Shimeru Judo & Jiu Jitsu Club
Adult Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Lake Elsinore
Train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Shimeru — gi, no-gi, basics, and competition classes for adults of every experience level. Carlson Gracie lineage, modern technique, and a beginner-friendly culture for anyone 13 and up.
Every Class Is Open to Every Member
From your first day at Shimeru, you have full access to every adult class on our schedule. Train when you want, train what you want. We'll always make a recommendation based on your goals — but the door is open from day one.
New to Jiu Jitsu
We recommend starting with our Basics program. You'll build foundational positions and specialized guards over two 10-week cycles, with handouts and flowcharts that map every technique. Once you're comfortable, jump into any class on the schedule.
Returning or Cross-Training
Drop into any of our standard daily classes. Wrestlers, judoka, MMA fighters, and former competitors find their footing fast. Gi, no-gi, technique, and live sparring built into every session.
Sharpening for Competition
Our competition class brings together students actively training for tournaments. Match-pace drilling, scenario-based situational sparring, and coaching tuned to the realities of the bracket.
Adult Jiu Jitsu Basics — Two 10-Week Cycles
Our Adult Jiu Jitsu Basics program is built for adults learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the first time, or returning to the mat after years away. The program runs in two 10-week cycles, taught back-to-back across the year:
- Cycle One — Foundational Positions: ten weeks, one position per week. Mount, side control, guard, half guard, back control, and the transitions between them.
- Cycle Two — Specialized Guards: ten weeks of guard study covering several closed guard variations (collar-sleeve, cross-grip, overhook), half guard, and the modern open guards shaping today's game (single leg X, X-guard, K-guard).
Every class breaks down the principles, goals, and strategies behind the topic, with printed study guides and flowcharts that show how each technique connects to the next. Students leave the cycle understanding not just what to do, but why it works and when to apply it.
Basics is the fastest way to build a real foundation in jiu jitsu. New students don't have to start with Basics — every class is open from day one — but those who do tell us it changed how they see and play the sport.
Why Train Adult BJJ at Shimeru
Carlson Gracie Pressure, Modern Application
Shimeru is a proud member of the Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Team — one of the most storied lineages in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Carlson Gracie was a foundational figure in the modern sport, and the team he built has produced generations of tough, technically sound competitors. Our head instructor trained under this lineage, and the same standard shows up in our adult classes today: positions are earned, defended, and recovered with intent. Pressure on top, hunting from the bottom.
We pair that foundation with the modern jiu jitsu shaping today's competitive game — the guards, sweeps, and systems that have evolved the sport over the past decade. The result is a curriculum that respects where the art came from and stays sharp on where it is going.
Beginner-Friendly, Built on Real Jiu Jitsu
More than half of our adult members started their first day with zero martial arts experience. Our coaches meet beginners where they are and bring them into the room at a sustainable pace — but make no mistake, the room they are coming into is real jiu jitsu. We train hard, we hunt submissions, and we hold every member to the same technical standard, white belt through black belt. You will get pushed. You will get better. And you will not get hurt because somebody forgot you were new.
Our Adult BJJ Class Types
Our adult schedule includes six distinct adult class types across the week. Members have full access to all of them. Live rolling is built into the end of nearly every class — even Basics features tightly controlled "sparring games" at a problem-solving pace, so beginners get real practice from day one. Open mat sessions are listed in the schedule below.
Gi Class
Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the kimono — the bedrock of our curriculum. Pressure passing, submissions, escapes, and the technical depth that comes from training with grips.
No-Gi Class
Submission grappling without the kimono. Led by Coach Jose, a dual jiu jitsu and judo black belt. Popular with members interested in MMA, modern submission grappling, or rounding out their game.
Basics Class
The structured beginner program — two 10-week cycles covering foundational positions and specialized guards, taught with handouts, flowcharts, and the problem-solving-pace sparring games that give beginners real practice without overwhelming them. Highly recommended for new students, but open to anyone revisiting fundamentals.
Competition Class
Tournament preparation for students with competition on their radar. Match-pace drilling, scenario-based situational sparring, and tactical coaching purpose-built for the bracket.
Q&A Fridays
Friday's 6:00 PM class is dedicated to BJJ Q&A — students bring specific questions, problems, or positions they want to work through, and the coaches address them on the spot. A great way to get one-on-one input on whatever you're stuck on.
Women's Class
A women-only training environment taught by Coach Bree on Friday afternoons. Open to all levels, age 13 and up. A great starting point for women new to grappling, or a complement to mixed classes.
Compete With Shimeru
You don't have to compete to train at Shimeru — most of our members never step on a tournament mat, and that's perfectly fine. But if competition is on your radar, our students are out there, and they're winning.
Our competition team is young and still growing, but the results already speak for themselves. Across recent tournaments, our adult competitors have averaged roughly a 70% match win rate — with podium finishes in the mix — and that number has been climbing as the team matures and gains shared experience together. We expect that trend to continue.
If competition is your goal, we'll prepare you. If it isn't, you'll roll alongside members who are training for it — and your jiu jitsu will sharpen as a result.
