Jiu-Jitsu in Manteca — discipline, growth, and community. An IBJJF-certified BJJ academy where you find your own game, by any means. Start with a free 3-day trial.
From first-timers to competitors and kids — there's a class built for exactly where you are.
Kids BJJ
Preschool Jiu-Jitsu
Ages 3 – 6
Our youngest age group and a great time to start your child's Jiu-Jitsu journey. Games and exercises that build basic movement and the foundational values of Jiu-Jitsu.
Kids BJJ
Kids Jiu-Jitsu
Ages 7 – 9
Builds on the foundation with additional techniques and skills, emphasizing self-discipline, responsibility, and physical development.
Kids & Teens BJJ
Youth Jiu-Jitsu
Ages 10 – 13
The bridge to adult training — developing sparring skills, technical foundations, teamwork, and self-control.
BJJ · Gi & No-Gi
Teen / Adult Jiu-Jitsu
Teens & adults · all levels
Structured classes for all levels, from first-day beginners to competitors — Gi and No-Gi, with a Foundation track and All Level training.
How we train
The Constraint-Led Approach
Our teaching style avoids anything robotic. Instead of drilling techniques in a vacuum, students learn through hands-on training and live rounds — and we serve as the navigator and game designer while you solve real problems against real partners. We play Jiu-Jitsu as much as possible so you can find your own game. That idea is where the name comes from: Al first tested it with his own daughter, training her for a full year through the Constraint-Led Approach — no new moves, just problem-solving through live rounds — until she found her own way to win. By Any Means: however you need to get there, we'll help you find the way.
01
Live rounds, every day
Students practice live rounds with guidance each step of the way — you discover what works for your body against real resistance, not memorized patterns.
02
We're the navigator
Through the Constraint-Led Approach, coaches design the games and guide you through them, letting you find where you thrive and your game within the game.
03
Better athletes, better people
Everything we do — from our hands-on approach to our community investment — is about helping students become better athletes and, more importantly, better people.
About
Why train at By Any Means Jiu-Jitsu
Welcome to By Any Means Jiu-Jitsu, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Manteca, CA built to push boundaries and help you work on yourself. We provide hands-on experience to help build better people and a wholesome community. Every day, students practice live rounds with our guidance each step of the way — we help you find where you can thrive and discover your game within the game.
Founded by Al Lagura, a USBJJF Certified Black Belt, we're proud to be an IBJJF-Certified Academy — recognized by the leading organization for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu worldwide, which gives our students access to compete in official IBJJF-sanctioned events. But we're more than just a gym. Our goal is to transform lives through the lessons Jiu-Jitsu has to offer. Students improve physically, mentally, and emotionally through the work they do on the mat and at our group-bonding events. Whether your goals are fitness, self-defense, competition, or personal growth, we'll help you get there. Let's grow together — By Any Means.
A coach who invests in how you learn
At By Any Means Jiu-Jitsu, our coaches are serious about being the best they can be — so they've
joined a community of forward-thinking coaches, led by Greg Souders, who train with the
constraints-led approach: a modern, games-based method grounded in
motor-learning science. You learn by solving real problems on the mat — and build skill faster.
Founder & head coach. Al didn't start on the mats — he started on the track, competing as a racecar driver for two decades and learning what it means to perform under pressure. Then Jiu-Jitsu found him. After 15+ years of training he earned his black belt under the IBJJF (USBJJF Certified). In 2024 he rebuilt the academy around one idea: let people find their own game. He tested it first by training his own daughter for a full year through the Constraint-Led Approach — no new moves, just problem-solving through live rounds — until she found her own way to win. That experience became the gym: By Any Means.
J
Joe
Coach. Part of the By Any Means coaching team — known by students and families for doing a great job teaching and being patient while helping every student advance to the next level.
I
Isaiah
Coach. Part of the By Any Means coaching team — patient, encouraging, and invested in helping each student grow on and off the mats.
Schedule
Weekly class schedule
Find a class that fits your week. New students and drop-ins always welcome.
Little Grapplers Foundation Open Mat No-Gi / All Levels
Monday
6:00 AMFoundation (Gi/No-Gi)
9:30 – 10:15 AMLevel 0 (All Ages)
4:00 – 4:30 PMPreschool Level 1Ages 3–6
4:30 – 5:15 PMKids Level 1Ages 7–9
4:30 – 5:15 PMYouth Level 1Ages 10–13
5:15 – 6:15 PMYouth Level 2 (Gi)
6:30 PMFoundation Teen/Adult (Gi/No-Gi)
7:30 PMAll Level (Gi/No-Gi)
Tuesday
4:00 – 4:30 PMPreschool Level 1Ages 3–6
4:30 – 5:15 PMKids Level 1Ages 7–9
4:30 – 5:15 PMYouth Level 1Ages 10–13
5:15 – 6:15 PMYouth Level 2 (No-Gi)
6:30 PMFoundation Teen/Adult (No-Gi)
7:30 PMAll Level (No-Gi)
Wednesday
6:00 AMFoundation (Gi/No-Gi)
9:30 – 10:15 AMLevel 0 (All Ages)
4:00 – 4:30 PMPreschool Level 1Ages 3–6
4:30 – 5:15 PMKids Level 1Ages 7–9
4:30 – 5:15 PMYouth Level 1Ages 10–13
5:15 – 6:15 PMYouth Level 2 (Gi)
6:30 PMFoundation Teen/Adult (Gi)
7:30 PMAll Level (Gi)
Thursday
4:00 – 4:30 PMPreschool Level 1Ages 3–6
4:30 – 5:15 PMKids Level 1Ages 7–9
4:30 – 5:15 PMYouth Level 1Ages 10–13
5:15 – 6:15 PMYouth Level 2 (Gi)
5:30 – 6:30 PMYouth Level 3Invite Only
6:30 PMFoundation Teen/Adult (Gi)
7:30 PMAll Level (Gi)
Friday
6:00 AMFoundation (Gi/No-Gi)
4:30 – 5:15 PMLevel 0 (All Ages)
6:30 PMOpen Mat
7:30 PMAll Level (Gi/No-Gi)
Saturday
9:30 – 10:15 AMLevel 0 (All Ages)
10:30 AMOpen Mat
Gallery
Life on the mats
Real training, real people. Tap any photo to take a closer look.
What students say
Loved by our community
★★★★★5.0 · perfect rating on Google
“
Al and Janice are awesome, as well as the coaches Joe and Isaiah. They do a great job teaching and being patient with the kids while getting them to advance to the next level.
ANAlex NguyenGoogle review“
We absolutely love By Any Means! The coaches are incredible with kids. They're patient, encouraging, and truly invested in helping each child grow both on and off the mats.
CUColleen UsseryGoogle review“
The team is welcoming and easygoing, creating a relaxed vibe while still taking training seriously.
CAChristopher AyresGoogle review“
The supportive environment extends to the parents and families, fostering a strong sense of community. By Any Means has truly become more than just a gym for us.
CBChica BGoogle review“
Shout out to Al and his family for running a great gym! The environment is very friendly and welcoming.
AAAdrian ArredondoGoogle review
Contact
Come train with us
Questions before your first class? Reach out — we're happy to help.
No contract. No commitment. Just come train with us for a week and see what modern grappling instruction feels like. If it's not for you, no hard feelings.
★★★★★5.0 on Google
“Al and Janice are awesome, as well as the coaches Joe and Isaiah. They do a great job teaching and being patient with the kids while getting them to advance to the next level.”
— Alex Nguyen
✓
You're in!
We'll reach out shortly to get you booked for your first free class. See you on the mats.
