Home › Pennsylvania › Castle Shannon › Steel City Martial Arts
Steel City Martial Arts
4.9 ★★★★★ 94 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
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
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule steelcitymartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 412-531-2122
Hours
| Monday | 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 4:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am–1:30 pm, 4–9 pm |
| Thursday | 4:30–9 pm |
| Friday | 4–7:15 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–2:30 pm |
| Sunday | 9–11:30 am |
The classes they run
“My daughter attended another Martial Arts school for over 3 years and although she did not have a bad experience SSMA has been a far more superior experience.”
“My first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) class was the women's class.”
“The quality is very apparent when competing but just as helpful if you don’t compete.”
“Wether you're interested in striking, grappling for self defense or competition or just getting fit, Steel City M.”
“I truly recommend Steel City Martial Arts to anyone looking for a new gym to train at, or any beginner looking to get started.”
Other martial arts here
“I drove by SCMA for years always wanting to start Jiu Jitsu, however I thought it may be like an MMA gym and being a working professional, thought it was for younger people.”
“There is no more fun and entertaining way to workout than our women’s kickboxing class.”
“If you are looking for a karate school that just advances you threw the ranks because you pay every month this is not the school for you.”
What members say
“Knowledgeable professors, clean environment, great group of people, and a real sense of comradery at their gym.”
“I truly recommend Steel City Martial Arts to anyone looking for a new gym to train at, or any beginner looking to get started.”
“The family atmosphere there & the students combine for a very friendly place and is as comforting as a school should be--because SCMA truly embodies what an ideal school should be.”
“Both of my sons absolutely love training here.”
“You can challenge yourself and train for competition or just attend class to learn, have fun, and get a great workout.”
From the reviews
Been training here for 6 years. This academy has more accredited BJJ black belts teaching than any other school in the region. This school also does belt testing for BJJ instead of just handing belts out.
Don’t think you are too old to start. There are a few of us that started in our 50’s and are still going strong. BJJ is great for any age. You can challenge yourself and train for competition or just attend class to learn, have fun, and get a great workout.
Steel City Martial Arts has been nothing but a positive experience for my 5yr old son. The instructors are very good at what they do and are very hands on. If you are looking for a karate school that just advances you threw the ranks because you pay every month this is not the school for you.
Amazing gym. It’s family oriented, and clean, as well as, highly competitive. Great place to train as a female, great training partners and instructors. The quality is very apparent when competing but just as helpful if you don’t compete.
New to BJJ? Start at Steel City Martial Arts
Steel City Martial Arts 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 Steel City Martial Arts
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.
More BJJ gyms near Castle Shannon
IOTA JIU JITSU ACADEMY
5 ★★★★★ 19 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
SilverJack Jiu-jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 13 reviews
Stout PGH - Strip District
4.9 ★★★★★ 331 reviews