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True Believer Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 94 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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 truebelieverjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 878-203-9985
Hours
| Monday | 12–1 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7–8 am, 12–1 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 12–1 pm, 7–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7–8 am, 12–1 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Friday | 12–1 pm, 6–7 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Whether you’re a visitor, prospective member, competitor or hobbyist, everyone at the gym is incredibly welcoming and friendly.”
“I take my son here and the culture here is more welcoming than other places I've been and really engaged in helping everyone get better.”
Other martial arts here
“I have been to a few different jiu-jitsu and MMA gyms and the instructors and practitioners at True Believer are great.”
What members say
“Professor Jake is very knowledgeable and a great instructor.”
“I take my son here and the culture here is more welcoming than other places I've been and really engaged in helping everyone get better.”
“I take my son here and the culture here is more welcoming than other places I've been and really engaged in helping everyone get better.”
“Jake, the instructor for the class I attended, is an excellent and patient teacher who is methodical in his approach to teaching technique.”
“Whether you’re a visitor, prospective member, competitor or hobbyist, everyone at the gym is incredibly welcoming and friendly.”
“Great place to train and learn, this academy is very clean and everybody was incredibly welcoming.”
From the reviews
I visited Pittsburgh for a day and wanted to train somewhere good. This place was recommended to me by several people so i messaged head instructor Jake and he welcomed me to come train—no charge! The facility was very clean and everyone there was very polite and introduced themselves to me.
True Believer Jiu Jitsu is easily the most passionate and motivated training facility in the Pittsburgh area. Jake is one of the nicest people i have ever met in my life and wants nothing more to see me and our team grow.
I like to visit different BJJ schools from time to time and I had a great time at True Believer. Jake, the instructor for the class I attended, is an excellent and patient teacher who is methodical in his approach to teaching technique. He helps to think about the principles at work and not just the moves.
I’m a 56 year old blue belt from California visiting family in Pittsburgh and just wanted to get a little training in while here. Dropped in on the morning class unannounced and they were incredibly accommodating. Instructor and students were super nice, and the training was great.
New to BJJ? Start at True Believer Jiu Jitsu
True Believer Jiu Jitsu 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 True Believer Jiu Jitsu
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