Praia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Western Science Center, 1125 Victoria St, Ste T, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
About
Praia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, NoGi, Kickboxing, Strength & Conditioning, Muay Thai (pads only, no contact), fitness and agility games, team challenges, games, and sparring in both gi and NoGi. The program also includes a women’s Jiu-Jitsu option, a kids’ competition class, and the Baby Sharks kids’ Jiu-Jitsu program. Praia Summer Camp combines martial arts, fitness, and games, and no prior martial arts experience is required for the camp.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Praia Summer Camp 2026 Week 1 runs Monday, July 13, 2026, to Friday, July 17, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with optional after care from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM offered as a weekly option.
• Price: Full week camp (9:00 AM–1:00 PM) is $350; single day is $100; enrolling for the full week instead of five single days saves $150; sibling discount is 15% off siblings in the same household for the same week; optional after care is $75 per child per week.
Praia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was founded in 2019 and is described as Costa Mesa’s premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy and Costa Mesa’s home for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and martial arts. The environment is described as fun, safe, supportive, family-friendly, and a safe space for beginners, with more than 30 classes per week. Students range from 3-year-olds in the Baby Sharks program to experienced competitors training for IBJJF Worlds, and many coaches are active competitors.
The leadership team includes Founder and Head Coach Professor Thiago Pierre, Professor Junior, Professor Andy Meneghetti, Judo Head Coach and kids’ jiu-jitsu assistant coach Sensei Gabriel Silva, and Coach Chase Duquette. Professor Thiago Pierre is a Checkmat Black Belt under Leo Vieira with over 20 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience, American Nationals No-Gi Champion, No-Gi Worlds medalist, UAEJJ LA Grand Slam Silver Medalist, and a multiple IBJJF Open medalist, and he is a Certified Athletic Coach, Personal Trainer, and Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Professor Junior began martial arts at age 7, is the son of a former Muay Thai world champion, and is described as a 3x IBJJF World Champion, including IBJJF NoGi World Champion and IBJJF Pan American Champion. Professor Andy Meneghetti is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Mario Reis, and Sensei Gabriel Silva is a dedicated CrossFit athlete and coach in addition to his Judo and kids’ jiu-jitsu coaching roles.
Praia BJJ states that it was built on the belief that martial arts should be for everyone and describes itself as more than a gym, calling Praia a family that is there to help every student grow in skill, confidence, and character on and off the mat. The name “Praia,” which means “beach” in Portuguese, is described as capturing the essence of the Orange County lifestyle and the program’s connection to the Costa Mesa community. The gym atmosphere is described as friendly, providing beginners a safe space while challenging experienced athletes to grow, and high-level talent is brought in regularly for seminars.
The program offers a free first class and private one-on-one lessons for both kids and adults. Expert coaching is described for kids ages 3+ and adults 14+ in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and NoGi, and kids’ martial arts programs are described as building confidence, discipline, and essential life skills in a fun, safe environment that promotes growth and resilience. Adult programs are described as being for all experience levels in a supportive and challenging environment.
For Praia Summer Camp, families are asked to send a packed lunch, water bottle, and small snack, and kids are asked to wear a rashguard or T-shirt with workout or soccer shorts without pockets or zippers. A Praia Summer Camp T-shirt is included, uniforms (gis) are not included but are available for purchase, and fruits and water are provided daily; lunch is not provided. After care includes supervised free play, light games, stretching, and quiet activities in a safe environment. For trial classes, kids can wear regular workout clothes and bring water, and loaner gis are available if needed.
Praia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reports a 5.0-star Google rating with 90+ Google reviews. One parent, Nahal K., describes Coach Thiago as caring, kind, and dedicated to the kids and says both of her girls have loved training there for three years. Another parent, Nicole Fielder, shares that her daughter and husband both train at Praia and that her daughter, who was bullied at school, has grown her confidence and that Praia feels like a second family. Other reviewers describe the culture, coaching, and community, including kids training with world champions and Judo with Sensei Gabriel, and mention that the gym is their favorite among places they have visited in the U.S.
Last updated April 4, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Praia Summer Camp 2026 Week 1 runs Monday, July 13, 2026, to Friday, July 17, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with optional after care from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM offered as a weekly option.
• Price: Full week camp (9:00 AM–1:00 PM) is $350; single day is $100; enrolling for the full week instead of five single days saves $150; sibling discount is 15% off siblings in the same household for the same week; optional after care is $75 per child per week.
Praia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was founded in 2019 and is described as Costa Mesa’s premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy and Costa Mesa’s home for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and martial arts. The environment is described as fun, safe, supportive, family-friendly, and a safe space for beginners, with more than 30 classes per week. Students range from 3-year-olds in the Baby Sharks program to experienced competitors training for IBJJF Worlds, and many coaches are active competitors.
The leadership team includes Founder and Head Coach Professor Thiago Pierre, Professor Junior, Professor Andy Meneghetti, Judo Head Coach and kids’ jiu-jitsu assistant coach Sensei Gabriel Silva, and Coach Chase Duquette. Professor Thiago Pierre is a Checkmat Black Belt under Leo Vieira with over 20 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience, American Nationals No-Gi Champion, No-Gi Worlds medalist, UAEJJ LA Grand Slam Silver Medalist, and a multiple IBJJF Open medalist, and he is a Certified Athletic Coach, Personal Trainer, and Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Professor Junior began martial arts at age 7, is the son of a former Muay Thai world champion, and is described as a 3x IBJJF World Champion, including IBJJF NoGi World Champion and IBJJF Pan American Champion. Professor Andy Meneghetti is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Mario Reis, and Sensei Gabriel Silva is a dedicated CrossFit athlete and coach in addition to his Judo and kids’ jiu-jitsu coaching roles.
Praia BJJ states that it was built on the belief that martial arts should be for everyone and describes itself as more than a gym, calling Praia a family that is there to help every student grow in skill, confidence, and character on and off the mat. The name “Praia,” which means “beach” in Portuguese, is described as capturing the essence of the Orange County lifestyle and the program’s connection to the Costa Mesa community. The gym atmosphere is described as friendly, providing beginners a safe space while challenging experienced athletes to grow, and high-level talent is brought in regularly for seminars.
The program offers a free first class and private one-on-one lessons for both kids and adults. Expert coaching is described for kids ages 3+ and adults 14+ in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and NoGi, and kids’ martial arts programs are described as building confidence, discipline, and essential life skills in a fun, safe environment that promotes growth and resilience. Adult programs are described as being for all experience levels in a supportive and challenging environment.
For Praia Summer Camp, families are asked to send a packed lunch, water bottle, and small snack, and kids are asked to wear a rashguard or T-shirt with workout or soccer shorts without pockets or zippers. A Praia Summer Camp T-shirt is included, uniforms (gis) are not included but are available for purchase, and fruits and water are provided daily; lunch is not provided. After care includes supervised free play, light games, stretching, and quiet activities in a safe environment. For trial classes, kids can wear regular workout clothes and bring water, and loaner gis are available if needed.
Praia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reports a 5.0-star Google rating with 90+ Google reviews. One parent, Nahal K., describes Coach Thiago as caring, kind, and dedicated to the kids and says both of her girls have loved training there for three years. Another parent, Nicole Fielder, shares that her daughter and husband both train at Praia and that her daughter, who was bullied at school, has grown her confidence and that Praia feels like a second family. Other reviewers describe the culture, coaching, and community, including kids training with world champions and Judo with Sensei Gabriel, and mention that the gym is their favorite among places they have visited in the U.S.
Last updated April 4, 2026.
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