Welcome
to the Club

What to expect

Nervous? Don’t worry. It’s natural to feel a little nervous about trying something new. You’ll be stepping into a safe and welcoming space with other women who are also beginners at Jiu Jitsu.

This class is specifically designed for folks with zero prior experience.

You won’t need to memorize complicated steps or perform moves that require much athleticism.

You’ll be able to learn, explore, and play at your own pace.

Read on for a guide to getting ready for your first day.

Getting Ready at Home

For the class, you can wear comfortable athletic clothing that you already own. Though you will not need a uniform, it is important to wear clothes that are suitable for grappling.

We recommend a t-shirt on top (long sleeve or short sleeve is ok, but no sleeveless shirts or tank tops). Please make sure your top has full torso coverage (no chest exposure or bare midriffs). On bottom you can wear long leggings or pants.

For safety, please make sure that your clothing does not have zippers, pockets, or buttons.

During the lesson, you will be barefoot on the mats with no socks.

Long hair must be tied back securely. Please also remove any makeup, jewelry, or watches, and make sure finger- and toenails are trimmed short before you arrive.

Arriving at Renzo Gracie Pasadena

We are located at 464 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91101.

Please make sure to arrive 10 minutes early at 5:50pm, so we can begin on schedule and respect everyone’s time.

There is metered street parking around the school. For more information about additional parking options, see our parking guide here.

Your first Class

This will be a one-hour session. During the class, you will be partnered up with another woman and guided through a series of Jiu Jitsu and MMA “games.”

Through these games, you will start to develop real fighting skills such as: how to throw a punch, how to keep yourself safe against strikes, and how to control a larger, stronger opponent so it’s hard for them to hurt you.

You will become familiar with how to get to the safest, most dominant positions you can be in a fight.

Be ready to get a great workout, feel empowered, and have fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that teaches you how to use your body to control another person. Unlike many traditional martial arts that focus on punches and kicks (such as karate, tae kwon do, etc.), Jiu Jitsu focuses on grappling or wrestling.

    The literal translation of Jiu Jitsu is the “gentle” or “yielding" art. Rather than meeting force with force, the promise of Jiu Jitsu is that you can use technical skill to defend yourself against someone who is stronger than you.

    It’s called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because the modern art as we practice it today was developed by a family from Brazil, known as the Gracie Family. The Gracies are the most famous martial arts family in the world, and are credited with revolutionizing our understanding of what works in a fight.

  • This club for women who want to learn how to fight. It is designed for beginners with no previous grappling or striking experience.

  • You will learn fundamental Jiu Jitsu skills such as how to control a person on the ground, how to escape when you’re being pinned, and how to make someone let go if they are holding onto you.

    You will become familiar with how to get to the safest, most dominant positions you can be in a fight.

    You will also learn fundamental striking and MMA skills, such as how to throw a punch, how to defend against strikes, and how to wrestle when you’re pushed up against a wall.

    Best of all, you will develop realistic combat skills without having to memorize any complicated steps. We use a beginner-friendly teaching approach where you learn by playing Jiu Jitsu and MMA “games.”

    You’ll have fun, get a great workout, and begin learning real fighting skills from day one.

  • Perfect! This club is specifically designed to be a supportive introduction for women who have never done any martial arts before and have zero prior Jiu Jitsu experience.

  • Bugeisha Club meets every Thursday at 6:00-7:00pm.

  • You can wear comfortable athletic clothing that you already own. Though you will not need a uniform for class, it is important to wear clothes that are suitable for grappling.

    We recommend a t-shirt on top (long sleeve or short sleeve is ok, but no sleeveless shirts or tank tops). Please make sure your top has full torso coverage (no chest exposure or bare midriffs). On bottom you can wear long leggings or pants.

    For safety, please make sure that your clothing does not have zippers, pockets, or buttons.

  • Kids may be present in the waiting area as long as they are able to sit quietly for the duration of the class.

  • Your first session of Bugeisha Club is free. After the first session, membership is $180/month to attend once per week. For additional flexibility, ask about our Punch Card option.

  • Join the club by completing a Bugeisha Club Application here. Applications are reviewed daily. We will reach out to you by text to confirm your first session.