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Strong Heart Academy Brazilian jiu-jitsu & MMA
5 ★★★★★ 217 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Phoenix, Arizona
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 4–17) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule strongheartacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (602) 487-9828
Hours
| Monday | 11:45 AM–1:30 PM, 4:45–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6–7:30 AM, 4:45–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:45 AM–1:30 PM, 4:45–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 4:30–8 PM |
| Friday | 5:30–7 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I’ve been taking the Intro to Jiu Jitsu classes Tuesday and Thursdays which is perfect for anyone who’s never trained before.”
“He is a little younger and smaller than the rest of the kids but he is able to keep up and has so much fun learning.”
“I’ve been taking the Intro to Jiu Jitsu classes Tuesday and Thursdays which is perfect for anyone who’s never trained before.”
Other martial arts here
“I’ve only been in a mixed martial arts studio, once since my wife passed away.”
What members say
“Professor Mike and his staff have been great with the kids.”
“He's super knowledgeable and has a very welcoming training environment, I absolutely recommend training here if you're in the area!”
“He's super knowledgeable and has a very welcoming training environment, I absolutely recommend training here if you're in the area!”
“The professors are professional and personable and really pay attention to detail, helping each child with their skills.”
“Classes are always fun, and the place is clean and run professionally.”
“As a young girl, in her confidence, her toughness, and work ethic, Mike and the whole team do an incredible job at Strong Heart Academy.”
From the reviews
I’ve only been in a mixed martial arts studio, once since my wife passed away. Unlike the previous studio in Maricopa, I found this to be a welcoming facility. The professor Mike, as well as several people greeted me, even though I was standing on the outside and observing. The facility was clean.
We have all four of our children here and they are doing great. They are not just learning BJJ but also other physical abilities, social skills, and behavioral skills. They encourage academic achievements, as well as goal setting. I would fully recommend Strong Heart.
Fantastic Academy to train. Our 9 year old son is 1 month in and looks forward to every class. He has been very engaged in the learning process. The owner Mike does a great job of explaining and demonstrating Brazilian ju-jitsu to his students. I would highly recommend Strong Heart Academy to anyone.
We've been at Strong Heart Academy for nine months with my daughter, and she's grown so much. As a young girl, in her confidence, her toughness, and work ethic, Mike and the whole team do an incredible job at Strong Heart Academy.
New to BJJ? Start at Strong Heart Academy Brazilian jiu-jitsu & MMA
Strong Heart Academy Brazilian jiu-jitsu & MMA 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 Strong Heart Academy Brazilian jiu-jitsu & MMA
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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