Home › Missouri › Ballwin › Gracie Barra West County
Gracie Barra West County
4.9 ★★★★★ 121 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Ballwin, Missouri
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 7–15) — 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 gbwestcounty.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (833) 765-5255
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | 1–4 PM |
The classes they run
“I was looking for a school that would be a nice fit for my sons and I to learn BJJ, and the moment I set foot in Gracie Barra West County, I knew it was the right place for us.”
“Staff does a good job at one on one instruction as well when needed.”
“The coaches are engaged and make it a fun yet disciplined and safe environment in which kids can learn the fundamentals of self defense.”
“The instructors are absolute professionals, friendly, and work well with beginners to the sport.”
Other martial arts here
“I even joined the kickboxing classes and love how challenging and empowering they are!”
What members say
“Walking into a new school can be very intimidating, especially when you have no prior experience, but Professor Jake and crew did an amazing job of making me feel welcome.”
“Marketing Director, Johnny, and the other senior students are all welcoming and fun to be around.”
“If you’re looking for a place that feels like family, builds real skills, and keeps safety and cleanliness a top priority — this is it.”
“The coaches are engaged and make it a fun yet disciplined and safe environment in which kids can learn the fundamentals of self defense.”
“I was looking for a school that would be a nice fit for my sons and I to learn BJJ, and the moment I set foot in Gracie Barra West County, I knew it was the right place for us.”
“It is important to me to train in a respectful, clean environment with leadership that has strong morals, values and high character.”
From the reviews
PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR KIDS AND ADULTS! We have been with Gracie Barra West County for years. We're there for kids classes multiple days a week and there is literally something for the whole family. Kickboxing for mom, a free weight gym for dad and a toy area younger children.
West County Gracie Barra has been a great sport for me and my son to share. All the professors and coaches are experienced and excellent at keeping the kiddos engaged and focused. The adult classes have been a great experience as well, not to mention a workout.
“Gracie Barra West County isn’t just a gym—it’s our second home. My kids (7 and 11) have grown so much here through Jiu-Jitsu, gaining confidence, discipline, and lifelong friendships.
Great place to take your family and get an awesome workout. The instructors are very friendly, upbeat, and always have positive attitudes. The facility is clean (practically brand new). The mats, bathrooms, locker room, etc. are always clean. It's a great place to learn self defense and build self esteem.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra West County
Gracie Barra West County 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 West County
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.
More BJJ gyms near Ballwin
West County Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 7 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Next Level - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, & Boxing
5 ★★★★★ 30 reviews
Gracie Barra Chesterfield Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense
5 ★★★★★ 113 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site