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The Academy Eden Prairie

4.9 ★★★★★ 107 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Minneapolis, Minnesota

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team

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
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule academyedenprairie.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 952-377-8111

Hours

Monday 4:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday 6:40 am–8:30 pm
Wednesday 4:30–8:30 pm
Thursday 6:40 am–8:30 pm
Friday 4:30–8:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am–12:30 pm
Sunday Closed

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

🧒 Kids BJJ 10 mentions

“They provide a fun, safe and friendly training environment and I highly recommend training here for children and adults.”

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💪 Women's BJJ

“Super welcoming to newcomers and women (they have women’s only Jiu Jitsu classes on Thursdays and foundations classes throughout the week), I’d reccomend it to anyone interested!”

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🏆 Competition Team 8 mentions

“As a BJJ competitor, I feel that my skills have significantly improved thanks to the rigorous training and the high-quality sparring partners I’ve found here.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“I did a private session with coach Hayden and from just one session I already learnt new skills and drills and feel I got little better at Muay Thai.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“This is a great place to train and the Instructors genuinely care that their students learn practical self defense and they help them achieve their goals in life as well.”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“I really loved their approach to teaching beginners, but it was also clear that higher belts and competitors have a great room to grow in too.”

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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 The Academy Eden Prairie — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 5 mentions

“I did a private session with coach Hayden and from just one session I already learnt new skills and drills and feel I got little better at Muay Thai.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA

“Top of the line mixed martial arts school.”

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🥊 Boxing

“I love how the coaches sometime incorporate other form of martial arts such as Thai kick boxing.”

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🦵 Kickboxing

“I love how the coaches sometime incorporate other form of martial arts such as Thai kick boxing.”

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 107 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“Awesome facility, great instructors and one of the best places around to get some quality (and fun) training in.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Super welcoming to newcomers and women (they have women’s only Jiu Jitsu classes on Thursdays and foundations classes throughout the week), I’d reccomend it to anyone interested!”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 12 mentions

“Super welcoming to newcomers and women (they have women’s only Jiu Jitsu classes on Thursdays and foundations classes throughout the week), I’d reccomend it to anyone interested!”

🧒 strong kids program 4 mentions

“It has helped our children with self-discipline, motivation, focus as well as helping them gain physical coordination and strength.”

active competition team 8 mentions

“As a BJJ competitor, I feel that my skills have significantly improved thanks to the rigorous training and the high-quality sparring partners I’ve found here.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 8 mentions

“There’s tons of mat space, a dedicated weight training room upstairs, spacious lobby, big showers!”

From the reviews

Getting my first belt with Coach Justin was so rewarding. I had never experienced any martial arts training prior to starting in November. Since then I've trained with some of the most honorable and skilled coaches, with fellow fighters who have had years of diverse experiences and styles, and have an incredible time…

★★★★★ — Shannon, Jun 2017

I’ve been training at The Academy Eden Prairie for some time now, and it’s been an incredible experience. The environment here is perfectly suited for anyone looking to improve their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. What stands out the most is the supportive and encouraging atmosphere that permeates every session.

★★★★★ — Abe, Dec 2023

I am so grateful I found this place! My 4-year-old son goes there and he loves it so much. The coaches are amazing. They are super fun and at the same time discipline them, and teach them how to respect each other and everyone else and be kind. I am seeing so much change in my son so far especially with discipline.

★★★★★ — Sarah, Jan 2020

We attend the Academy as a family, with children from age 4 to 8. The coaches have been exceptional, well-qualified and well-trained, friendly and give personal attention and advice to each individual.

★★★★★ — Earnest, Mar 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 107 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at The Academy Eden Prairie

The Academy Eden Prairie 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at The Academy Eden Prairie

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 The Academy Eden Prairie

7501 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN55439

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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.