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Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Cleveland
4.8 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Willoughby, Ohio
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) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule graciecleveland.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (440) 497-0894
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 4:30–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 10–11 AM, 5:30–7:30 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Empowering environment for children and adults alike.”
What members say
“It has been a fantastic experience with great instructors, students and friends.”
“Also, the head instructor is awesome and is the perfect example of a well respected family-man.”
“started fresh, good people, better technique, Relson Gracie jiu-jitsu.”
From the reviews
Good instructors, good people, and good training. I've trained at several different places looking for a BJJ school that not only had good instruction, but also a great atmosphere to learn in. Glad I found this place, I would highly recommend them to anyone.
I visited Ohio from Asia in Sep 2018. Brought a friend with me who was a complete newbie in BJJ. Doug, the black belt in class, and other students were all super friendly.
Very welcoming, kind, and knowledgeable instructors. I highly recommend this place to start your journey into the art of jujitsu
Excellent place to train in martial arts. If you are thinking of learning Jiu Jitsu, this is the place that you need to be. I quickly found out that there is absolutely no valid excuse to delay joining if it is something that you are truly interested in.
New to BJJ? Start at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Cleveland
Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Cleveland 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 Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Cleveland
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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