HomeFloridaClearwater › Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu

Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu

4.9 ★★★★★ 53 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Clearwater, Florida

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens 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
  • Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule risingtidebjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (727) 953-8005

Hours

Monday 4–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 4–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9 PM
Friday 5–9 PM
Saturday 9:30 AM–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 Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 16 mentions

“Professor Brian is straight forward with the kids and treats them in a fair way with direct leadership.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🔓 Open Mat

“I dropped in for an open mat at Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu while I was visiting Clearwater for the weekend.”

All gyms that run open mat →

🛡️ Self-Defense 4 mentions

“Our 7 year old has grown in self discipline, respect, and self defense, all while having so much fun - thanks to Professor Brian and his outstanding team.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“More tellingly, the senior and intermediate students I've trained with so far are all also very kind and patient and willing to train with a beginner.”

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 Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

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 53 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 6 mentions

“Coach Kay is great instructor who shared a lot of details that any experience level can benefit from.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“The instructors are all top notch, the environment is welcoming, and the people who train here are amazing training partners.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 16 mentions

“My family and I have been training at Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu since November 2022 and are extremely happy with the school.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Coach Kay is great instructor who shared a lot of details that any experience level can benefit from.”

great workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“10 month check in: I've lost 20 lbs of fat, and my body is in great shape.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“I've competed and placed in a competition, and my life has been completely altered for the better due to my friends and goals at Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu.”

From the reviews

My 12 year old son joined in March 2023, and he really enjoys attending classes. He is in class every week, usually 3 to 4 days unless we have other commitments. This is the first activity that he has been excited to attend. Great self-defense skills and life skills/mentoring by Professor Brian.

★★★★★ — Juli, Jan 2025

I have been training at Rising Tide Jiu-Jitsu in Clearwater since June of 2022. I have grown to love my brothers and sisters that I roll with. Professor Brian, coach Lynn, and coach Cheko are excellent instructors and excellent people.

★★★★★ — Jason, May 2023

My family and I have been training at Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu since November 2022 and are extremely happy with the school. Professor Brian and coaching staff truly care for the people that train here and it is easy to tell by the emphasis they place in safety, security, cleanliness, and overall well-being of everyone…

★★★★★ — Luis, Jan 2025

My twins take classes here and they both love it. They are learning self defense and confidence while having fun! Professor Brian and the coaches are the best around! They truly care about each student. My husband and I also train, and we couldn't be happier to be a part of such an amazing team!

★★★★★ — Monica, Oct 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 53 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu

Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu 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 Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu

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 Rising Tide Jiu Jitsu

1458 S Belcher Rd, Clearwater, FL33764

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

More BJJ gyms near Clearwater

Clearwater Jiu Jitsu Academy

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

2299 Drew St, Clearwater, FL

BJJ gym

1.6 miles away

Gracie Barra Clearwater

5 ★★★★★ 104 reviews

1490 N Belcher Rd. # I, Clearwater, FL

🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site

Ages 4–12

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team Affiliated expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

2.4 miles away

Checkmat Clearwater Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Adult and Kids Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 51 reviews

1710 N Hercules Ave #103, Clearwater, FL

Ages 4–14

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team Affiliated expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

2.7 miles away

All BJJ gyms in Clearwater, 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.