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First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead

4.8 ★★★★★ 23 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Marblehead, Massachusetts

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

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
  • 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 firstcolonybjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 781-462-8823

Hours

Monday 7–10 am, 7–8:30 pm
Tuesday 7–10 am, 7–8:30 pm
Wednesday 7–10 am, 7–8:30 pm
Thursday 7–10 am, 7–8:30 pm
Friday 7–9:30 am
Saturday 7–10 am
Sunday Closed

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 First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🛡️ Self-Defense

“Fitness, self defense, and sport, First Colony has it all.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“Extremely welcoming and motivating for beginners and for people with all different levels of experience.”

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 First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Boxing

“They also now offer boxing and a conditioning class.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

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 23 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 12 mentions

“They’re so welcoming and fun - I never feel out of place or outcast here, which is more than most other places.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 15 mentions

“They’re so welcoming and fun - I never feel out of place or outcast here, which is more than most other places.”

great workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“During that time I've lost weight, made great friends and gained tons of confidence.”

From the reviews

Great place and super friendly group. I can’t say enough about how friendly and supportive all the coaches are. Keep up the great work!

★★★★★ — Kevin, Jul 2023

Been training here for just over 1.5 years. Amazing group to train with! Supportive environment for a beginner and everyone helped me get better though those first steps.

★★★★★ — Jim, Jul 2023

Extremely welcoming and motivating for beginners and for people with all different levels of experience. Great group of people to work and learn with. I look forward to continuing to learn and recommend anyone who wants to have fun and challenge themselves.

★★★★★ — Luke, Nov 2019

I've been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at First Colony for almost two year. During that time I've lost weight, made great friends and gained tons of confidence. Doing Bjj at First Colony is one best decisions I've ever made.

★★★★★ — Jim, Nov 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 23 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead

First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead

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 First Colony Jiu Jitsu - BJJ Marblehead

100 Hoods Ln, Marblehead, MA01945

Get directions Instagram

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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.