Home › Florida › Ormond Beach › Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu
Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 32 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Ormond Beach, 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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- 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 gracieflorida.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 386-227-7988
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 6–8 pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 6–8 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 11 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Looking forward to bringing my daughter there to train with him.”
“My son is now graduating from high school and STILL embodies the principles that JM instilled in him from an early age.”
“This is the place to go if you want to learn real life self defense all while having fun and getting in shape.”
“I just started at Gracie Florida with no experience and it has been amazing.”
Other martial arts here
“I trained muay thai for the first time with Jon Michael.”
What members say
“Professor John-Michael is an amazing instructor who will teach you everything he knows, also everyone that trains there are very friendly and helpful as well.”
“Both instructors and students are knowledgeable and welcoming at John Michael's jiu jitsu academy.”
“Professor John-Michael is an amazing instructor who will teach you everything he knows, also everyone that trains there are very friendly and helpful as well.”
“Strong fundamentals and practical self-defense oriented.”
“Extremely competent Jiujitsu with direct Gracie lineage.”
“With Direct Gracie Jiu Jitsu lineage, you can be assured you are receiving top notch training and education.”
From the reviews
John Michael is by far the best instructor we have ever had for martial arts. For the kids’ classes, I couldn’t BELIEVE how well he connected with them and seriously changed their lives for the better - bringing confidence, skills, discipline and respect to a seriously high level.
As an active martial arts Academy owner...I chose to visit Gracie Florida Jiu Jitsu to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I could not recommend this club highly enough, nor the professor. A very well taught...expert in his field and such a fun, family environment to learn.
I trained here for 10 years I appreciate and miss this academy every day .I am a midwesterner and unfortunately could only last down there for about 10 years and moved back .
This is our home away from home where my 2 sons and I train when we are in town several times a year. With Direct Gracie Jiu Jitsu lineage, you can be assured you are receiving top notch training and education.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu
Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu 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 Florida Jiu-Jitsu
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 Ormond Beach
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Ormond Beach
5 ★★★★★ 45 reviews
Leongolden Gracie Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 39 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Nomad Jiu Jitsu Club
4.5 ★★★★★ 8 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site