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Octō Alliance Combat Sports
5 ★★★★★ 64 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Caledonia, 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.
Ego-free boxing gym teaching traditional Thai martial arts classes for adults, teens and kids, plus jujitsu and wrestling.
Plan your first class
- Membership memberships run around $15/mo — many academies also offer a discounted first month and family plans, so ask about new-member rates
- 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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule octoalliancecombatsports.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 616-558-4383
Hours
| Monday | 6:30–7:30 am, 9:30–10:30 am, 5–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8–9:30 am, 5:30–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30–7:30 am, 9:30–10:30 am, 6–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8–9:30 am, 5:30–7 pm |
| Friday | 6:30–7:30 am, 9:30–10:30 am, 5:30–8 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–12:30 pm |
| Sunday | 10:30 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“From fundamental striking to advanced level combos, kru Rex has it there🙏🏼 His knowledge on body mechanics and anatomy are enough to train with him alone.”
“I go to this gym mainly for their no-gi/folkstyle wrestling classes, and they’ve massively improved my BJJ game.”
“Women, men, older, younger, competitive fighters, and practitioners, so this is a great place if you want to compete, learn to defend yourself, or simply improve your health.”
“I also setup a one-on-one with Kru Rex and it helped me so much.”
“Highly recommend to all individuals from top notch athletes to beginners who want to get fit for 2021!”
Other martial arts here
“I've been wanting to get back into Muay Thai for a long time, but as you get older it can get be intimidating.”
“After a long search through the boxing and Muay Thai gyms here in town, I finally feel like I found a home.”
“I go to this gym mainly for their no-gi/folkstyle wrestling classes, and they’ve massively improved my BJJ game.”
What members say
“Coach Rex is considerably knowledgeable, has a keen eye for detail, and an all around quality leader.”
“The coaches are knowledgeable and friendly, the facility’s always clean and well-equipped, and the vibe is super professional but welcoming.”
“The coaches are knowledgeable and friendly, the facility’s always clean and well-equipped, and the vibe is super professional but welcoming.”
“Kru Rex really knows how to break combos and body mechanics down to an easily understandable level while also ramping up techniques for more advanced students.”
“If you are looking to learn Muay Thai, or train BJJ, Octō Alliance Combat Sports is the place to be.”
“Nice facility, private shower, changing rooms, small gym with weights and a rowing machine, plenty of thai pads, kick shields, loaner gloves, shin pads, etc.”
From the reviews
After a long search through the boxing and Muay Thai gyms here in town, I finally feel like I found a home. The coaches are fantastic and they really focus on form and technique (which is huge for me). Very welcoming environment, good training partners and people, and I love the weekend schedule. 🙏
Octō Alliance is a fantastic Muay Thai gym for all skill levels. Kru Rex really knows how to break combos and body mechanics down to an easily understandable level while also ramping up techniques for more advanced students. The facility is clean and welcoming and promotes a strong sense of community.
Kru Rex is doing an amazing job building something special for Martial Artists in West Michigan here. Great family vibe. Training Partners of all sizes. Excellent technique and cardio sessions!
The best traditional Muay Thai academy I’ve been too. Plain and simple. From fundamental striking to advanced level combos, kru Rex has it there🙏🏼 His knowledge on body mechanics and anatomy are enough to train with him alone. The facility stays clean, the people working and training are great people.
New to BJJ? Start at Octō Alliance Combat Sports
Octō Alliance Combat Sports 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 Octō Alliance Combat Sports
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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