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Manasota Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 79 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Sarasota, Florida
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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule manasotajiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 941-504-8122
Hours
| Monday | 11 am–2 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am–2 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am–2 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–2 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Friday | 11 am–2 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“Phenomenal teachers and coaches both for adults and kids.”
“After learning a lot, the instructor has open mat for about an hour.”
What members say
“Chris, Tony, Alex, and Clay are not just great BJJ practitioners, they are great instructors.”
“Clayton has created a safe and welcoming environment to everyone who trains there.”
“Clayton has created a safe and welcoming environment to everyone who trains there.”
“Clayton's teaches in a detailed manner and he makes sure you not only understand the technique, but the fundamental reasons behind the technique.”
“The place is always clean, and everyone’s in good spirits, making it a fun spot to roll and train with others.”
“My game improved a great deal here.”
From the reviews
5 stripes! One of the best decisions I made was to start coming to this gym! Clay is super chill and really breaks things down in his classes. The place is always clean, and everyone’s in good spirits, making it a fun spot to roll and train with others.
Great vibes. Phenomenal teachers and coaches both for adults and kids. Owners are very welcoming. Lots of colored belts. Clean mats. Bathrooms are spotless. Will definitely recommend this gym 100% whether you’re new to BJJ or not.
Professor Clay is open and welcoming for any who want to train here. With a Legendary environment to complement and experienced practitioners…they also have class every day of the week!! 💪🏼😎🤙🏼
Great place to train, Clay Lyons is very approachable and helpful. He keeps the gym super clean and the energy positive. Busy open mats on the weekends. Couldnt ask for a better jiu jitsu gym.
New to BJJ? Start at Manasota Jiu Jitsu
Manasota Jiu Jitsu 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 Manasota Jiu Jitsu
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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