HomeMissouriKansas City › Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy

Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy

4.8 ★★★★★ 41 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Kansas City, Missouri

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team

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
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 4–13) — 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 sharkbaitmma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 816-777-6277

Hours

Monday 7 am–9 pm
Tuesday 7 am–9 pm
Wednesday 7 am–9 pm
Thursday 7 am–9 pm
Friday 7–10 am
Saturday 9–11 am
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 Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 14 mentions

“My son has enjoyed kids’ MMA and BJJ during the week and private classes with head coach and owner Anthony.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

Teens BJJ

“My hubby actually trained with Sharkbait when they were kids(teens).”

All gyms that run teens bjj →

🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“Sharkbait's is great gym in the community that provides incredible opportunities to learn and compete.”

All gyms that run competition team →

👤 Private Lessons 3 mentions

“My son has enjoyed kids’ MMA and BJJ during the week and private classes with head coach and owner Anthony.”

All gyms that run private lessons →

🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“Anthony and all other coaches are very easy to work with and are able to relay skills and information to people of all levels and ages!”

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 Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA 5 mentions

“The instructors and the owner of the school are top-notch, experienced individuals in the art of MMA and jiu jitsu.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 41 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“Coach Anthony is very knowledgeable and takes the time to explain different concepts very well.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 5 mentions

“Anthony and all other coaches are very easy to work with and are able to relay skills and information to people of all levels and ages!”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 9 mentions

“Not only do you have coaches and instructors that have decades of experience, but the culture of the gym is welcoming and friendly.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“He’s helped my son develop solid BJJ skills, build self-confidence, and get in great shape.”

active competition team 4 mentions

“My daughter enjoys the balance of training, sparring, warm-up exercises, competitions, and games, all of which help the students achieve their goals.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 4 mentions

“When going to this gym you will find that the mats and everything are always clean, and you will build a relationship with these coaches as if they were a close friend.”

From the reviews

My boys and I joined Sharkbait’s at the beginning of August. The environment for them to learn has been great. Not only have they had the opportunity to continue building self confidence, discipline, problem solving, and an amazing mix of martial arts, they have gained a community of friends.

★★★★★ — Joshua, Dec 2024

I joined this gym brand new just under a year ago, the confidence boost, and calmness it brought to my life is outstanding, this gym is insanely thorough in their technique and the coaches are willing to work one on one with you.

★★★★★ — Jaxson, May 2025

Blessed to be able to train here. Tons of good folks to roll with. They have welcomed me when I was a stranger and knew nothing about Jiu-Jitsu. The owner Anthony is a super solid guy. He’s super knowledgeable and the first thing I noticed about him was his passion for training and teaching.

★★★★★ — Luke, May 2025

Great gym for MMA and Jiu Jitsu! Anthony is a great instructor who has a ton of experience. He also makes it super fun and informative. Gym is very clean and an amazing space! Check it out, you won’t be sorry!

★★★★★ — William, Dec 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 41 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy

Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy 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 Sharkbait’s MMA & 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.

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 Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy

16100 Round Tripper Dr, Kansas City, MO64152

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

More BJJ gyms near Kansas City

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Kansas City

5 ★★★★★ 100 reviews

7679 NW Prairie View Rd, Kansas City, MO

🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site

Ages 3–13

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Affiliated welcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academystrong technique & fundamentals

5.9 miles away

Brazil Academy North

4.6 ★★★★★ 11 reviews

10800 N Congress Ave, Kansas City, MO

BJJ gym Kids & teens Competition team Affiliated expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

6.8 miles away

One Community Jiujitsu Club

5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

2203 Parallel Ave, Kansas City, KS

BJJ gym Kids & teens Private lessons

9.1 miles away

All BJJ gyms in Kansas City, MO →

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.