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Gracie NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy

5 ★★★★★ 29 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Lebanon, New Jersey

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team

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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule gracienewjersey.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (908) 713-0004

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9 PM
Friday 6 AM–9 PM
Saturday 8 AM–2 PM
Sunday 8 AM–2 PM

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 NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 7 mentions

“World class instructors who prioritize a safe, clean, and respectful training environment for children and adults alike.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

Teens BJJ

“A Junior in High School with a decade of training is an amazing accomplishment.”

All gyms that run teens bjj →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“Would recommend to anyone wanting to learn some self defense or looking to sharpen their skills.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“This school teaches students of all levels from beginner to advanced.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Gracie NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA 4 mentions

“For anyone out there on the fence about starting jiu-jitsu, no matter your age, Gracie NJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA Academy has it all.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 29 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 6 mentions

“Everyone down there is extremely friendly , and the best part, you learn the most effective martial art directly from the world class instructors.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“Tonight was my first class and I was amazed of the professionalism and the purely unique art that is taught here.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 7 mentions

“Everyone down there is extremely friendly , and the best part, you learn the most effective martial art directly from the world class instructors.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 3 mentions

“Applied attention to students with an emphasis on detail from a multitude of instructors.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 13 mentions

“I was watching the open rolls at the end of my first night, Professor Adiv explained the philosophy of gracie ju jitsu and asked me about my life and why I wanted to learn gjj.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 6 mentions

“Various types of classes, clean mats, friendly people and instructors that care about their students safety and development.”

From the reviews

I called about four or five months ago and spoke with Angelica who got me up to speed and inviting me into the academy for a free class to see how I liked it. Of course I didn't know what to expect and was nervous about fitting in, but Professors David Adiv and Angelica went out of their way to make sure I was…

★★★★★ — Andrew, Jul 2016

Top notch instructors. Come learn original Gracie Jiu Jitsu as taught by Helio and Royler Gracie. Dave and Angelica are fantastic. Relaxed environment. Can accommodate professional MMA fighters to brand new enthusiasts. One of the best places to train in New Jersey. Mats are always packed.

★★★★★ — Eugene, Jun 2023

I have been training at the Gracie New Jersey Academy for almost five years. I can honestly say that joining the academy was one of if not the best decision I’ve ever made. You will not find more knowledgeable instructors than Professors David Adiv and Angelica Oliveira.

★★★★★ — Danny, Oct 2022

I’ve been training at this school for a few months and my biggest regret is not signing up sooner. Jiu-jitsu has become a large part of my life and I have professor David and Angelica to thanks for it. I also want to thank all my grappling partners who have helped me along the way in my jiu-jitsu journey.

★★★★★ — J, May 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 29 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Gracie NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy

Gracie NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy 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 NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy

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 NJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA Academy

56 Payne Rd #15, Lebanon, NJ08833

Get directions

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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.