The atmosphere here is respectful and focused, but also supportive and friendly. There's a strong sense of community — no egos, just people who want to learn and improve together. The classes are well-structured, with a good balance of drilling, technique, and live sparring. They also offer classes for all levels, including kids and beginners, which speaks to their dedication to making Jiu Jitsu accessible for everyone.
This place was supposed to be shut down after the original gym owner suffered a terrible health situation in his personal life. The city of Canby almost lost a whole gym/community
Then a guy named Owen and his family decided to step up and change the gym into a non profit and renamed it Canby BJJ.
It is now home to so many jiu jitsu practioners and the city has a gem of a community to come train and learn at.
Owen and his wife Leah didn’t just stop there though.
They have completely renovated the space with new paint, new mats with springs, and rebranded the gym to represent the city!
They then proceeded to hire two of the best jiujitsu practitioners in the region to lead the program as head coaches, Charlie Gilpin and Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin. If you google them individually you will see their accolades and how deep their passion is for the sport. They are well recognized and respected in the community and I wouldn’t want my child to train anywhere else if I lived in the neighborhood.
This place is special. Thankful to have found this place.
Canby Jiu Jitsu is great for anyone regardless of age or skillset. The coaches have created a welcoming environment where children and adults can thrive. Maria and Charlie are black belts known throughout the Jiu Jitsu community as the most kind and caring people. Maria is a world class athlete that shares her dedication to the sport and love for teaching kids. Her husband Charlie, a well known competitor, referee and coach, shares her dedication to the kids and families of the gym. Together this duo lead an environment of growth, discipline, and fun.
Currently, kids from all across the Pacific Northwest come in to learn from Charlie and Maria. The gym has an open training policy for both kids and adults and anyone is welcome to drop in.
The children's program is focused on self empowerment, exercise, fun, and social interaction all while receiving top notch Jiu Jitsu instruction. The Kids can be seen gathering attentively to hear of the daily technique being taught, as well as smiling and laughing with Games that help develop body mechanics and self esteem.
The adults program is a welcoming community of people from all facets of life and all areas of Oregon. Folks come from all over to train with Charlie and Maria as well as a host of high level guest coaches.
This gym is very unique as the owners are striving to curate a culture where anyone can train, even if he or she is a member of another gym. Just pop in and say high and you will find the gym you have been looking for!
Maria and Charlie Gilpin are truly world-class—not just in their impressive Jiu-Jitsu accomplishments, but in the way they carry themselves and care for their students. They bring a rare combination of elite skill, humility, and genuine kindness that sets them apart both on and off the mats. Their passion for teaching, coaching, and mentoring is evident in everything they do. Canby Jiu-Jitsu is incredibly fortunate to have them—Maria and Charlie are an absolute asset to the gym and the community. Highly recommend!
I can’t say enough things about Canby Jujitsu. Owen and Leah have really made this place a home for my son. He feels comfortable, happy, excited to come to class and most of all safe. Safe to be himself, have fun, learn and know that all of the coaches are there to help him be successful. All of the coaches have been so kind, patient and over all are just amazing people. Not only is my child learning how to defend himself, protect others but he’s learning life long lessons and making friends that he will take with him into the future. He goes every day knowing “practice makes good, no one is perfect”. Highly recommended this gym.
Owen and Leah are great to have taken over the gym….I’ve been really impressed with how it’s been going!! I wouldn’t want to take my son anywhere else!!
It is an amazing gym, everyone is super friendly and amazing. Kids program is awesome they have lots of fun and learn great jiu-jitsu techniques. Adults class is really good. We all get a great workout. Canby jiu jitsu is great for anyone and everyone
This gym is awesome. The instructors are super knowledgeable. The atmosphere is amazing. Everyone’s extremely supportive and encouraging. My kids (7 and 9) had so much fun with Owen and the rest of the coaches. Just absolutely incredible!
The community is welcoming, fostering a sense of camaraderie among students. I’ve met some amazing people and feel motivated every time I step onto the mat. If you’re looking for a place to train, learn, and grow in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Canby Jiu Jitsu is the perfect choice. Cowabunga !
This has been a wonderful place for my kids to continue their Jiu Jitsu experience. The coaching is high quality and interactive; the atmosphere is positive; and my kids enjoy coming here.
Although still in its infancy, Canby Jiu Jitsu is quickly growing to be a destination for Canby. Canby Jiu Jitsu is great for anyone regardless of age or skillset. The coaches have created a welcoming environment where children and adults can thrive.
The children's program is focused on self empowerment, exercise, fun, and social interaction all while receiving top notch Jiu Jitsu instruction. The Kids can be seen gathering attentively to hear of the daily technique being taught, as well as smiling and laughing with Games that help develop body mechanics and self esteem.
This gym is very unique as the owners are striving to curate a culture where anyone can train, even if he or she is a member of another gym. Just pop in and say high and you will find the gym you have been looking for!
I has been hearing great things about this gym and was genuinely looking forward to checking it out. Unfortunately, I had a negative interaction with someone from this gym, only to later find out she’s one of the coaches, Maria. It was disappointing to see that kind of poor attitude from someone representing Canby. What’s more concerning is that she holds a teaching and leadership position—someone in that role should be setting a positive example, not displaying rude or unprofessional behavior. First impressions matter, and based on this experience, I’ve decided to look elsewhere.
