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Ginsberg Academy BJJ

5 ★★★★★ 76 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Cambridge, Massachusetts

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team

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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule ginsbergacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 617-821-1585

Hours

Monday 6–9 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6–9 pm
Thursday 6:30 am–9 pm
Friday 5–8 pm
Saturday 9–11 am
Sunday 2–4:30 pm

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 Ginsberg Academy BJJ, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🏆 Competition Team

“Dave is a phenomenal teacher and has helped me grow as a BJJ competitor.”

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🌱 Beginners 6 mentions

“The other students were very welcoming and there is a good mix of total beginners and extremely skilled fighters.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Ginsberg Academy BJJ — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

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 76 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“Great experience at Ginsberg Academy, everyone at the gym is very welcoming and Professor Dave is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely a great person.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 16 mentions

“Great experience at Ginsberg Academy, everyone at the gym is very welcoming and Professor Dave is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely a great person.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 21 mentions

“Great experience at Ginsberg Academy, everyone at the gym is very welcoming and Professor Dave is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely a great person.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 6 mentions

“Not only was he professional but also willing to help me understand certain techniques.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 8 mentions

“Could not ask for a nicer, cleaner, more welcoming group of people including the owner Dave.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 2 mentions

From the reviews

I am a blue belt, with regular experience from 5 American and 5 European BJJ schools, and plenty of occasional drop-ins elsewhere. I can responsibility say that Ginsberg Academy is top-notch, with an amazing attention to detail, but even more importantly - extremely high professionalism, unparalleled focus on safety…

★★★★★ — Dariusz, Jan 2024

It's rare to find a community of BJJ players with as much respect and integrity as that at the Ginsberg Academy. I was visiting town and contacted them about coming in for a class. Coach Dave wanted to speak directly with me on the phone, just to get a sense of what I was all about.

★★★★★ — Lucas, Jun 2018

I have been training at Ginsberg Academy for 2 years and have loved every minute of it. Dave is a phenomenal teacher and has helped me grow as a BJJ competitor. The gym is extremely clean and I've always felt safe during training.

★★★★★ — Nathan, Aug 2021

SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE! I came from my first gym in Tucson and was nervous to try a new place. Ginsberg BJJ is AMAZING. Coach Dave is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely loves his students and his school.

★★★★★ — James, Sep 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 76 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Ginsberg Academy BJJ

Ginsberg Academy 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Ginsberg Academy 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.

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 Ginsberg Academy BJJ

2000 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA02140

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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.