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Essencia Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 60 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Trumbull, Connecticut
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
- 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 essenciajj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 475-467-0070
Hours
| Monday | 6–8 am, 4–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 4–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–8 am, 4–9 pm |
| Thursday | 4–9 pm |
| Friday | 5–8 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I pass a lot of schools on the way to Essencia for the preferred training environment and atmosphere I want my kids to grow up in and learn from; as well as be part of it myself.”
“He is highly knowledgeable and tailors his classes to both beginners and lifelong practitioners of the sport both in the gi and no-gi.”
“He is highly knowledgeable and tailors his classes to both beginners and lifelong practitioners of the sport both in the gi and no-gi.”
“It's a great jiu-jitsu academy, I'm very happy with having chosen Essencia Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and I look forward to eventually seeing him compete again.”
“This allows her to practice for competition with people her size and skill level and larger, more skilled teammates for self defense purposes.”
“He has an incredible ability to break down complex techniques into digestible pieces, making them accessible to students of all levels.”
What members say
“The knowledge of professor Marcello Lima is one of the best around.”
“So if you are looking to increase your health, learn a new art, build confidence, or up your game for competition, Essencia provides a fun, welcoming atmosphere to do so.”
“The team is incredibly welcoming and you can feel the sense of community at this academy.”
“Professor Marcello has a vast amount of knowledge and explains techniques thoroughly so you understand what to do, why you would do it and what to expect when you attempt a move.”
“My son loves learning Jiujitsu with Coach Marcelo and coach Andreas, they are very patient and caring with the young kids, truly warms my heart to see.”
“It's a great jiu-jitsu academy, I'm very happy with having chosen Essencia Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and I look forward to eventually seeing him compete again.”
From the reviews
My son joined Essencia Jiu-Jitsu last month, he goes to all three kids classes, and he loves it! He likes the Coaches teaching style, Coach Marcello especially , as they're all very patient while working with each kid, but also sometimes allow the higher belts to roll a little harder against the coaches.
My family has trained at three different academies. Essencia has been the best by leaps and bounds. The facility is beautiful and clean with ample room for training or watching.
Want to learn jiu-jitsu in a place where you are respected and treated equally, Essência JJ is the academy to go to, for kids and adults. The knowledge of professor Marcello Lima is one of the best around.
My children have been loving training at Essência. The gym has excellent facilities, always clean, and everything is new! The instructors are always very attentive, patient, and keep a close eye on all the children, being extremely professional.
New to BJJ? Start at Essencia Jiu Jitsu
Essencia Jiu Jitsu 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 Essencia Jiu Jitsu
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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