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Great Lakes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 134 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Flint, Michigan

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

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 3–16) — 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 glbjjflint.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (810) 884-3416

Hours

Monday 6–7:30 AM, 11 AM–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM
Tuesday 5–8:30 PM
Wednesday 6–7:30 AM, 11 AM–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM
Thursday 12–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM
Friday 6–7:30 AM, 12–1 PM, 6–7:30 PM
Saturday 11 AM–12:30 PM
Sunday Closed

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 Great Lakes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 16 mentions

“We take all our children plus several nephews to their homeschool class on Mondays/Wednesdays and we love it!”

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🩳 No-Gi

“It was a great way to be introduced to the sport, and now I participate in the gi and no gi classes.”

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🥋 Gi 2 mentions

“It was a great way to be introduced to the sport, and now I participate in the gi and no gi classes.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“A perfect balance of competitive enough to get better and compete but welcoming enough that it's a good environment regardless of your training goals.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“I highly recommend this school to anyone looking to get stronger, learn real self-defense, and become the best verion of yourself!”

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🌱 Beginners 9 mentions

“Instructors do a wonderful job meeting the students where they are at and making Great Lakes the place to be for training, for competition and for beginners.”

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Other martial arts here

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

🥊 Boxing

“Additionally, my daughter is enjoying the kick boxing as well.”

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🦵 Kickboxing 6 mentions

“I 100% recommend Great Lakes to anyone looking to try jiu jitsu classes, kickboxing and more to come check out this awesome place.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

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 134 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 19 mentions

“The training environment is welcoming and supportive, with a community of skilled and friendly students who are always eager to help you progress, no matter your experience level.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 31 mentions

“The training environment is welcoming and supportive, with a community of skilled and friendly students who are always eager to help you progress, no matter your experience level.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“Whether it's fundamentals or advanced techniques, every session is informative and engaging.”

great workout & conditioning 4 mentions

“It was a great way to be introduced to the sport, and now I participate in the gi and no gi classes.”

🧒 strong kids program 4 mentions

“Two of my kids come here as well and love the art itself, and the community.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“Instructors do a wonderful job meeting the students where they are at and making Great Lakes the place to be for training, for competition and for beginners.”

From the reviews

Our experience with this gym has been nothing short of spectacular. All of the coaches are EXTREMELY knowledgeable, respectful, helpful and welcoming. Instructors Adam and Bryam have done a phenomenal job teaching our son BJJ. They are great with kids and their patience is unparalleled.

★★★★★ — Brooke, May 2025

If you are looking for an awesome place to learn Jiu Jitsu, look no further! Kelly is wonderful with my daughter, carefully explaining moves. As a matter of fact, so is Adam and all the other instructors there, each one is great at helping! Additionally, my daughter is enjoying the kick boxing as well.

★★★★★ — Tatiana, Mar 2025

I wanted to try out Jiu Jitsu for years but never made the time to try it because of work and raising kids. I finally gave it a try after being invited out to the school by Kelly and Adam. I am hooked!

★★★★★ — Christopher, Aug 2025

For the time I've been training at Great Lakes BJJ my experience has been nothing short of exceptional. The coaches are highly skilled instructors, each bringing a unique expertise to their classes. Whether it's fundamentals or advanced techniques, every session is informative and engaging.

★★★★★ — Nik, Mar 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 134 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Great Lakes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Great Lakes Brazilian 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Great Lakes Brazilian 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.

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 Great Lakes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

2014 Zimmerman St, Flint, MI48503

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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.