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Gracie Barra Kenwood
5 ★★★★★ 4 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Cincinnati, Ohio
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
- 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
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule graciebarrakenwood.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (513) 435-5177
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My kids will be starting their training there soon.”
“My daughter will be heading to college, and I value the opportunity for her to develop practical self defense skills along with the confidence that comes from training.”
“The professor explains techniques clearly and with great attention to detail, making it easier for both beginners and more experienced students to understand and improve.”
What members say
“The professor explains techniques clearly and with great attention to detail, making it easier for both beginners and more experienced students to understand and improve.”
“The atmosphere is welcoming and the training is high quality.”
“The professor explains techniques clearly and with great attention to detail, making it easier for both beginners and more experienced students to understand and improve.”
“Gracie Barra Kenwood has been an excellent place to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.”
“My daughter will be heading to college, and I value the opportunity for her to develop practical self defense skills along with the confidence that comes from training.”
From the reviews
Gracie Barra Kenwood has been an excellent place to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The instruction is structured and accessible for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Professor Leo and Professor Daniel are fantastic instructors and leaders.
Excellent place to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The atmosphere is welcoming and the training is high quality. Professor Leo and Professor Daniel are fantastic instructors very knowledgeable. Highly recommend! 🥋👏
I’ve had a great experience training at Gracie Barra. The facility is excellent—clean, well-organized, and very well maintained. The class schedule is also very convenient, making it easy to stay consistent with training.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Kenwood
Gracie Barra Kenwood 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 Gracie Barra Kenwood
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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