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501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts)

5 ★★★★★ 107 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Conway, Arkansas

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

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
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • 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 501bjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule

Hours

Monday 5–8:30 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm
Wednesday 5–8 pm
Thursday 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm
Friday 11 am–1:30 pm
Saturday 10 am–1 pm
Sunday Closed

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 501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts), confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 16 mentions

“My 12 year old daughter has been attending the kids Brazilian Jujitsu classes for almost 3years and absolutely loves it.”

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🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“She is now a Gery/black belt, competes in Jui-jitsu tournaments, is a part of the kids leadership team & has gained so much knowledge & confidence.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“They are incredibly inclusive and a safe environment for women wanting to learn about martial arts and self defense!”

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🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“Whether you’re a beginner, young or old, or you are highly advanced and looking to continue leveling up… this is the gym you need to be in, and the mat you need to be on.”

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 501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts) — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 3 mentions

“I started kickboxing here almost 5 years ago to learn a new skill while improving my cardio.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

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 3 mentions

“An incredibly welcoming and kind environment with very knowledgeable instructors.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 10 mentions

“Whether you’re a beginner, young or old, or you are highly advanced and looking to continue leveling up… this is the gym you need to be in, and the mat you need to be on.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 14 mentions

“2 years ago we joined 501MA and the amount of growth, confidence, and feeling of family has been amazing!”

🧒 strong kids program 5 mentions

“When we moved back to the Conway area my children started going to the gym. We all love this gym.”

active competition team 3 mentions

“She is now a Gery/black belt, competes in Jui-jitsu tournaments, is a part of the kids leadership team & has gained so much knowledge & confidence.”

💗 welcoming to women 2 mentions

“They are incredibly inclusive and a safe environment for women wanting to learn about martial arts and self defense!”

From the reviews

501 Martial Arts is the most amazing gym you can possibly find. Whether you’re a beginner, young or old, or you are highly advanced and looking to continue leveling up… this is the gym you need to be in, and the mat you need to be on.

★★★★★ — Taylor, Nov 2023

My son first started BJJ in 2017. Then COVID happened and we ended up training virtually with the coaches and have not started back in person due to time constraints. However, we are excited about the new location opening up soon, and plan on starting back!

★★★★★ — Yogeeta, Nov 2023

I first started going to this gym many many years ago but moved away for a while. When we moved back to the Conway area my children started going to the gym. We all love this gym. Everyone feels like family. All of the instructors are helpful and truly care about the kids/students.

★★★★★ — Elizabeth, Oct 2023

Amazing community of people. The owners ask us about our kids and how they’re doing. They are constantly encouraging them and us. The skill at the gym is extremely high level. The instructors have a collective experience of 69+ years! Our kids love training here.

★★★★★ — Drew, Jul 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 107 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at 501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts)

501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts) 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at 501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts)

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. 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 501 BJJ & Kickboxing (501 Martial Arts)

2655 N Donaghey Ave #103, Conway, AR72032

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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.