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Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

4.9 ★★★★★ 88 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Charlottesville, Virginia

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team

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 (ages 5–14) — 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule cvillebjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (434) 825-6202

Hours

Monday 12–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM
Tuesday 6–7 AM, 12–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM
Wednesday 12–1 PM, 4–7:30 PM
Thursday 6–7 AM, 12–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM
Friday 12–1 PM, 5–7 PM
Saturday 11 AM–2 PM
Sunday Closed

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 Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 3 mentions

“Gordon puts a lot of emphasis on proper technique and this attention permeates throughout the gym.”

All gyms that run fundamentals →

🏆 Competition Team

“Full disclosure: I started BJJ in 2003 and am a 1st degree IBJJF-certified Black Belt.”

All gyms that run competition team →

🔓 Open Mat 4 mentions

“Anna was so helpful and helped me get into other classes and open mats, often times helping me work on guards and positions.”

All gyms that run open mat →

🌱 Beginners 7 mentions

“Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this gym provides the tools, guidance, and atmosphere needed for continuous improvement.”

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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 Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 4 mentions

“I was looking for a place to start back into Muay Thai training.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

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 88 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 9 mentions

“If you learn something new everyday then you learn 100 new things each BJJ class - and Gordon is just the black belt coach to do the teaching.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 19 mentions

“My instructors were amazing - very helpful, good at correcting your technique in an encouraging way, and overall providing a welcoming yet challenging atmosphere.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 29 mentions

“My instructors were amazing - very helpful, good at correcting your technique in an encouraging way, and overall providing a welcoming yet challenging atmosphere.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“My instructors were amazing - very helpful, good at correcting your technique in an encouraging way, and overall providing a welcoming yet challenging atmosphere.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 7 mentions

“Classes are well structured, the training environment is clean and welcoming, and teammates are consistently supportive and respectful.”

From the reviews

I started training at C'ville BJJ last August and it has been a wonderful experience! There is high quality instruction for all experience levels. Gordon puts a lot of emphasis on proper technique and this attention permeates throughout the gym.

★★★★★ — Tom, Jan 2018

I have been training at Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 3 years now, and it has been an amazing experience. Gordon has developed an incredible school with a highly focused and detailed curriculum. The atmosphere is very welcoming, low-pressure, and extremely inclusive.

★★★★★ — David, Jan 2018

I moved to Charlottesville in August and had only been training Jiu Jitsu for a few months. Gordon, Bob, and John have been great coaches and make everyone feel welcome, no matter the skill level. I have met some great people at the gym and going is one of my favorite activities every week.

★★★★★ — Sean, Jan 2018

I'm a former wrestler and had been looking to try BJJ for a while now. Cville BJJ had a great introductory course that worked with my schedule so I went for it. The course was incredibly well instructed. Prof Gordon was amazing at explaining things and fielding any questions that came up.

★★★★★ — Dick, Feb 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 88 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Charlottesville Brazilian 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Charlottesville Brazilian 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.

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 Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

1731 Allied St, Charlottesville, VA22903

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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.