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Gracie Barra Fort Lauderdale

5 ★★★★★ 166 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Part of Gracie Barra

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi

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 — 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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule graciebarra.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (954) 766-5676

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 10 AM–9 PM
Friday 6 AM–9 PM
Saturday 10 AM–2 PM
Sunday Closed

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 Gracie Barra Fort Lauderdale, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 36 mentions

“I know my daughter is learning amazing Jiu jitsu skills, exercising, getting healthier, fit and learning self defense over there!”

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👤 Private Lessons 2 mentions

“My suggestion is we took the classes as well as private lessons to make him feel more comfortable when he was in a group.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 4 mentions

“I know my daughter is learning amazing Jiu jitsu skills, exercising, getting healthier, fit and learning self defense over there!”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“Whether you’re a beginner or advanced practitioner, this place offers top-notch training in BJJ.”

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What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 166 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“Coaches are from Brazil and Coach Joao is top and award winning coach. My kids are in the best hands and most importantly.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 9 mentions

“I wanted to start my BJJ journey and I stopped into some other BJJ gyms around town, GBFL was the last one and they were immediately welcoming.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 23 mentions

“I wanted to start my BJJ journey and I stopped into some other BJJ gyms around town, GBFL was the last one and they were immediately welcoming.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Both of our children have improved in confidence and body technique since joining Gracie Barra & we like that this is a sport they can practice well into adulthood.”

🧒 strong kids program 9 mentions

“Our kids absolutely love coming to class, and seeing how much they’ve grown made my husband sign up… and now I have too!”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 12 mentions

“We absolutely love the whole team at Gracie Barra, especially Raissa Our daughter is 6years old & is so excited to go 3 days a week!”

From the reviews

I can’t tell how great full I am to have my son in this school. My son suffers from anxiety and it’s been really tough. We tried everything from football to baseball and nothing helped it actually made him more anxious.

★★★★★ — Harriet, Dec 2022

My son started a few months ago his Jiu Jitsu journey, we are so happy we found this school. They’re great for little kids and actually teach practical skills and self defense. Looking forward to continuing to see my kid grow his Jiu Jitsu skills.

★★★★★ — Stephanie, Oct 2024

I’ve been with Gracie Barra Ft Lauderdale since the very beginning and has been an amazing experience! It has helped me to grow not just as a martial artist , but also helped me to be a better person and as a better professional. BJJ is great, but this place is magical!

★★★★★ — Herschel, May 2023

BJJ school with excellent teaching methods, strong ethics, and experienced instructors. A sport for all ages.

★★★★★ — Davi, Nov 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 166 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Fort Lauderdale

Gracie Barra Fort Lauderdale 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Gracie Barra Fort Lauderdale

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 Gracie Barra Fort Lauderdale

5439 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL33308

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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.