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Iowa Lakes Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 25 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Lake Park, Iowa
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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Phone +1 712-592-1471
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 6–7:30 pm |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 3–5 pm |
The classes they run
“He is passionate about the fundamentals of wrestling and martial arts and helping his student master these skills with confidence.”
“Matthew has great inside, such a great instructor with adults and kids of all kinds, very knowledgeable.”
“As a female practitioner in the art, I had to be tough in order to compete and roll with my training partners and coach.”
“He has coached many sports throughout his career such as Wrestling, Volleyball, Track, Self Defense and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to name a few.”
“Coach M is able to transition his teaching styles to all levels.”
Other martial arts here
“He has lots of experience competing and coaching wrestling which shows in his ability to break down Jiu Jitsu moves in a way that is easy to understand.”
What members say
“Matthew has great inside, such a great instructor with adults and kids of all kinds, very knowledgeable.”
“Additionally, Coach M makes sure to incorporate live drills to keep realism high which helps us know what techniques work quickly and effectively in real life situations.”
“As a female practitioner in the art, I had to be tough in order to compete and roll with my training partners and coach.”
“As a female practitioner in the art, I had to be tough in order to compete and roll with my training partners and coach.”
“He is passionate about the fundamentals of wrestling and martial arts and helping his student master these skills with confidence.”
From the reviews
I Showed up on the wrong day from out of town and he came to the gym just to train with me, awesome guy and awesome coach, very glad I made my way here and will definitely be back again!
I have known Matthew Mentink ( aka COACH ) for 20 years. He has coached many sports throughout his career such as Wrestling, Volleyball, Track, Self Defense and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to name a few. He taught/coached both of my children in physical education, wrestling, and track.
Been training at Iowa Lakes Jiu-Jitsu since it opened and with Matt a year before. Coach Mentik is great, he’ll point out any holes or flaws in your game and help you correct them. Practices are great with a good hour to 2 hours of solid training and sparring.
I had the pleasure of training with Coach in Woodbine over the last few years. He has lots of experience competing and coaching wrestling which shows in his ability to break down Jiu Jitsu moves in a way that is easy to understand. Coach is passionate about Jiu Jitsu and rarely ever turns down an opportunity train.
New to BJJ? Start at Iowa Lakes Jiu Jitsu
Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Lakes 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.