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Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai

5 ★★★★★ 37 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Syracuse, New York

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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

  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule innercirclebjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 315-807-3750

Hours

Monday 12–9 pm
Tuesday 12–9 pm
Wednesday 12–9 pm
Thursday 12–9 pm
Friday 12–9 pm
Saturday 12–9 pm
Sunday 12–9 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 Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 3 mentions

“I say this because I fully intend to bring my son into the gym to train in his children's muay thai and BJJ classes to cultivate the same.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“Inner Circle is a great school for beginners and experienced people alike.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 8 mentions

“Coach Walt provides a supportive and family friendly place to train, with strong connections to authentic Muay Thai and BJJ.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🤸 Wrestling

“With my extensive wrestling back ground and after talking with Coach Walt, gym owner and black belt, I knew this was the only place to be and train.”

Other gyms that also teach wrestling →

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 37 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 7 mentions

“However, after moving to syracuse, Walter at inner circle has to be one of the best instructors I've come across.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“You’ll immediately feel the quality of instruction and the welcoming atmosphere from the other students.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 12 mentions

“Coach Walt provides a supportive and family friendly place to train, with strong connections to authentic Muay Thai and BJJ.”

active competition team 4 mentions

From the reviews

Inner circle bjj what a great training facility and next to none staff and instructors. With my extensive wrestling back ground and after talking with Coach Walt, gym owner and black belt, I knew this was the only place to be and train.

★★★★★ — James, Feb 2017

Absolutely love Inner Circle Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. I've been training here for 8 months now and can not say enough great things about this school. Extremely friendly and personable, instructors and students alike. I'm so happy to have found a school I can call home here in Syracuse.

★★★★★ — James, Aug 2016

This is a great place to train. Not only is Professor Walt a great teacher but he's also a nice guy and I think that makes a difference. Great mix of people train here and I dont know where I would be without my BJJ training. This may not be the biggest school in town but I've trained elsewhere ..this is the best. !

★★★★★ — Joseph, Feb 2018

I have been going to Inner Circle for almost a year. They are welcoming and have a great staff. Their Muay Thai and BJJ classes are designed for all levels. Great place to spend your time learning two forms of martial arts!

★★★★★ — George, Mar 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 37 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai

Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai

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 Inner Circle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai

527 Charles Ave, Syracuse, NY13219

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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.