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Kato Jiu Jitsu : Martial Arts and Fitness
4.8 ★★★★★ 74 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Mankato, Minnesota
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
- 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 katojiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 507-200-8504
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“You’ll often see parents training alongside their kids, and the coaches do an amazing job creating a positive, respectful space where everyone feels comfortable.”
“The boys look forward to the variety of classes offered from gi and no gi classes to striking, mma and wrestling.”
“The boys look forward to the variety of classes offered from gi and no gi classes to striking, mma and wrestling.”
“What sets Kato apart is their incredible support for students who want to compete, whether it's in jiu-jitsu tournaments or MMA fights.”
“Whether you’re looking to build confidence, learn self-defense, get in shape, or just find a healthy outlet, Kato Jiu Jitsu is the place to be.”
“The instructors are not only skilled and knowledgeable, but genuinely kind and invested in every student’s growth from beginners to advanced practitioners.”
Other martial arts here
“What sets Kato apart is their incredible support for students who want to compete, whether it's in jiu-jitsu tournaments or MMA fights.”
“I moved to Mankato for college and after wrestling for many years I wanted to try something new so I signed up for Kato Jujitsu.”
What members say
“Jose, the head coach, is caring and provides a great atmosphere to train in.”
“The instructors are not only skilled and knowledgeable, but genuinely kind and invested in every student’s growth from beginners to advanced practitioners.”
“You may try it out just as a weekend hobby then before you know it, the whole family is committed to it with more goals and ambition than you thought was possible.”
“Our son’s confidence and his voice have grown in ways that cannot be measured.”
“What sets Kato apart is their incredible support for students who want to compete, whether it's in jiu-jitsu tournaments or MMA fights.”
“They have a very clean facility with instructors who are very kind and knowledgeable and can help no matter your skill level.”
From the reviews
I've been training at Kato Jiu-Jitsu for almost 2 years and I can confidently say it's one of the best martial arts gyms around. What sets Kato apart is their incredible support for students who want to compete, whether it's in jiu-jitsu tournaments or MMA fights.
Our family has been attending this gym for several years with our oldest son who is now 7 but started when he was 4! We now have two sons attending and can’t wait for our youngest to be of age and hit the mat as well!
kato jiu jitsu has been an absolute blessing for our family. our daughter has attended various formated classes from little kids beginners to more involved and targeted tournament ready training.. my daughter is 5 years old and has been at kato since she could start at 3yrs old.
Kato Jiu Jitsu is an absolute gem of a studio. The instructors are not only skilled and knowledgeable, but genuinely kind and invested in every student’s growth from beginners to advanced practitioners. The atmosphere is welcoming, respectful, and motivating, making it easy to feel like part of a community right away.
New to BJJ? Start at Kato Jiu Jitsu : Martial Arts and Fitness
Kato Jiu Jitsu : Martial Arts and Fitness 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 Kato Jiu Jitsu : Martial Arts and Fitness
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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