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Old Louisville Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 17 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Louisville, Kentucky
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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule oldlouisvillejiujitsuacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 310-882-1605
Hours
| Monday | 12–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–7 am |
| Wednesday | 12–9 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9–11 am |
| Sunday | 11 am–2 pm |
The classes they run
“The little kids class has been super fun for my 7 year old daughter.”
“Top notch instruction from Tomas the nogi instructor and I picked up some helpful tips on my nogi leg lock game.”
“Joe and everybody else welcomed me for their Sunday open mat.”
“10/10 recommend coming here if you would like to learn self defense in an encouraging and welcoming environment.”
“Had a private with Joe today, very helpful for me as a total beginner.”
What members say
“Joe and Yani are great instructors and very friendly and personable, they make sure everyone at the gym feels comfortable and it makes for great camaraderie!”
“10/10 recommend coming here if you would like to learn self defense in an encouraging and welcoming environment.”
“Joe and Yani are great instructors and very friendly and personable, they make sure everyone at the gym feels comfortable and it makes for great camaraderie!”
“Strong emphasis on safety and mastery of principles, as well as technique.”
From the reviews
Signed up for jiu-jitsu back in April! My boyfriend and I take these classes together and we LOVE it! It’s a fun way for us to do an activity together and learn new skills! I definitely feel safer in general knowing I’ve learned some great self defense moves in the process!
Great spot for bjj. Joe the owner was super kind and accommodating me as a visitor. The gym itself has a cool brick/industrial vibe and is probably the most central to where I was staying in NuLu of any of the other bjj gyms which is a plus.
Had a private with Joe today, very helpful for me as a total beginner. He was receptive to all my questions and minimal knowledge. Awesome space, friendly shop cat/dog. I’m visiting town and would highly recommend this for locals or visitors!
I started Old Louisville JiuJitsu about three months ago and I wanted to wait a little bit before I wrote a review. It has been amazing so far—such great and encouraging people, a lot of mat space in a cool venue I like coming to.
New to BJJ? Start at Old Louisville Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Old Louisville Jiu-Jitsu 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 Old Louisville Jiu-Jitsu 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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