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United Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 37 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Maplewood, Minnesota
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 (ages 3) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule ujjmn.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (651) 300-7743
Hours
| Monday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“he teaches you the basics and will move on to more advanced stuff, but the basics will be the ones that will save you.”
“Our kids have been a part of the UJJ Community for years, and we have seen them grow both physically and in terms of self-discipline.”
“Stan has also proven his skills in competition many times and he has the medals to prove it.”
“Coach Riser is incredible at providing practical, self-defense based Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to kids and adults.”
Other martial arts here
“Saturday bounce is the best but I love the kick boxing and self defense classes as well.”
“Saturday bounce is the best but I love the kick boxing and self defense classes as well.”
What members say
“Coach Stan is great at encouraging kids, while also continuing to hold firm to the standards for class-time and advancement.”
“he teaches you the basics and will move on to more advanced stuff, but the basics will be the ones that will save you.”
“Extremely knowledgeable, incredibly patient and great with kids.”
“Stan has also proven his skills in competition many times and he has the medals to prove it.”
“He's a BJJ Black Belt from a very strong lineage cultured around the Guerilla BJJ System.”
“As a female self-defense is very important just to have in the back of your hand.”
From the reviews
I've known Stan for at least 10 years now and he has been my BJJ instructor for several years as well. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts are not common and that is for a good reason. It takes an amazing amount of work, dedication and accomplishment to get there.
UJJ is an awesome place to learn BJJ. Professor Riser is highly skilled and very knowledgable. He makes classes fun, safe, and inclusive. Join now to become a better you.
Professor Stan Riser is a hidden gem! He's a BJJ Black Belt from a very strong lineage cultured around the Guerilla BJJ System. I've visited, trained and have enrolled in many gyms in the past i.e.. locally (St. Paul BJJ Academy, 10th Planet BJJ, The Cellar), and I have to say that this gym truly feels like home to me.
Professor Riser is a first rate teacher. Super engaging with our kiddos. After spending a significant amount of time in other gyms, it's obvious he has the patience to make learning jiu jitsu fun and easy . He is also takes safety seriously.
New to BJJ? Start at United Jiu Jitsu
United 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 United 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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