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Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 30 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Pella, Iowa

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team

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
  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule pellabjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule

Hours

Monday 5–6:30 am, 4–8 pm
Tuesday 4–7 pm
Wednesday 5–6:30 am, 4–8 pm
Thursday 4–7 pm
Friday 5–6:30 am, 4–8 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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 Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

Teens BJJ

“I wasn’t a wrestler in high school.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“Combat gyms get a bad rep for being hardcore, and while they are some people who go there to compete there are also people, like myself, who go just to get a awesome workout in.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“If you’re looking to get a great workout and or to learn practical self defense check of Pella BJJ!”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“I have been self-teaching myself for the past 8 months, but this was the first time I had been in a class.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing

“I came for a week free trial for the kickboxing class and I loved it.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 30 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“The instructor’s are highly knowledgeable, happy to pass on their knowledge, and extremely welcoming.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 11 mentions

“Went to the opening seminar for Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and was very impressed by the instruction, welcoming atmosphere, and safety for new grapplers.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 17 mentions

“Went to the opening seminar for Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and was very impressed by the instruction, welcoming atmosphere, and safety for new grapplers.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“I liked the environment and it’s easy to understand if you have some pre-existing knowledge of the sport and/or techniques.”

great workout & conditioning 4 mentions

“Great workout facilities, best place to get a deep understanding of grappling and how to defend yourself, and a business that is constantly improving so no class feels the same.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“Combat gyms get a bad rep for being hardcore, and while they are some people who go there to compete there are also people, like myself, who go just to get a awesome workout in.”

From the reviews

This is the place to go for a skill training workout! Brazilian Jujitsu not only gives me a cardio workout but helps give me more confidence in my day to day life.

★★★★★ — David, Sep 2021

Went to the opening seminar for Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and was very impressed by the instruction, welcoming atmosphere, and safety for new grapplers. I have been training for 4 years, and live out of town - if I lived in Pella or nearby, I would absolutely train here!!

★★★★★ — Ed, Oct 2021

This place is the best! Started a couple years ago (young and clueless, mind you) as a complete white belt. I had no idea what I was doing at the beginning but the instructors are patient and will teach you based on your skill level. Got my blue belt after lots of hard work and practice!

★★★★★ — Ana, Aug 2025

Place is great. I come in with no experience. They say no problem. I am only here for a summer. They say no problem. the coaches are very welcoming and are very flexibility with you. The workouts are tiring, but very rewarding and afterwards you felt like you actual did something.

★★★★★ — Jared, Jun 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 30 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Pella Brazilian 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. 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 Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

926 Opportunity Place, Pella, IA50219

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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.