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Holy City Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 42 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Charleston, South Carolina
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
- 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 holycityjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (407) 221-9280
Hours
| Monday | 8:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“As a woman, I wasn’t sure what to expect from jiu jitsu.”
“Mike is an amazing instructor, accomplished competitor and you can tell his love for the art is why he opened this school!”
“We received some history and learned where the line of self-defense is.”
“The entire crew there does a good job of fostering a safe and welcoming environment for beginners.”
What members say
“All the black belt instructors roll with the students, and while classes vary in structure there is always lots of time allocated for sparring.”
“The community here is super welcoming and awesome and generous and I'm so grateful that I got to come in and get some rolls in :)”
“The community here is super welcoming and awesome and generous and I'm so grateful that I got to come in and get some rolls in :)”
“Black belt Mike Sanda taught some solid techniques and took the time to help me personally figure out some details, and the rolls were as good as anywhere I have been.”
“Top notch instruction, very clean school and everyone I have met so far has been really welcoming!”
From the reviews
I had an incredible time at Devine JJ in Charleston! Space was clean and the instruction was great. Thank you Jeff and Mike for letting me train with your guys and for the awesome rolls. I highly recommend anyone interested in jiu jitsu or looking for a place to train while traveling to visit this gym!
One of the best Jiu-Jitsu schools in the Charleston Area! Mike is an amazing instructor, accomplished competitor and you can tell his love for the art is why he opened this school! It is rare to find such an all around great environment and training atmosphere.
Dropped in for a Wednesday morning class. Jeff, the instructor was a great dude and had great technique. Had some awesome rolls as well. The place was very clean and welcoming. I Highly recommend it if you're in the area.
Got the opportunity to visit when traveling for work this week. Mike (Owner) openly welcomed me to swing through anytime. Greg’s class was well-structured allowing room to review techniques, drilling, and live rolling. The atmosphere and culture they are building at Holy City Jiu-Jitsu is unmatched.
New to BJJ? Start at Holy City Jiu Jitsu
Holy City Jiu Jitsu 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 Holy City 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.
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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site