Browse BJJ Gyms

Charles Gracie Team

Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy is the headquarters location of a renowned network of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools founded by Charles Gracie, a senior member of the famous Gracie family. Established in Tracy, California, the academy represents a direct lineage to the originators of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, providing the highest level of instruction in traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense techniques passed down through the Gracie family since 1925 in Brazil. The academy offers a comprehensive training approach that balances sport jiu-jitsu competition with practical self-defense application. Charles Gracie has instructed members of law enforcement, security professionals, U.S. armed forces, air marshals, and private citizens, emphasizing that jiu-jitsu is accessible to everyone regardless of age, gender, body type, or physical ability. Through leverage, balance, and technique, students learn to defend themselves against stronger, more physically capable opponents. The Charles Gracie Academy network has expanded throughout Northern California and Nevada, with locations throughout the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Truckee/Tahoe region. The academy promotes not only technical excellence and competition success at all levels (from local tournaments to Mundial World Championships) but also self-confidence, respect, and physical and mental wellness. Students are welcome to train at any location within the Charles Gracie network, creating a supportive community dedicated to preserving and sharing the Gracie family's martial art.

Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy (CJJA) is an unaffiliated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, focused on providing high-quality training without politics or cliques. The academy operates on a philosophy of "no bow at the door, no family tree to memorize" - just effective Jiu-Jitsu that works. Whether students train for fun, fitness, or competition, CJJA provides a welcoming environment for practitioners of all levels. The academy offers comprehensive training programs for both adults and children. Adult programs include fundamentals classes in both Gi and No-Gi, advanced training, competition preparation, and specialty programs like Wrestling for Jiu-Jitsu and Judo for Jiu-Jitsu. For children, CJJA runs two age-specific programs: Lil' Pups (ages 4-6) focusing on coordination and self-control, and Bulldogs (ages 7-12) emphasizing Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and leadership skills. The academy is known for hosting "the Southeast's best Open Mats" on weekends, providing five hours of training across Saturday and Sunday with no politics, just rolls. The coaching staff at CJJA includes head coach John Piper, alongside accomplished instructors like Dr. Jennifer "Dr.JenJitsu" Case (13x IBJJF Masters World Champion, BJJ black belt since 2016, PhD in Human Nutrition and Performance), and a team of over 20 dedicated coaches specializing in various aspects of Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and judo. The academy provides a unique On-Demand video service allowing members to review their rolls captured in 4K with multiple angles, helping students analyze and improve their technique.

Checkmat - Science Of Jiu-Jitsu

Science of Jiu Jitsu Academy is a Checkmat affiliate in Harvey, Louisiana, co-owned by black belts Marcus Dempsey and Zach Cothren. The academy offers comprehensive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training for all ages and skill levels, from fundamentals to advanced competition preparation. The academy's curriculum is built on systematic progression, starting with the 101 Fundamentals program that introduces students to the foundational skills of BJJ. Students learn the 4 Step Fighting Methodology, hierarchy of positions, and how to apply efficiency, leverage, balance, and timing. The program covers both gi and no-gi training, ensuring well-rounded grappling development. Head instructor Marcus Dempsey is a US Army Veteran with over 20 years of martial arts experience across multiple disciplines including BJJ, Taekwondo, Boxing, and Muay Thai. His competition achievements include IBJJF Open Black Belt Gold medals, ADCC Open medalist, Golden Gloves Welterweight Boxing Champion, and multiple Fight2Win black belt appearances. Co-owner Zach Cothren is an IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Black Belt Middleweight Gold Medalist with extensive competition experience and an undefeated amateur boxing record. Both instructors bring decades of combined teaching experience and a passion for developing students at all levels.

Checkmat / VA Academy

VA Academy was founded in January 2019 by Professor Vinicius Agudo in Wylie, Texas. As a proud Checkmat affiliate academy, VA Academy is focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle through the teaching of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to children and adults of all ages and skill levels in Wylie and surrounding communities. The academy emphasizes not only the sport and competition aspects of BJJ but also the traditional values of martial arts including respect, humility, loyalty, friendship, and self-defense. VA Academy focuses on the physical, emotional, and intellectual growth of students in a safe, clean, and friendly, family-like environment. Professor Vinicius Agudo is a Third Degree Black Belt under Leo Vieira and leads the instruction at VA Academy. Professor Agudo started training in 2003 at age 15 in São Paulo, Brazil under former UFC contender and World Champion Gabriel "Napão" Gonzaga, who awarded him his black belt in 2013. As a competitor, Agudo has achieved remarkable success including IBJJF American National Champion, 2-time IBJJF Pan Ams medalist, multiple time IBJJF Open Champion, Metamoris Veteran, 6-time Fight2Win Winner, and Kasai Pro Winner. He moved to Dallas in 2016 and permanently settled in Wylie to pursue his dream of opening his own academy.

Checkmat Aalborg

Checkmat Aalborg is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy located in Aalborg, Denmark, offering training for both gi and no-gi grappling. The gym is part of the prestigious CheckMat team, one of the world's leading BJJ organizations known for producing 15-time world champions. CheckMat is led by brothers Leonardo "Leozinho" Vieira and Ricardo "Ricardinho" Vieira, renowned figures in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. The academy emphasizes a training philosophy focused on ground fighting using grips and joint locks rather than strikes. Training takes place in an informal atmosphere where beginners train alongside experienced practitioners, creating a collaborative learning environment. What makes BJJ unique at Checkmat Aalborg is the ability to spar at full intensity during every training session, made possible by the absence of strikes and kicks. This allows students to develop practical grappling skills safely and effectively. The instructional team includes Camilla, Jeppe, Kim, Nicolai, Asger, Emil, Thorbjørn, Sigurd, and Malte. The academy offers programs for various ages and skill levels, including kids classes for ages 5-9, fundamentals courses, no-gi basics, and advanced training for experienced grapplers. Training is available six days per week with open mat sessions on weekends, catering to those training for recreation, fitness, skill development, or competition preparation.

Checkmat BJJ Garden

CheckMat BJJ Garden is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school located in the Água Verde neighborhood of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. The academy is part of the prestigious CheckMat team, one of the world's leading BJJ organizations founded in 2008 by Leo Vieira and his brothers and students, including Ricardo Vieira, Leandro Vieira, Chico Mendes, and Sebastian Lalli. The school's philosophy centers on personal and collective growth through the practice of martial arts as a vehicle for self-knowledge. Students have the opportunity to find balance between body and mind, better understand their capabilities, develop their foundations, and transcend their limits. Training at BJJ Garden emphasizes learning, safety, determination, and evolution in a welcoming environment designed specifically for the art. CheckMat has achieved international recognition, with affiliated academies in thirty-four American cities and sixteen countries worldwide. The team is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and became world champions in both gi and no-gi competition in 2021. BJJ Garden brings this world-class training methodology to Curitiba, offering structured classes with theory and practice, accommodating groups of up to ten people or individual training sessions.