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Real American Grappling
5 ★★★★★ 240 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Charlotte, North Carolina
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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule realamericangrappling.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 980-307-9608
Hours
| Monday | 5:30 am–1:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–8 am, 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30 am–1 pm, 5–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–8 am, 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 5–9 pm |
| Friday | 5:30–7 am |
| Saturday | 10:30 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | 11:30 am–1:30 pm |
The classes they run
“We really appreciate the entire crew from the other adult competitors to the other children and their parents.”
“Just two hours of sparring at Checkmat Charlotte and I believe my daughter will go back ready to compete and give her teammates back in Phoenix a run for their money!”
“His instruction is clear, detailed, and easy to understand whether you’re brand new or have years of experience.”
Other martial arts here
“As a 34 year old with no experience in wrestling or grappling, it was very scary starting jiu jitsu.”
What members say
“Professor Michael Allen is highly knowledgeable and truly cares about every student’s development, even those visiting!”
“I had been looking for a gym that felt welcoming and like someplace I could belong to and Checkmat Charlotte fit that bill.”
“I had been looking for a gym that felt welcoming and like someplace I could belong to and Checkmat Charlotte fit that bill.”
“Michael provided my daughter live feedback and coaching as she sparred helping to connect the dots to the skills and techniques she’s been learning back at Checkmat in Phoenix.”
“Just two hours of sparring at Checkmat Charlotte and I believe my daughter will go back ready to compete and give her teammates back in Phoenix a run for their money!”
“I had been looking for a gym that felt welcoming and like someplace I could belong to and Checkmat Charlotte fit that bill.”
From the reviews
Great gym and instruction, Coach Allen is the best. I've been training at CheckMat Charlotte for over a year now and the gym is growing but the team is only getting. The gym has numerous black belts and higher ranked men and women on the mat daily that helps me get great training each time I'm in class.
As a 34 year old with no experience in wrestling or grappling, it was very scary starting jiu jitsu. Thankfully coach Michael and the rest of the guys at this gym were very welcoming and made me feel at home right away. If you’ve ever wanted to try jiu jitsu, try it here.
We came to Charlotte visiting family for a few weeks this summer. My daughter’s coach in Phoenix recommended Checkmat Charlotte. I sent an email to Micheal sharing that I’d like my daughter to come to class a few times to get some reps in over the summer. I planned to call as we expected a delayed response.
Checkmat Charlotte is a wonderful program! Checkmat is organized into different categories; 4-6 year old, 7-13, adult women’s & men’s classes etc. Class times are catered to the age of the class.
New to BJJ? Start at Real American Grappling
Real American Grappling 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 Real American Grappling
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