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Form Jiu Jitsu Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 101 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Baltimore, Maryland
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 4–13) — 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 formjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 8–10 am, 5–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8–10 am, 5–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 8–10 am, 5–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8–10 am, 5–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 8–10 am, 5–8 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 11 am–1 pm |
The classes they run
“The Form instructors do a great job making training fun for the kids while teaching them functional skills, developing coordination, discipline, and building confidence.”
“Many of the instructors and members are champions, consistently reaching the podium in major competitions like IBJJF, Pans, and even worlds.”
“They offer beginner classes, providing a solid start for newcomers as well as advanced classes for those who are more seasoned in the sport.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Professor Rick is a world class instructor and has the ability to teach in a way that all skill levels will understand.”
“They offer beginner classes, providing a solid start for newcomers as well as advanced classes for those who are more seasoned in the sport.”
“They really are top notch - many of them have competed and won at the highest levels of BJJ, but they are all super humble, nice, caring, supportive people.”
“He’ll demonstrate a technique like any other instructor will, but he always seems to have an extra tiny detail that makes all the difference.”
“Don’t think it’s just for adults either, my 5 and 7 year old kids love it.”
“They really are top notch - many of them have competed and won at the highest levels of BJJ, but they are all super humble, nice, caring, supportive people.”
From the reviews
This is by far the best BJJ academy I've been to. Coaching/teaching is fantastic and you will definitely learn a lot. I strongly recommend it. Great environment and fantastic training partners. Rick, the owner and main coach, is very experienced, extremely approachable and teaches in an awesome and smart way.
We love this place. As of this writing we've had our kids at Form for about a year and a half. The coaches and professors are invested both in seeing the kids grow in their jiu jitsu and in their personal development.
Form Jiu Jitsu is an awesome spot for martial arts enthusiasts. The instructors here are top-notch, not only well-qualified but also super passionate about teaching. Their commitment is truly impressive.
My son has been studying at Form for over a year and a half. He started with one class and now enjoys going to class 4 times a week and has even competed in a tournament. He has made friends in the process and learned a great deal about sportsmanship, perseverance and competition.
New to BJJ? Start at Form Jiu Jitsu Academy
Form Jiu Jitsu Academy 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 Form Jiu Jitsu Academy
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. 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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