Home › Michigan › Saline › Saline Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Saline Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 20 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Saline, Michigan
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
- Website & schedule salinejiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 734-436-1292
The classes they run
“Our family - my son and I - have been students at Saline Jiu Jitsu since 2025, and we truly feel fortunate to have found this school.”
“I definitely recommend Matt and Saline Jiu Jitsu to learn and better your self defense skills as well as your jiu jitsu.”
What members say
“I've been training with Coach Matt Miller since 2017 and know firsthand how great of an instructor and how knowledgeable he is.”
“All members here are great training partners and the academy in general is very welcoming and relaxed.”
“Our family - my son and I - have been students at Saline Jiu Jitsu since 2025, and we truly feel fortunate to have found this school.”
“Alongside technique, you learn patience, understanding, respect, and how to carry yourself with confidence in life outside the gym.”
“He has true Gracie family lineage, a great approach to training and class structure, and is an all around great dude.”
“Alongside technique, you learn patience, understanding, respect, and how to carry yourself with confidence in life outside the gym.”
From the reviews
For years I had wanted to start training Jiu Jitsu. Saline JJ opened up at a perfect location and my brother and I decided to try the free trial class. Coach Matt and all of his students made us feel welcomed and were all friendly. It was an easy choice coming back.
We have been going to Saline Jiu Jitsu for a few months now, and Coach Matt is excellent with our daughter. He keeps the class of young kids moving forward seamlessly, even when they get a bit chaotic. Could not recommend Saline Jiu Jitsu more!
My brother has put together a great school. The facility is top notch and a great mat culture.
I love training here under coach Matt. He has true Gracie family lineage, a great approach to training and class structure, and is an all around great dude. All members here are great training partners and the academy in general is very welcoming and relaxed.
New to BJJ? Start at Saline Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Saline Jiu-Jitsu Academy 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.
Your first BJJ class at Saline Jiu-Jitsu Academy
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.
More BJJ gyms near Saline
URSA Academy - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Ann Arbor
4.7 ★★★★★ 161 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Japanese Martial Arts Center
5 ★★★★★ 52 reviews
