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Essential Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 74 Google reviews · BJJ gym in White Plains, 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
- 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
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- 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 essentialbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 914-713-3909
Hours
| Monday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–7 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 6–7 am, 10 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 10 am–1 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They are constantly pushing the kids to give their utmost effort, and strive to be their very best - technically and emotionally.”
“Different training partners from white to black and ages from young competitor monsters to hobbyist parents.”
“If you’re looking for an academy that offers a variety of training styles for all levels of experience this is the place to be.”
What members say
“JT Torres is the head instructor and his positive and friendly attitude, along with his excellent instruction makes this academy spectacular.”
“If you’re looking for an academy that offers a variety of training styles for all levels of experience this is the place to be.”
“JT Torres is the head instructor and his positive and friendly attitude, along with his excellent instruction makes this academy spectacular.”
“So many classes to choose from and each instructor is very detailed and knowledgeable!”
“Different training partners from white to black and ages from young competitor monsters to hobbyist parents.”
“From the instruction all the way to the cleanliness of the facility it is all top notch.”
From the reviews
If you’re looking for an academy that offers a variety of training styles for all levels of experience this is the place to be. Whether you’re new or experienced you’ll learn from a number of qualified professionals who will break everything down for anyone to understand, and who can make you feel like a part of the…
Spent four days at Essential Jiu Jitsu led by World Champion JT TORRES and had an amazing experience. All the instructors and students were very welcoming. So many classes to choose from and each instructor is very detailed and knowledgeable!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A One-of-a-Kind Experience at Essentials Jiu Jitsu! My 14-year-old cousin( Miriam ) from Portugal recently visited New York City for vacation, but as a dedicated and high-level jiu-jitsu athlete, she wanted to maintain her training while abroad.
I have trained at many jiu-jitsu gyms in the many years I have been training and this has been one of the best. JT Torres is the head instructor and his positive and friendly attitude, along with his excellent instruction makes this academy spectacular.
New to BJJ? Start at Essential Jiu Jitsu
Essential 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 Essential 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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