Empire Jiu Jitsu

2356 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA

(77 reviews)

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Old school Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu taught by Kurt Osiander and Jake Scovel in San Francisco's Mission District in California

https://www.empirebjj.com/

(415) 658-7520

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Reviews

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Amber Abbey

Great coaches and community 👏 👌

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Chris Cutrona

I'm new to jiu jitsu and have been taking the Basics class 2x per week for the last few months. The Basic's instructor, John, is excellent and the instruction is technical and at a good pace for beginners. It's a nice combination of building a strong foundation and learning new moves. Starting from zero a few months ago, I've seen a lot of improvement and am excited to continue at Empire.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Tomas Rios

Empire is a great gym to train at. I've been doing jiu-jitsu for about 7 years in a few different places/cities. Empire has very high level instruction, great training partners, and a big space. Would recommend to anyone at any level.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Bryan Nesfeder

What a great drop-in experience! Folks made me feel very welcome, amazing hospitality and a great vibe at the gym. Awesome instruction from Jake and great rounds from everyone I rolled with. Thanks Jake and everyone from Empire BJJ, see you again next time I’m in SF.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Gnome Chomsky

No bowing to deceased Gracie’s who’s portraits adorn the walls. No calling upper belts sensei. If you got your blue belt from Renner’s online Gracie Jiu Jitsu University… you should probably not wear it here. The head instructor is the real deal and his game runs deep…but the students who train here are also 11/10. Simply put; this academy is an intense yet acquired taste…that once you get used to…. you won’t be able to live without. Cheers

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Monaem Bejaoui

Jake is a really technical and cool Professor plus the vibes are excellent.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Callum McGeeney

I have trained BJJ at many gyms around the world over the past 8 years, but without a doubt have never met anyone with the passion or enthusiasm that Jake has for the art. Whether your goal is competition or just recreation you will recieve world class instruction in all areas of Jiu Jitsu. The wrestling class on Tuesday taught by John is also an excellent class, with a key focus on using wrestling within the context of Jiu Jitsu which has helped me develop my game a lot! The people are great and there is a good mix of belts/weights across the gym for both men and women, which can be hard to find at other gyms! Everyone wants to help each other get better! The facility is excellent and cleanliness is taken very seriously. The gym is cleaned regularly and the mats are swept and sanitised after every single class. I can't reccomend it enough! Go train 🤙

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Jon Chiu

Old school jiu jitsu club / culture. Modern techniques and instruction.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Gabriela Posla

Great dojo, strong community and very cool must girls that trained here are superior belts. Honestly I feel very help instructed and told welcoming energy from empire community. Jake was great, it was very clear and easy learning techniques.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Min Fang

Fantastic place to train jiu jitsu with a strong community. Great for complete beginners, experts and everyone in between. You'll get top notch instruction, challenging rolls and an awesome workout if you come here.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Vighnesh Vijay

Empire Jiu Jitsu is a really great place to train. The mats are always packed with good training partners and coach Jake is a fantastic instructor. All the moves are broken down clearly and concisely for beginners. Gi(beginners and advanced), No-Gi, and wrestling are all offered.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Szymon Marciniewicz

It's been almost a year since I joined, and will stay a member for as long as I'm in this city. Jake is great, training is awesome, and people are very welcoming. 100% recommend!

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Elmer Barrera

good training with good people. this is the place to challenge yourself and grow as a jiu jitsu practitioner plus the alkaline water dispenser is A1

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Isaac Sherbin

Serious place with nice people. Started training here in early-2022, looking for a good workout and found much more. The training is serious but Jake is incredibly knowledgeable and the higher belts are eager to help new folks. No matter your fitness or experience level, the training is fun, challenging and if you're gonna get put in a choke-hold, you won't find nicer people to teach you how to put the next guy in one!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Brandon Cheung

Jake is an excellent teacher. No question about it. He tailors his instruction to different students' learning abilities and loves jiu jitsu. I joined Empire as a purple belt, and I noticed a dramatic improvement in my technique in training and performance in competition. Jake works very hard and cares a lot about his students. The Empire jiu jitsu team is an excellent group of men and women who enjoy working hard, but also appreciate each other as teammates. I look forward to going to practice every day because I get to improve myself alongside some great friends!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Eymon Wong

Best place to train Jiu Jitsu. Coach Jake is super helpful and will always explain techniques in great detail, and their concepts behind them. Everyone in the gym is extremely friendly and will always help each other out.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Nick Stathas

Empire is a really fun learning environment and community. People train hard and help each other get better. I’ve been training here for 4 months now and I highly recommend it.

Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Aza Tulepbergenov

Empire is a good place to train. An opportunity to learn from many experienced and high level athletes.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Zachary Lee-Ho

This is a great gym! High level instruction and great training partners with a brotherhood vibe. It has a good mix of serious competitors and weekend warriors. I highly recommend Jake and Empire Jiu-jitsu.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Mena Gobran

Awesome gym with great people and great vibes! I always leave feeling like I’ve learned something. Highly recommend!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Wei-Jien Tan

I found everyone to be very welcoming and the instruction highly technical (which I appreciated). There's a good mix of hobbyists, beginners and higher-level competitors.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Yi Pan

Been training at Empire Jiu-Jitsu for three months. If you are in the SF area, this gym is among the best. It is purely focusing on the art itself and has a very strong, passionate, and warm group of peers.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Jihone Du

Great gym overall. Instructor has an extremely technical approach and does a great job communicating specific details. Community and culture of the gym is very positive.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Donald Herendeen

Has been a great place to train as a beginner. Jake will stop drills if people are performing them incorrectly and take time to make sure we are building a good base. The students are helpful and will let me know how I could be doing a movement better or be in a better position.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Eugene Shearer

Great place, starting jiu jitsu not knowing anything can be very intimidating but Jake provides a friendly and safe atmosphere to learn. Jake and even all the students are very knowledgeable and skillful. The gym lives up to it’s reputation.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Donald Allum

Started going here in September 2021 knowing nothing about jiu jitsu and haven’t stopped. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and it’s really easy to become integrated into the team. Jake is a super technical practitioner and explains concepts at an atomic level so all can understand. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Shannon Eva Labuschagne

I've been practicing BJJ for five years and was looking for a good gym to join after I moved to SF. The community was so welcoming and friendly, and I love getting to train and roll with other women. The instruction is thoughtful, detail oriented, and builds on basic principles of movement. It has really helped me refine how I train and learn concepts. Each class includes plenty of time to drill and roll. The schedule has plenty of classes so it is easy to pop in throughout the week. If you're looking to join a gym or for a place to drop into, I can't recommend Empire enough.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Sue Yee Chen

I dropped in while visiting SF for an open mat Everyone was really friendly and welcoming. The training environment was really thoughtful, with lots of dedicated drilling and troubleshooting time.

Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Ashir Aseesh Borah

Just had my first class today and it was an amazing experience. BJJ is hard so it's nice to have people who are encouraging. Totally going back

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Ramin Ettehad

Top Notch "Full Stack" Technique for high level black belts on down to beginner white belts. Empire has a focus on only the cleanest and most proficient technique blended with a room full of athletes who want to take their bjj to the next level.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
Michael Orciga

Empire is dope. I’ve been going for a little over 3-4 years now, and its been a huge part of my life for awhile now. I came in mad awkward and scared to talk to people I didn’t know, I was welcomed like I’ve been going for years. Now I’m slightly less awkward! It’s great for beginners, people will take the time out to invest in your jiu jitsu and you. There’s a bunch of fundamentals classes throughout the week where you learn the basic movements and concepts needed for the sport, then hop into the evenings/ nogi/ wrestling classes when you feel ready. Jake, the head instructor has a very unique way of explaining things and I think he does a great job of explaining why you’re doing something. He also places an emphasis on body structure and the importance of proper posture, engagement of the muscles, etc so that you don’t get hurt. There is tough training, it’ll challenge you, but that’s where the growth happens right? You’ll learn that your capable of some awesome things if you just show the dedication that’s required in the sport, and make some lifelong homies.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
Danny Leung

Jake and Kurt are excellent instructors. There are morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend classes to fit any schedule. If you are a beginner they will take their time with you. The other students are also very willing to show you the ropes. For those who are looking for a new academy after moving to the area; this is it. The level of instruction and details in training are not matched in the city. This is where you will push passed your plateaus and get better.

