HomeTexasMcKinney › 3 Embers Grappling Academy

3 Embers Grappling Academy

5 ★★★★★ 107 Google reviews · BJJ gym in McKinney, Texas

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team

Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule 3embersgrapplingacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (214) 973-8506

Hours

Monday 11 AM–12:30 PM, 5–8 PM
Tuesday 6–7 AM, 5–8 PM
Wednesday 6–7 AM, 11 AM–12:30 PM, 5–8 PM
Thursday 6–7 AM, 5–8 PM
Friday 11 AM–12:30 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday 10 AM–1 PM

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at 3 Embers Grappling Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 14 mentions

“My daughter loves it here; great community, wonderful coaches, and they support We Defy…highly recommend if you want to try jiu jitsu!”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🏆 Competition Team 4 mentions

“The professors not only instruct but roll with the students and compete regularly, which is a huge plus.”

All gyms that run competition team →

🔓 Open Mat 4 mentions

“As regular open mat visitors, we’re always impressed by the welcoming atmosphere at this gym.”

All gyms that run open mat →

🌱 Beginners

“Great class taught by Mike Anderson, good rounds with all levels.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at 3 Embers Grappling Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 107 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“Great instructors and great people in general.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 7 mentions

“It is a fun but serious environment, welcoming to anyone regardless of physical status/impediments or age (or lack thereof).”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 15 mentions

“The whole gym has a true family-like atmosphere that is such a joy to be apart of and we look forward to many more years as part of the Combat Base Team as our kids grow.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 6 mentions

“The techniques they teach go beyond just grappling—they’re valuable life lessons that our daughter will carry with her for years to come.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“My daughter loves it here; great community, wonderful coaches, and they support We Defy…highly recommend if you want to try jiu jitsu!”

active competition team 6 mentions

“The professors not only instruct but roll with the students and compete regularly, which is a huge plus.”

From the reviews

It's an huge honor for me to train here. Outstanding place for adults and kids. Coaches Misty, Mike, and Justin have done a great job of creating a clean safe environment that feels like a family. Super chill, fun classes, I love it here.

★★★★★ — Josh, Sep 2024

Great gym with a great atmosphere. Newcomers are warmly welcomed by staff, instructors, and students. The gym is well laid out and classes are a good size consisting of all belt levels which made for a good variety of training partners.

★★★★★ — Brad, Jul 2019

I absolutely LOVE Combat Base/Shebaro Jiu Jitsu! My kids (ages 7 and 10) started in February and have been coming to class several nights a week. The coaches are PHENOMENAL at teaching technique, discipline, and confidence through positive encouragement.

★★★★★ — Taylor, Oct 2021

My 10 year old son loves this place! Great instructors and great people in general. Our boy also does other sports but is small for his age. The discipline and self confidence he gets from attending the classes here is what keeps us coming back.

★★★★★ — Carrie, Jul 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 107 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at 3 Embers Grappling Academy

3 Embers Grappling Academy comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at 3 Embers Grappling Academy

Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find 3 Embers Grappling Academy

320 Industrial Blvd Ste 206, McKinney, TX75069

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

More BJJ gyms near McKinney

Motus | McKinney

5 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

4260 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens expert, high-level coachinggreat workout & conditioningbuilds confidence & discipline

3.8 miles away

(CJJF) Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Family Academy - McKinney

4.9 ★★★★★ 139 reviews

3801 Virginia Pkwy Ste 700, McKinney, TX

🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site

BJJ gym Free trial Kids & teens Private lessons Affiliated expert, high-level coachingno-ego, friendly academystrong technique & fundamentals

3.8 miles away

Barradas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Blanton St, McKinney, TX

BJJ gym Kids & teens expert, high-level coachingno-ego, friendly academystrong technique & fundamentals

4.0 miles away

All BJJ gyms in McKinney, TX →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.