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Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 146 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Madison, Wisconsin
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
- Membership memberships run around $25/mo — many academies also offer a discounted first month and family plans, so ask about new-member rates
- 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule journeybjjacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (608) 416-1140
Hours
| Monday | 7–8 AM, 12–1 PM, 4:30–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 7–8 AM, 4:30–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 7–8 AM, 12–1 PM, 4:30–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 7–8 AM, 4:30–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 7–8 AM, 12–1 PM, 4:30–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9–10 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“His classes are structured and fun and he handles large groups of children of different ages well.”
“As a woman, I really do appreciate the strength and knowledge that I have learned from training here.”
“With a variety of class schedules and the offering of traditional or No Gi styles I would be hard pressed to not find time to attend.”
“Our coaches are awesome and are great at teaching us new skills to use on the mat but still prepare us for self defense out in the real world.”
“I was brand new to BJJ when I started at Journey, and I can't recommend it enough.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Owner/Coach Alex is knowledgeable and clear as a teacher, and does a great job of attending to each student and helping them identify their strengths and weaknesses.”
“Has been a fantastic place to learn, where I've felt welcome from day one and have become fast friends with everyone I've interacted with.”
“Instructors are very knowledgeable and friendly and all other students I have worked with are super friendly and fun.”
“Coach Alex does a nice job of explaining fundamentals for white belts, while supplementing that with more advanced techniques for blue belts.”
“I always feel safe in the gym with my training partners, and especially appreciate how consistently clean the facility/mats are.”
From the reviews
If you’re reading this review, then you’re considering training with Journey Academy; Do It! When I joined, I was simply looking for a form of exercise that introduced a social aspect, since activities like swimming or jogging are isolating at times.
I’ll be honest, I was pretty hesitant to try something so new and different but I’m so glad that I did! My husband and I love it here! Our coaches are awesome and are great at teaching us new skills to use on the mat but still prepare us for self defense out in the real world.
Trying Jiu jitsu was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. Excellent environment, clean facility, and incredible coaches who are passionate about the art of Jiu Jitsu.
I have been training at Journey for approximately 5 months, best investment I’ve made in a long time. At 37 years old I weighed 205 lbs in January and I now weigh 170 lbs.
New to BJJ? Start at Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy
Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy 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 Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 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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