Home › Missouri › Kansas City › Ground ZERO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense
Ground ZERO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense
5 ★★★★★ 28 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Kansas City, Missouri
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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule groundzerokc.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 816-606-1211
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“The kids classes offer great BJJ teaching in a fun environment while also developing leadership and confidence.”
“Derek Ruffin is a great guy and has lots of experience in a variety of different martial arts as well as self defense.”
“This place is great, I didn't know what to expect going into it being that I was a absolute beginner.”
Other martial arts here
“The integrating some judo in there as well will greatly help your BJJ game”
What members say
“The people here is super friendly and the professor goes into great detail on submission.”
“This place is great, I didn't know what to expect going into it being that I was a absolute beginner.”
“The teachers all the way down to the newest person are helpful and the most friendly group of people you could ever want to be around.”
“The people here is super friendly and the professor goes into great detail on submission.”
“Overall a great way to get into jiu jitsu and a great deal for everything you get out of it.”
“Whatever your goals are - self defense, competition, fitness, weight loss.”
From the reviews
This place is great, I didn't know what to expect going into it being that I was a absolute beginner. I have been going for about 2 months and am super happy that I worked up the nerve to give it a try.
This place is amazing! They offer many different approaches to self defense but the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu here is top notch! The technique is the best I've experienced in KC. The people are very kind and professional. The kids classes are great! There are also two very good black belts that run classes.
Awesome place to train! Derek Ruffin is a great guy and has lots of experience in a variety of different martial arts as well as self defense. His instructors are also very qualified and are patient as you learn the ropes.
Amazing Jiu Jitsu gym! This was an amazing first experience to jiu jitsu. Going into a sport like BJJ was super scary but all the people here made it super easy to get into it. The prices are super cheap compared to other schools. The classes teach BJJ in a perfect mix between sport and self defense.
New to BJJ? Start at Ground ZERO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense
Ground ZERO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense 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 Ground ZERO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense
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.
More BJJ gyms near Kansas City
E3 Jiu-Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
