HomeKentuckyNewport › Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

5 ★★★★★ 121 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Newport, Kentucky

Part of Carlson Gracie

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi

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
  • 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
  • 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 carlsongracienky.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 859-414-6701

Hours

Monday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Tuesday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Wednesday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Thursday 12–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Friday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–8:30 pm
Saturday 2–4 pm
Sunday 11 am–1 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 Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 7 mentions

“My daughter (10 years old) has been training here for a little over 7 months in the Little Bulldogs class for BJJ and recently added the striking class.”

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🩳 No-Gi

“Did the NoGi class, had some fun rounds and the coaching was great.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“Just started private lessons with Matt 3 weeks ago and love it!”

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🔓 Open Mat 2 mentions

“The gym is in a great location - right after open mat I went to the aquarium just down the road!”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“I wanted to sign her up for something where she could be active and that also has real world application.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 2 mentions

“But great atmosphere and they offer so many types of training (Muay Thai, judo, jiu jitsu, etc).”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA 2 mentions

“I’ve tried many MMA gyms both in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, and this is by far the best gym I’ve been too.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🥊 Boxing

“They have a huge facility with a boxing ring, full size cage, and most important a great group of training partners.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🤼 Judo 5 mentions

“My husband and I are grateful for the personal growth that we see in our kids through the disciplines of judo and jujitsu here.”

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.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 121 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“Not only was the head coach (Andy) super knowledgeable and an amazing teacher but the students (Ben + others) were also kind and welcoming despite me just dropping by.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Not only was the head coach (Andy) super knowledgeable and an amazing teacher but the students (Ben + others) were also kind and welcoming despite me just dropping by.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 14 mentions

“Not only was the head coach (Andy) super knowledgeable and an amazing teacher but the students (Ben + others) were also kind and welcoming despite me just dropping by.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“Aaron has a superb knowledge base and a keen attention to detail.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 14 mentions

“The owners and coaches of Carlson Gracie NKY have provided a wonderful, safe environment for my kids to stretch and grow both physically and mentally.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 4 mentions

“My husband and I are grateful for the personal growth that we see in our kids through the disciplines of judo and jujitsu here.”

From the reviews

The owners and coaches of Carlson Gracie NKY have provided a wonderful, safe environment for my kids to stretch and grow both physically and mentally. My husband and I are grateful for the personal growth that we see in our kids through the disciplines of judo and jujitsu here.

★★★★★ — Cv, May 2024

My six year old daughter has been going to this gym for almost seven months and she loves it. I wanted to sign her up for something where she could be active and that also has real world application. She has fun while learning structure, gaining confidence, a hard work ethic, etc.

★★★★★ — Cara, Aug 2022

We put our daughter in this gym about 2 months ago. She’s loving this gym and the instructors are amazing at working with the kids.

★★★★★ — Shelly, Aug 2022

Carlson Gracie NKY is everything you want in a BJJ/MMA gym. They have a huge facility with a boxing ring, full size cage, and most important a great group of training partners. I’ve been training BJJ for five years. I was I town for work and I felt right at home training here.

★★★★★ — Daniel, Feb 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 121 reviews →

Your first BJJ class at Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

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 Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

818 Monmouth St, Newport, KY41071

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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.