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Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville

5 ★★★★★ 18 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Gainesville, Florida

Part of Renzo Gracie Academy

BJJ gym Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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

  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule renzograciegainesville.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (347) 414-1525

Hours

Monday 5–8 PM
Tuesday 6:30–8:30 AM, 5–8 PM
Wednesday 6:30–8:30 AM, 5–8 PM
Thursday 6:30–8:30 AM, 5–8 PM
Friday 6–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–12 PM
Sunday Closed

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 Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 2 mentions

“Joe does an excellent job at teaching proper technique but also the dangers of performing them improperly.”

All gyms that run fundamentals →

🧒 Kids BJJ 14 mentions

“Joe is an outstanding instructor with a natural, calm approach that puts kids at ease throughout their sessions.”

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🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“Coach Joe has an incredible ability to cater to practitioners of all levels, whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced competitor.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

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🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“Coach Joe has an incredible ability to cater to practitioners of all levels, whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced competitor.”

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 Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA

“Whether you're training for sport, MMA, or just personal development, this academy is awesome.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 18 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 3 mentions

“I think this practice is very important for kids and Joe is a great instructor.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“The professor was very welcoming and helped students understand the thought behind the actions as well as the body mechanics of the work.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 17 mentions

“The professor was very welcoming and helped students understand the thought behind the actions as well as the body mechanics of the work.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 9 mentions

“His expertise in Jiu-Jitsu, coupled with his ability to break down techniques in a way that’s easy to understand, sets him apart as a coach.”

active competition team 3 mentions

“Coach Joe has an incredible ability to cater to practitioners of all levels, whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced competitor.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 10 mentions

“If you are looking for place to learn the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I would strongly urge you to check out the Renzo Gracie Academy.”

From the reviews

I have been training at Renzo Gracie Gainesville for a few months. Professor Joe Capizzi has tremendous experience in teaching and shares his stories with many BJJ legends. As a beginner without a strong physical condition, what attracts me here is the friendly atmosphere.

★★★★★ — Z, Jul 2023

My 2 kids and I train here. Coach, owner, and Renzo black belt Joe C. is awesome with both adult and kids classes. Awesome holistic approach to training BJJ. There's also a great group of various ranked regulars who will support you on your BJJ journey.

★★★★★ — Joe, Apr 2025

I am a first degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and was convinced to try out the place after one of his students of 2 days beat me in a sparring match. Learned a lot on day 1, Joe is a very competent and experienced teacher. 5 stars would recommend and cannot wait to continue building a new skill set.

★★★★★ — Jacob, Oct 2022

Update; 2.5 years later and I have my blue belt. Highly recommended to everyone! Just started classes here, great place! Clean mats, great instruction! Joe is a very supportive and great instructor. This school will produce many tournament winners!

★★★★★ — Erik, Jun 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 18 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville

Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville

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 Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville

2441 NW 43rd St Unit 11-A, Gainesville, FL32606

Get directions

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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.