No sensei. No egos. Just the mats.
The Coop is the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu co-op in the world — a gym made by its members, for its members. Founded by David Telfer and Alex Chow, black belts under Giva Santana, it runs on a simple idea: nobody owns the art.
Thirty-plus black belts lead daily workshops as their contribution, pricing covers the room, and every member shapes the place they train — from hosting an open mat to building the next event. #trainhowyalike
Are There Classes? How Do I Learn More?
We have daily optional workshops with our advanced belts. Rather than one instructor, our vast group of co-op black belt members (30+) teach as part of their contribution to the community. This creates a sense of shared learning, avoiding the “sensei” top down environment and allowing members to shape their own journey whether that means attending all the workshops they can or simply joining in our daily open mats and learning from others on the mat.
How DO MembershipS Work?
Membership at the Coop includes access to our daily workshops, structured open mats, other practice sessions, events, and other projects created by and for our community.
Can I Be Promoted At The Coop?
Yes, if you choose. If three Coop Black Belts think you should be promoted, you’ll be promoted. If you train with someone else and want to be promoted by them, that’s great too.
Can You Train At The Coop And Somewhere Else?
Train wherever you want. We aren’t jealous. In fact, it’s great for our community to bring in diverse techniques and experiences.
Can I Train If Visiting From Out Of Town?
We love having out of town guests. Please contact us for details at info@thecoopbjj.com.