BJJ Gyms in Canada

Cicero Costha Niagara

Niagara BJJ is a proud affiliate of Gringo BJJ and Cicero Costha Canada, serving the Welland and Niagara Falls areas since 2015. Founded by Kevin R. Mans, the academy humbly began in a basement with just 20 students and has grown to serve over 300 students across multiple locations. The team is led by highly successful competitors who bring a wealth of championship experience to their teaching. The academy offers a supportive, family-oriented environment where students train hard but feel welcomed and encouraged. With class sizes of 10-25 students maintaining an instructor-to-student ratio of 1:8, everyone receives personalized attention. Niagara BJJ promotes individual growth while fostering team spirit, with students pursuing diverse goals from competition training to fitness and self-defense. Lead instructors include Scott (black belt under Caio Terra, formerly 10th Planet Montreal, NAGA expert division champion), Kevin (black belt since 2018, 2x World Masters medalist, 4x Provincial champion), Alex (brown belt, technical half-guard specialist), Stacey (purple belt, women's instructor with multiple gold medals), Cody (BJJ black belt professor, professional MMA fighter and coach with 15+ years experience), and James (brown belt, co-owner of Dunnville location, certified C4C Police Jiujitsu level 5). The academy also offers yoga instruction through Allison Tomlinson, a registered massage therapist and 200-hour certified Hatha yoga teacher.

Thrive Academy

Thrive Academy (formerly known as DST Academy and Gracie Winnipeg) is a family-friendly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The academy prides itself on providing a fun, positive, and supportive environment that helps students of all ages and skill levels thrive in their martial arts journey. With a rich history dating back to the mid-1990s, the academy's longest-standing members have been training together for nearly three decades, creating a tight-knit community that continues to grow stronger each year. The academy's training philosophy emphasizes practical self-defense, physical fitness, and personal development through the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Students learn to leverage body mechanics and technique over strength, making BJJ accessible to practitioners of all sizes and athletic abilities. The academy offers comprehensive programs for all age groups, from Little Ninjas (ages 2.5-4) to adult classes, including specialized Women Only BJJ sessions. Training focuses on building confidence, discipline, mental fortitude, and real-world self-defense skills while providing an intense full-body workout. Thrive Academy strives to be a pillar in the Winnipeg community, welcoming students from all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether training for self-defense, fitness, competition, or personal growth, students find a supportive family atmosphere that encourages them to reach their full potential. The academy's commitment to quality instruction and community building has made it one of Winnipeg's premier destinations for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.

Alliance Yellowknife

Alliance Yellowknife is a premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The gym is part of the prestigious Alliance Jiu-Jitsu team, one of the most prominent BJJ associations in the world. Alliance was founded in 1993 by Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva, and Fernando Gurgel. With 12 team World Championships and hundreds of World Champions throughout its history, Alliance has schools across the globe teaching thousands of students self-defense, self-confidence, and respect. At Alliance Yellowknife, the academy believes that martial arts training helps every child and adult develop the mental and physical skills they need to succeed in life. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn't just about self-defense—it's about building self-confidence, improving focus, developing physical strength, and fostering positive social interaction. The academy teaches members to set goals, work hard, and follow through, all while having fun and making friends. Alliance Yellowknife is led by an exceptional team of black belt instructors. Head Instructor Mitchel Wiles (black belt, first degree) began his martial arts journey as a wrestler, winning tournaments including a provincial title in Saskatchewan. He started training in BJJ in 2008 and won gold medals at local tournaments including the Absolute Division at the 2012 Mind Body Soul Alberta Open. He received his black belt in 2021 from Alliance Black Belt Faron Sinnicks and Alliance founder Master Romero Cavalcanti. Mitchel is co-owner of the academy and an Alliance Jiu-Jitsu certified instructor in the Fundamentals and Intermediate curriculums. Other instructors include Brad Tremblay (black belt, 2023), Joshua Campbell (black belt, 2024, co-owner), Norm Mair (black belt, 2024), and Jessica Pacunayen (brown belt). The instructors have trained with and received belts from world champions including Lucas Lepri, Michael Langhi, and Gabi Garcia.