Organization
AOJ
Overview
AOJ is a California-based academy brand founded by Rafael and Guilherme Mendes, known for technical instruction, competition development, and a strong youth program.
Affiliation
Core Identity
Organization name Art of Jiu-Jitsu
Common name AOJ
Acronym AOJ
Organization type Academy brand and team identity
Founded Circa 2012
Founder
- Rafael Mendes
- Guilherme Mendes
Headquarters (current) Costa Mesa, California, USA
Operational status Active
Primary discipline Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi and No-Gi)
Affiliation Model
Affiliation structure Centralized academy model with a small number of closely aligned training centers.
Branding / naming conventions AOJ branding is tightly controlled and usually tied to official academy locations.
Instruction / curriculum Highly structured instruction with emphasis on technical systems, competition development, and youth training.
Footprint
Global footprint Primary base in Southern California with limited associated locations elsewhere.