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Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Chesapeake, Virginia
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
- 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
- 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 tidewaterbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 757-237-1969
Hours
| Monday | 5:15–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–7:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:15–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6–7:30 pm |
| Friday | 5:15–7 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My 10 year old daughter took a BJJ lesson at a camp and decided she wanted to pursue training in BJJ, so we went to Tidewater Academy for their youth program.”
“While the school has a lot of great competitors, the instructors are laid back and it makes the training enjoyable for every skill level.”
“I've trained with this academy twice now, and have taken private lessons with Professor Chris and Dwayne.”
“If you want to learn The art of jujitsu both self-defense and competition this is the place you need to be at.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Great culture, recently upgraded facility, and tons of higher belts that provide great coaching.”
“Tidewater Academy is a first class operation.”
“They are amazing with children making it a perfect family sport.”
“The children don’t just learn techniques in theory or by endlessly repeating movements, as is common in some traditional martial arts.”
“I now see these values clearly in my son. He is confident and self-assured, balanced and determined—both on and off the mats.”
“While the school has a lot of great competitors, the instructors are laid back and it makes the training enjoyable for every skill level.”
From the reviews
Tidewater is absolutely phenomenal. When you walk in the front door your greeted with a smile and a Hey brother welcome.... I've trained with this academy twice now, and have taken private lessons with Professor Chris and Dwayne. These guys are professionals and Jedi Knights in their craft.
After moving to a new home in 2011 and training BJJ for a couple of years, I decided to stop-by Tidewater BJJ in order to find a new place to train. What a great decision.... Jonathan and Dan are fantastic instructors/people and their facility is top notch.
Met Brandon of Tidewater BJJ at the US Grappling in VA Beach Sept. 24 as my two sons were competing. Brandon who is a children's coach did not hesitate to jump in and start coaching my oldest son throughout two of his matches. This was highly appreciated and displayed what BJJ is about.
i love Tidewater BJJ. God definately brought me to this academy and i see why. The people i train with are nice and John and Dan are the best Trainers/Black Belts in the area. If your looking for a good competition academy then this is the place to be.
New to BJJ? Start at Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy 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 Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy
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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