Home › Arizona › Tempe › Gustavo Dantas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Gustavo Dantas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 393 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Tempe, Arizona
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.
Family-friendly martial arts academy teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu in a clean facility.
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 5–14) — 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 gdjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (480) 968-6303
Hours
| Monday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“From the kids classes to the adult classes, the students are expected to give their all and are pushed to become the best versions of themselves possible.”
“From day one, they make sure you feel welcome, especially as a woman.”
“This is the home of world champions, competitors and at the same time it is the home of the family person who works a 9-5 job .”
“The coaches are knowledgeable, patient, and truly care about helping every student improve whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned grappler.”
What members say
“If you are looking for authentic, world-class instruction from one of the best to ever do it, this is the place to be.”
“The coaches are knowledgeable, patient, and truly care about helping every student improve whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned grappler.”
“They've cultivated a culture and environment that is supportive, encouraging, and challenging and meets you at your level and helps you become the best version of yourself.”
“The curriculum is well-structured, making it easy to build a strong foundation while continuing to develop more advanced techniques over time.”
“My son has already made so many friends, loves his coaches, and learns something new every time he goes.”
“This is the home of world champions, competitors and at the same time it is the home of the family person who works a 9-5 job .”
From the reviews
Gustavo Dantas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy is definitely among the very best . This is the home of world champions, competitors and at the same time it is the home of the family person who works a 9-5 job . I am an Army Veteran and currently a Police Officer, I use the skills I learn here almost daily.
I moved from KCMO to join GD BJJ team! EVERY professor is there to help you succeed no matter your rank or experience. Thank you for your encouragement and training. See you on the mat.
If you want to try BJJ but feel nervous or intimidated to start, I can’t recommend this gym enough. I first trained here in 2017 before moving out of town, and honestly, I didn’t realize how rare a place like this was until I tried finding another gym like it.
Both my sister and I train here. I switched from a different jiu jitsu academy to GD last year in May and have not regretted my decision since. There are many classes provided for all skill levels and age groups. Not only does GD supply an amazing curriculum for its students but also a natural formation of a family.
New to BJJ? Start at Gustavo Dantas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Gustavo Dantas 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 Gustavo Dantas 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.
More BJJ gyms near Tempe
Dark Matter Jiu Jitsu/Ares BJJ Tempe
5 ★★★★★ 70 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Tremblay BJJ MMA at Performance Arizona
5 ★★★★★ 9 reviews