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Checkmat Daphne
5 ★★★★★ 111 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Daphne, Alabama
Part of Checkmat
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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule checkmatdaphne.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (251) 929-8842
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30–11:30 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“If you need a place for your kids to get all the energy out and learn a wonderful discipline this is the place to be.”
“They show up for tournaments and coach you through your matches.”
“As a female, it can be intimidating going to jiu-jitsu for the first time, but the coaches and students make you feel so at ease and comfortable.”
What members say
“All of the black belt instructors teach self-discipline, technique, and social skills that enrich the student's lives both inside and outside of the gym.”
“The training environment is well-structured, professional, and welcoming to adults and children of all skill levels.”
“The training environment is well-structured, professional, and welcoming to adults and children of all skill levels.”
“They show up for tournaments and coach you through your matches.”
“BJJ has so much life skills to teach us and our coaches at CheckmatDaphne do a phenomenal job teaching children.”
“All of the black belt instructors teach self-discipline, technique, and social skills that enrich the student's lives both inside and outside of the gym.”
From the reviews
Checkmat is the best gym in the area, hands down. Their coaching staff is formed by world renowned athletes and are not just highly skilled, but great teachers. Finally, the unspoken thing about Jiu Jitsu is the community that it comes with. Checkmat had some of the best community there has to offer.
Very welcoming, family oriented gym. Kids classes are highly recommended, Giba and Jose are fantastic coaches, and are very patient with the kids. We love Checkmat Daphne, it has become our home away from home. Come join our family!
My son Luke has been training at Checkmat Daphne for 10 months and has had an incredible experience. His confidence, self discipline, and physical abilities have all grown tremendously since he has started. The coaches truly care about each individual child and spend the time working on their unique skills.
Can’t say enough good things about this gym and its coaches! My son started at 7yrs old and is now 9. He has gained confidence and discipline and quite a few really good friends. He competes regularly and even picked up two sponsors! They have classes for all levels as well as multiple days and times.
New to BJJ? Start at Checkmat Daphne
Checkmat Daphne 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 Checkmat Daphne
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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site