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Synthesis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

4.9 ★★★★★ 110 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Rochester, New York

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

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 (ages 7–18) — 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 synthesisbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (585) 256-1548

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–8 PM
Friday 6 AM–8 PM
Saturday 9 AM–1 PM
Sunday 9 AM–7 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 Synthesis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 2 mentions

“Matt was super helpful and took time out of the class to give me a very helpful one on one intro to some of the basics.”

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🧒 Kids BJJ 7 mentions

“My husband and I, along with our three children (twin girls, age 9, and our 10-year-old son), have been training at Synthesis for about a year.”

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🩳 No-Gi 3 mentions

“I came in for a No-Gi class and the professor’s teaching style was awesome and my training partners were very helpful.”

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🥋 Gi 4 mentions

“I dropped in at Synthesis BJJ for a gi class while I was in town on business and couldn’t have had a better experience.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“Matt was super helpful and took time out of the class to give me a very helpful one on one intro to some of the basics.”

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🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“Rolled with a bunch of the guys and they all were all considerate of me being a beginner.”

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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 Synthesis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai

“As a long time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, wrestler, Muay Thai fighter and boxer , real recognizes real.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA

“If you are thinking about getting into wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, striking, or MMA look no further because this is the gym for you.”

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🤸 Wrestling 2 mentions

“If you are thinking about getting into wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, striking, or MMA look no further because this is the gym for you.”

Other gyms that also teach wrestling →

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 110 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 16 mentions

“From the coaches to the students, everyone has been super welcoming and sometimes you don't find that in the Jiu Jitsu community.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 19 mentions

“The kids' classes run at the same time as the beginner adult class, allowing our whole family to train together and head home at the same time.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“Matt was super helpful and took time out of the class to give me a very helpful one on one intro to some of the basics.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 5 mentions

“This gym is clean and kept up, has multiple rooms, a friendly atmosphere.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 2 mentions

“In the time that he’s been enrolled, he has displayed more discipline, attention, and patience with handling situations.”

From the reviews

I had a gracious reception when I was in town last weekend and stopped in here to train. Everyone was tough on the mats as well as friendly. No one had a chip on his shoulder and I was able to train here comfortably as in my own gym. This gym is clean and kept up, has multiple rooms, a friendly atmosphere.

★★★★★ — Andrew, Mar 2022

My husband and I, along with our three children (twin girls, age 9, and our 10-year-old son), have been training at Synthesis for about a year. We love that they offer kids', beginner, and advanced classes in both gi and no-gi.

★★★★★ — Brook, Apr 2025

I am in the Rochester, NY area for work. I was looking for somewhere to train on an evening that I was free. I found Synthesis on google, and I saw the good reviews. After talking to the staff, I set up a drop in appointment and I was not disappointed. Great atmosphere, very welcoming. The staff was helpful and kind.

★★★★★ — Greyson, Nov 2024

I dropped in at Synthesis BJJ for a gi class while I was in town on business and couldn’t have had a better experience. From the moment I walked in, everyone was welcoming and accommodating. Phil was the instructor for the class and was outstanding instructor—clear, patient, and intentional in how he teaches.

★★★★★ — Michael, Dec 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 110 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Synthesis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Synthesis 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Synthesis 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.

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 Synthesis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

1225 Jefferson Rd a201, Rochester, NY14623

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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.