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Kaizen Jiu-Jitsu Academy

4.5 ★★★★★ 45 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Dover, Delaware

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

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
  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule kaizen-jiu-jitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule

Hours

Monday 12–1 pm, 5–8 pm
Tuesday 6–9 pm
Wednesday 12–1 pm, 5–8 pm
Thursday 12–1 pm, 6–9 pm
Friday 6–7 pm
Saturday 10 am–11 pm
Sunday Closed

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 Kaizen Jiu-Jitsu Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 3 mentions

“My son trained at Kaizen for a few years before joining a competition BJJ team in NJ.”

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🩳 No-Gi

“Dropped in and caught the 1830 Wednesday No-Gi class and open Mat.”

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🥋 Gi

“Dropped in and caught the 1830 Wednesday No-Gi class and open Mat.”

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🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“I am involved with the Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu programs, most recently being more involved in competing at bjj tournaments.”

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🔓 Open Mat

“Dropped in and caught the 1830 Wednesday No-Gi class and open Mat.”

All gyms that run open mat →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“weather your just looking to stay active, learn self defense, or reach a competitive level they're definitely able to help you achieve your goals.”

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🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“Weather you are a new beginner or someone who has trained previously in any of the arts I would highly recommend anyone looking to get into martial arts to give Kaizen a try.”

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Other martial arts here

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

🥊 Muay Thai 4 mentions

“Whether you’re looking to do Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu or MMA, you will learn things about yourself and combat sports that you’d never thought you’d learn.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA

“Whether you’re looking to do Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu or MMA, you will learn things about yourself and combat sports that you’d never thought you’d learn.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 45 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“Coach Dusty is a phenomenal instructor. He gave me great advice and insights that helped me immediately improve my jiu jitsu.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Weather you are a new beginner or someone who has trained previously in any of the arts I would highly recommend anyone looking to get into martial arts to give Kaizen a try.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 10 mentions

“All of our training partners are very respectful and supportive of one another, and it's a great feeling to watch everyone learn and grow together.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“The coaches are incredibly knowledgeable and do an amazing job breaking down techniques in a way that’s easy to understand, whether you’re brand new or more experienced.”

active competition team 3 mentions

“I am involved with the Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu programs, most recently being more involved in competing at bjj tournaments.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 10 mentions

“The facility is always spotless — mats, bathrooms, and common areas are consistently clean and well cared for, which says a lot about the pride they take in the gym.”

From the reviews

Dropped in as a blue belt for jujitsu during New Years holidays. Though the class was small due to the holidays, the people there were super welcoming to me visiting. It feels like my 2nd home gym. No one there was overly aggressive and I really enjoyed every spar.

★★★★★ — Chin, Jan 2025

Ever since I started training here, I have absolutely fell in love with martial arts than before. The gym has a great community that helps you evolve and makes you feel welcomed! Coaches at Kaizen have years of experience and will take the necessary time to make sure students can grasp and apply techniques with ease.

★★★★★ — Asa, Jan 2025

As a drop-in student from out of town, I was thoroughly impressed by my experience at Kaizen Jiu Jitsu. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and made me feel right at home. The gym itself was spotless, which is a huge plus, and you can tell they take pride in keeping the training area clean and safe.

★★★★★ — Kevin, Aug 2025

Training at Kaizen Jiu Jitsu has been an amazing experience! All of the coaches are super knowledgeable and excel at breaking down complex concepts in a way that makes it easy to understand and implement. They take the time to answer student questions and make the classes fun and engaging.

★★★★★ — Lauren, May 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 45 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Kaizen Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Kaizen 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Kaizen 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. 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 Kaizen Jiu-Jitsu Academy

35 Commerce Way Ste 2, Dover, DE19904

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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.