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Grand Forks Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 45 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Grand Forks, North Dakota
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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule grandforksbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (701) 866-8773
Hours
| Monday | 12–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 12–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 12–9 PM |
| Thursday | 12–9 PM |
| Friday | 12–9 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They have 4 types of classes: kids, fundamentals, adult, and open mat with a curriculum in place to develop each individual student.”
“They have 4 types of classes: kids, fundamentals, adult, and open mat with a curriculum in place to develop each individual student.”
“I wrestled in high school, and the instructors at GF BJJ taught me how to use my wrestling with BJJ to best compliment my game.”
“They have 4 types of classes: kids, fundamentals, adult, and open mat with a curriculum in place to develop each individual student.”
“The gym is an incredibly welcoming family environment, and extremely technically sound for both self defense and competition BJJ.”
“There's a strong culture of respect and mutual upbringing across all skill levels.”
Other martial arts here
“If you’re looking to start training BJJ or Kickboxing, there’s no better place in the area.”
“I wrestled in high school, and the instructors at GF BJJ taught me how to use my wrestling with BJJ to best compliment my game.”
What members say
“The coaches and other members are welcoming and also create a great martial arts culture that anybody would feel lucky to be apart of!”
“The coaches and other members are welcoming and also create a great martial arts culture that anybody would feel lucky to be apart of!”
“They have 4 types of classes: kids, fundamentals, adult, and open mat with a curriculum in place to develop each individual student.”
“For those that care, their lineage is George Andersch (Owner) -> Amal Easton -> Renzo Gracie.”
“The gym itself is always clean and safe, providing a perfect environment for training.”
“There are two changing/locker rooms (male/female) and a clean bathroom.”
From the reviews
This is a fantastic jiu jitsu studio! The instructors are knowledgeable and friendly, Preston especially, and they teach in a way that is structured and easy to follow! The general vibe is inviting, and it’s clear that the instructors care about their students well being as much as helping them to learn!
Everyone is very friendly welcoming and encouraging. The coaches are top notch amazing, the other students are all very helpful and friendly atmosphere. It's been like being with my new extended family. I am feel very honored and privileged to be apart of the tribe.
New gym in town but I'd say they have a bright future for at least one reason: Preston. Wonderful coach who's had balanced offensive and defensive training background. With white belts defense makes those early months bearable and is often overlooked at gyms where they want to teach you the subs.
Come learn some high level and quality Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Grand Forks Area. Classes are getting bigger so come on over and learn with us. If it’s not broken don’t fix it, instead we have been producing champions for years. Come on over for your free trial lesson so that you can see what we are all about.
New to BJJ? Start at Grand Forks Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy
Grand Forks Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 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.
Your first BJJ class at Grand Forks Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 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.