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Carlson Gracie South Lakeland
5 ★★★★★ 70 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Lakeland, Florida
Part of Carlson Gracie
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
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule carlsongraciepolkcounty.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (863) 777-0443
Hours
| Monday | 4–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–12 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–8 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–12 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–12 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Coaches Marc and Lucas have been at the forefront of making my son comfortable and both do a fantastic job of not only explaining the techniques, but also the culture.”
“Having Marc as a BJJ instructor during classes and one-on-one training has elevated my performance both on and off the mats.”
“I have my son in this for self-defense and in as little as the first couple of weeks when he started, I've noticed a difference in him.”
“The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and they create a supportive and welcoming environment for students of all levels.”
Other martial arts here
“I’ve been training here for a while now, and I can say this is one of the best spots around lakeland for both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing.”
What members say
“He is not only a great Jiu Jitsu coach, but he instills great values and will be impacting these children’s lives in a positive manner.”
“The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and they create a supportive and welcoming environment for students of all levels.”
“The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and they create a supportive and welcoming environment for students of all levels.”
“Coaches Marc and Lucas have been at the forefront of making my son comfortable and both do a fantastic job of not only explaining the techniques, but also the culture.”
“It’s been most two years and my son still loves being coached by Coach Marc.”
“Thanks to the Carlson Gracie team my son looks forward to his after school care and his classes where he is progressively getting better everytime with his jui jitsu skills!”
From the reviews
I recently visited and was very impressed by Coach Marc. I felt very welcomed by the coaches. The students were very friendly as well. I was visiting from out of town, I cross trained with the group and felt very safe. It’s a knowledgeable group, with a great practice. Marc is patient and very much enjoys coaching.
Coach Marc does an amazing job teaching the kids! My boys are in the 5-7 age group, and they have learned a lot about basic jujitsu techniques/takedowns. They always look forward to going to practices!
I have been bringing my 6 year old son to this school for almost a year now and my son has completely transformed from a shy kid to a smiling confident kid with some quality Jiu Jitsu skills. I can’t thank Coach Marc enough with how much he has helped my son.
Coach Marc is amazing with the kids. I put my 6 year old in the after school jiujitsu program and they are great at assuring there’s pick up on time, the kids get exercise before class and a whole session. I especially like how they are teaching him routine and how to respectfully address one another.
New to BJJ? Start at Carlson Gracie South Lakeland
Carlson Gracie South Lakeland 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 Carlson Gracie South Lakeland
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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