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Steve Haydock Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 66 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Springfield, Missouri
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
- 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
- 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 stevehaydockjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 417-824-6946
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–7:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–7:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–7:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–7:30 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–7:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“There is a focus on both sport jiu jitsu as well as self-defense, using a clear and well thought out curriculum for adult and kids classes.”
“As a woman who has never been naturally athletic, I have always felt completely accepted and safe here.”
“His instruction is geared towards a more traditional jiu jitsu with a concentration on self-defense and I’ve been blown away by his teaching.”
“They offer a lot of time slots for classes and private lessons,which makes it easy to attend if you have a busy schedule.”
“His instruction is geared towards a more traditional jiu jitsu with a concentration on self-defense and I’ve been blown away by his teaching.”
“As a beginner, the instructors are patient and thorough.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The coaches are great, very knowledgeable, and the members are welcoming and amazing training partners.”
“There’s no pressure to do anything I’m not comfortable with, the classes are fun, and everyone is friendly.”
“And it’s far more fun than most types of exercise because your brain is engaged while you’re sweating—the time always flies by for me.”
“Steve is a 4th degree black belt trained under Rickson Gracie in BJJ/Gracie Jiu Jitsu.”
“Instructors are top notch, gym is always clean, and the members are always welcoming.”
From the reviews
This is by far the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience I’ve had in the Springfield area to date. Steve is a very gracious and comfortable teacher and a master of his craft. His instruction is geared towards a more traditional jiu jitsu with a concentration on self-defense and I’ve been blown away by his teaching.
I've been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Kokoro for about 5 years now. As a woman who has never been naturally athletic, I have always felt completely accepted and safe here. There’s no pressure to do anything I’m not comfortable with, the classes are fun, and everyone is friendly.
In my humble opinion, Kokoro is the best jiu jitsu school in Springfield. Steve and his staff have created a wonderful, open environment for both men and women (a lot of women love training here).
Kokoro is a great place to learn life skills, I didn't know much about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu before giving this a try. Jiu Jitsu is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but the coaches here firstly make you feel safe, and will meet you at your level.
New to BJJ? Start at Steve Haydock Jiu Jitsu
Steve Haydock Jiu Jitsu 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.
Your first BJJ class at Steve Haydock 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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site