Menu Close

Best Women’s Jiu Jitsu Schools

Best Women Friendly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Schools

What Make's a Gym "Woman Friendly" ?​

Any BJJ gym can be “woman friendly”. A safe and welcoming learning environment stems from a gym’s culture and instructors who then pass those values on to their students. There are actions gyms can take however that go above and beyond to make women who are eager to learn self-defense and jiu jitsu feel safe and welcomed into an environment that be intimidating. 

Women Only Classes

The main criteria we assess is if gyms offer classes exclusively for women

Women Instructors 

The next factor we assess is if a school does not offer women-only classes, do they have at least one woman instructor. 
Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019
Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019
Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Women's Jiu Jitsu Florida

Florida is home to several prominent gyms that feature exclusive women’s only classes. A handful of academies also have women instructors. Floridians can find women-friendly BJJ in most parts of the state, but the most are in the Miami/South Florida area. 

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Women's Jiu Jitsu New York

Scattered in every part of the state you can find women friendly classes and gyms. Not every school is specifically dedicated to BJJ, but rather offers some sort of self-defense instruction based on the principles of jiu jitsu. 

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✕ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes ✔ Female Instructors

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Women's Jiu Jitsu California

California is home to some of the best jiu jitsu schools in the country. It also has a ton of schools that host women-only or women-led BJJ classes. Some of the world’s most renown schools like Atos and Carlson Gracie feature on the list of women-friendly BJJ gyms in California.

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Women's Jiu Jitsu in the Pacific Northwest

Oregon and Washington have become hot beds of top notch BJJ schools in the past decade. Notably these areas have a lot of schools that offer women-only or women-led classes. There are even a few where the head instructor is a women. 

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

Women's Jiu Jitsu in the South

In the deep South (Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia) BJJ is a growing sport. There aren’t as many schools as on the coasts, but BJJ nonetheless has a foothold, including some top-notch academies that offer women’s only jiu jitsu classes.

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Women's Jiu Jitsu in New England

New England is home to many exciting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies. Though most are situated in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, one can find several women-friendly gyms scattered throughout the region. 

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Women's Jiu Jitsu in Mountain West

Scattered amongst the Rockies, mainly in Denver and Salt Lake City are several high caliber BJJ gyms. Many of those gyms offer women friendly jiu jitsu programs, with some having head instructors as women. 

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

✔ Women’s Only Classes  ✔Female Instructors

Why Women Should Take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The obvious benefit of BJJ is the self-defense aspect. More than any other martial art, BJJ is likely the most practical for defending yourself. The entire premise of the martial art was formed on the basis of someone of a smaller stature being able to defeat a stronger, untrained opponent. For women, this is perfect. In most cases, a woman will be smaller than their attacker. 

In addition to the self-defense aspects, BJJ is also an incredible way to get in shape and make new friends. BJJ is an intense exercise, especially if you are sparing. Consistent attendance along with healthy eating can help anyone achieve their fitness goals. 

Related Posts