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KnuckleUp Academy
4.8 ★★★★★ 113 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Douglasville, Georgia
Clean venue offering Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai and MMA classes.
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
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule knuckleupacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 678-871-6621
Hours
| Monday | 6–10 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–10 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–10 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6–10 am, 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 7–10 am |
| Saturday | 8 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Austen runs an excellent program for both kids and adults, and his ability to coach across different age groups really shows his passion and dedication to the sport.”
“I also value the individualized attention they provide, ensuring each child receives meaningful one-on-one time.”
“I recommend it to any parent searching for a self-defense course.”
Other martial arts here
“My 4 year old started in August of 2025 with BJJ he then chose to switch to Muay Thai.”
What members say
“There are many great coaches there, and a for my strikers like me who look to be better coach yemi is the guy you want to see.”
“The trainers there are super welcoming, supportive, and amazing at making sure you not only get a fantastic workout, but feel comfortable and have a good time doing so.”
“The trainers there are super welcoming, supportive, and amazing at making sure you not only get a fantastic workout, but feel comfortable and have a good time doing so.”
“If your serious about your fitness journey, wanting to learn jiu jitsu, striking or improve conditioning, this is the place to be!”
“My daughter is athletic, but struggles with confidence and socializing.”
“We’ve noticed a big improvement in both his confidence and his skills thanks to Austen’s coaching.”
From the reviews
KnuckleUp has been one of the best decisions we’ve made for our son. Austen runs an excellent program for both kids and adults, and his ability to coach across different age groups really shows his passion and dedication to the sport. I’ve seen other coaches, but his training style truly stands out.
Knuckleup is where it’s at! Was pretty consistent for a few years before I had to relocate. Came back after almost 4 years and it was like riding a bike. Coach Austin was just as welcoming and patient and enthusiastic as ever! Lots of new faces to me but the old camaraderie was still there!
This program is fantastic. My son and his friends have been enrolled for a few months, and he really enjoys it. I recommend it to any parent searching for a self-defense course. They also offer classes for adults, which I’ve been considering myself.
This gym offers top tier training, great energy & motivating coaches. The environment is welcoming but intense to challenge you every session. If your serious about your fitness journey, wanting to learn jiu jitsu, striking or improve conditioning, this is the place to be!
New to BJJ? Start at KnuckleUp Academy
KnuckleUp 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 KnuckleUp 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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