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Empire Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Maine
5 ★★★★★ 29 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Freeport, Maine
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 8–15) — 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
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule empirebjjmaine.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (207) 956-1276
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–7:30 AM, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–7:30 AM, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Friday | 5:30–7:30 AM |
| Saturday | 9:15 AM–12:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My husband and children train at Empire and we absolutely love it!”
“Loved the classes and the free rolling at the end of class.”
“Josh has a great style, blending self defense and sport jiu jitsu and a deep well of knowledge to add little improvements to your game no matter your background.”
“The atmosphere is welcoming and supportive to all levels and all learning types.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Excellent training and lots of attention from the instructor that is high level.”
“Josh has created a very welcoming gym, and no matter your experience level you’ll be able to learn something new from his classes.”
“This was FREE with ask for a donation to the Family Violence Project (awesome) and I did learn some foundational self-defense skills!”
“There are frequently guest instructors as well, which is great to see different techniques.”
“The mats are clean, the community is friendly and the profesor is knowledgeable.”
From the reviews
Absolutely phenomenal place. Josh is an amazing and understanding teacher that can work with students of any level. He helps you really learn the skills in a way that you feel confident in your abilities after just one class. 100% recommend for anyone looking for a fun way to work out and learn something as well.
My husband and children train at Empire and we absolutely love it! We have had a very positive experience with Coach Josh. He takes everyone’s training seriously while at the same time making the class fun and enjoyable.
I dropped in for a Saturday class. The instructor and regular students were friendly and welcoming. The instructions was targeted to common problems which was super helpful. Instruction was clear and follow up helped me when I could quite figure it out. Drills and live rolling afterward. Great time with great people.
New to jujitsu and I always feel welcome! Great energy and respect from others. Excellent training and lots of attention from the instructor that is high level. Josh always will find a way to explain what you are trying to learn and has a great curriculum that will help you retain the information.
New to BJJ? Start at Empire Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Maine
Empire Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Maine 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 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Maine
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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