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Ancient City Martial Arts and The Training Loft
5 ★★★★★ 47 Google reviews · BJJ gym in St. Augustine, Florida
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 (ages 5–12) — 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule ancientcitymartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 904-979-1086
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–12:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–12:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I have also sat in on his different kids classes (while waiting for my own class); he loves those kids like they are his own and his patience with them is practically endless.”
“The amount of one-on-one attention first-timers get is second-to-none.”
“There is something for everyone from the first timers to the experienced.”
Other martial arts here
“On the adult side I have been doing the BJJ and Muay Thai classes as well as the MMA classes with Chris and absolutely love all three.”
“On the adult side I have been doing the BJJ and Muay Thai classes as well as the MMA classes with Chris and absolutely love all three.”
“My son does the youth BJJ, wrestling, and Hapkido classes and loves all three.”
What members say
“They have the best instructors around in all the styles offered such as muay thai, gracie jiu-jitsu, and hapkido.”
“There is something for everyone from the first timers to the experienced.”
“It really feels like family, great people, nice environment and vibe.”
“Mike & his trainers are very detailed oriented and very helpful to spend the time to explain and train maneuvers prior to sparring or rolling with partners in the class.”
“A genuinely great person, running a great facility, with great classes.”
“Mike is a phenomenal teacher (in all 3 disciplines: BJJ, Muay Thai, & Hapkido), and it is glaringly obvious he is a master of his craft and loves what he does.”
From the reviews
I have been training with Mike for nearly a year now, and I wish I had started earlier when I met him over 2 years ago. I started out with him taking private Muay Thai lessons for 2 months before jumping into regular classes and I was instantly hooked.
My son has been coming here for a year now, and he LOVES coming to Hapkido and Muay Thai. Master Plott is an exceptional teacher, and is very kind and personable toward everyone. I'm very impressed with how far my son has come in a year here.
Trained there for several years with my son until we moved out of state. First class training. Excellent instructors. Great atmosphere. Amazing place! Highly recommend!
My son and I started attending Ancient City Martial Arts (ACMA) after moving here to Saint Augustine and have had an absolutely wonderful experience. We tried out 3 other local BJJ/etc schools as well when initially looking for a place to join and they all had great qualities but we liked ACMA the best, and now after…
New to BJJ? Start at Ancient City Martial Arts and The Training Loft
Ancient City Martial Arts and The Training Loft 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 Ancient City Martial Arts and The Training Loft
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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