Home Schedule Classes Pricing About We Defy Free Trial Week
Pleasanton, CA · Tri-Valley's Highest-Rated BJJ

The Art of
Jiu-Jitsu.
The Science of Teaching.

Ground Rules Academy is built on a simple belief: everyone can learn jiu-jitsu when it's taught with the right system. Led by Professor Russell Jensen - MIT-trained scientist, BJJ black belt, 20 years teaching experience - this is instruction at a different level.

Claim Your Free Week Explore Programs
#1
Rated BJJ · Tri-Valley
5+
Ages Welcome
We Defy
Official Veteran Facility
20
Years Teaching
Free
First Week Trial
The Founder

PROFESSOR
RUSSELL JENSEN

Ground Rules Academy provides top-quality Jiu-Jitsu instruction as a vehicle for developing fitness, resilience, and self-defense skills for ages 5 and up. The beginner-friendly training environment contributes to improved physical and mental health, relationships, performance at school or work, and overall quality of life.

Dr. Jensen earned his PhD under a Nobel Laureate at MIT and has spent 20 years teaching around the globe — currently as a Professor of Chemistry at Las Positas College. He understands the learning process. He's a master of distilling challenging topics into relatable ideas, and he brings that same gift to the mat every single day.

He can show you the way — but it's up to you to do the work.

"Jiu-jitsu is the most effective vehicle I've found for building grit, humility, and self-discipline in people of all ages. Our job is to make sure the teaching is good enough that anyone can access it." - Russell Jensen, PhD · Founder & Head Professor
📖
Published Author
Ground Rules: Simple Physics for the Grappling Arts
Russell Jensen - Ground Rules Academy
Russell Jensen, PhD
Founder · Head Professor · BJJ Black Belt (2024)
PhD · MIT Nobel Lab Alum Published Author BJJ Black Belt 20 Yrs Teaching Las Positas College We Defy Official Judo & Wrestling
Training Programs

FIND YOUR MAT

Every program at GRA is built around a structured curriculum - not just a loose collection of techniques. Whether you're sending your 5-year-old to their first class or you're a competitor looking to sharpen your game, there's a program built for exactly where you are.

Adult BJJ
Foundation
Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The core program. All levels from white to brown belt, all ages from 18 up. A structured curriculum that builds real skill - not just mat time. Beginner-friendly environment where progress over perfection is the only standard.
All Levels Ages 18+ Gi & No-Gi Curriculum-Based
Kids BJJ
Kids
Kids Jiu-Jitsu
Designed for ages 5 and up. Kids learn discipline, respect, and self-defense in a structured, fun environment. Professor Russell's background in education makes this program genuinely exceptional for child development - not just martial arts.
Ages 5+ Structured Curriculum Character Building Self-Defense
Judo and Wrestling
Grappling
Judo & Wrestling
Stand-up grappling to complement your ground game. Judo throws and wrestling takedowns taught with the same methodical approach as the BJJ curriculum. Your takedowns are the missing piece - we have you covered.
All Levels Takedowns Clinch Work Competition Prep
We Defy Foundation
Veterans
We Defy Foundation
Ground Rules Academy is an official We Defy Foundation Training Facility - one of the only gyms in the Tri-Valley with this designation. Veterans receive BJJ training as part of the We Defy program, using jiu-jitsu as a tool for recovery, community, and purpose after service.
Veterans We Defy Official Free for Qualifying Vets
🇺🇸 Official We Defy Foundation Facility

JIU-JITSU FOR THOSE WHO SERVED.

The We Defy Foundation uses Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a vehicle for healing, community, and purpose for post-9/11 combat-wounded veterans. Ground Rules Academy is proud to be one of their official training facilities in the Tri-Valley.

Veterans who qualify train alongside our regular members - fully integrated, fully welcomed, fully part of the GRA family. Jiu-jitsu's lessons of resilience, humility, and perseverance map directly onto the experience of those who've served.

