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Asheville's Northside Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Woodfin, North Carolina
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
- 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 northsidejj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 828-279-3404
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9–11:30 am |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They build fundamentals through step-by-step instruction and repetition.”
“Patrick has a great deal of tools to work with beginners and the kids listen to him which is not easy work.”
“I wanted morning classes, gi and no gi, taught by a black belt and I got that and more!”
“I wanted morning classes, gi and no gi, taught by a black belt and I got that and more!”
“Its a good open training space, a welcoming environment and a lot of upcoming white belts and blue belts, but also with a steady ream of black belts, who train and coach there.”
“The facility is brand new and in a great location, the members are all so friendly and helpful, and Coach Patrick is one of the chillest people I’ve met.”
Other martial arts here
“He answered any questions I had, and provided great new insight into the sport with his MMA background.”
What members say
“Patrick is a great instructor and coach who has a very approachable and humble style to his instruction, while still being extremely knowledgeable with his experience.”
“Its a good open training space, a welcoming environment and a lot of upcoming white belts and blue belts, but also with a steady ream of black belts, who train and coach there.”
“Its a good open training space, a welcoming environment and a lot of upcoming white belts and blue belts, but also with a steady ream of black belts, who train and coach there.”
“The way he can break techniques and concepts down and explain the minor details is extremely helpful and insightful whether you are a day one student or a lifelong practitioner.”
“He has also coached all of us in competition and has a winning way about him.”
“I have reccomended this place to anyone who's asked where I train or where a good gym in town that's AFFORDABLE to train at.”
From the reviews
As someone who was completely new to this sport when I started training under coach Patrick I can say this is something I have been able to fall in love with. Patrick as well as his other coaches make this gym one of encouragement and understanding.
Helmed by the dedicated and extraordinary Black Belt Professor Paddy Dodd, Asheville Northside Jiu-Jitsu is a remarkable community of men, women, and youth who are dedicated to growing together in mind, body, and spirit through Jiu-Jitsu.
Paddy at Northside Jiu Jitsu is by far the best instructor I’ve met. The way he can break techniques and concepts down and explain the minor details is extremely helpful and insightful whether you are a day one student or a lifelong practitioner.
I first came to Northside for scheduling reasons. I wanted morning classes, gi and no gi, taught by a black belt and I got that and more! First, Coach Patrick's schedule is awesome. He offers morning, noon, and evening classes M-F, all taught by him.
New to BJJ? Start at Asheville's Northside Jiu Jitsu
Asheville's Northside Jiu Jitsu 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 Asheville's Northside Jiu Jitsu
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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