Home › Michigan › Portage › Kalamazoo BJJ
Kalamazoo BJJ
5 ★★★★★ 26 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Portage, Michigan
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
- 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 kzoobjj.net — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (269) 251-1263
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Thursday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Friday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Whether you want to compete, get in better shape, learn self defence, or just make friends and have fun, this is the place in Kalamazoo to do it.”
“Eventually I'll be dropping in on boxing classes, as well as karate, so that I can one day play on MMA open mat day.”
“Whether you want to compete, get in better shape, learn self defence, or just make friends and have fun, this is the place in Kalamazoo to do it.”
“There's always some sort of nervousness that comes from being a beginner at anything but everyone here made me feel comfortable and eased that anxiety.”
Other martial arts here
“Eventually I'll be dropping in on boxing classes, as well as karate, so that I can one day play on MMA open mat day.”
“Eventually I'll be dropping in on boxing classes, as well as karate, so that I can one day play on MMA open mat day.”
“Nick has won more Karate tournaments than I can remember the amount of.”
What members say
“Instructor is highly skilled, knowledgeable, and makes class a blast everytime you go.”
“There's always some sort of nervousness that comes from being a beginner at anything but everyone here made me feel comfortable and eased that anxiety.”
“Ben’s awesome, the classes are great, and the people are super friendly.”
“He knows his stuff, competes Internationally, & is amazing at breaking down complicated technique for the newest Martial Artist.”
“Whether you want to compete, get in better shape, learn self defence, or just make friends and have fun, this is the place in Kalamazoo to do it.”
“As a Brown Belt under 2nd degree Carlson Gracie Jr.”
From the reviews
I’m a newbie to the area, and was unenthused with finding another place to train BUT…my apprehension was put to rest with Kalamazoo BJJ. Ben has a way of breaking down moves and concepts so that anyone from the complete beginner to advanced student can understand and implement.
The best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team you could ask for! Whether you want to compete, get in better shape, learn self defence, or just make friends and have fun, this is the place in Kalamazoo to do it.
This is a very long, winding review, so I will put the highlights here at the top for quick review. 1. Valor has both teachers and students who are patient and welcoming. they make you feel as if you belonged there before you even came. 2.
I went to my first open mat last week and it was amazing! There's always some sort of nervousness that comes from being a beginner at anything but everyone here made me feel comfortable and eased that anxiety. I got destroyed in the few rolls I took part in, but I left feeling amazing and ready for the next one.
New to BJJ? Start at Kalamazoo BJJ
Kalamazoo BJJ 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 Kalamazoo BJJ
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.
More BJJ gyms near Portage
Portage JiuJitsu - Lightning Kicks
4.9 ★★★★★ 153 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Gracie Jiu Jitsu Vicksburg
5 ★★★★★ 13 reviews