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Soma Academy Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
4.8 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · BJJ gym in West Chester Township, Ohio
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 +1 937-503-7005
Hours
| Monday | 6–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:30 am–1:30 pm, 4–8 pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 10:30 am–1:30 pm, 4–8 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9:45 am–12:45 pm |
| Sunday | 9:30–10:30 am |
The classes they run
“Myers does an incredible job with the kids and strikes the perfect balance between discipline and play.”
“They teach on self defense and learning for the sake of learning while also recognizing that competition sharpens skills and gives their students ownership in the sport.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“I would recommend this academy to anyone who wants to learn Jiu-jitsu/self-defense in a safe and family friendly environment.”
“No matter your level, Professor Strack and Instructor Garrett are great at breaking down techniques in a clear and practical way.”
“This is a new, additional location of the great Soma Academy that has been providing excellent Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction in southwest Ohio.”
From the reviews
Highly recommend! My husband and I are from BRASIL and we were looking for a BR Jiu Jitsu class to enroll our 5 year old son. This was the first group activity our son was going to try and we didn’t know how he would engage or react to it. We are so happy we found SOMA Jiu Jitsu.
I love Soma! I love Soma for me and I love it for my children. Both Matt Strack and Garrett Myers are gifted teachers. They are so obviously knowledgeable of the sport, and have an amazing ability to present jiu jitsu to all ages and abilities in a way that can be easily understood.
Soma Academy is Awesome! Instructors Mr. Myers & Mr. Regis are extremely knowledgeable and great teachers! The structure of the class is very impressive supporting learning Jiu Jitsu and also character development inside and outside of class.
I brought my 3 year old to a trial class with low hopes. We’ve tried soccer and swimming and they have been fails the entire season. But I was blown away at the balance of patience and leadership. My child LOVED it. And the only tears we had were that we had to leave.
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.
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.
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