"We believe the lessons of jiu-jitsu - learning to fall, getting back up, finding calm under pressure - are exactly what the We Defy community needs. We're honored to be part of their mission."

- Professor Russell Jensen
Official
We Defy Training Facility
Free
For Qualifying Veterans
Post
9/11
Combat-Wounded Focus
GI
Equipment Provided
The GRA Difference

WHY THE TEACHING ACTUALLY WORKS

Most gyms teach jiu-jitsu the way it's always been taught - show a technique, drill it, roll. That works eventually. But Professor Russell spent 20 years studying how people actually learn before he ever opened this gym.

The GRA curriculum is built the same way a great university course is built: with learning objectives, logical progressions, deliberate practice, and real feedback. Beginners retain more. Intermediate students develop faster. And everyone leaves class knowing exactly what they worked on and why.

This isn't theory. It's the reason GRA is the highest-rated BJJ school in the Tri-Valley - and the reason students who've tried other gyms consistently say this feels different.

01
Structured Curriculum
Techniques are taught in deliberate sequences, not randomly. Each class builds on the last. Progress is visible and measurable.
02
Beginner-Friendly by Design
No experience? That's the point. The system is built to onboard new students without leaving them lost on the mat or intimidated off it.
03
Progress Over Perfection
Every student moves at their pace. The only competition that matters is with who you were last week.
04
Real Feedback, Every Class
Professor Russell watches every student. Corrections are specific, actionable, and delivered in a way that builds confidence rather than crushing it.
05
Community That Sticks
The Pleasanton BJJ community at GRA is tight. Training partners become friends. The gym becomes a second home. That's not an accident.
Class Schedule

FIND YOUR TIME

Time MondayGi TuesdayNo Gi WednesdayGi ThursdayNo Gi FridayGi SaturdayGi / No Gi
9:35 AM — — — — — Competition Class80 mins
11:05 AM Fundamentals80 mins — Fundamentals80 mins — — Open Mat
4:05 PM BJJ SproutsAges 5–7 · 50 mins — BJJ SproutsAges 5–7 · 50 mins — BJJ SproutsAges 5–7 · 50 mins —
5:05 PM BJJ BudsAges 8–13 · 50 mins — BJJ BudsAges 8–13 · 50 mins — BJJ BudsAges 8–13 · 50 mins —
6:05 PM Fundamentals55 mins Fundamentals55 mins Fundamentals55 mins Fundamentals55 mins Advanced55 mins —
7:05 PM Advanced55 mins Advanced55 mins Women-Only Fundamentals55 mins Advanced55 mins Open Mat —
Class Descriptions

