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American Grappling Academy
5 ★★★★★ 55 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania
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
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule americangrapplingacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 267-325-8698
Hours
| Monday | 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7:30 am, 5:30–9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Friday | 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–2:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Sonny is one of the best BJJ coaches for kids and adults around with very detailed understanding of movements and positions and an athletic ability to perform as a young guy.”
“He took my 10-year-old son under his wing for private lessons while preparing for a tournament, and the results spoke for themselves.”
“He took my 10-year-old son under his wing for private lessons while preparing for a tournament, and the results spoke for themselves.”
“Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner, he meets you at your level and pushes you to improve every single class.”
What members say
“I trained with Sonny back in the day and can confidently say he’s an overall great coach.”
“Sonny is one of the best BJJ coaches for kids and adults around with very detailed understanding of movements and positions and an athletic ability to perform as a young guy.”
“He took my 10-year-old son under his wing for private lessons while preparing for a tournament, and the results spoke for themselves.”
“What really separates him is the culture he’s built—focused, disciplined, and respectful.”
From the reviews
Sonny is one of the best BJJ coaches for kids and adults around with very detailed understanding of movements and positions and an athletic ability to perform as a young guy. I recommend his gym to people looking for a place to train for hobby, as well as for competition.
Sonny is a fantastic coach. He develops a plan for each class that incorporates fundamental moves into digestible chunks, then combines and integrates them over the session. He genuinely cares about each student’s development, and consistently asks and answers questions to help address individual needs.
Sonny is an awesome coach and the person responsible for getting me hooked on bjj. His modern competitive style and approach will make sure you are learning skills that you can be confident when competing or even just dropping in at other gyms. Excited to see this next chapter for him!
The coaching, atmosphere, and group of people that go there is really amazing. Sonny is a fantastic teacher and his approach to Jiu Jitsu makes a very fun time. Made a lot of friends here too
New to BJJ? Start at American Grappling Academy
American 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.
Your first BJJ class at American 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.
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