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Gracie Bradenton
4.9 ★★★★★ 111 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Bradenton, Florida
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 4–15) — 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
- 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 graciebradenton.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 941-405-0030
Hours
| Monday | 6–7:30 am, 10:30 am–12 pm, 5–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–7:30 am, 10:30 am–12 pm, 5–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7:30 am, 10:30 am–12 pm, 5–10 pm |
| Thursday | 6–7:30 am, 10:30 am–12 pm, 5–10 pm |
| Friday | 6–7:30 am, 10:30 am–1 pm, 5–10 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 10:30 am–1 pm |
The classes they run
“Gracie Bradenton is an extraordinary place where my children have found themselves over the past year, where they’ve been optimally trained, coached, and supported.”
“My teen and I both train here and we love it.”
“Great environment and phenomenal instructors, definitely recommend for anyone interested in nogi jiujitsu.”
“They’ve got everything from beginner-friendly fundamentals to high-level training for serious competitors, so no matter where you’re at, there’s a place for you to grow.”
“Two of my favorite parts of the week are the Sunday open mat and the Friday gauntlet class.”
“They are learning so much about confidence, self control, and self defense.”
“Walking in with no experience as a women when all I saw was men in there was a little intimidating but quickly I became very comfortable around this amazing group of people.”
Other martial arts here
“The kick boxing is also one of the best things I ever joined!”
“I’ve also been doing the kickboxing classes, and the coach for that is amazing—I’ve learned so much in such a short time.”
What members say
“We have an amazing coach and a great supportive team and I don’t think there is any place I would rather be to train kickboxing and jiujitsu.”
“Walking in with no experience as a women when all I saw was men in there was a little intimidating but quickly I became very comfortable around this amazing group of people.”
“It did feel awkward at first but it didn’t last long and I realized I wanted to not only be apart of the gym but also the family they have created there.”
“They’ve got everything from beginner-friendly fundamentals to high-level training for serious competitors, so no matter where you’re at, there’s a place for you to grow.”
“Been bringing my kids there since December and they love it.”
“I’ve had trouble going to gyms like crunch fitness worried about people judging me but I’ve never felt that at Gracie not one bit which is why I had the courage to keep going.”
From the reviews
I visited Gracie Academy recently and had a great first impression. We were warmly welcomed — the staff was friendly, and right away you could feel the respectful and athletic atmosphere. The environment is clean, well-organized, and focused on jiu-jitsu, but also welcoming for newcomers.
Walking in with no experience as a women when all I saw was men in there was a little intimidating but quickly I became very comfortable around this amazing group of people.
Visited the gym for the first time today and trained with these guys. Was recommended by my coach to stop in and train with Sonny and his crew and really glad I did. Had a lot of fun, quality training, and instructor was great.
Trained with Sonny n the crew for 5weeks while I was in town visiting from Australia. From the very first day everyone was super friendly and very welcoming. I thoroughly enjoyed Sonny’s coaching style and definitely picked up a few thing in my time there.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Bradenton
Gracie Bradenton 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 Bradenton
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