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Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids

5 ★★★★★ 218 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Grand Rapids, Michigan

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • 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 danielgracieteammichigan.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (616) 888-4419

Hours

Monday 9 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 9 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–9 PM
Thursday 9 AM–9 PM
Friday 9 AM–9 PM
Saturday 11 AM–8 PM
Sunday 11 AM–9 PM

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 Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 6 mentions

“Our two kids practice jiu jitsu and we wanted them to get some practice in while on vacation.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🥋 Gi

“I dropped in for a gi class while visiting Grand Rapids, and this gym exceeded my expectations!”

All gyms that run gi →

🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids is a legitimate home to a family of competitors that strive for growth and excellence.”

All gyms that run competition team →

🔓 Open Mat

“Me and my fiance were in town for the weekend and dropped in over the weekend for bjj open mat.”

All gyms that run open mat →

🌱 Beginners 7 mentions

“Miguel and the rest of the school were incredibly cool, down to earth people who made everything comfortable for a beginner.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

“Many of them have competed at a pro level in MMA, and all of them have great jiu-jitsu.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 218 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“First time in Grand Rapids and Stopped by while in town for a wedding and Professor Miguel was great.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 15 mentions

“Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids was responsive, welcoming, accommodating and our kids had a great time at their Saturday morning kids class.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 20 mentions

“The community is super welcoming and helpful to newbies like us and the coaches are amazing and always pushing you to do better.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“My girlfriend recently started training here, and everyone has been respectful and eager to help her learn new techniques.”

active competition team 3 mentions

“Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids is a legitimate home to a family of competitors that strive for growth and excellence.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 8 mentions

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My boys (ages 7 and 9) started training at Daniel Gracie's Grand Rapids/Holland locations in December 2024, and they absolutely LOVE it!”

From the reviews

Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids is a legitimate home to a family of competitors that strive for growth and excellence. Consistently growing in size since I started attending a little over a year ago, we’ve turned into a hard working team that welcomes others to join with open arms.

★★★★★ — Alan, Jan 2022

I dropped in while in GR for work. What a great place! The coaches were great and very welcoming to a new guy. All of the students were great and gave me some great rolls. This gym is filled with amazing competitors. Coach Miguel showed a great sub from top turtle that I will be adding to my game.

★★★★★ — Veichs, Nov 2022

Me and my Brother have been training at Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids for almost 4 months now and loving every second of it. Everything about this gym is incredible. The community is super welcoming and helpful to newbies like us and the coaches are amazing and always pushing you to do better.

★★★★★ — Sulayman, Oct 2024

This is the premier place to learn bjj for all ages! I wish I could share all the benefits I've gotten from joining this community to everyone. You’ll have to check it out to see for yourself!

★★★★★ — Noah, Feb 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 218 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids

Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids 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 Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids

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 Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids

351 Summer Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI49504

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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.