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Island Grappling Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 138 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Galveston, Texas
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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Website & schedule linktr.ee — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 409-996-3930
The classes they run
“I was skeptical at first for my 7 y/o but after attending it I saw how they made it fun and safe for my daughter.”
“Our kids also attended the kids' gi class, and they had a great time and got a good amount of sparring time.”
“Aubree and his crew gave great rolls at their evening open mats!”
“I visit Galveston about once a week and had the opportunity to visit Island Grappling Academy for the first time yesterday evening.”
Other martial arts here
“We felt right at home I got right back into the swing of BJJ and my wife loved training with Coach Aubrey doing their kickboxing class.”
What members say
“Great Experience, Great Coaches, Awesome Students, id recommend this place for anyone just stopping by on the island or as a place to train full time.”
“I visit Galveston about once a week and had the opportunity to visit Island Grappling Academy for the first time yesterday evening.”
“My family and I had a great experience training at Island Grappling Academy tonight.”
“I liked how he taught us three techniques that all related to each other, then gave us time to review all three techniques at the end of class.”
“Mat space was quite large and very clean.”
“The coaches do a phenomenal job maintaining structure and discipline while keeping the environment positive and motivating.”
From the reviews
Great Experience, Great Coaches, Awesome Students, id recommend this place for anyone just stopping by on the island or as a place to train full time. thank you so much Mike and Aubrey for the fun experience and the helpful tips as well!
I visit Galveston about once a week and had the opportunity to visit Island Grappling Academy for the first time yesterday evening.The location was easy to find, not far off the beaten path, and has ample parking. Professor Michael and his assistant coach were very accommodating and welcoming.
Dropped in on vacation to get in some rolls to get ready for competition when I get back home. Very welcoming and friendly environment. Owners are awesome, and getting ready to celebrate the 2 year anniversary! Congratulations! Keep up the hard work.
Visiting Galveston for work and had to get a night on the mats. Island Grappling was super welcoming and class was great with solid rolls. As a lady grappler, this school felt safe and instructor made sure I had a good partner. I recommend for anyone traveling to stop by!
New to BJJ? Start at Island Grappling Academy
Island Grappling Academy 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 Island Grappling 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.
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