Home › North Carolina › Fayetteville › Cornerstone Bjj
Cornerstone Bjj
5 ★★★★★ 90 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Fayetteville, 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 1–8) — 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 cornerstonebjj.online — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 910-728-6317
Hours
| Monday | 10 am–1 pm, 4:45–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 4:45–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–1 pm, 4:45–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 4:45–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 10 am–1 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“This lends to a stress free training environment that propagates true growth and a mastery of the fundamentals.”
“My two kids and I have been going to cornerstone for 5+ years, charlie, Miranda and the entire cornerstone Bjj community has become family.”
“Coach Charlie has been doing judo and jiu jitsu since the 80’s and is still an active competitor.”
“Whether you’re stepping onto the mats for the first time or you’re a seasoned practitioner continuing your BJJ journey, Cornerstone is the perfect place to grow.”
Other martial arts here
“At Cornerstone, there are high level grapplers at all belt levels without the need to constantly “prove” yourself which is common with many MMA gyms.”
“Coach Charlie has been doing judo and jiu jitsu since the 80’s and is still an active competitor.”
What members say
“Instructor is very knowledgeable and truly dedicated to helping every student improve and get the techniques right.”
“Whether you’re stepping onto the mats for the first time or you’re a seasoned practitioner continuing your BJJ journey, Cornerstone is the perfect place to grow.”
“If you’re looking for a high-level jiu-jitsu school with a supportive, diverse, and empowering environment, this is the place to be.”
“Their technique is top-notch — everything is broken down in a way that’s easy to understand and apply, regardless of your experience level.”
From the reviews
Best gym best coaches best training partners best jiu jitsu for you and the kids. After training here for several years anytime I visit a different gym my cornerstone jiu jitsu stands out.
If you are in the Fayetteville area and are looking for a Jiu-Jitsu school, look no further! Whether you’re new to the sport or have been rolling for years, you will be able to learn here! The coaching staff here is phenomenal, patient, and truly has a desire to help you grow both in Jiu-Jitsu and personally as well.
Phenomenal gym, Phenomenal people up and down the belt structure, so awesome that I refuse to leave the parking lot before I finish what should be a 10 star review. These guys are where you need to go for Jiu Jitsu in Fayetteville.
I had an incredible experience with the trainers and students at cornerstone! I had taken a few classes a year before at a place and had a very poor experience with some of the students that never got addressed by the teachers. I was in the Ft.
New to BJJ? Start at Cornerstone Bjj
Cornerstone Bjj 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 Cornerstone Bjj
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 Fayetteville
Jewel Jiu Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 165 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Carolina Prime Performance
4.8 ★★★★★ 72 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Training and competition-focused gym with programs in jiu-jitsu, MMA and powerlifting.
Nous Defions / Striking and Grappling
5 ★★★★★ 32 reviews