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Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing
4.9 ★★★★★ 39 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Knoxville, Tennessee
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
- 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 catebjjandkickboxing.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 865-386-5052
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 | Closed |
The classes they run
“It is not often that a teenager looks forward to hanging out with their parents.”
“This is one of the only places in town I know of that focuses entirely on No Gi.”
“For my people that’s looking to compete either in jujitsu or kickboxing anything like that.”
“For over two years now, I leave every class and open mat feeling glad that I showed up and put in the work.”
“Everyone in the gym is positive, encouraging, and truly wants to help you succeed, which can be a big deal if you are a beginner like me.”
Other martial arts here
“Josh has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience from BJJ, Wrestling and MMA and is clearly dedicated to making sure his students improve and meet their goals.”
“If you are looking for a new gym to challenge yourself and improve your martial arts skills in the Knoxville area I would seriously consider Cate BJJ and kickboxing.”
“You won’t find another gym in town that mixes Bjj (from a fantastic lineage)with legitimate wrestling and some judo.”
“Josh has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience from BJJ, Wrestling and MMA and is clearly dedicated to making sure his students improve and meet their goals.”
What members say
“Aside from being a master of his craft, Josh is one of the best coaches I've had in 10+ years of athletics, who genuinely wants to see you succeed in whatever your aspirations are.”
“Everyone in the gym is positive, encouraging, and truly wants to help you succeed, which can be a big deal if you are a beginner like me.”
“Comparative to other gyms around town, the monthly rate feels like a steal and Coach Cate makes everyone feel like part of the family.”
“Coach Cate is a top notch teacher who keeps the students engaged, learning new techniques, motivated, safe and having a good time.”
“For my people that’s looking to compete either in jujitsu or kickboxing anything like that.”
“This is a great gym, I would recommend anyone who is interested in starting or continuing their training to check it out!”
From the reviews
This is a great gym, I would recommend anyone who is interested in starting or continuing their training to check it out! I believe the gym is great for several reasons. Coach Cate is a top notch teacher who keeps the students engaged, learning new techniques, motivated, safe and having a good time.
Great gym, great people. I was traveling through Knoxville and had the good fortune to get to train at Cate for the weekend! Their whole team was very welcoming and very kind to me while we trained and chatted. The team was gritty and tough. They showed great skill across the whole of jiujitsu. Especially wrestling.
I came to Cates's as a 38 year old guy brand new to martial arts. Joining this gym was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I've made. For over two years now, I leave every class and open mat feeling glad that I showed up and put in the work.
Josh is a great coach and has a very organized and structured curriculum. You won’t find another gym in town that mixes Bjj (from a fantastic lineage)with legitimate wrestling and some judo. No other school in town will teach you to take down your opponent or defend the takedown like this one.
New to BJJ? Start at Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing
Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing 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 Cate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing
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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