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GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA

4.7 ★★★★★ 29 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

BJJ gym Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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

  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule josholdfield.wixsite.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (336) 997-8058

Hours

Monday 11 AM–1 PM, 6–9:30 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–1 PM, 6–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–1 PM, 6–9:30 PM
Thursday 11 AM–1 PM, 6–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–1 PM
Saturday 11 AM–1 PM
Sunday 12 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 GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 2 mentions

“Men, women, and kids will benefit from Professor Cope's vast martial arts knowledge.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

Teens BJJ

“Its outstanding, Jeff went out of his way to coach me in salisbury, he drove to salisbury to coach me, I still give his info to anyone man woman or teen who is looking to learn.”

All gyms that run teens bjj →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

“Ground Control is the best place to Train BJJ, MMA, Professor Jeff has lifetimes of knowledge, Respectful, Humble, Proud to say He is my Coach, Mentor, Friend,God Bless.”

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 4 mentions

“I have been a student of Jeff (the black belt professor) for 5 years and I cant say enough good things about him!”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“Everyone at the gym is always super welcoming to new faces, and I quickly felt at home.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 10 mentions

“Ground Control is the best place to Train BJJ, MMA, Professor Jeff has lifetimes of knowledge, Respectful, Humble, Proud to say He is my Coach, Mentor, Friend,God Bless.”

From the reviews

I have been a student of Jeff (the black belt professor) for 5 years and I cant say enough good things about him! He has a very thorough style and top notch instruction. Everyone at the gym is always super welcoming to new faces, and I quickly felt at home.

★★★★★ — Spencer, Aug 2018

This is not your average gym. When I travel, I love to try out new gyms. This one surprised me. Professor Jeff’s approach is quite different than all the schools I’ve trained at. If you’re looking for street effective jiujitsu this is your place.

★★★★★ — Armando, Nov 2023

Jeff Cope is hands down one of the best jiu jitsu practitioners/instructors you will ever meet. He is a super swell guy who is down to earth and very humble. There’s always new things to take your game to a different level, whether you are inexperienced or a high level grappler, you cannot go wrong with some of the…

★★★★★ — Aaron, Aug 2018

I have been doing martial arts most of my life and in the two years I have been training under Jeff, my ground game has improved significantly. I am truly honored to be one of Jeff’s students and hold a lot of respect for him. Definitely the best place to train in BJJ!

★★★★★ — Penny, Aug 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 29 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA

GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA

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 GROUND CONTROL BJJ AND MMA

3800 Reynolda Rd #210, Winston-Salem, NC27106

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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.