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Absolute Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 160 Google reviews · BJJ gym in St. Louis, Missouri

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi

Plan your first class

  • 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
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • 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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule absolutemartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (314) 664-0466

Hours

Monday 10 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–10 PM
Thursday 10 AM–10 PM
Friday 10 AM–10 PM
Saturday 10 AM–2 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 Absolute Martial Arts, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 14 mentions

“My kids look forward to seeing friends & growing together with real, positive life enforcing skills taught by amazing mentors.”

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👤 Private Lessons 2 mentions

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

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🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“The instructors are awesome with full of knowledge and have created a great system that can help anyone learn with no experience at all.”

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 Absolute Martial Arts — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai

“Even the Muay Thai instructor Eric makes students smile as they sweat.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA 2 mentions

“I joined Absolute mixed martial arts about 4 months ago.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🦵 Kickboxing 5 mentions

“I go to classes quite frequently, averaging 3-4 a week for kickboxing and always leave with a great workout and new skills.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🎽 Karate 5 mentions

“Both of my kids have been taking classes here for 3 years (jiu jitsu and karate).”

Other gyms that also teach karate →

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 160 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“The schedules are super flexible with knowledgeable professors.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“A large student base means there's always a partner to relate with & the staff is welcoming, encouraging hard worth with a family style vibe.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 12 mentions

“The instructors are friendly and easy to talk to and so is everyone attending the classes.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“The classes are structured to keep the kids moving and engaged with the class all while teaching the basics of the disciplines.”

great workout & conditioning 4 mentions

“I go to classes quite frequently, averaging 3-4 a week for kickboxing and always leave with a great workout and new skills.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“We signed our son up so he would gain self confidence& know how to defend himself.”

From the reviews

Follow up, years Later: Absolutely amazing experience! My family continues to come each week, enjoying the journey. My kids look forward to seeing friends & growing together with real, positive life enforcing skills taught by amazing mentors. Myself: I've been participating in the jiujitsu programs for years now.

★★★★★ — Chad, Aug 2024

I have been training at Absolute Martial Arts for 5 months now and it has been my best fitness experience period. I have always been a fan of Mixed Martial Arts but did not know how to train, so I called Absolute and scheduled a quick and easy private session to give it a feel, and the owner and head instructor Mr.

★★★★★ — Jack, Mar 2025

I absolutely love this place! After nearly three years of training here, I can't imagine going anywhere else. The owners are incredible and the instruction is top notch. The instructors are clearly passionate about what they do and I've learned so much that it would probably take a whole book to capture it all.

★★★★★ — Eric, Dec 2024

I have been going here for a few months now for kickboxing, and my experience has been more than amazing! When I came to Absolute Martial Arts I was nervous. Taking kickboxing classes and being somewhere other than a gym was a bit out of my comfort zone and new to me.

★★★★★ — Halee, Nov 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 160 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Absolute Martial Arts

Absolute Martial Arts comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 Absolute 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 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 Absolute Martial Arts

8822 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO63123

Get directions

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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.