We've been coming to North Bay Jujitsu for almost a year now, and we couldn't be happier with our experience. Our son has been training with Coach Paolo since the beginning, and we truly appreciate his coaching style. He is firm yet kind, patient yet structured. I find it to be a perfect balance between discipline and fun, while creating a positive environment where kids can thrive and grow in both skill and confidence. More recently, Coach Sonia began assisting with our son's Monday class, and she has been a fantastic addition. read more

North Bay Jiu Jitsu - Martial Arts Near Me - Novato, California

I joined North Bay Jiu Jitsu with prior experience in the sport, and initially, I was excited to be a part of the community. The people were welcoming, supportive, and the atmosphere was friendly. The art of jiu jitsu is something I have always loved, as it teaches patience, respect, and self-defense. However, my experience at North Bay Jiu Jitsu was marred by a recurring issue that eventually led to my decision to cancel my membership. After about two months of training, I started getting sick almost like clockwork. Every two to three weeks, I would come down with a bad cold or a similar illness. Given that I was working from home and rarely going out, I began to suspect the source might be related to my jiu jitsu classes. I tried immunity boosters, vitamins, and other supplements, but nothing seemed to help. After my third bout of illness, I decided to take a closer look at the cleaning practices at the gym. I arrived early one day and observed what happened between classes. After a kids' class had finished, I saw one of the instructors take a large dust mop (the kind you might see in a grocery store) and quickly drag it across the mats. No disinfectant was sprayed, and the mop head wasn't changed. It was a brief and superficial cleaning process, to say the least. This was concerning because the mats, where we were constantly in close contact with each other's sweat and bacteria, were clearly not being properly sanitized. It suddenly made sense why I was getting sick so frequently. I decided to cancel my membership shortly after that incident. When I explained that my frequent illnesses were the reason for canceling, the response I received was polite but did not address the issue I raised-- there was no real acknowledgment or inquiry into the cleanliness practices or my health concerns. Since switching to a new gym, I have remained in good health. I'm writing this review to bring attention to an important issue that I believe needs to be addressed. The art of jiu jitsu is wonderful, and the community at North Bay Jiu Jitsu is full of kind and supportive people. However, cleanliness is crucial in a sport that involves such close contact. Gym owners and instructors have a responsibility to prioritize the health and safety of their members, and that includes maintaining proper hygiene practices. For anyone considering joining, I hope this serves as a helpful forewarning. Make sure the facilities you train in are prioritizing health and cleanliness, especially in such a physically intimate sport. read more

Love this place it is so clean and well kept, the sense of community is so welcoming.

Excellent place to have train the kids!! My kids have been attending this school of Jiu Jitsu for almost 4 years and love training there. The absolutely best place to train Jiu Jitsu in Marin county. Great Place!! read more

Super program for kids! My son has been training there for 3 years and he's gained so much strength and confidence. Coach Tryfon is patient and encourages kids to train hard and apply what they've learned to their daily lives. At the end of a training session, when the kids are sweaty and tired (but attentive), he tells them how important it is to challenge themselves, not be afraid to try new things, to confront their fears, not shy away from adversity, be respectful, etc., etc. I could go on and on. I sat in the academy for most of my son's sessions and I loved what I was hearing because it's exactly how I want to raise my son. BTW, it's an excellent place for girls to train too - about a third of the classes are girls. Impossible to overstate what a positive effect it's had on my son's life! read more

North Bay Jiu Jitsu - Martial Arts Near Me - Novato, California

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I'm a martial arts newbie, and I'm so glad I joined NBJJ, because I couldn't imagine being as successful or as welcomed as I am at this dojo! All the instructors are incredibly kind, extremely knowledgeable, and super humble. They'll all readily grapple with students and will go into as much detail or walk through/demo as many scenarios as you ask for to get total understanding. Tryfon has also completely blown me away with how knowledgeable he is about jiu jitsu, but how that also translates into real life. Especially when listening to him talk to the kids' class, he gives great lessons, real-world applications, and lays out fair expectations while also encouraging his students to do their best. He's truly a natural leader, and it's good to know that someone so genuine is at the heart of this dojo. Some other reviews have mentioned it as well, but both the instructors and the other students are super friendly, and most folks of all belt colors introduced themselves to me during my first week, making me feel very welcomed. Not only that, but being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and using they/them pronouns, is so validating hearing all the instructors not only adapt their language to correctly use them, but to ALSO hear them correct others when I get misgendered by someone who may not be as familiar. I am so glad that NBJJ was where I decided to start my martial arts journey, because I'm hooked on the sport, and I already feel at home in the dojo! Oss! read more

The place and specifically the mat is so dirty. My son got a bad skin infection there.

