HomePennsylvaniaPittsburgh › Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and Grappling Academy

Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and Grappling Academy

5 ★★★★★ 3 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome No-gi New

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
  • 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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule theknifehand.org — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 717-418-4184

Hours

Monday 6–8 pm
Tuesday 6–8 pm
Wednesday 6–8 pm
Thursday 6–8 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and Grappling Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and Grappling Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🤼 Judo

“I started Judo at Bridge & Roll.”

Other gyms that also teach judo →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

From the reviews

I love B&R! Tim is a great instructor and has created a safe, fun and inviting space to train jiujitsu. I’m a purple belt who’s been training for 8 years and have trained in many other academies. There’s always some wild card trying to murder everyone in the room. Not here.

★★★★★ — Mario, Apr 2026

I started Judo at Bridge & Roll. I have never done a martial art or any other fighting style before and I really love the pacing of the classes and I feel like I'm learning a lot! It's a fun and relaxed place to train, and I find the smaller class sizes less overwhelming than other gyms

★★★★★ — Cayt, Apr 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 3 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and Grappling Academy

Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and 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.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Bridge and Roll - Jiu Jitsu and Grappling Academy

5415 Howe St, Pittsburgh, PA15232

Get directions Instagram

More BJJ gyms near Pittsburgh

Oom Yung Doe - 8 Martial Arts - Pittsburgh

4.9 ★★★★★ 38 reviews

2014 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team Affiliated expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

1.3 miles away

Stout PGH - Strip District

4.9 ★★★★★ 331 reviews

1719 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team welcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academystrong technique & fundamentals

2.7 miles away

IOTA JIU JITSU ACADEMY

5 ★★★★★ 19 reviews

1081 Greentree Rd, Pittsburgh, PA

🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team Affiliated expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

6.5 miles away

All BJJ gyms in Pittsburgh, PA →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.