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Gracie Barra Clearwater
5 ★★★★★ 104 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Clearwater, Florida
Part of Gracie Barra
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
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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
- 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 gbclearwater.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (727) 298-0411
Hours
| Monday | 9–11 AM, 4–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–1 PM, 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 9–11 AM, 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–1 PM, 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 6–7 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My wife and I along with our 2 kids have been training here for about a year and a half and it has been absolutely incredible, fun and a positive impact on all of our lives.”
“I trust him with teaching my two boys and can’t recommend his school enough if you want to learn self defense and the fun sport of jujitsu.”
“Professor John and his team are very detailed and patient teaching experienced and new beginners.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Great exercise, great atmosphere, great coaches, and a great experience.”
“Professor John and his team are very detailed and patient teaching experienced and new beginners.”
“He has created an amazing culture at this gym with tons of friendly and positive people that are always willing to help you get better at Jiu-Jitsu.”
“I have been training for about 5 years now and was able to take away lots of new techniques and also able to refine some of my current techniques.”
“Since joining, I’ve seen my son’s confidence, focus, and self-discipline grow so much.”
“If you are in the area and looking for an academy to train at I highly recommend checking out Gracie Barra in Clearwater.”
From the reviews
I've been at Gracie Barra Clearwater for almost a year now, this is a great place to train. Professor John is an awesome instructor regardless of your skill level. Very family friendly and safe environment, overall a great place to train for anyone. Highly recommend.
I started taking both my son and daughter to this academy without any previous experiance with any sort of martial art or grappling. In the beggining my kids were very apprehensive and uncomfortable (I would have been also). I was/am absolutely impressed with the way the coaches treat the students.
Professor John and his team are very detailed and patient teaching experienced and new beginners. My son and husband both train with him and are both happy to be a part of his Jiu Jitsu school. I highly recommend John and his coaches.
My stepdaughter and I love this place. The other students are very respectful and easy to work with. John is a fantastic instructor. He is a very humble, kind man and his technical breakdowns are easy to follow and well-taught. Can’t wait to go back to Gracie Barra!
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Clearwater
Gracie Barra Clearwater 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 Gracie Barra Clearwater
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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site