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Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK

4.9 ★★★★★ 41 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Honolulu, Hawaii

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team

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
  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule graciehonolulu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (808) 277-1128

Hours

Monday 11 AM–1 PM, 4–8 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–1 PM, 4–8 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–1 PM, 4–8 PM
Thursday 11 AM–1 PM, 4–8 PM
Friday 11 AM–1 PM, 6–8 PM
Saturday 11 AM–1 PM
Sunday 11 AM–1 PM, 5–6 PM

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 3 mentions

“They emphasize a fundamentals based approach and prioritize partner safety without losing the spirit of healthy, competitive training.”

All gyms that run fundamentals →

🧒 Kids BJJ 6 mentions

“Arranged a private group self-defense class with Todd for my daughter going off to college.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 16 mentions

“They offer a self-defense oriented curriculum, while also teaching modern effective sportive techniques.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“This gym is definitely worth a visit for both beginners and experienced practitioners.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing

“Before I could take my trial run, a good friend of mine also happened to join TeamHK's kickboxing and Women's Empowered program.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 41 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“Finally, the lead instructor and owner is a 7th degree black belt instructor trained directly by Relson Gracie.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 11 mentions

“The academy is broken down with a beginners combative's class followed by a master cycle for advance and higher skilled practitioners.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 18 mentions

“Todd's excellence definitely trickles down from the top, as all of the coaches at HK absolutely give their all to the team and are more like family than instructors.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 17 mentions

“Todd Tanaka and Team HK has offered a balance of street and sport jiu jitsu in their criciulum full with detailed techniques for the most day to day person to the most advanced.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 16 mentions

“Not even half way through my vacation on the island and already have had the pleasure to train a couple of times with Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK in Honolulu.”

💗 welcoming to women 9 mentions

“In early 2014, my boyfellow shows me a video of Rener Gracie and Eve Torres-Gracie demonstrating a basic wrist grab escape (from the Women's Empowered program).”

From the reviews

I was one of the lucky ones that got to train with Relson back in 2000. When he comes to work he means business, I remember when I first started he wasn't worried about tying a belt or even introducing himself. He just firmly said get down on the mat.

★★★★★ — Sports, Feb 2016

If you asked me three years ago if I wanted to try Brazilian Jiujitsu, I'd be, "Ehh....mayyyybe. Hell no." I'd say that with the intent of hoping no one ever follows up on that.

★★★★★ — Jennifer, Mar 2017

Sitting here in a local laundromat to wash my gi again. Not even half way through my vacation on the island and already have had the pleasure to train a couple of times with Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK in Honolulu. This school does it all.

★★★★★ — Ken, Dec 2024

The greatest jiujitsu gym in the whole wide world! I've traveled the lands far and wide and no place can match what HK offers it's students. For starters, Todd is the GOAT. He's an amazing professor. His teaching style is unmatched. He explains the WHY behind the techniques, not just the how.

★★★★★ — A., Dec 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 41 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK

Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK

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.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team HK

1712 S King St 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI96826

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.