Home › Florida › Clearwater › Proof Jiu-jitsu
Proof Jiu-jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 203 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Clearwater, Florida
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
- 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 5–18) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule proofjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 6–7:30 am, 11 am–1:30 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–7:30 am, 4–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7:30 am, 11 am–1:30 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Thursday | 6–7:30 am, 4–9 pm |
| Friday | 6–7:30 am, 11 am–1:30 pm, 6–9 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1:30 pm |
| Sunday | 9–10:30 am |
The classes they run
“I started attending classes shortly after they opened and now my wife and two of my daughters attend and love going to class.”
“I strongly recommend this studio to anyone who is contemplating learning a martial art, be it for self-defense, fitness, or increasing one's confidence.”
“Coach Ben is incredibly knowledgeable, down-to-earth, and makes everyone feel welcomed and confident—whether you’re a total beginner or have some experience.”
What members say
“Coach Ben is incredibly knowledgeable, down-to-earth, and makes everyone feel welcomed and confident—whether you’re a total beginner or have some experience.”
“Before the first class he was so nervous his stomach hurt, and immediately after he was jumping up and down saying how much fun he had and he couldn’t wait to come back.”
“From the coaches to the classmates, everyone is very warm and welcoming, supportive, and most of all, approachable, which means a lot to me.”
“This gym made me feel welcome, and I train with many partners who do not know sign language or are trying to learn it, but we learn the same techniques in class.”
“I started attending classes shortly after they opened and now my wife and two of my daughters attend and love going to class.”
“I have been attending Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Largo for about a month now, and I have been very impressed with both the training and the art of Jiu Jitsu itself.”
From the reviews
I recently joined Gracie Jiu Jitsu Largo and have been thoroughly impressed with my experience. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warmth and professionalism. The facility is top-notch, with clean, well-maintained equipment, and a large space for training. The instructors are exceptional.
What an incredible jiu jitsu training facility! If you want to learn the best self-defense curriculum, in the best facility, and be taught by the best teachers, there's just one place in tampa bay. Professor Ben is not only a trained fighter but is an incredible teacher too.
Training under Professor Ben has been a transformative experience in my Jiu-Jitsu journey. His outstanding ability to explain and demonstrate techniques allows students of all levels to learn and grow continuously. Every class is filled with valuable lessons, no matter where you are in your journey.
I was a drop in. The facility is beautiful with tons of mat space and places to sit or change out. The location was easy to find. Bathrooms and changing areas were clean. Ben and his team were very welcoming and polite. Ben is a great coach and competitor. He offers tons of classes for a variety of experience levels.
New to BJJ? Start at Proof Jiu-jitsu
Proof Jiu-jitsu 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 Proof 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.
More BJJ gyms near Clearwater
Hidden Leaf Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
Supremacy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 275 reviews
Gracie Largo West Jiu-Jitsu & Community Center
5 ★★★★★ 49 reviews