Came in a couple times for drop in sessions. Super clean, students are skilled and helpful, and instructors are great. Love this place

I'm an older practitioner who has been to several academies. I can honestly say that this is a top-notch facility. The instruction is fantastic across the board, and the community/culture they have created is welcoming for both the novice to the expert. They have recently expanded the academy with 2 additional mat rooms and now (in addition to their Jiu Jitsu core) offer Judo, Kickboxing, and wrestling with your membership. It's an amazing and safe place to go for the traveler as a drop-in. I can't recommend this place enough, it really is the premier Northern California Jiu Jitsu academy imho. read more

I found north bay jiu jutsu after I moved from LA to SF. I started by checking out a few other gyms to get a feel for the cleanliness, safety and good instruction. By far North Bay Jiu Jitsu made me feel safe and they welcomed me with open arms. I started competing after a few months of being there and I couldn't have found a better, safer place to train. read more

There is so much to say about this place. The instruction is super high level. All the instructors are knowledgeable and down-to-earth people. Tryphon, the head instructor, is an Eduardo Rocha black belt, which means a lot. It goes Tryphon-Eduardo Rocha-Royler Gracie-Helio Gracie. World champions all the way back to the Master. The kid's classes are the best! I can't think of anything better for them. They don't only learn self-defense but they also learn respect. The kids are always well-mannered. When I watch the class they make Jiu-Jitsu look like the most fun thing that has ever happened. On top of that, the academy is always clean and neat. I would recommend this place to any parent who is trying to instill confidence and discipline in their children. read more

Love it here.lol not much else to say. Good instructors, good vibe, good intensity. Everyone there is there too improve, no big egos

The most amazing Jiujitsu gym. Amazing schedule and nice people. Can't imagine a better place to train.

The best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training around. Knowlwdge and dedication, a great way for kids to learn to focus, be discipline and develop healthy self esteem and healthy life habits. For adults, he'll work your guys out. Great conditioning. read more

Our 6yr old has been going here for the past 8 months. He absolutely loves it and we've even noticed his behavior has improved in school. I can't say enough about the instructors at North Bay Jiu Jitsu. Their kids program is amazing and affordable. Highly HIGHLY recommend. read more

I love this gym! People are respectful and receptive. I have trained here for over a year and I love it! The classes for women on Saturday's are my favorite, since we learn some self defense, which I find to be fun as well as empowering. read more

I've trained at multiple gyms and have been doing martial arts for a few years now. I was looking for gyms to join while I live in San Rafael for school and I stumbled upon North Bay Jiu Jitsu after having a not so great experience at another Marin Jiu Jitsu gym. I absolutely recommend training here if you want to learn, grow, and be welcomed with open arms!! read more

I feel like I've dragged my son to every martial arts studio from Mill Valley to Novato. They all seem to be the same, 1 instructor ( maybe with help from unpaid older students ) in a 40 min class, 10 min speech and warm up then they line up for a few kicks or punches, then last 10 min some kind of game. I was about to give up when we decided to try North Bay Jiu Jitsu. It's exceeded all expectations. First there are always 3-4 professional instructors. They take their job seriously and keep the kids focused and by doing that they all learn so much every class. The classes are 55-60 min. and they use every min of it, and end with a short fun conditioning game. Well worth the money for a team of pros that are there to teach proper technique, motivation, discipline, respect. read more

Someone made fraudulent charges on my account from this place. I tried working with him, giving him the benefit of the doubt. He offered to pay me, then he changed his mind. Im sure he's a good instructor.. just beware. read more

Love it! Tryfon is a Champion and amazing instructor!!! Very good martial arts for grounding yourself and centering...

