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Southern Maine Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
4.8 ★★★★★ 15 Google reviews · BJJ gym in South Portland, Maine
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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule southernmainebjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (207) 233-9118
Hours
| Monday | 7–8 AM, 4:30–5:30 PM, 7–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 6–8 AM, 4:30–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7–8 AM, 4:30–7 PM |
| Thursday | 6–8 AM, 4:30–5:30 PM, 7–8 PM |
| Friday | 7–8 AM, 4:30–7 PM |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
Other martial arts here
What members say
“He has immense knowledge, and has recently added some other high level black belt instructors.”
“It is always a pleasure to learn here because everyone is like family and the format in which the classes are taught help me learn well.”
“He teaches basics and many advanced techniques a lot of people don’t normally see.”
From the reviews
Awesome place to do BJJ. Great people and a world class instructor. Come in you won't be disappointed.
I have been a student under Rodrigo for 8 years now! It is always a pleasure to learn here because everyone is like family and the format in which the classes are taught help me learn well. He makes sure that you know the moves he teaches in and out and we always practice them thoroughly.
Great place to train. Rodrigo is a BJJ legend. He has immense knowledge, and has recently added some other high level black belt instructors. Good family atmosphere. Would highly recommend checking it out if you are looking to start BJJ.
Been training here for quite some time. Top notch people and instructors. Would recommend highly to anyone.
New to BJJ? Start at Southern Maine Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine 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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