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Premier Martial Arts Latham
4.9 ★★★★★ 29 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Latham, New York
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 5–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule premiermartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 518-900-5425
Hours
| Monday | 3–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 3–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 3–9 pm |
| Thursday | 3–9 pm |
| Friday | 3–9 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Premier has gone above and beyond in our opinion and it is an excellent investment and program for kids as young as 4 years old!”
“Janine and her family came in to my middle school during our community day and they taught the kids self-defense.”
“Having no experience with karate before we weren’t sure what to expect.”
Other martial arts here
“It’s been about two years since I started mixed martial arts and I’m finally half way to my black belt.”
“Having no experience with karate before we weren’t sure what to expect.”
What members say
“Janine and her family came in to my middle school during our community day and they taught the kids self-defense.”
“For my kids they have learned discipline, respect, confidence and how to defend themselves if needed.”
“One is neurodivergent (diagnosed ADHD) and Miss Jewel and Miss Janine know exactly what he needs to help him stay focused and calm.”
From the reviews
The staff give a great family feel! They treat everyone like their own family! Master Dom is a great leader, teacher and example for the children and adults. My son is gaining confidence, self discipline and continues to learn self defense. Master Dom incorporates mental and physical well being.
My fraternal twins attend two different classes in the Tiny Champs program. One is neurodivergent (diagnosed ADHD) and Miss Jewel and Miss Janine know exactly what he needs to help him stay focused and calm.
Despite being an inexperienced martial artist, I have experienced many different instructors over the years. That is exactly what sold me on Premier Martial Arts. My introduction to this facility with the 5th degree black belt head instructor Dominique Dandridge was textbook.
It’s been about two years since I started mixed martial arts and I’m finally half way to my black belt. It’s pretty rad to see how far I’ve come since walking into that dojo- quiet as a mouse, apologizing for existing, anxiety ridden.
New to BJJ? Start at Premier Martial Arts Latham
Premier Martial Arts Latham 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 Premier Martial Arts Latham
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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