This place is amazing. I'm 24 and I have a small background in Aikido, but my Aikido classes were a joke compared to this. The instructor Tryfon Stathopoulos runs a rigorous class for self-defense and competition, fine-tuning the basics and honing advanced techniques. He has students who are just starting and others who have a strong background in MMA. The people in my class are serious about jiu jitsu and they really enjoy it. And they're seeing results. I just finished Peace Corps where for two years in Panama I taught English in a rural ranching community. I can tell when a teacher is tired or had a bad day or didn't prepare. Tryfon Stathopoulos is a great teacher. He is always energized and always knows exactly what he's talking about. Tryfon knows his stuff so well that he can break down the rudiments of any move on request and answer any question speaking lightening quick. The instructor is also great with kids. When I arrive early to class, I see Tryfon teaching the little dragons lesson. At the end of every lesson, one kid, looking ecstatic, leaps from the mat and hooks his arms around Tryfon's shoulder. Tryfon holds his hand high and the kid pulls himself up like climbing branches on a tree so he can high-five the instructor. read more

I love this place. I truly feel this is an excellent Brazilian jiu jitsu school. It brings out the best in me and helps me in life. I think the first one is free. This school has all the resources to be excellent at Brazilian jiu jitsu. Lineage is important in jiu jitsu. You should research the lineage of North Bay Jiu Jitsu. read more

When I started here, I was completely new to martial arts. I never imagined I would come to love jiu jitsu some much, which is a testament to the instructors and environment at North Bay Jiu Jitsu. They do a phenomenal job of teaching the skills, but also of fostering a healthy balance between competition, safety, camaraderie and fun. I would highly recommend NBJJ to anyone looking to start or continue their journey with BJJ. read more

I have been a life long martial arts fan AND find North Bay Jiu Jitsu as good as it gets! Tryfon is not only a fantastic martial artist, but really a better teacher. Can not recommend enough....great for a seasoned martial artist or someone just getting started. read more

North Bay Jiujitsu is the premier BJJ school in Marin and the north bay. Our teacher, Tryfon, aside from being a champion competitor, is a highly skilled, unique teacher that is well rounded. Patient, articulate, calm and balanced, he teaches BJJ as a self defense, as well as a sport. He is very practical and efficient in his teaching, drilling the basics into our daily training and constantly drilling these basics under controlled stress. What I have found is that his teaching style quickly allows for the beginner to grasp on to the fundamentals, acclimating to the hard training while avoiding the beginner ego that quite often gets us hurt from the very beginning. A true test of a highly qualified teacher is to observe their higher level students. Here, all of our higher ranks have the ability and skill to teach ranks below them with the a detailed, knowledgeable, and controlled approach as well. This makes for a great culture because we are all accountable for the success of each other in the Art. I started this style of martial arts at 50 years old and it is an amazing challenge for your physical body as well as your mind. Highly recommended for all ages. read more

My kids have worked with Tryfon for years and my husband and I have taken private lessons with him. He is an absolutely gifted, dedicated instructor who can meet students at all levels and ages. He's a patient and intuitive teacher and a great role model for kids and teens. I can't say enough about the physical and mental benefits offered by his classes (Plus, they're fun.) We're lucky to have an instructor of his caliber in Novato.. read more

My kids have been going here for a few months and they love it! Tryfon is an amazing instructor and his classes keep my kids focused. He is very patient when teaching and the students are able to grasp quickly what is being taught. My kids look forward to class days and are always excitedly talking about everything they learn. read more

My two kids (4 and 6) have been taking classes here for over a year. I couldn't be happier. The owner/insructor, Tryfon, really know his stuff. He has an excellent demeanor with the kids. They have a ton of fun in his class, and at the same time are learning a lot. I also like the very clear distinction between the little dragons class and the next age up. Tryfon explains everything so well--he makes the complicated simple so the kids can understand. The discipline the kids learn in class transfers directly to home which is a HUGE plus. I recommend NBJJ to anyone with kids. read more

Tryphon is an excellent martial arts instructor. He has the ability to teach a subject in a way that is understandable for every student. He takes a concept and explains it, demonstrates it and then works with each individual to make sure they understand it. He is very thorough and patient! I leave each session with him feeling exhausted and good about my practice. I cannot recommend him highly enough! read more

I have trained at several other martial arts academies over the past decade and North Bay Jiu Jitsu is the best I've been to. Tryfon is an exceptional instructor who teaches the techniques, from the basic to the most advanced, with confidence and clarity. In my opinion, the curriculum at NBJJ is good for any student whether you are looking to learn self-defense or to compete in Jiu Jitsu. Not only are my skills improving with every class, but I am now in the best shape of my adult life all thanks to NBJJ and Tryfon. read more

We've had our two sons enrolled in both the Little Dragons and kids classes here for a couple years now. I've really been impressed with the way Tryfon handles the classes. He keeps the kids active and motivated -- besides learning technique there are always stories and games. Even kids who are not especially gifted athletically always seem to come away with a sense of pride in their accomplishments! read more