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Forward BJJ
5 ★★★★★ 43 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Madison, Wisconsin
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 4–12) — 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 forwardbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (608) 205-8273
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–12:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“About Jiu-Jitsu, it’s hard not to get addicted but you can benefit a great deal and learn to protect yourself from the sports fundamentals.”
“From young children to aspiring seniors, there is no one better than Cristiano to teach you the Gentle Art!”
“They have a wide variety of class levels, times, locations and gi/no gi.”
“Also, great community and we always do well at tournaments.”
“About Jiu-Jitsu, it’s hard not to get addicted but you can benefit a great deal and learn to protect yourself from the sports fundamentals.”
“Awesome place to try Jiu Jitsu if you’re a beginner or train safely if you’re advanced and getting ready for competition.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Awesome place to try Jiu Jitsu if you’re a beginner or train safely if you’re advanced and getting ready for competition.”
“What I love most about this particular gym is it has a great inclusive culture that welcomes all like a family.”
“About Jiu-Jitsu, it’s hard not to get addicted but you can benefit a great deal and learn to protect yourself from the sports fundamentals.”
“The kids program is great.”
“Awesome place to try Jiu Jitsu if you’re a beginner or train safely if you’re advanced and getting ready for competition.”
“Coming from an outside academy, I was surprised at just how welcome and at home everyone made me feel at Gracie Barra.”
From the reviews
Starting Jiu Jitsu once seemed like a far fetched dream but now is a huge part of my life all thanks to Gracie Barra. From day 1 I was greeted with a smile and a hug and two years later nothing has changed. The culture is unmatched and the friendships go way beyond the mats.
Forward Jiu Jitsu is the best gym I’ve ever attended. I’ve been training for a year and a half, and I had some previous experiences training in Brazil. I can confidently say that Brazilian hospitality is alive and well here.
Allowed me to drop in and pay a small fee instead of locking me into a contract that’s hard to cancel. As a travel worker it’s hard to find gyms who work with me on that. I never know when I’ll have to move so it’s great to train somewhere so flexible.
There is not a jiujitsu gym in the state that has the credibility that Gracie Barra Madison and Waunakee have. That’s not an exaggeration or hyperbole. That’s the truth. Professor Cristiano Ribero is a 5th degree black belt. You simply cannot find a more credible instructor to train under.
New to BJJ? Start at Forward BJJ
Forward BJJ 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 Forward BJJ
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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