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Upstream Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 9 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Plan your first class
- Membership memberships run around $20/mo — many academies also offer a discounted first month and family plans, so ask about new-member rates
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- 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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule upstreamjiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 11 am–1 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am–1 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6–8 pm |
| Friday | 11 am–1 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“He's also in a small enough setting to where it feels like you are getting one on one attention to learn this great art.”
“Upstream is a great place to learn self defense and jiu jitsu.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Was my first instructor in jiu-jitsu. Demonstrates great detail when he teaches you the techniques and then helps you refine it so it can stick.”
“I’m really new to it and i’ve been to other gyms for months now but have never been able to fully grasp the techniques or feel support until I came here!”
From the reviews
Upstream jiu jitsu head coach and owner Adam is incredibly technical and phenomenal at breaking down jiu jitsu to those with less experience. He is also extraordinarily kind and patient with his students and does a superb job of giving each student the individual attention they need in order to be successful.
Known Adam for about 7 years. Was my first instructor in jiu-jitsu. Demonstrates great detail when he teaches you the techniques and then helps you refine it so it can stick. He's also in a small enough setting to where it feels like you are getting one on one attention to learn this great art.
Adam is a great coach and has been coaching/training martial arts for years, from striking to ground game. Definitely a well rounded coach, and the facility is very clean and welcoming. Would definitely recommend if you live or are passing through the area.
Owner and Head Instructor Adam Ackerman is a fantastic teacher and knows Jiu Jitsu inside and out....he has years of experience both teaching and competing. Upstream is a great place to learn self defense and jiu jitsu....check out a class!
New to BJJ? Start at Upstream Jiu Jitsu
Upstream 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 Upstream 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. 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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