Home › North Carolina › Apex › Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
5 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Apex, North Carolina
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 3–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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 connectionbjjacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (910) 536-2278
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 AM, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30–10:30 AM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6–7 AM, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30–10:30 AM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 5:30–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“What really sets this gym apart for me is that I can also take classes alongside my daughter, and it has been such a wonderful bonding experience for us both.”
“They even offer kids classes from 3 years and up and has an all women’s class as well!”
“If you are a beginner or a seasoned competitor looking level up your game, this is the place!”
“Vini is a fantastic guy who even took the time to work with her one on one to make sure she was squared away on the techniques being taught each day.”
“They are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in every student's growth, whether you're a complete beginner or more experienced on the mats.”
Other martial arts here
“I highly recommend connection jiujitsu over any karate or taekwondo classes for little kids.”
What members say
“We didn't realize at the time how fortunate we were to have access to such an incredible instructional environment!”
“The culture of the gym is welcoming, professional, and family-friendly, while still offering challenging, technical rounds for athletes who want to push their performance.”
“The culture of the gym is welcoming, professional, and family-friendly, while still offering challenging, technical rounds for athletes who want to push their performance.”
“Vini is a fantastic guy who even took the time to work with her one on one to make sure she was squared away on the techniques being taught each day.”
“Our kids have grown so much in skill and confidence thanks to their dedication.”
“Not only is Gabriel a phenomenal athlete, he has created a great training environment with competent and competitive instructors.”
From the reviews
Great gym atmosphere, hard rolls, excellent professors. This is the first gym I feel im really part of a family that cares about me instead of treated like another member. Recently did remodel and improvements to the gym and it looks amazing.
Our kids have been in the jiu-jitsu program for 6 months, and we couldn’t be happier. Coaches Kinho, Leo, and Maria are amazing—they treat every child like their own, creating a supportive and fun environment. Our kids have grown so much in skill and confidence thanks to their dedication.
These guys are the best! Took my 7 year old daughter to attend a seminar with Gabriel and Ffion which was a dream come true for her. The team at Connection went above and beyond to accommodate her being one of the only kids to attend.
We love Connection! We participate in their kids program. All of the coaches and professors are extremely friendly and inviting. They are all brown and black belt instructors with competition experience. It’s a well run class and you can tell safety is maintained and a priority!
New to BJJ? Start at Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC 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 Connection Jiu Jitsu Academy - Apex, NC
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.
More BJJ gyms near Apex
Jiu Jitsu Performance Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 137 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Open Guard BJJ
4.9 ★★★★★ 29 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Apex Martial Arts Center
4.9 ★★★★★ 136 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site