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Strategic Combat Academy

5 ★★★★★ 549 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Old Bridge, New Jersey

BJJ gym Free trial Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi Competition team

Upbeat gym offering mixed martial arts classes for all ages, including kickboxing, Muay Thai & more.

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
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 4–12) — 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
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule strategicmma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 732-355-3535

Hours

Monday 9 am–12 pm, 4–9 pm
Tuesday 9 am–12 pm, 4–9 pm
Wednesday 9 am–12 pm, 4–9 pm
Thursday 9 am–12 pm, 4–9 pm
Friday 9 am–12 pm, 4–9 pm
Saturday 9 am–1 pm
Sunday 10 am–1 pm

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 Strategic Combat Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 2 mentions

“Very good fundamentals class!”

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🧒 Kids BJJ 13 mentions

“They've instilled discipline, respect, and perseverance in my son, qualities that extend far beyond the mat.”

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🩳 No-Gi 2 mentions

“Perfect if looking to begin Kickboxing, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu Gi or no Gi.”

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🥋 Gi

“Great juijitsu , Gi and no-gi.”

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🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“- Competitive & accountable atmosphere: There are several people who fight/compete regularly, so it helps keep everyone in the gym's technical skills up.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“The personal training sessions especially made a huge difference in improving my technique and fitness.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“The environment is fun, safe, and perfect for learning self-defense, discipline, and confidence.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Strategic Combat Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA 6 mentions

“We originally came here bc my son wanted to box but he soon found his love for BJJ and MMA.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

🥊 Boxing 8 mentions

“As a hardcore UFC/MMA and boxing fan, I always felt a little out of place with most of my other friends since they're more into hockey, basketball, football, soccer, or golf.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🦵 Kickboxing 6 mentions

“Coach John is the nicest dude and an incredible teacher in the morning kickboxing classes — super knowledgeable and always pushes you the right way.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

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 549 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“Coach Nestor is very knowledgeable and his classes are fun.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“For the first time, I feel like I truly belong somewhere where my interests are understood and appreciated.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 13 mentions

“The coaches, trainers, and staff don’t just teach you how to fight — they welcome you like family and truly care about your progress, both mentally and physically.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 6 mentions

“The BJJ class was thoughtfully structured so that each drill logically progressed from the prior one, and the challenge level of each technique also increased gradually.”

great workout & conditioning 4 mentions

“Matted cage, large mat room, full boxing ring, and a lifting area where strength and conditioning classes take place.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“- Competitive & accountable atmosphere: There are several people who fight/compete regularly, so it helps keep everyone in the gym's technical skills up.”

From the reviews

Best gym in the area thus far!!! First of all, great atmosphere; positive energy all around, respectful community, and a devotion for development and growth I have not experienced anywhere else. I moved to central Jersey for school and found a second home in this facility.

★★★★★ — Michael, Jan 2019

Strategic Combat Academy is, without question, the best MMA gym in all of New Jersey. From the moment I walked in, I felt something different — a genuine sense of community, passion, and belonging.

★★★★★ — Brendan, Jun 2025

Reflecting on 1 year as a Strategic adoptee! There are certain qualities of a training environment that are extremely important to me: -Variety & Scheduling: There's BJJ, wrestling, kickboxing, boxing, MMA, sparring, grappling for MMA, and strength & conditioning offered in fundamental + advanced levels.

★★★★★ — Carol, Nov 2019

Trained BJJ and then some boxing with instructor Darrvi Calotes. The BJJ class was thoughtfully structured so that each drill logically progressed from the prior one, and the challenge level of each technique also increased gradually. I think you learn and retain better that way. Very good fundamentals class!

★★★★★ — Jonathan, Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 549 reviews →

Your first BJJ class at Strategic Combat Academy

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 Strategic Combat Academy

4450 Bordentown Ave, Old Bridge, NJ08857

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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.