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Cardinal BJJ & MMA Academy
5 ★★★★★ 8 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Brodhead, Wisconsin
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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule cardinalmartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 608-481-4098
Hours
| Monday | 10 am–2 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am–2 pm, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–2 pm, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 10–11:30 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 10 am–2 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I am a father of four and I train here with all of my children, my woman, and a handful of my nieces and nephews.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The space is unmatched and Coach Crisler is an amazing instructor.”
From the reviews
I am a father of four and I train here with all of my children, my woman, and a handful of my nieces and nephews. We absolutely love it here. The space is unmatched and Coach Crisler is an amazing instructor. I have known him for many years and consider him and his family an extension of our own.
Highly recommend this academy for anyone looking for authentic martial arts training. The Cardinal Martial Arts Academy team brings years of experience to the mat. The curriculum is well-structured, the facility is clean, and the atmosphere is both challenging and respectful.
The best fight gym in the area hands down! True authentic training. Coach is not only an incredible intelligent trainer, but a great human being! Very attentive and understanding not only to your progress in training but your battles in life.
The coaching here is legit!!! Super detailed and you can tell they care about your progress! All the equipment needed and the schedule is easy to work with!
New to BJJ? Start at Cardinal BJJ & MMA Academy
Cardinal BJJ & MMA 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 Cardinal BJJ & MMA 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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site