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Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 8 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Oxford, Ohio

BJJ gym Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons

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 (ages 3–15) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • 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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule somajj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (937) 503-7005

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 6:30–9 PM
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 6:30–9 PM
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
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 Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 2 mentions

“I'm proud to have my daughter signed up and will have other little ones in as soon as they're old enough.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“The self defense and anti-bullying programs are great for everyone!”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners

“The school is designed to be a place for everyone to feel welcome, from beginners to advanced.”

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 Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian 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 8 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 3 mentions

“The school is designed to be a place for everyone to feel welcome, from beginners to advanced.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 4 mentions

“It is a great and welcoming group of people that focus on helping everyone learn and grow.”

🎖️ legit lineage & affiliation 2 mentions

“If you live in or near Oxford Ohio you owe it to yourself to visit Professor Matt Strack at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Oxford.”

From the reviews

Awesome jiu jitsu. I'm a 35 year old male in law enforcement. The jiu jitsu learned from Soma Academy has helped me in my career and in life. I've been training with Soma for 6 1/2 years and the friendships made will last a lifetime.

★★★★★ — Luke, Jul 2017

A wonderful community of positive and welcoming people. Professor Matt and all the training staff are so supportive and encouraging. Do the free first week and you'll be hooked. I'm proud to have my daughter signed up and will have other little ones in as soon as they're old enough.

★★★★★ — Aaron, Jun 2018

I'm 42 years old and have been apart of the soma team for 8 years now. I'm a machinist at Chrysler corp and married with 5 children. I joined the team in search of highest quality instruction. I studied Jiu jitsu for four years before joining this team. I had to do a lot of traveling to receive top level instruction.

★★★★★ — James, Aug 2017

Professor Matt Strack has cultivated a great environment for those interested in starting or continuing their journey into the art of Jiu-Jitsu. It is a great and welcoming group of people that focus on helping everyone learn and grow. Oxford is very fortunate to have an instructor of such caliber and integrity.

★★★★★ — Jeff, Jul 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 8 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian 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 Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

5170 College Corner Pike, Oxford, OH45056

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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.