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Reaction MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 145 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Nicholasville, 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
- 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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule reactionmma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (859) 913-2013
Hours
| Monday | 11 AM–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 3–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 3–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–1:30 PM |
| Sunday | 1:30–2:30 PM |
The classes they run
“They are very good about being patient with the kids while keeping them on track and learning some fundamentals of body awareness and beginning stages of JJ.”
“He specifically leads the adult BJJ and boxing classes, as well the kids classes from what I have seen.”
“Whether you’re a hobbyist or competitor it is a great place to train at.”
“They are both great teachers and offer private lessons at an affordable price.”
“Regarding the instruction, it is a mixture of skills and concepts that work as proper self-defense training as well as sport Jiu Jitsu.”
“I am not gifted athletically and I have never trained in any martial art, so starting something like this in my upper 40s was intimidating.”
Other martial arts here
“Grant and Logan run the kickboxing / Muay Thai classes and are extremely well versed in the sport.”
“Reaction MMA is an great place to start breaking down your walls and fighting those inner and outer fears.”
“Reaction is by far the best gym to work on yourself and develop your abilities with bjj, muy thai, and boxing.”
“Grant and Logan run the kickboxing / Muay Thai classes and are extremely well versed in the sport.”
What members say
“Professor Rob is a first class human and it reflects through all of the guys and girls who are a part of this community.”
“Everyone here are friendly and willing to help whenever you have any questions or need help with something.”
“They are very good about being patient with the kids while keeping them on track and learning some fundamentals of body awareness and beginning stages of JJ.”
“Whether you’re a hobbyist or competitor it is a great place to train at.”
“There are basic classes twice a week that hyper focus on starting with simple movements that then translate into useful skills over the course of several weeks.”
From the reviews
Reaction MMA is by far the best MMA/ Jiujitsu gym in Kentucky. I’ve trained at other gyms, but Reaction MMA does it right. Literally the best of the best in the state. If you want to improve yourself, if you want to be better, and if you want to win, Reaction MMA is the only option that can help you meet that criteria.
Reaction MMA is a great place to train at. Whether you’re a hobbyist or competitor it is a great place to train at. Professor Nickerson and the rest of the coaching staff are all exceptional.
We have had the best experience! Just becoming a part of the reaction family has done wonders for my own mental health. My kids love their own juijitsu classes there. They've improved with their social skills, physical endurance, and mental strength. We live in a beautiful world..but it can get pretty nasty.
I have been training at Reaction for a long time, over 10 years at this point. I don’t get to train as often as I’d like but, I love coming here when I can. I look forward to it each week, and started bring my brother recently as well. It’s a great environment, with friendly people and good training partners.
New to BJJ? Start at Reaction MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Reaction MMA and 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.
Your first BJJ class at Reaction MMA and 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 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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site