EVERY CLASS, EXPLAINED

Ages 5–7
BJJ Sprouts
Spark a lifelong love for jiu-jitsu with our littlest Sprouts! This class turns playtime into powerful foundations, blending fun with essential skills to boost coordination and self-assurance.
  • Core Focus: Basic movements, coordination, and skill development
  • Builds: Physical strength, confidence, and a sense of achievement
  • Activities: Basic movement drills, grappling games and supervised light sparring for safe, joyful exploration
Ages 8–13
BJJ Buds
Elevate our budding grapplers with deeper dives into jiu-jitsu essentials. This program fosters skill development, strategic thinking, and resilience through engaging, high-energy sessions.
  • Core Focus: Basic principles, techniques, movement patterns, and strategies with age-appropriate rigor
  • Builds: Coordination, strength, confidence, and grappling skills
  • Activities: Movement and technical drills, grappling games, and supervised sparring for fun, self-defense, and competition
Gi · All Levels
Fundamentals
Master the building blocks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a streamlined curriculum crafted by experts. Efficient, effective training that gets you rolling from day one — suitable for teens and adults of all levels.
  • Core Focus: The effective application of grappling skills, principles, and techniques
  • Training Style: General and technical warmups, classic drilling, live/situational reps
  • Progression: Culminates in live sparring to solidify skills
Women Only
Women-Only Fundamentals
Empower yourself in a supportive environment dedicated to growth and confidence on the mats. Learn practical self-defense, refine techniques, and train alongside fellow women in a comfortable setting.
  • Core Focus: Practical BJJ techniques with emphasis on self-defense and sport jiu-jitsu application
  • For: Women of all experience levels — beginners welcome and encouraged
  • Benefits: Increased confidence, strength, stress relief, and a strong sense of community
All Levels
Advanced Class
Train like a black belt in an environment built for refinement and innovation. Here, we dissect challenges, build personalized systems, and roll with purpose — your input shapes the session.
  • Core Focus: Development and optimization of cohesive systems
  • Training Style: Intensive situational drilling and sparring
  • Community: Open Q&A — suggest topics, collaborate, and troubleshoot with fellow grapplers
Competition
Competition Class
Gear up for the spotlight with elite training that hones split-second decisions and instinctive reactions. Open to all ages ready to compete — consult an instructor to confirm your fit.
  • Core Focus: Resiliency, grit, decision-making, and natural reflexes under pressure
  • Training Style: Rigorous situational drilling of systems and sequences. Competition intensity sparring
  • For: Ambitious athletes striving for the podium and a championship mindset
Gi / No Gi
Open Mat
The ultimate free-flow space to experiment, connect, and evolve. No agenda, just mats, partners, and pure jiu-jitsu — perfect for sharpening what you've learned or discovering something new.
  • Core Focus: Self-directed practice and collaborative rolling
  • Training Style: Grab a partner and dive in — drill, spar, or flow as you like
  • Benefits: Builds adaptability, friendships, and that intuitive edge
Invest in Yourself

SIMPLE, HONEST PRICING

Elite-level instruction in a supportive, focused environment. Our programs emphasize technical precision, practical self-defense, and long-term skill development — so you get exceptional results for your investment.

Monthly Recurring
Unlimited Membership
Billed monthly · cancel anytime
$ 175 / month
  • Access to all regular classes — fundamentals, advanced, competition-focused
  • Unlimited attendance — train as often as your schedule allows
  • Open mat sessions included
  • For serious students committed to consistent progress
Start Free Trial
Best Value
Annual Recurring
Unlimited Membership
Billed annually · ~$137/month
$ 1650 / year
  • Save over $450 vs. monthly — commit to real transformation
  • Access to all regular classes — fundamentals, advanced, competition-focused
  • Unlimited attendance — train as often as your schedule allows
  • Open mat sessions included
Start Free Trial
Women's Program · Monthly
Women-Only Program
Billed monthly · cancel anytime
$ 75 / month
  • One women-only class per week + full open mat access
  • A safe, empowering space to build confidence and technique
  • Perfect for beginners or those preferring female-only training partners
Start Free Trial

Discounts & Promotions

We value service, education, and family commitment — here are ways to make high-quality training even more accessible.

10% Off Unlimited Memberships

  • Students College students with valid student ID
  • First Responders Police, fire, and EMS
  • Military Active-duty military & veterans

Family Membership Discounts

  • 1st Member Full price
  • 2nd Member 15% off
  • 3rd+ Members 25% off each

Training at this level builds more than skill — it builds resilience, strategy, and community. These are unbeatable rates for the caliber of coaching and instruction we provide.

Book Your Free Trial Week View Full Schedule
Get Started

YOUR FIRST WEEK
IS ON US.

We know walking into a new gym takes courage - especially if you've never trained before. That's exactly why we offer a full week free. No pressure, no commitment, no gear required.

Come to as many classes as you want in your first week. See if the teaching clicks, meet the community, find out what your body is capable of.

Full week of unlimited classes - no charge
No experience or equipment required - just show up
Personal intro with Professor Russell before your first class
Adults, kids, and veterans all welcome
Claim Your Free Week
Takes 30 seconds. Russ will reach out same day.
🥋
SEE YOU ON
THE MAT.
Your free week is confirmed. Professor Russell will be in touch today. Come ready to learn - everything else we'll take care of.
Ground Rules Academy · Pleasanton, CA