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Bull City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 89 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Durham, North Carolina

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

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
  • 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 bullcitybjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 919-949-0503

Hours

Monday 9 am–9 pm
Tuesday 9 am–9 pm
Wednesday 9 am–9 pm
Thursday 9 am–9 pm
Friday 9 am–9 pm
Saturday 9 am–9 pm
Sunday 9 am–9 pm

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 Bull City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 11 mentions

“Bull City BJJ has been a great gym t9 develop my BJJ skills as well as introduce it to my wife and kids!”

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🩳 No-Gi

“Loaned me a gi when I showed up ready for no gi.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“You can train hard with serious competitors while still feeling welcomed and encouraged.”

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🔓 Open Mat

“The open mat time at the end of each session is a great time to practice technique under opponent resistance.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“Learning with them feels fast, effective, and enjoyable, and they ensure students of all levels gain valuable insights and practical skills.”

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🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“Learning with them feels fast, effective, and enjoyable, and they ensure students of all levels gain valuable insights and practical skills.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

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

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.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 89 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 3 mentions

“Clean facility with knowledgeable instructors.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 10 mentions

“The coaches are fantastic and the owners Kim and Jason are true salt of the earth and have created a safe and welcoming space for everyone to learn JJ from the best!”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 13 mentions

“The coaches are fantastic and the owners Kim and Jason are true salt of the earth and have created a safe and welcoming space for everyone to learn JJ from the best!”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“They have an incredible talent for refreshing techniques you already know while quickly introducing new techniques that were previously not part of your game.”

🧒 strong kids program 3 mentions

“My kids love rolling here.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“Bull City BJJ has an amazing balance of high-level competition and a genuinely supportive, friendly atmosphere.”

From the reviews

Jason Musk & Kim Rice – BJJ Schwarzwald Camp 2025 Training with Professors Jason Musk and Kim Rice at the BJJ Schwarzwald Camp 2025 was an outstanding experience.

★★★★★ — Mario, Nov 2025

My 6yo daughter and I love coming to Bull City BJJ for the Tuesday and Thursday Kids and Family class. Coach Frannie is patient with the children and helps each child at their respective level of experience. I try to stay for the adult class afterwards.

★★★★★ — Matt, Dec 2023

Great place to start your jiu jitsu journey! Great community with loads of experience on hand for you to tap into. Kim, Jason and crew make it fun and approachable. What are you waiting for?? I’m coming up on year 3 and having more fun now than ever.

★★★★★ — Aaron, Dec 2025

I highly recommend Bull City BJJ! After exploring several Jiu-Jitsu schools in the Durham area, I decided to try a trial week here, and I knew right away that this was the place for me. The instructors are extremely welcoming and make a point to know everyone by name.

★★★★★ — Taylor, Aug 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 89 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Bull City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Bull City Brazilian 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Bull City Brazilian 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.

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 Bull City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

3111 Shannon Rd, Durham, NC27707

Get directions Instagram

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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.