HomeArizonaSafford › Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat

Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat

5 ★★★★★ 11 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Safford, Arizona

Part of Checkmat

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team

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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule onyxbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 928-651-6311

Hours

Monday 4:30–8 pm
Tuesday 6–7 am, 4:30–8 pm
Wednesday 6–7 am, 4:30–5:30 pm
Thursday 6–7 am, 3:30–8 pm
Friday 6–7 am, 6–7 pm
Saturday 9–11 am
Sunday 8–10 am

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 11 mentions

“Overall, the environment is really family-friendly and positive, great classes for kids, even a parent-kid class that really speaks to the owner/coach's values.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

💪 Women's BJJ

“They have a women's class that is fun and not intimidating at all.”

All gyms that run women's bjj →

🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“First time doing Jiu jitsu and can't say enough how welcoming and friendly Onyx is to beginners!”

All gyms that run beginners →

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 11 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“First time doing Jiu jitsu and can't say enough how welcoming and friendly Onyx is to beginners!”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 6 mentions

“First time doing Jiu jitsu and can't say enough how welcoming and friendly Onyx is to beginners!”

From the reviews

First time doing Jiu jitsu and can't say enough how welcoming and friendly Onyx is to beginners! They have a women's class that is fun and not intimidating at all.

★★★★★ — Janel, Dec 2025

My Grandson Grandson love going to Onyx Jiu Jitsu. They have such a wonderful time and so much fun learning to protect themselves. Everybody is extremely nice and they are so fantastic teaching the kids Jiu Jitsu.

★★★★★ — Lynn, Jan 2026

The best. I have an amazing time at Onyx! My wife loves is also and my kids do too! Great family place but also a great place with frat techniques and great rolls.

★★★★★ — Matthew, Nov 2025

What an amazing gym! My son goes to the kids class and the instructors do an outstanding job matching games with skills to instruct the kids. The adult class is equally inviting and fun. Walking in with no experience to BJJ I was treated with kindness and respect by everyone.

★★★★★ — Ryan, Jan 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 11 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat

Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat

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.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Onyx Jiu-Jitsu CheckMat

408 W Main St, Safford, AZ85546

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.