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Tai Kai Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA
5 ★★★★★ 457 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Liverpool, New York
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
- 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 syracusejiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 315-395-0910
Hours
| Monday | 12–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12–9 pm |
| Thursday | 12–9 pm |
| Friday | 12–7:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | 10:45 am–2:30 pm |
The classes they run
“I absolutely would recommend signing their children up for classes, as it has given our daughter a chance to meet new kids, as well as feel confident and rewarded!”
“They'll take a position and work through several moves from that position which makes the skills appliable in the open mat sessions.”
“We wanted to get our daughter into something that’s more structured, teaches discipline and self defense and this has exceeded our expectations.”
“The owner, Ken, and the experienced black belts teaching the classes are very friendly and extremely patient, especially for beginners.”
Other martial arts here
“They offer a wide variety of Jujitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing classes, so you have several options if you get bored with one.”
“I've been going to Tai Kai for some time now and it's easily the best MMA dojo I've ever been to.”
“They offer a wide variety of Jujitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing classes, so you have several options if you get bored with one.”
“Since starting Muay Thai kickboxing, all of the coaches have been amazing — supportive, knowledgeable, and encouraging.”
“I come from a d1 wrestling background and have found good competition here.”
What members say
“Ken was a great instructor with an amazing background in BJJ.”
“The owner, Ken, and the experienced black belts teaching the classes are very friendly and extremely patient, especially for beginners.”
“The environment is friendly, the instructors are patient but thorough, the other students are very encouraging and there's a lot of camaraderie.”
“The instructors are highly knowledgeable and are great about highlighting the subtle details in technique which make all the difference.”
“Probably the first BJJ gym I have been to that had a ton of women in the classes, all super nice and competent.”
“The gym is very large, clean, and provides a full suite of facilities for all types of martial arts training.”
From the reviews
This is a second home to my entire family! We have been members for 7+ years. Love all the people and the instructors! Ken is the owner and head instructor at Tai Kai. He is always looking out for the best interest of your child and your Jiu Jitsu journey. This place has changed my life for the better at age 40+.
For reference I’m 49 and never had any martial arts training before, and my two kids 12 and 7 were in their 2nd or 3rd year of taekwondo. They needed a change, and I wanted something to keep me in shape and to learn some self defense at the same time.
I had trained in martial arts for about 7 years and eventually had to stop because I went to college. I was apprehensive about returning to it, but those worries and fears immediately disappeared when I got to Tai Kai.
A really great gym with great energy and vibes. Probably the first BJJ gym I have been to that had a ton of women in the classes, all super nice and competent. Really clean facility with knowledgable instructors.
New to BJJ? Start at Tai Kai Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA
Tai Kai Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and 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 Tai Kai Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and 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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