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Balance Studios
4.9 ★★★★★ 37 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Philadelphia, 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule balancestudios.net — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (215) 305-8323
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 7 AM–9 PM |
The classes they run
“My son (8) has been attending classes since businesses were allowed to reopen from the pandemic and this place is great.”
“As a woman in the sport sometimes it is hard walking into a place not knowing what kind of atmosphere you'll find.”
Other martial arts here
“I’m in Philadelphia for the week for work and dropped by to take their Muay Thai class.”
What members say
“The atmosphere is super welcoming to newcomers, whether you're new to the gym or Jiu Jitsu entirely.”
“It's not only about techniques at Balance, but the benefits one's Martial Arts academy is supposed to provide it's members.”
“Great place to learn Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai in a fun and friendly environment!”
“As a woman in the sport sometimes it is hard walking into a place not knowing what kind of atmosphere you'll find.”
“I can without hesitation say that Team Balance/ Balance North East changed my life.”
From the reviews
My 14 year old son has been here now almost 7 months. He loves it. The instructors are awesome. When he goes to a class where he is the youngest he never feels out of place. Highly recommended.
Great classes and great people. Been doing muay thai here for about a year and im in better shape than ever.
I’m in Philadelphia for the week for work and dropped by to take their Muay Thai class. I got a chance to chat with the owner, Phil. Super nice guy and let me join in BJJ also. Ben was also great. I enjoyed the class a lot.
My name is Justin Garcia and I am a black belt in BJJ. I have been visiting Balance for training for about 6 years now and I can vouch for not only the world class training and instruction, but the sincere intentions of it's owners.
New to BJJ? Start at Balance Studios
Balance Studios 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 Balance Studios
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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