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Fort Payne Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense
5 ★★★★★ 13 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Fort Payne, Alabama
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
- 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 fortpaynejiujitsuandselfdefense.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 256-605-9387
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–8:30 am |
| Tuesday | 5:30–8:30 am, 6:30–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30–8:30 am |
| Thursday | 5:30–8:30 am, 6:30–8 pm |
| Friday | 5:30–8:30 am |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Eric is knowledgeable and leads an amazing kids program as well as adults.”
“Highly recommend to anyone looking to learn jiu jitsu, self defense, or just being more active.”
“Great group to train with, good for beginners or advanced.”
Other martial arts here
“Really nice sized BJJ gym and wrestling mats to train on.”
What members say
“Great instructor, fantastic group of people all willing to learn and help one another better themselves.”
“Great group to train with, good for beginners or advanced.”
“Everyone I've trained with here has been friendly and helpful.”
From the reviews
Coach Eric is an outstanding instructor. I’ve known him for years, and he brings real passion, precision, and professionalism to every class. If you want true depth in your martial arts training, I highly recommend his program.
Excellent BJJ gym for beginners and experts alike! Eric is an excellent coach and had a wealth of knowledge across a variety of Martial arts.
Great instructor! Very welcoming environment. My daughter and I have been training with Eric for almost a year now.
Very grateful to have a spot to train so close to my house. Eric is a great instructor with a great amount of knowledge and experience. Highly recommend to anyone looking to learn jiu jitsu, self defense, or just being more active. Everyone I've trained with here has been friendly and helpful.
New to BJJ? Start at Fort Payne Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense
Fort Payne Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 Fort Payne Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense
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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