Business Details
14 Years
experience
Premier Jiu Jitsu Instruction for All Ages
At Jiu Jitsu Foundation, we empower individuals of all ages through the transformative practice of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Founded by black belts Cadu and Gabriela Francis, our San Diego East County academy has served families since 2012, combining technical excellence with life skills development. Our instructors prioritize safety and personal growth, adapting techniques for all fitness levels and abilities while fostering a supportive community environment.With deep roots in martial arts instruction, we balance rigorous technical training with foundational principles that build confidence, discipline, and physical fitness. Our structured programs for children, teens, and adults emphasize self-defense applications while promoting mental resilience and character development through proven teaching methodologies.
Services
Kids Martial Arts
Adult Jiu Jitsu
Family Classes
Women's Self-Defense
Beginner Instruction
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- Certified black belt instructors with 10+ years of teaching experience
- Family-friendly environment with 40% female participation in youth classes
- Adaptive techniques for students with injuries or physical limitations
- Free introductory evaluation class with personalized technique instruction
- Three weekly women's-specific classes for teens and adults
What people say
Best Jiu Jitsu experience
Builds confidence in children
Supportive community environment
Patient instructors
Professional instruction
Services
Kids Jiu Jitsu
Structured Brazilian Jiu Jitsu programs for ages 5-12 develop physical coordination, self-discipline, and confidence through age-appropriate techniques. Our curriculum balances technical instruction with character development, creating a positive environment for children to build martial arts skills while learning respect and perseverance.
Adult Jiu Jitsu
All-levels Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes focus on technical mastery, physical fitness, and self-defense applications through guided sparring and technique breakdowns. Instructors emphasize practical self-defense scenarios while developing strength, endurance, and mental focus through systematic training methods suitable for complete beginners.
Women's Classes
Weekly women's-specific sessions teach practical self-defense techniques while building physical strength and situational awareness in a supportive peer environment. These classes emphasize realistic defense scenarios and confidence-building exercises tailored to female participants' needs and physical capabilities.
Family Programs
Multi-generational Jiu Jitsu instruction creates shared learning experiences with family-friendly pricing and developmentally appropriate techniques for mixed-age participation. Our programs encourage parent-child bonding through cooperative drills while maintaining separate skill progression pathways for different age groups.
Beginner Instruction
Specialized entry-level classes teach foundational techniques through progressive learning sequences with experienced instructors who adapt teaching methods for new practitioners' physical and cognitive abilities. Each session includes structured warm-up, technical demonstration, and gradual sparring introduction.
People
Cadu Francis
Head Instructor
Black belt with 15+ years of martial arts instruction experience, specializing in technical breakdowns for beginners and adaptive training methodologies for diverse student needs.
Gabriela Francis
Co-Owner
Certified black belt instructor with expertise in youth development programs, creating structured curricula that combine technical proficiency with character-building principles for young students.
Questions
What age requirements exist for new students?
We accept students starting at age 5, with specialized programs designed for developmental stages from 5-7 years old through adults.
Are prior martial arts skills necessary for beginners?
No prior experience is required - our instructors specialize in teaching complete beginners through structured technical progressions and personalized adjustments.
How do you accommodate students with injuries?
Trained staff modify techniques to accommodate physical limitations while maintaining technical integrity and progression pathways for injured students.
What fitness level is required?
Classes naturally improve fitness through technique practice and controlled sparring, making them accessible to all starting fitness levels.
Are trial classes available?
Free introductory evaluations include personalized technique instruction to help potential students experience our training environment before committing.
How does family enrollment work?
Family members joining together receive discounted rates with coordinated schedules that accommodate multiple family members' training needs.
Reviews (1)
Cees De Kort
Dec 31, 2020
Report
Being part of the team has been an outstanding experience. The warm welcome each training, makes even the beginning practicioner feel like home. Definitely more than recommend rolling into this dojo for a trial!
