ABOUT US
Welcome to By Any Means Jiu-Jitsu, located at 125 W Louise Ave in Manteca, CA. Founded by Al Lagura, a USBJJF (United States Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) Certified Black Belt, our academy is more than just a gym—it’s a community dedicated to growth, resilience, and transformation through the art of jiu-jitsu.
We are proud to be an IBJJF Certified Academy, recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the leading organization for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu worldwide. This prestigious certification ensures that our academy meets the highest standards of instruction, safety, and professionalism. It also provides our students with access to compete in official IBJJF-sanctioned events and championships.
At By Any Means Jiu-Jitsu, we believe in empowering individuals of all ages and backgrounds to push past their limits—both physically and mentally. Our safe, inclusive, and supportive environment is designed to help everyone, from complete beginners to seasoned competitors, thrive.
We take pride in delivering:
High-quality instruction from experienced coaches
Innovative programs tailored to meet diverse goals
A community-first mindset where everyone feels valued
Whether your goals are fitness, self-defense, competition, or personal development, we are committed to helping you succeed on and off the mats. Join us and discover how jiu-jitsu can be a powerful tool to unlock your potential.
Let’s grow together—By Any Means.
For inquiries, feel free to contact us:
📞 Phone: 209-222-8266
📧 Email: info@byanymeansjiujitsu.com
📍 Address: 125 W Louise Ave, Manteca, CA, 95336
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art built around leverage, technique, and strategy.
It teaches you how to control another person, defend yourself, and stay calm under pressure — no matter your size or strength.
Unlike striking arts, Jiu-Jitsu focuses on grappling, takedowns, pins, chokes, and joint locks.
The goal isn’t to hurt someone — it’s to control the situation, use efficiency over force, and solve problems under stress.
BJJ is often called “human chess” because every move creates a reaction, and every reaction opens the next opportunity.
Kids, teens, and adults all learn how to move better, think clearer, and become more confident on and off the mats.
The Game We Play
At BY ANY MEANS, we teach Jiu-Jitsu in the simplest way possible:
**The game is:
Immobilization → Strangulation / Breakage.
That’s Jiu-Jitsu boiled down to the truth.
You first control your opponent (immobilization).
Then you attack the neck (strangulation) or the limbs (breakage) to finish.
But how we play the game is where real Jiu-Jitsu lives:
**We attack the periphery to access the center.
Once we control the center, we attack the periphery again to finish.**
The periphery means the arms, legs, hands, feet — all the things that move first.
The center is the hips, the spine, the core — the place that controls everything.
This is the strategy we teach to every kid and adult:
Simple, effective, technical pressure that works at every level.
Why It Matters
Jiu-Jitsu builds more than athletes.
It builds confidence, emotional control, problem-solving, and community.
You learn how to stay calm when things get hard.
You learn how to think instead of panic.
You learn that small, consistent improvements take you a long way.
And you learn that on the mats — just like in life —
you win by showing up, paying attention, and staying disciplined.