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CDA Jiu-Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 71 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Dalton Gardens, Idaho
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 cdajiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 208-601-6120
Hours
| Monday | 6–7:30 am, 12–1:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 12–1:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7:30 am, 12–1:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Thursday | 12–1:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Friday | 5–8 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“If you’re looking for a place to learn Jiu-Jitsu, whether for yourself, your kids, or your whole family, this is the kind of academy you stay with for a long time.”
“Our kids have done many tournaments under both academies and I can also say the competition team here is a lot of fun to be a part of!”
“Had the pleasure of dropping into CDA jiu jitsu this past weekend for their open mat.”
“CDA Jiu jitsu is by far the BEST gym I have been a part of and I would recommend it for the beginner and advanced practitioners.”
Other martial arts here
“I've been to many MMA/Jiu Jitsu gyms and you can tell right away if it is a healthy environment.”
What members say
“The people are all very welcoming and Professor Shawn is both a great teacher and a people person.”
“The environment here is truly special, warm, welcoming, and family-friendly, while still maintaining a relevant level of competitiveness and strong technical instruction.”
“The environment here is truly special, warm, welcoming, and family-friendly, while still maintaining a relevant level of competitiveness and strong technical instruction.”
“The passion he brings to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is truly inspiring, and his instruction is consistently high quality, detailed, and effective.”
“The instruction is detailed, practical, and rooted in techniques you can confidently apply in real-life situations, not just in competition.”
“Safe training partners, clean mats, good people, good drilling and rolling time, and a whole lot of fun with like minded friends.”
From the reviews
This gym has a direct lineage from the Machado Brothers, and it truly shows in both the technical instruction and the culture. It’s not just a gym—it’s an extended family. Hard work, respect, and focus are core tenets here, embraced by both kids and adults alike.
As a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with 20+ years of experience, I’ve trained at many different academies, and it’s rare to find a place like CDA Jiu-Jitsu. The environment here is truly special, warm, welcoming, and family-friendly, while still maintaining a relevant level of competitiveness and strong technical…
Dropped in for an open mat while passing through CDA. Another reviewer put it perfectly - everyone is very welcoming and a beast on the mat. Professor Shawn is very down to earth. If you live in the CDA area and are looking to start Jiu-Jitsu you’re lucky to have such a great gym available.
Professor Shawn is AMAZING, so insightful. The culture professor Shawn has built at this academy is unbeatable. Great place to try out a first class and experience that real family gym environment!
New to BJJ? Start at CDA Jiu-Jitsu
CDA Jiu-Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 CDA 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.
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