HomeFloridaGainesville › Ricardo Rezende BJJ

Ricardo Rezende BJJ

5 ★★★★★ 125 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Gainesville, Florida

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team

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 jiujitsugainesville.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (305) 998-9641

Hours

Monday 10 AM–12 PM, 5–6 PM, 7–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–12 PM, 5–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–12 PM, 5–9 PM
Friday 5–9 PM
Saturday 10–11 AM, 12–1 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 Ricardo Rezende BJJ, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 8 mentions

“Professor Ricardo has done a excellent job patiently teaching young children how to listen and learn jiu jitsu and courtesy and respect for others.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🩳 No-Gi 2 mentions

“Ricardo Rezende is a 3rd-degree black belt with multiple world titles to his name, including World No-Gi and Pan American No-Gi Champion.”

All gyms that run no-gi →

🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“Training with Ricardo was a privilege—he’s not only a world-class competitor, but also an excellent and very approachable instructor.”

All gyms that run competition team →

🛡️ Self-Defense

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“People of all skill levels and goals have the opportunity to learn and improve so much my training here.”

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 Ricardo Rezende BJJ — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai

“For over a year I’ve been training my bjj, Muay Thai and mma skills here at Ricardo Rezende BJJ and I can comfortably this was the best decision for my martial arts journey.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA 2 mentions

“For over a year I’ve been training my bjj, Muay Thai and mma skills here at Ricardo Rezende BJJ and I can comfortably this was the best decision for my martial arts journey.”

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 125 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 8 mentions

“After attending a trial class, it quickly became clear that Professor Rezende brings a high level of instruction along with genuine care and positive coaching.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 10 mentions

“The flexibility of the schedule, combined with the welcoming and family-friendly environment, made Gainesville BJJ feel like the right fit for our child and our family.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 16 mentions

“The flexibility of the schedule, combined with the welcoming and family-friendly environment, made Gainesville BJJ feel like the right fit for our child and our family.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“It’s family where Ricardo works really hard for the community and also to provide a good time in the mats explaining high level techniques as world champion he is.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“Ever since my son began training there he has been more confident, especially for a 6 year old.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“Training with Ricardo was a privilege—he’s not only a world-class competitor, but also an excellent and very approachable instructor.”

From the reviews

Coming by to leave a review on behalf of Ricardo’s Academy. My son has been going there for a little over a year now, and I must say I am impressed on the quality of training that he has to offer. Ever since my son began training there he has been more confident, especially for a 6 year old.

★★★★★ — Felipe, Mar 2026

We discovered Ricardo Rezende BJJ while searching for a place where our son could not only learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but feel supported and encouraged as he grew.

★★★★★ — Dwarka, Jan 2026

Daniel Tavares, 5th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting Ricardo Rezende’s Academy for a seminar/workshop. Top-level school, amazing atmosphere, and a very welcoming, family-oriented environment. The level of Jiu-Jitsu is outstanding.

★★★★★ — Daniel, Mar 2026

Elite coaching is easily accessible in Gainesville, Florida, across countless sports. What is rare is the instructor willing to brave teaching a child with the attention span of a four-year old - the emotional and technical skills of an energetic life that are honed thrice weekly at Ricardo Rezende’s BJJ Academy.

★★★★★ — M., Mar 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 125 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Ricardo Rezende BJJ

Ricardo Rezende BJJ 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Ricardo Rezende BJJ

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 Ricardo Rezende BJJ

3437 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL32607

Get directions Instagram

More BJJ gyms near Gainesville

BJJ

3832 Newberry Rd, Gainesville, FL

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team

under a mile away

BJJ Swamp Academy

4.9 ★★★★★ 196 reviews

3300 SW Archer Rd SUITE100, Gainesville, FL

🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team welcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academystrong technique & fundamentals

1.6 miles away

1.7 miles away

All BJJ gyms in Gainesville, FL →

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.