by: Camila Echevarria
“It was really fun! I tried the butterfly sweep from a half butterfly guard. It was challenging at first, but as we were competing with only body weight, I wasn’t worried about slipping. I’d definitely do this again,” commented Adrian Nevarez, USC Student Health Ambassador and Human Biology sophomore, after joining the Jiu-Jitsu team at USC for the first time.
General Info
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club at USC is open to everyone affiliated with USC on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the PED 201 room in the Physical Education building.
The USC BJJ is especially tailored for beginners in this grappling, wrestling, and on-the-ground activity. No athletic experience or skills are needed to participate. “We're very beginner-friendly. Most of the people that are in our club are people that started doing jiu-jitsu at USC,” said the President of the BJJ Club and student at the Marshall School of Business, Matteo Caruso. The group was created around 10 years ago and teaches a Brazilian martial art derivative of judo and Japanese jiu-jitsu – without punching or kicking.
According to the club’s president, members pay “around $140 for a whole year, which, compared to actual jiu-jitsu gyms in LA, is much less expensive. When training with us, you get a way better deal than if you were training at a regular gym.”
Community and Commitment
Caruso started doing jiu-jitsu when he was young, and when he came to USC in 2024, he immediately joined the BJJ Club. “What I like the most about it is the community. Most of the friends I have at USC are the ones I’ve made at this club. We created a bond by training and pushing each other every day,” he shared.
Other participants also value martial arts for both physical and mental health. Jahanzaib Mohammad, a BJJ member and Business student, says the club teaches him life skills like staying calm under pressure. Biochemistry student Bruce Zeng, for his part, adds that “jiu-jitsu is good for your health, helps you manage stress, and it’s also really fun.”
Avi Cohn has been the BJJ Club Head Coach for seven years, and he is also an instructor at Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet HQ. He highlights that the classes are very safe, and that he always tries to make sure that everyone is looking out for each other.
Interestingly, both the president and the head coach agree that the most difficult part of joining the BJJ Club is showing up for the first time. “It is very intimidating for a new person to walk in and do something that they’re not used to, but if they keep coming, they’ll showcase the skills needed for this activity”, said Caruso. “You just need to make the commitment to come in . . . We take care of the rest,” concluded the BJJ Club Head Coach.
Interested in joining?
All USC affiliates are welcome to attend a first class for free. Any Trojan interested in joining the BJJ Club can register through the link in the bio of the BJJ Club’s Instagram account. As Caruso explains, new members must complete a concussion screening required by USC’s Recreational Club Council, register through Fusion Club and buy the Club Sports Pass. “It won’t take you more than 30 minutes,” he adds.
Need help? USC students can access physical therapy services through Student Health primary care services and USC Physical Therapy Clinic.
