Home › New York › Rochester › Empire Academy of Combat Sports and Fitness
Empire Academy of Combat Sports and Fitness
4.9 ★★★★★ 62 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Rochester, New York
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
- 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 teamempire.us — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 585-943-1652
Hours
| Monday | 9 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 5–7 pm |
| Saturday | 10:30 am–2:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I signed up for the unlimited membership ($250), which lets you attend as many classes as you want, and I took Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu fundamentals, and combat conditioning.”
“From noob to professional, kids to adults, whatever your goals may be, this gym has your wants and needs covered if you’re striving to improve yourself.”
“If you have ever wanted to train/compete in MMA or be as fit as an elite athlete, Empire Academy is for you.”
“They have a wide variety of skill in the people that attend the gym, and from the beginners to the pros, everyone gets the training they need.”
Other martial arts here
“I signed up for the unlimited membership ($250), which lets you attend as many classes as you want, and I took Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu fundamentals, and combat conditioning.”
“If anyone in the Rochester area has been thinking about stepping into an MMA gym, Empire is the one you wanna go to.”
“From 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu to Kickboxing for all ages, they really do have you and your family covered on all levels.”
“I had no prior training other than a semester of Judo back in Community college.”
What members say
“Amazing Martial Arts facility with friendly staff and world class instructors that are there to help you every step of the way!”
“They have a wide variety of skill in the people that attend the gym, and from the beginners to the pros, everyone gets the training they need.”
“Amazing Martial Arts facility with friendly staff and world class instructors that are there to help you every step of the way!”
“I signed up for the unlimited membership ($250), which lets you attend as many classes as you want, and I took Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu fundamentals, and combat conditioning.”
“I signed up for the unlimited membership ($250), which lets you attend as many classes as you want, and I took Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu fundamentals, and combat conditioning.”
“It's advantageous for fighters to have a group of supports that constantly push and encourage during themselves a tough training session for their upcoming competition.”
From the reviews
I have been at Empire for close to four years now and I’m grateful everyday that I walked through the doors. If you’re looking to be a fighter, or just coming in to lose weight, or hit the gym. This is the place. You’ll walk away with more than just physical gains, you’ll walk away a better human.
I was so nervous to step foot into this place. I had no prior training other than a semester of Judo back in Community college. I’ve learned so much from the coaches and teammates. Empire Academy is an amazing place where people from all walks of life are welcomed and treated with utmost respect.
Have been to a few gyms in the past and 10th planet in Rochester is by far the best. They have a wide variety of skill in the people that attend the gym, and from the beginners to the pros, everyone gets the training they need. As a complete beginner, the process of slowly building my skill set has been amazing.
If you have ever wanted to train/compete in MMA or be as fit as an elite athlete, Empire Academy is for you. The coaches are all highly trained in a multitude of disciplines and will accommodate you if you're experienced or brand new. They have new members signing up every week and there is an amazing team feeling.
New to BJJ? Start at Empire Academy of Combat Sports and Fitness
Empire Academy of Combat Sports and Fitness 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 Empire Academy of Combat Sports and Fitness
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 Rochester
Athletics Grappling Arts & Fitness Studio
5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews
Nova Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 32 reviews
Rochester Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site