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The Jiu-Jitsu Institute
5 ★★★★★ 101 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Wilmington, North Carolina
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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule thejji.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (910) 200-0000
Hours
| Monday | 8–9:15 AM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8–9:15 AM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 8–9:15 AM |
| Saturday | 10–11:30 AM |
| Sunday | 12–1:30 PM |
The classes they run
“My children also absolutely love the kids classes and seeing their enthusiasm and progress is incredibly rewarding.”
“When I lived closer I would attend more classes but now I mostly attend open mats there on Sundays and there is always a great group ready to roll.”
“They teach them discipline self-defense, and how to protect themselves and others.”
“The atmosphere at the school is welcoming and friendly, making it a great environment for both beginners and advanced practitioners.”
What members say
“Gil is an excellent instructor and runs an exceptionally clean and very safe school where all students are treated with respect.”
“The atmosphere at the school is welcoming and friendly, making it a great environment for both beginners and advanced practitioners.”
“Their commitment to fostering a positive and welcoming environment reignited my passion for the sport.”
“Professor Gil is passionate about teaching jiujitsu and is always willing to answer questions and explain in detail the nuances of each position.”
“Gil has created a clean and safe environment to train, in fact in the 9 years I’ve been training I have not visited a cleaner gym and the instruction is fantastic.”
“They teach them discipline self-defense, and how to protect themselves and others.”
From the reviews
The Jiu Jitsu institute is an amazing place to train. Gil is an incredibly talented instructor/professor, with an attention to detail that is second to none. He runs a very clean and safe school for everyone at all levels to learn, progress, and enjoy!
My son has been training for two years now at the Jiu Jitsu Institute. We also trained during the same affiliation in Hawaii with art of Jiu Jitsu. They are great with the kids. They teach them discipline self-defense, and how to protect themselves and others. Many of the parents and professors have become like family.
A couple of friends invited me to come try out jiu jitsu here a couple of weeks ago and coming here has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The owner, Gil, is awesome and super knowledgeable. The vibe here is top notch, with everyone looking to not only get better themselves, but also bring up those around them.
My daughter and I started training here over a year ago. Can’t express how much I love it. It’s been great for my daughter, training with a great group of kids and friends. Training and instruction are top notch. The schedule fits really well with ours, able to attend 4-7 classes a week if I’m up for it.
New to BJJ? Start at The Jiu-Jitsu Institute
The Jiu-Jitsu Institute 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 The Jiu-Jitsu Institute
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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site