Women’s Jiu Jitsu Toronto: A Guide to Female-Owned BJJ Gyms
In my early days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, women were severely underrepresented in the scene. Back in 2014, I knew zero female black belts in Toronto. There were no women-owned gyms, and the female brackets at local BJJ competitions were sparse or entirely nonexistent.
Fast forward a decade or so, and things have massively changed for the better.
Today, girls and women looking for women's Jiu Jitsu in Toronto have many choices of safe, friendly, and female-owned gyms to train at. While back in the day it was common to see a gym with hundreds of students and just one or two women, many would now rightfully consider that a red flag.
To help you find your next training home, I’ve compiled a list of female-owned and co-owned BJJ schools across Toronto and Vaughan where the female owner is active in the sport. I have personally visited and trained at each location on this main list, and I’m sharing my honest impressions.
The Best Female-Owned BJJ Schools in Toronto and the GTA
Toronto Jiu Jitsu Club (Danforth & Woodbine) – Vicki Hoang-Sheehan
A newer gym with owners who are not new at all to the Toronto BJJ scene. Owned by Michael and Vicki Sheehan—both of whom are world champion BJJ black belts—this is the spot to check out if you want high-level competition training!
Best for: Competitive athletes and high-level technical training.
Tanuki Martial Arts (Danforth & Pape) – Marianna Zafiroudis
This is the gym I spend the most time at other than my own. Tanuki hosts a famous Saturday Open Mat that attracts students from other BJJ gyms across the city, and there are always women on the mats. Owners Seji and Marianna create a safe, friendly, and welcoming training environment that will keep you having fun long after the beginner’s novelty wears off.
Best for: Community vibes and great cross-training open mats.
House of Combat (North York) – Avigayil Basser
This is us! My husband Joel opened House of Combat (HOC) in 2010, and I joined him in 2014. At any given time, our membership is roughly 50% girls and women. We specialize in making martial arts training accessible. Because we understand that most people enjoy training as a hobby and for self-defence, our emphasis is entirely on having fun and staying injury-free.
Best for: Hobbyists, beginners, and an incredibly balanced male-to-female ratio.
Vaughan Jiu Jitsu Academy (Vaughan) – Yuki Hanaoka Aviado
If you are looking for an excellent BJJ gym north of the city, this is a fantastic option. When our children were young, we wanted to introduce them to BJJ in an environment where they didn’t have their parents as coaches. We brought them here to learn from Professor Mike and Coach Yuki. They recently moved to a beautiful, brand-new facility!
Best for: Families, kids, and training in the York Region.
🥊 Honourable Mentions
I haven’t made it out to these spots yet, but Junction Academy (co-owned by Annie Le) in the West End and Revival BJJ (co-owned by Roya Sarwary) in the Beaches are both high on my list to visit soon!
What Does it Mean for a BJJ School to Have a Female Owner?
A BJJ gym owned and operated by a female athlete is highly likely to be a place where you will find more girls and women on the mats. There is an inherent element of personal comfort, safety, and a deep understanding of what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated sport that can sometimes be missing from purely male-owned gyms. You are also much more likely to find dedicated women’s BJJ classes at these academies.
However, it’s important to note that female ownership doesn’t mean a gym is automatically safe or scandal-free. As recent events in the global BJJ community remind us, safeguarding is a matter of strict policy and cultural adherence, not gender.
Female Ownership vs. Female Instructors
Some academies will bring in female instructors to teach kids' classes or women’s-only slots, but that is not the same thing as a female-owned gym. While female representation is always great, hired instructors do not have an ownership stake or power over the ultimate programming, gym policies, or the overarching training environment. True safety and culture start at the top.
💬 Over to You!
Did I miss your gym? I’d love to visit, connect, and include you in this review. Drop a comment below or reach out via our contact page to let me know where I should drop in next!
Women’s BJJ at House of Combat in North York July 1, 2026
