Home › Colorado › Monte Vista › Imperial Jiu Jitsu South
Imperial Jiu Jitsu South
5 ★★★★★ 8 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Monte Vista, Colorado
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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule imperialbjjsouth.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (719) 882-1400
Hours
| Monday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Whether you’re training for self-defense, fitness, or competition, this gym provides the best environment in Monte Vista to push yourself and grow.”
“From the moment I walked in, he made me feel comfortable and confident, even as a total beginner.”
Other martial arts here
“If you are interested in learning jiu-jitsu or muay thai, this is your go to place in SLV.”
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Imperial Jiu Jitsu South in Monte Vista is the only martial arts gym in the area with both a professional MMA cage and a pit wall for training.”
“I've trained jiu-jitsu and judo for years and have been to many gyms, I can honestly say Imperial Jiu-jitsu South is one of the top gyms I've been to.”
What members say
“Gabe was an incredible instructor welcoming, patient, and super approachable.”
“Gabe was an incredible instructor welcoming, patient, and super approachable.”
“I've stopped here to train while visiting family in the valley and I've always had a good experience.”
“The gym is clean and the environment is welcoming.”
From the reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Imperial Jiu Jitsu South in Monte Vista is the only martial arts gym in the area with both a professional MMA cage and a pit wall for training. The facility is one of a kind in the San Luis Valley, offering students a real fight-team atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.
Incredible coaches, professors, and classmates. Family oriented. Everyone is friendly. Facility is super clean and state of the art. Pricing is very reasonable given the quality of instruction you are receiving. If you are interested in learning jiu-jitsu or muay thai, this is your go to place in SLV.
I took my very first Muay Thai class tonight and had such a great experience. Gabe was an incredible instructor welcoming, patient, and super approachable. From the moment I walked in, he made me feel comfortable and confident, even as a total beginner.
I've stopped here to train while visiting family in the valley and I've always had a good experience. The gym is clean and the environment is welcoming. Everyone I worked with trained safely and smart. The instructors are great, classes are run smoothly.
New to BJJ? Start at Imperial Jiu Jitsu South
Imperial Jiu Jitsu South 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 Imperial Jiu Jitsu South
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.