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Cedar Valley Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 20 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Waterloo, Iowa
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
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule cv-bjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 319-234-7621
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30–9 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9–11 am |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Whether you want to train for MMA, learn self defense, or just be part of a great group of guys and gals this place has it all.”
“They continue to grow the team each year and offer good variety of training styles and partners for all levels.”
Other martial arts here
“Whether you want to train for MMA, learn self defense, or just be part of a great group of guys and gals this place has it all.”
What members say
“They continue to grow the team each year and offer good variety of training styles and partners for all levels.”
“Excellent instruction, strong lineage, great training partners and a very welcoming environment.”
From the reviews
Great quality instruction with a great atmosphere and culture. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. Good controlled and technical rolls. Definitely would recommend if you are looking to start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or are out of towner visiting the Cedar Valley area. Mike Turner - purple belt from Tennessee
CVJJ is the best MMA gym in the Cedar Valley area hands down. Greg, Sam, Dostal and the rest of the coaches do a fantastic job teachings and the rolls are always competitive, but fun at the same time. You get so much value out of coming to the gym since they don’t gouge the prices compared to other facilities.
If you have been thinking about giving Jiu Jitsu a try, let this place be your first step. This gym has a great group of men and women who double as great training partners. There are two different level classes. Fundamentals and Mixed Level. The instructors for both and are very passionate about what they teach.
This is an excellent place to train Jiu Jitsu. This was one of the first schools in the state of Iowa to train and it’s clear why it has stood the test of time. Excellent instruction, strong lineage, great training partners and a very welcoming environment. Very proud to call this place home!
New to BJJ? Start at Cedar Valley Jiu Jitsu
Cedar Valley 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 Cedar Valley 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.
