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Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy
4.8 ★★★★★ 70 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Modesto, California
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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule bjjmodesto.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 209-486-3244
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–1:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Professor Samir and alongside his fellow instructors provide quality instructing and great structure for their adult and youth classes!”
“Whether you’re casually interested, seeking personal development, or you desire to compete in tournaments, Ares BJJ will have something for you.”
“Booked a private lesson ahead of time with Jeremy, who is also the kids program instructor.”
“Whatever your goals are, weight loss, learn self defense, have more of a social life, gain confidence… Jiujitsu at Ares BJJ Academy will help you reach them.”
“The training environment is friendly for all levels, the staff is highly experienced, personable and dedicated to teaching the art!”
What members say
“World-class instructors that build you up to be successful, and a very inviting atmosphere that makes you want to keep coming back.”
“From the very first day we stepped into the gym to get some info on how to enroll her in classes our experience has been nothing but great.”
“The training environment is friendly for all levels, the staff is highly experienced, personable and dedicated to teaching the art!”
“On day one when my son had no idea what he was doing, they both made him feel welcome and comfortable without looking like the "new" kid who clearly didn't know the basics.”
“My daughter is growing up here, and I couldn't be happier and have watched my daughter's confidence soar since joining Ares.”
“Whether you’re casually interested, seeking personal development, or you desire to compete in tournaments, Ares BJJ will have something for you.”
From the reviews
Love this place! Quality Jiujitsu and a very friendly vibe. The academy is well maintained, clean and a safe place to train for all levels of students from professional athletes, kids or a mom or dad who just wants to do something for fun and to be more active.
The absolute best place to train in the area. World-class instructors that build you up to be successful, and a very inviting atmosphere that makes you want to keep coming back. I researched a lot of BJJ schools before signing up at Ares, and I am certain that I made the correct choice.
If you want to learn, do it here. These guys pay their bills with jiujitsu competitions. They aren't something by day and black belts by night. This is all they do and it shows. Amazing teachers with amazing ways to break down everything so that everyone can understand. Everyone here is amazing and really nice.
Our son has been training here for a little over a year. All the teachers have been awesome, Elisabeth, Jamie and Jeremy. We have really seen the growth in our son since training there. The teachers are kind but with good boundaries, teaching them discipline. The price is fair too.
New to BJJ? Start at Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy
Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 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 Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 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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