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The Academy Elk River

4 ★★★★☆ 43 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Elk River, Minnesota

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens

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
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule academyelkriver.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (763) 250-4640

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9 PM
Friday 6 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10 AM–2 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 Elk River, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 9 mentions

“Six years later I’m still a member and two, soon to be all three of my kids are a part of the little champions program.”

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💪 Women's BJJ

“It's totally non-gender biased and as a woman I feel completely comfortable in co-ed classes.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 5 mentions

“Top notch coaches and members set up for what ever your goal may be fitness, self defense, competition they do it all and tailor it for all ages, skill levels and body types.”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“Adam , David , Jason are excellent coaches/teachers that are thorough ,attentive, with a wideband of knowledge , Great school for Beginners and the experienced.”

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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 Elk River — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 2 mentions

“If you're looking for a welcoming atmosphere with experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing coaches- The Academy Elk River is the place to train.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA

“Excellent place to learn MMA and self-defense with highly skilled instructors.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

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 43 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“Adam , David , Jason are excellent coaches/teachers that are thorough ,attentive, with a wideband of knowledge , Great school for Beginners and the experienced.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Adam , David , Jason are excellent coaches/teachers that are thorough ,attentive, with a wideband of knowledge , Great school for Beginners and the experienced.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 8 mentions

“If you're looking for a welcoming atmosphere with experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing coaches- The Academy Elk River is the place to train.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“The Little Champions class has helped my son and daughter find focus and build confidence.”

active competition team 4 mentions

“Top notch coaches and members set up for what ever your goal may be fitness, self defense, competition they do it all and tailor it for all ages, skill levels and body types.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 3 mentions

“Great gym, great instructors, great gym mates.”

From the reviews

Excellent place to learn MMA and self-defense with highly skilled instructors. It's totally non-gender biased and as a woman I feel completely comfortable in co-ed classes. Every woman should spend some time learning these skills. Edit: Just an update. I'm still there and it's still awesome.

★★★★★ — Abbey, Mar 2022

This gym is 100% Veteran friendly! I absolutely love the place! The Coaches and students were so welcoming when I walked in on 01/31/22. I have been training BJJ 2-3 times per week since that time, and have built some really great friendships as a result.

★★★★★ — Jason, Jun 2023

Top notch coaches and members set up for what ever your goal may be fitness, self defense, competition they do it all and tailor it for all ages, skill levels and body types. I would highly recommend.

★★★★★ — Marco, Feb 2020

If you're looking for a welcoming atmosphere with experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing coaches- The Academy Elk River is the place to train. No matter what your interest level in training is- whether it is to shed a few pounds, increase your physical fitness or fight in the octagon they've got you…

★★★★★ — Jaime, Feb 2014

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 43 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at The Academy Elk River

The Academy Elk River 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 Elk River

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 Elk River

17375 US-10, Elk River, MN55330

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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.