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Gracie Jiu Jitsu Wilmington
5 ★★★★★ 32 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Wilmington, North Carolina
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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule graciejiujitsuwilmington.gymdesk.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (910) 467-5255
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–12 PM, 5–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–8 PM |
| Thursday | 5:30–8 PM |
| Friday | 5:30–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–12:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“The environment is positive, respectful, and genuinely focused on learning real self-defense and solid fundamentals.”
“My children have learned a number of techniques and have rapidly progressed their skill set in a short amount of time.”
“If your goal is to compete at the highest levels, you may benefit from another class structure as this one is built, basically, for everybody else.”
“The environment is positive, respectful, and genuinely focused on learning real self-defense and solid fundamentals.”
“The environment at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Wilmington is welcoming and comfortable whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or have been training for years.”
What members say
“The instructor is very knowledgeable, professional, and patient and makes sure each lesson is understood and the techniques are learned before moving on to the next lesson.”
“The environment at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Wilmington is welcoming and comfortable whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or have been training for years.”
“If you’re looking for a place to learn jiu-jitsu in a supportive and expert-led environment, Gracie Jiu Jitsu Wilmington with Dave Brown is absolutely the place to be.”
“The instructor is very knowledgeable, professional, and patient and makes sure each lesson is understood and the techniques are learned before moving on to the next lesson.”
“If your goal is to compete at the highest levels, you may benefit from another class structure as this one is built, basically, for everybody else.”
“The environment at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Wilmington is welcoming and comfortable whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or have been training for years.”
From the reviews
Let me ask you a question. What's your plan when somebody puts their hand on your chest and you don't want that? What's your plan when some drunk guy wants to haul off with a haymaker? What's your plan when you find yourself in a fight and it inevitably ends up on the ground?
I have been doing BJJ and other martial arts (off and on) for years and I have always been interested in Gracie Combatives. Unfortunately in the past, the closest training facility was in Jacksonville. So when I learned that there was one in Wilmington I was very excited.
Instructor Dave Brown is doing an excellent job teaching and representing one of the most effective martial arts there is, Gracie Jiu Jitsu. His knowledge, demonstrations, positive energy and patience add to an environment that focuses on technique, emphasizes safety and a non-competitive learning space.
We visited a number of BJJ studios before finding Dave at Gracie Jiu Jitsu. We started with the 10-day trial, fell in love with the practice and now go 3-days a week! Dave teaches in such a way that students of all ages catch on to the techniques very quickly.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Wilmington
Gracie Jiu Jitsu Wilmington 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 Jiu Jitsu Wilmington
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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