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Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado

5 ★★★★★ 21 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Greeley, Colorado

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi

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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule riganbjjnoco.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 970-590-6005

Hours

Monday 11 am–12 pm, 4:30–7 pm
Tuesday 11 am–12 pm, 4:30–8 pm
Wednesday 4:30–8 pm
Thursday 11 am–12 pm, 4:30–8 pm
Friday 7–8 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 Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 4 mentions

“The kids' curriculum is thoughtfully structured, and the instructor does a great job breaking down techniques in an age-appropriate way.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“This place is great for anyone, both adults and kids alike, to learn self defense and build confidence.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🤼 Judo 3 mentions

“I highly recommend RMJ NoCo to anyone seeking quality BJJ and Judo training in a supportive atmosphere.”

Other gyms that also teach judo →

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 21 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“The kids' curriculum is thoughtfully structured, and the instructor does a great job breaking down techniques in an age-appropriate way.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“The students are welcoming, and the environment fosters a true sense of community, making everyone feel at home.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 8 mentions

“The students are welcoming, and the environment fosters a true sense of community, making everyone feel at home.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“The kids' curriculum is thoughtfully structured, and the instructor does a great job breaking down techniques in an age-appropriate way.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 3 mentions

“Great gym for all experience levels.”

From the reviews

This is a great gym to come and learn self defense 💪 jujutsu, judo the environment and energy is awesome the guys and girls that train here are all super nice and respectful to each other, I've never done any type of martial art and I felt very welcomed .

★★★★★ — Angel, Sep 2025

Rigan Machado Jiu-jitsu of Northern Colorado has been an incredible experience for our boys. The kids' curriculum is thoughtfully structured, and the instructor does a great job breaking down techniques in an age-appropriate way.

★★★★★ — Tami, Aug 2025

RMJ NoCo is an outstanding academy. Professor Pettyjohn is a highly dedicated instructor with over four decades of martial arts experience, bringing exceptional skill and knowledge to every class. The students are welcoming, and the environment fosters a true sense of community, making everyone feel at home.

★★★★★ — Jerry, Aug 2025

I was glad to see that another place for jiu-jitsu had opened up in Greeley. I decided to give it a try and was not disappointed. Professor Troy, his wife and all the other members have been very pleasant and welcoming.

★★★★★ — Joshua, Sep 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 21 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado

Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado 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 Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado

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 Rigan Machado Jiu jitsu of Northern Colorado

2393 W 27th St #523, Greeley, CO80634

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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.