HomeMassachusettsPeabody › Gracie Barra Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense

Gracie Barra Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense

5 ★★★★★ 106 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Peabody, Massachusetts

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
  • 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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule graciebarrapeabody.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 617-516-9457

Hours

Monday 12–7 pm
Tuesday 12–7 pm
Wednesday 12–7 pm
Thursday 12–7 pm
Friday 12–7 pm
Saturday 9–11:30 am
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 Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 32 mentions

“Professor Gabriel is incredible with the kids — patient, encouraging, and able to connect with each student while still maintaining structure and high standards.”

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💪 Women's BJJ

“They offer adult’s and women’s classes as well and it’s now a Family thing.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“If you’re looking for a place where your kids will feel safe while leaning discipline and self defense, you’ve found it.”

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🌱 Beginners

“The instructors are very knowledgeable, patient, and attentive, making the classes great for both beginners and more experienced students.”

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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 Gracie Barra Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense — 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 106 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 6 mentions

“Professor Gabriel is hands down one of the best that I’ve have seen so far as well is the staff and coaches.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 7 mentions

“The facility is solid, the environment is disciplined yet welcoming, and the instructors show real technical mastery along with genuine commitment to each student’s progress.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 22 mentions

“The facility is solid, the environment is disciplined yet welcoming, and the instructors show real technical mastery along with genuine commitment to each student’s progress.”

🧒 strong kids program 6 mentions

“They set very clear and healthy limits with the kids, and it’s made a huge difference in my son’s discipline, behavior, and self-confidence.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 15 mentions

“After many years of talking to my friends and going back and forth about enrolling the kids into Gracie Barra.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 3 mentions

“The academy is clean, well-organized, and follows a structured curriculum that really helps with consistent progress.”

From the reviews

Our 7yo started training JJ at Gracie Barra Peabody and our whole family followed along. They offer adult’s and women’s classes as well and it’s now a Family thing. Professor Pato is amazing with the kids, he’s is dedicated and the kids absolutely love him.

★★★★★ — Delpupo, Jul 2025

We love this place! Professor Grabriel and coach Rayssa are so patient with kids and do an amazing job. Thank you guys

★★★★★ — Jhane, Jan 2026

Gracie Barra has truly exceeded my expectations. Since enrolling my son, I’ve been consistently impressed with the level of communication, structure, and care they provide. They set very clear and healthy limits with the kids, and it’s made a huge difference in my son’s discipline, behavior, and self-confidence.

★★★★★ — Sabrina, Jan 2026

Gracie Barra Peabody is like an addition of my family for me and for my wife and kids. I first trained jiu jitsu 14 years ago and stopped when my kids were born, and always had a thought of finding a place similar to the one where i started cause i like that place very much.

★★★★★ — Isrrael, Feb 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 106 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense

Gracie Barra Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense 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 Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense

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 Peabody, MA - Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense

124 Newbury St, Peabody, MA01960

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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.