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Gorilla BJJ Academy
5 ★★★★★ 84 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Mahwah, New Jersey
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 gorillabjjacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 201-962-8400
Hours
| Monday | 11:30 am–12:30 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–6:30 am, 11:30 am–1 pm, 6–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am–1 pm, 5–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–6:30 am, 11:30 am–1 pm, 6–9 pm |
| Friday | 5–8 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–12:30 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“After relocating from NYC, we were searching for a top-notch, clean, and professional facility for our kids to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”
“A superb environment to learn new fighting skills, whether it's MMA, Muay Thai, BJJ Gi, or No Gi, or BJJ Competition.”
“If you are a competitor looking to take home more medals or if you are a hobbyist looking to improve your fitness and self defense, Gorilla is the place for you.”
“Mike, as well as every instructor at Gorilla, takes time with their students, teaches in great detail and backs up everything he teaches with real world application.”
“They also offer their Muay Thai program which is great to round out your game with striking instructors Carlos and Thai as they welcome all levels for their classes.”
Other martial arts here
“They also offer their Muay Thai program which is great to round out your game with striking instructors Carlos and Thai as they welcome all levels for their classes.”
“Professor Mike Wilson and his team are a great bunch and are very knowledgable on teaching BJJ/MMA/wrestling and self defense in general.”
“Professor Mike Wilson and his team are a great bunch and are very knowledgable on teaching BJJ/MMA/wrestling and self defense in general.”
What members say
“From spotless mats and workout equipment, to incredible instruction from Mike, I don’t have a bad thing to say about this gym.”
“They also offer their Muay Thai program which is great to round out your game with striking instructors Carlos and Thai as they welcome all levels for their classes.”
“While it can be intimidating to start jiu jitsu, I can confidently say anyone who wants to begin their journey can find a welcoming home at Gorilla BJJ.”
“Owner and Professor Mike stays up to date with the jiu jitsu world and is always implementing the new wave of techniques in his teachings as well as old school moves.”
“If you are a competitor looking to take home more medals or if you are a hobbyist looking to improve your fitness and self defense, Gorilla is the place for you.”
“After relocating from NYC, we were searching for a top-notch, clean, and professional facility for our kids to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”
From the reviews
I’ve been training at Gorilla for 5 years now and I’ve loved every moment of it. Instructor Mike Wilson has a passion for BJJ and teaches virtually every class. His attention to detail and easy to understand analogies help make complicated technique easier to learn.
Great gym great people. My cousin switched to this gym a couple months ago and his game has dramatically improved since! Head Professor Mike runs a great program and everyone there rolls very respectfully. If you’re thinking about starting bjj or any type of striking, this is a great place to get started.
I have been going to gorilla BJJ for a year now and it is an amazing place. It is a nice big open mat and a smaller mat in front. The people there are nice and helpful. They explain thing extremely well and they keep the amazingly clean and a healthy working environment.
Gorilla BJJ is a breath of fresh air if you're looking for a jiu-jitsu gym that breaks away from traditional formalities. Forget the bowing and the formal titles like "Professor" or "Sensei” here, they keep it wonderfully simple: technique, training, and fun!
New to BJJ? Start at Gorilla BJJ Academy
Gorilla BJJ Academy 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 Gorilla BJJ 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 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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