Home › Florida › St Cloud › Nelson Jiu Jitsu
Nelson Jiu Jitsu
4.8 ★★★★★ 65 Google reviews · BJJ gym in St Cloud, Florida
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 (ages 4–16) — 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule nelsonjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 407-433-7975
Hours
| Monday | 8:30 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 8:30 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 10–11 am |
| Sunday | 10 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“I usually keep to myself, train or watch my kids train, and head home—but every time I’m here, it feels like a positive, supportive environment.”
“They’re very accommodating whether you’re here for competition prep or just visiting from out of state.”
“The instruction, the culture, and the quality of the training partners make it an amazing place to train whether you’re brand new to jiu jitsu or have experience.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The welcoming environment made it a very easy decision for me and my wife to sign up and after 2 classes we are hooked!”
“I usually keep to myself, train or watch my kids train, and head home—but every time I’m here, it feels like a positive, supportive environment.”
“We truly appreciate all the coaches and professors; they’re knowledgeable, supportive, and excellent at explaining each technique.”
“My children have gained confidence and discipline, and it’s been amazing for my own mental and physical health—I’ve lost over 25 pounds.”
“The gym is very clean and the owners and prompt and have extreme attention to detail and care about their clients.”
“Nelson Jiu-Jitsu is a fantastic grassroots, hard-work style gym—focused, driven, and dedicated to helping you grow in your jiu-jitsu journey.”
From the reviews
Great atmosphere for kids and new attending students. Gym is DRAMA FREE and coaches are there to enforce it. The coaches are there to be the most helpful. Let's be real Jiu Jitsu is intimidating for a lot of people. The gym is geared for everyone Don't hesitate too long this is the spot to train at !
I took my first class at Nelson Jiu Jitsu last night. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and respectful, which made starting something new much easier. The instructor does an excellent job breaking things down clearly and making sure beginners understand the techniques.
I begrudgingly joined Nelson Jiu Jitsu at my husband’s request. The first week was rough because I felt so lost.. I didn’t even know how to shrimp or frame, and I felt completely out of my element. The coaches, professors, and students are genuinely kind, patient, and always willing to help me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nelson Jiu Jitsu is hands down the best gym in Saint Cloud. I’ve trained at different academies before, and this one truly stands out. The instruction, the culture, and the quality of the training partners make it an amazing place to train whether you’re brand new to jiu jitsu or have experience.
New to BJJ? Start at Nelson Jiu Jitsu
Nelson 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 Nelson 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.
More BJJ gyms near St Cloud
Dutch Muay Thai Kickboxing & Judo-Jitsu at Fitness CF of St. Cloud & Dr.Phillips, FL
5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Genesis Academy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 51 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
New Journey Jiu Jitsu & Grappling LLC
5 ★★★★★ 94 reviews