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Sanrin Mountain Dojo

4.6 ★★★★★ 10 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Flagstaff, Arizona

BJJ gym Affiliated Beginners welcome

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

  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule sanrindojo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 928-224-5908

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 3–6:30 pm
Wednesday 3–6:30 pm
Thursday 5–6:30 pm
Friday 5–6:30 pm
Saturday 9:30–11 am
Sunday 10 am–3:30 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 Sanrin Mountain Dojo, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 10 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“Jim O'Connell Sensei is a very experienced martial artist and a very patient instructor. He has built an amazing culture within his dojo of acceptance, humility and discipline.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 3 mentions

“Everyone is very humble and don't mind at all explaining a technique and breaking it down.”

From the reviews

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a seminar led by Jim O'Connell Sensei and I was thoroughly impressed by his depth of knowledge and experience. He is a fantastic instructor who is capable of making high level concepts accessible to students.

★★★★★ — Steve, Aug 2022

I attended a seminar here and the facility and instructors were great! So much to learn in a weekend but vastly improved from the seminar. I highly recommend attending this school!

★★★★★ — Ej, Sep 2022

Jim O'Connell Sensei is a very experienced martial artist and a very patient instructor. He has built an amazing culture within his dojo of acceptance, humility and discipline. The students here are great to work with and are very welcoming to newcomers.

★★★★★ — Andrew, Oct 2022

Great facility, students and instructors. Everyone is very humble and don't mind at all explaining a technique and breaking it down. The atmosphere is pretty chill and I've laughed a lot every time I train when I'm in town.

★★★★★ — Julieta, Jul 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 10 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Sanrin Mountain Dojo

Sanrin Mountain Dojo 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 Sanrin Mountain Dojo

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 Sanrin Mountain Dojo

Mountainaire Rd, Flagstaff, AZ86005

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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.