Instructors Classes Location
Posted 4 years ago
Sophie De Champlain

This place is amazing. I trained here for about a week, while travelling. I learned so much!

Instructors Location Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Justin Eagan

The instructors are amazing and the facility is super clean.

Instructors Facility
Posted 5 years ago
Benjamin Russack

Best jujitsu in the universe!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Alexander Mercado

As a traveling blue belt, Professor Jake welcomed me onto the mats and even rolled with me. Empire has a strong competitive style. Jake explains concepts and not just techniques. They're all about drilling and getting rounds in. For the evening class, rounds kept going until everyone was done. The mats are cleaned before every class and after the last one. They got showers too! Will visit again when I'm in town.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Zach Adamson

Legendary Jiu Jitsu school in the heart of SF! Go see Jake and Kurt ASAP!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
Kuba Siemiątkowski

Best Jiu Jitsu place in SF hands down.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
Ben Fabrikant

I had an hour long private with Kurt. He's one of a kind! This has to be one of if not THE best places to train in the city.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Vitali Barkouski

Best bjj place. They have showers too. If you visiting the city go here

Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
James Markle

Kurt and Jake are some of the most passionate people on the planet about BJJ, every time I get a chance to make it to the Bay you will find me here training!

Instructors Location Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Denis

Fantastic environment with great training partners and tarrific instruction! Friendly, technical and fun training. Highly recommended!!!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Danik Mallet

Great place to train

Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Ralph Bautista

Full of good vibes, fun environment, excellent world class instructors & always great training sessions.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Kyle Kelly-Yahner

Kurt and Jake are stellar instructors committed to improving your game, and having fun while doing it.

Instructors
Posted 8 years ago
stuart

Just took my first class for Jiu Jitsu ever here and let me just say while it is extremely humbling, you will not leave feeling stupid. Everyone I met was extremely friendly and willing to help and teach. I cannot speak about other places or instructors but god damn they seem amazing here. I can't speak highly enough about my experience. You will leave tired but wanting to come back the next day. Just do it, don't think about it as you will not regret it.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Brian Riggsbee

excellent teachers and students train at this new school with an old vibe. It’s da best

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Michael Lewis

Kurt is the man

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Hang Ea

Awesome place to hone your Bjj skills. Kurt and Jake are the best in the business!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Sergei Barilov

This is great school, and it's instructors are what makes it so good.

Instructors
Posted 8 years ago
Kat

Choosing a rating for this place is really difficult. In short, the people are great (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐). The physical space itself is in poor condition & operationally things seem a bit lost (⭐⭐). Prices listed at the end. I came in for the first class free trial, and didn't realize I was joining a cohort who had all already been training for ~6 weeks. The website didn't mention this. Even though we were out of place, there were two people (students or trainers, not sure) who were very accommodating to my partner & I, individually coaching us on some basic moves. This kind of saved the evening & we both had a lot of fun. Unfortunately the gym itself is VERY dirty, the front areas are cluttered with random things to the point that it is difficult just to get around. The changing rooms in the back are not cared for. There is what looks like several months of dust caked on in places. It's difficult to put your own things down since the storage cubby is full of random loose items.. Including a used electric shaver with hairs. There is an ammonia-like smell like a cat's litter box when you walk into the changing areas. The mat area is small so you have to be careful about bumping into each other. There is no ventilation, which is tough for doing this kind of exercise. It's hot & muggy. Good candidate for testing a CO2 monitor. Overall, I would love to go back if the space were clean, had ventilation, and website / course info more organized. As of August 2023: $170/month for 2 classes a week $200/month for 3 classes a week a flat $300 for 10 classes, to be redeemed whenever $220/month for unlimited classes

Instructors Facility Classes Pricing Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago