Atos Jiu Jitsu HQ

Why it made the list

Few places in the world carry the weight of Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ. Atos was founded in Brazil in 2008 by Ramon Lemos and Andre Galvão, and it has been headquartered in San Diego since 2010; today its schools operate in more than 20 countries, and the team has repeatedly won team titles at the sport’s biggest championships. The head coach is Galvão himself — an IBJJF Hall of Famer whose résumé includes six IBJJF World titles and six ADCC World titles, widely regarded as one of the greatest competitors in both gi and no-gi.

Training here means learning from the source. Galvão and a deep bench of black-belt instructors teach fundamentals and advanced classes in gi and no-gi, and his wife, World No-Gi Champion Angelica Galvão, leads a large and well-known women’s-only program. Atos also runs a respected kids’ program that has produced champions from the youngest divisions up. Yet the academy welcomes hobbyists as warmly as world-title contenders.

Best for

Anyone who wants to learn from a living legend — from complete beginners to aspiring world champions — plus women seeking a dedicated program and families with competitive kids.

Good to know

Atos HQ is on Mercury Street in Kearny Mesa. The team also offers an on-demand video platform for students who want to study technique at home.