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Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant

4.9 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

Part of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

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 roycegraciemp.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 843-735-9159

Hours

Monday 11:30 am–9 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am–9 pm
Wednesday 11:30 am–9 pm
Thursday 11:30 am–9 pm
Friday 12–1 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday 9 am–1 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 Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 16 mentions

“Our 3 kids (8, 10, 13) started off doing Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with True North last spring during the shutdown through private lessons.”

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💪 Women's BJJ

“As a woman, I find the atmosphere welcoming and the teacher very approachable.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“I started at a different academy that was really big and seems focused on tournaments.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“Our 3 kids (8, 10, 13) started off doing Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with True North last spring during the shutdown through private lessons.”

All gyms that run private lessons →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“This is a great jiu jitsu school for anyone interested in self defense.”

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🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“The other students, whether beginners or experienced practitioners have also made me feel right at home.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 4 mentions

“53 yo here and I love learning jiu jitsu and Muay Thai here at Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant with my Husband.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🎽 Karate

“As a side note, our kids formerly took karate classes.”

Other gyms that also teach karate →

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 19 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“Joshua is a fantastic coach, and he goes above and beyond to create a welcoming atmosphere for his students”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 11 mentions

“Joshua is a fantastic coach, and he goes above and beyond to create a welcoming atmosphere for his students”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Since I’ve joined Royce Gracie, I’ve been able to learn and understand techniques along with body and space awareness in both jiu jitsu and Muay Thai.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 10 mentions

“Our 3 kids (8, 10, 13) started off doing Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with True North last spring during the shutdown through private lessons.”

💗 welcoming to women 2 mentions

“As a woman, I find the atmosphere welcoming and the teacher very approachable.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 7 mentions

“In addition to improving their agility and physical fitness, this program focuses on so many character development aspects-respect, self-control, and responsibility to name a few.”

From the reviews

We love True North! Our 3 kids (8, 10, 13) started off doing Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with True North last spring during the shutdown through private lessons. Once True North opened their dojo on Coleman Blvd we all started attending classes there (my husband and I joined as well).

★★★★★ — Jennifer, Mar 2021

This is a great jiu jitsu school for anyone interested in self defense. My three kids (two daughters and a son) have been enrolled in classes at Royce Gracie Mount Pleasant for 6 months and I've already seen an increase in their confidence, self control and (obviously) jiu jitsu skills.

★★★★★ — Amanda, Nov 2024

Excellent martial arts studio and AWSOME group of people. For anyone interested in practicing martial arts the hardest part is finding a place and stepping through the door into the unknown. Well this is the place . Everyone their couldn’t be more friendly and welcoming and helpful .

★★★★★ — Robert, Mar 2021

Going to true north academy was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. By joining this gym, not only did my skills improve drastically but I found a hobby that I look forward to going to everyday. Joshua is a great teacher in many ways as he is knowledgeable, patient, and teaches things that work.

★★★★★ — Elias, Jun 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 19 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant

Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant

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 Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant

1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd #123, Mt Pleasant, SC29464

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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.