for pound it’s not e source, 2023 ↗

positive

Should read “Rener makes six figures agreeing with prosecution while promoting his business” source, 2023 ↗

neutral