707-343-1013
555 5th St W, Sonoma, CA 95476
ABOUT US
SONOMA VALLEY JIU JITSU is your new, local Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym. Our goal is to provide a challenging and fun learning environment for you to develop fundamental Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and grappling skills. All fitness levels and ages are welcome
Whether you’re a child, teen, or adult, learning martial arts styles like BJJ increases focus, boosts confidence and sets the stage for success – both on and off the mat.
Safe And Fun Self-Defense Learning For All Ages And Skill Levels
Sonoma Valley Jiu Jitsu specializes in teaching beginner-level students from age 4 to 84. We want to start you off on the right foot as a beginner student and help you advance to the next level with confidence and feeling proud of all your achievements along the way.
Our instructors are excited to help you on your journey to get fit, learn self-defense and develop skills for success in life! BJJ, the Gentle Art, is a GREAT way to connect with your body, mind and spirit as you…
Learn how to use your entire body, from the ground up! No matter what your size is, you'll learn locking, leverage, and wrestling techniques to master any opponent, anywhere.
Kids learn how to be bully-proof, while adults learn how to be attacker-proof. You’ll both become more aware of other people and your surroundings, know how to spot sticky situations so you can walk away before things get bad, and also know how to defend yourselves, if necessary.
Those are all priceless benefits! But really, we like to think of it as “affordable excellence"and the lessons learned during your journey can be applied throughout your entire life.
Our amazing instructors have over 20 years of combined experience and are here to guide you on your path from beginner to skilled practioner. Our family environment fosters personal growth, confidence, empowerment, and friendships.
Come see what we’re all about and take advantage of learning from some incredible coaches, and have the most fun you’ve ever had getting fit!
We can't wait to train with you and celebrate the thrill of VICTORY every time you accomplish something big or small. See you soon!
Meet yOur Instructors
Carter MochiZuki
Coach
Carter brings over 20 years of experience in the wine industry, having spent most of his life working in vineyards. Early on, he developed an appreciation for the benefits of physical fitness on both the body and mind. In high school, he challenged himself through sports like track and field, water polo, and football.
During college, Carter earned a bachelor's degree in Wine and Viticulture and began exploring martial arts. He took his first kickboxing classes at The Pit MMA gym in San Luis Obispo, which sparked his interest in combat sports.
After graduating, Carter returned to Napa and was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by a friend who had been training for about a year. During their first sparring session, his smaller
and physically weaker friend submitted him multiple times. This humbling experience inspired Carter to dive into the "gentle art." He was captivated by the mental and physical challenges of jiu-jitsu and quickly fell in love with the discipline.
Over 11 years of dedication, Carter earned his black belt under Jesse Garcia of Napa Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a school affiliated with Demian Maia. Today, Carter shares his passion for jiu-jitsu by teaching and inspiring others to embrace the art's transformative journey.
Dr. Tim Smith
Coach
Dr. Smith has spent 24 years as an Emergency Physician, thriving in the face of high-pressure challenges. His journey into physical fitness began as a dedicated cardio athlete, backpacking in the Sierra's, running cross country and track, and competing in triathlons. Over time, his pursuits evolved, leading him to embrace new passions like surfing, skiing, and diving.
As a father, when his children took up martial arts, Dr. Smith’s interest in self-defense sparked. This led to rigorous training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Sapao, MMA with Kurt Morella, and weapons training. Today, he holds a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Michael Stratton Jr. at Esteem Jiu-Jitsu in Petaluma.
Most recently, Dr. Smith has combined his medical expertise and martial arts knowledge by working as a Ringside Physician for the California State Athletic Commission and CAMO, providing care for professional athletes in both the cage and the boxing ring.
Now, he shares his passion by teaching a Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals curriculum, focusing on practical self-defense, correct body movement, and maintaining health while building a strong, adaptable game.
Dr. Tim Smith
Coach
Pete Hoffman
Coach
Pete was drawn towards two major components of Mixed Martial Arts at a young age. At 10 years old, Pete started wrestling and continued until the 8th grade. Once in high school he shifted gears to boxing since his high school didn't offer wrestling. He found an outlet in boxing and continued honing his skills throughout college. He retired from boxing at 30 to focus on viticulture and winemaking, launching his own wine label, Aum Cellars, in 2003.
Despite stepping back from fighting, Pete remained connected to the MMA world as a cameraman for King of the Cage well before the UFC emerged, and he enjoyed sponsoring many fighters over the years. In 2012, he returned to martial arts by joining a no-gi jiu-jitsu gym near his home in Napa. From 2012 to 2014, he trained under Saul Escolera, a black belt from the Cesar Gracie Academy. He continued his journey under Crosley Gracie from 2014 to 2019 and has been training at Carlson Gracie Academy since 2019. In 2021, Pete earned his brown belt under Professor "Marinho" Vauvenargues Vincentini, a 6th degree black belt in the Carlson Gracie lineage.
Today, Pete still cultivates grapes and produces wine under Aum Cellars while actively practicing and teaching the art of jiu-jitsu.
Sierra Minchaca
Coach
Sierra Minchaca began her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in May 2017 after a chance encounter sparked her passion. While training in kenpo karate, she watched students rolling on the mats after class and immediately knew she wanted to dive into the art of jiujitsu. Since then, Sierra has dedicated over seven and a half years to mastering her craft and is currently a purple belt. Additionally, she holds a yellow belt in Judo, earned through the Santa Rosa Judo Club.
Sierra is passionate about creating a supportive and fun environment where everyone feels welcome to learn and grow. Her teaching focuses on building a strong sense of community and empowering individuals, particularly women, to feel confident in their ability to protect themselves. She believes in fostering a space where students can thrive both on and off the mats.
An avid traveler, Sierra has trained across California & Hawaii and internationally in Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Cambodia. Through her travels, she has built meaningful connections with grapplers worldwide, embracing the diversity and shared camaraderie within the martial arts community. In 2024, Sierra participated in the Alchemize Fightwear West Coast Camp, an event that brought together 200 female grapplers to learn, train, and inspire one another.
Whether teaching or training, Sierra is committed to cultivating an inclusive environment at Sonoma Valley Jiujitsu. She invites students to join her on the mats to discover the transformative power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the joy of learning in a community-focused setting. You can follow her journey on instagram @catjitsu
Sierra Minchaca
Coach
Tavis Moses
Gym Founder & Kids Coach
Tavis began his journey into combat sports at the age of 12, starting with wrestling and continuing throughout high school.
His passion for physically and mentally challenging activities led him to serve four years in the Marine Corps, where discipline and mental toughness became core values in his life. Following his time as a Marine, Tavis became a ski instructor before working in the adventure travel industry for 20+ years.
Although he started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) much later in life, Tavis was immediately drawn to it due to its close connection to wrestling. In 2019, he began training in BJJ and quickly fell in love with the mental and physical demands it requires.
After a long career working for larger companies, Tavis decided to follow his passion and open his own gym. Sonoma Valley Jiu Jitsu was founded with the goal of creating not only a space for people to train and develop their skills but also to foster a strong, supportive community.
His vision is to provide a welcoming environment for everyone—whether they're looking to get in shape or simply learn something new.
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555 5TH ST W SONOMA CA 95476 | 707-343-1013
Sonoma Valley | Santa Rosa | Napa | Petaluma | Healdsburg | Kenwood | Glen Ellen
