No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling in Vacaville, CA
Solano County's only dedicated No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling academy. Modern, research-backed coaching for adults and kids — fast-paced, supportive, and ego-free. Your first class is free.
From first-timers to competitors and kids — there's a class built for exactly where you are.
No-Gi · Submission Grappling
Adult Grappling
All levels · 14+
No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and foundational wrestling in a fast-paced, high-energy format. Beginners to competitors welcome.
Kids No-Gi
Youth Grappling
Ages 7 – 13
Submission grappling, no-gi Jiu-Jitsu, and beginner wrestling for kids — building confidence, focus, and self-defense in a fun, supportive setting.
How we train
How We Train — The Constraint-Led Approach
Most gyms hand you a technique and ask you to memorize it. We do it differently. Vacaville Grappling Academy teaches with the Constraint-Led Approach (CLA), a modern, research-backed method built on ecological dynamics. Instead of rote repetition, we design live games and constraints that let you discover what works for your body against a resisting partner. The result is grappling that's adaptable, intuitive, and ready for the real thing — not just the drilling line.
01
Learn by doing
Skill is built through live resistance and movement problem-solving, so what you learn actually holds up when someone fights back.
02
Adaptable, not rigid
We prioritize self-organization and real-time decision-making over fixed step-by-step patterns — you build solutions, not scripts.
03
Faster, stickier progress
Variability and game-based training keep every rep meaningful, so beginners ramp quickly and experienced grapplers keep sharpening.
Here's a member describing it in his own words:
I like the style you use here because it lets me use my analytical and critical thinking to reach a goal, rather than being told do this, now this, now this. It's like a moving puzzle — almost like learning a new language.
Spencer & LoganAdult program · Air Force veteran, trains with his son
Constraint-Led Approach · Ecological coaching
About
Why train at Vacaville Grappling Academy
Vacaville Grappling Academy is Solano County's only academy dedicated entirely to No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling. We're a home for youth and adults at every skill level — complete beginners, returning athletes, and competitors alike — and we're especially proud of how welcoming the room is to women and students of all ages. Founded and led by Coach Nick, a U.S. Air Force veteran and longtime Vacaville resident, the academy is built around getting you real, functional skill you can use for fitness, self-defense, and competition. What sets us apart is how we teach: instead of drilling rigid technique patterns, we use the Constraint-Led Approach — a modern, research-backed method that builds adaptability and real-time decision-making through live problem-solving on the mat. Classes are fast-paced and high-energy, with technical breakdowns, realistic pressure drills, and live rolling every session. Come see why so many people in Vacaville train here — your first class is on us.
I learn something new every day. I was never into any kind of combat sport, and it lit a fire in me — it gives me a sense of purpose and a new outlook on life.
DavidAdult program · 4 competitions, 3 golds
Coaches
Learn from people who care
Coach Nick Hernandez
Brown Belt
Owner and head coach. Nick is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a part of the Vacaville community since 2009, with a deep passion for health and physical fitness.
Schedule
Weekly class schedule
Pick the class you want to try — tap any session below and we'll hold your spot.
Foundation No-Gi / All Levels
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Gallery
Life on the mats
Real training, real people. Tap any photo to take a closer look.
In their own words
Hear it from our students
Not our marketing — theirs. Real members of Vacaville Grappling Academy on what training here has actually
been like.
I want my kids to learn self-defense, because a sport like grappling teaches life skills — skills you can use across your life, and can even be life-saving.
LindseyAdult program · her kids train here too
It's fun, and we get to make friends, and it's a good workout and sport.
JTYouth program · 2–3 competitions
It can make you stronger.
IsaacYouth program · six competitions
FAQ
Questions, answered
New to training? Here's everything you need to know before your first class.
I've never grappled before — can I start?
Absolutely. Most people who walk in have zero experience. Classes are beginner-friendly and the room is supportive and ego-free. Your first class is free, so there's no risk in trying it.
What is no-gi grappling?
No-gi means we train without the traditional kimono/gi — just a rash guard and shorts. It's fast, dynamic submission grappling that blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling, and it's very effective for fitness and self-defense.
Do you have classes for kids?
Yes — our Youth Grappling program is for ages 7 to 13 and focuses on confidence, focus, and self-defense in a fun, safe environment.
Where are you located?
310 E Monte Vista Ave #B, Vacaville, CA 95688 — the only dedicated no-gi and submission grappling academy in Solano County.
Contact
Come train with us
Questions before your first class? Reach out — we're happy to help.
No experience and no gi needed — just come ready to move. Walk in, train a full class with us, and see whether this room is for you. No contract, no pressure.
I'm a police officer and I want to be able to protect myself better. And it's fun — it's a good workout.
JordanAdult program · police officer and parent
✓
You're in!
We'll reach out shortly to get you booked for your first free class. See you on the mats.