Adult BJJ Weekly Schedule
Early Morning: 5:00 AM · Tue / Thu
Morning: 9:00 AM · Mon / Wed / Fri
Evening: 6:00 PM & 6:45 PM · Mon–Fri
Late Evening: 7:30 PM · Tue / Thu
Q&A Fridays: The Friday 6:00 PM class is dedicated to student questions and position-specific coaching.
Open Mats: Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Adult BJJ classes alternate between gi, no-gi, basics, and competition formats throughout the week. Visit the full schedule for which class runs when.
Meet Your Coaches
Our adult BJJ program is led by Patrick Dooley and Jose Jimenez — two coaches with combined decades on the mat and the lineage that defines Shimeru jiu jitsu.
Patrick Dooley — Head Instructor
Patrick founded Shimeru in September 2021. He holds a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the Carlson Gracie team and a second-degree black belt in Judo, with more than 30 years of training and 10 years of dedicated teaching experience. As the head BJJ instructor, Patrick teaches the pressure-based fundamentals at the core of our curriculum and pairs them with the modern technique that keeps the program current.
Jose Jimenez — Head No-Gi Instructor
Jose holds the rare dual credential of a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and a Judo black belt. As Shimeru's primary no-gi instructor, he brings a throws-aware, technically deep approach to no-gi grappling — giving students real tools for submission grappling competition, MMA-style training, or simply rounding out their standup. If your focus is no-gi, Jose's class is one of the most technical on our schedule.
What Adult Members Say
★★★★★
“As someone who attended different gyms throughout SoCal, I can confirm that this is the most professional, caring, and friendly gym I have been to. The owner and instructors here are patient and really want to help you progress. The combinations of lessons and rolling are also amazing — you will definitely get a great workout. This is the perfect place if you are an experienced grappler (I was a college wrestler) and also a great place if you are completely brand new.”
— Fabian V.
★★★★★
“Coach Patrick is an incredible instructor and mentor — kind, knowledgeable, and professional. The atmosphere here is welcoming and fun. A great place to practice both arts of jiu jitsu and judo under one house. Can't ask for a better club.”
— Harrison N.
★★★★★
“From the first day I walked into the academy I was welcomed like family. The good vibes are always present here. Coming from a previous martial arts background, I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of instruction and attention everyone receives from Coach Patrick. Open mat days on Saturday and Sunday are super fun too.”
— Jeremy H.
Adult BJJ Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old to start jiu jitsu?
No. We have members in every decade of life from teenagers to people in their 60s. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a leverage-based art — technique outweighs strength, age, or athleticism. The earlier you start, the better. The second-best time is now.
Will I get hurt training BJJ?
Injury risk in jiu jitsu is low compared to most contact sports because there is no striking. The most common injuries are minor — jammed fingers, mat burn, occasional bruises. Serious injuries are rare and usually preventable. We train on professional Dollamur tatami mats with a spring-loaded subfloor that absorbs impact, and our coaches are vigilant about pairing students appropriately.
Do I need to be in shape before I start?
No. Showing up is the only prerequisite. Your conditioning will catch up faster than you think — a few weeks of consistent training will do more for your fitness than months of solo gym work. Don't let "getting in shape first" keep you off the mat.
What's the difference between gi and no-gi?
The gi is the traditional kimono uniform, with grips, lapels, and pants that become tools you can use and that opponents can use against you. No-gi removes the gi entirely — you train in a rashguard and shorts, and the game becomes faster, slicker, and more grip-fight focused. Many of our members train both. Gi develops technical depth; no-gi develops speed and adaptability.
What should I expect on my first class?
Arrive 10 minutes early, sign in, and be paired with a friendly partner. The class begins with a warm-up, moves into technique instruction, drills the technique, and ends with optional live rolling. As a new student, you are not expected to spar on day one — you can sit out the rolling and watch, or you can roll lightly with a coach or experienced student who will guide you. Most new members tell us their first class flew by.
How long does it take to earn a blue belt?
Blue belt is the second adult belt rank in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, awarded for genuine technical proficiency. For very consistent practitioners, blue belt typically comes after about a year and a half of training — though the path varies based on how often you train, your prior background, and your technical growth. Some take longer, some come up faster. We don't rush belts, and we don't slow them down either.
I trained years ago — can I jump back in?
Yes, and you'd be surprised how much your body remembers. Returning students often feel rusty for a week or two, then snap back into form. We have several long-time members who came back after layoffs of 5, 10, even 15 years. The mat welcomes you back.
Do I have to compete?
No. Competition is entirely optional. The vast majority of our adult members never compete, and they get every benefit of training that competitors do — better fitness, real self-defense skill, friendships, and mental clarity. Compete only if you want to.
What's the youngest age you accept in adult classes?
We accept anyone 13 and up in our adult classes. Younger teenagers benefit from training alongside adults — the technique is the same, the maturity level rises, and they grow up around mentors. Parents are welcome to observe their teenager's first class.
Step on the Mat
The hardest part of starting jiu jitsu is walking through the door the first time. Book your free week, come meet the team, and see why adults across Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Wildomar, and Murrieta have made Shimeru their home.
Shimeru Judo & Jiu Jitsu Club · 17600 Collier Ave, Suite A-111, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 · (951) 400-5456
Interested in Shimeru?
Thanks for reaching out! We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- The Shimeru Team
