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Vaca BJJ & MMA
4.8 ★★★★★ 44 Google reviews · BJJ gym in West Springfield, Massachusetts
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
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes — 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
- 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 vacabjjmma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (413) 308-4809
Hours
| Monday | 6:30–11 AM, 5–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8–10:30 AM, 5–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30–11 AM, 5–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8–10:30 AM, 5–8 PM |
| Friday | 9–11 AM, 6–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30–11:30 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“His wife Morena is wonderful as well, she is building a beautiful women’s empowerment environment as well as teaching and empowering kids with the kids program.”
“As a woman who is pretty new to martial arts, it's important to me to feel welcome and supported, but also challenged and taken seriously.”
“The evening GI followed by No GI can turn into a great 2 hour session.”
“They both are from Natal, RN, Brazil and practice/teach real traditional jiu jitsu.”
“He accepts people with warmth and respect and treats every person the same, whether you are a competitor or a hobbyist, male or female, child or adult.”
“The Saturday open mat is awesome and a great opportunity to go against new and different competition.”
“Professor Vaca is a great jiu jitsu, MMA and self defense teacher.”
Other martial arts here
“Vaca brings an amazing amount of experience, knowledge and eagerness in his desire to teach/help others learn BJJ or MMA.”
What members say
“Vaca is a great instructor and takes time with everyone he sees needs a little extra help.”
“Never took Jiu jitsu before in my life and found everyone at the school to be very welcoming.”
“The instructors here are incredible - all have world class titles and decades of experience, but are also humble and so encouraging.”
“The coaches are amazing, always helping you to get better, clearly communicating the little, important details involved in every technique.”
“He accepts people with warmth and respect and treats every person the same, whether you are a competitor or a hobbyist, male or female, child or adult.”
“Awesome training with quality instruction, a clean facility, and a safe and positive environment.”
From the reviews
Awesome training with quality instruction, a clean facility, and a safe and positive environment. Whether you are new to BJJ or advanced, this is the place!
I've been to a few different coaches and gyms and I will say that the passion and dedication that Coach Vaca brings to the mats everyday is hard to find. He always dedicates the time and effort to helping his student improve and building his gym into a family. I can't say enough good things about this place!
When it comes to the best training for BJJ look no further. Here you will find a positive rewarding atmosphere filled with some of the greatest people you'll ever meet. Coach Vaca and Morena go above and beyond to teach you with their decades of experience. You'll easily see why they are the best around!
Vaca is a very kind and superb coach. I would recommend anyone looking to learn Jiujitsu in the area to become a student here. Looking forward to having our students visit and train with Vaca and his students. -Brett Robichaud Owner: Elevate Dojo Exeter, RI
Your first BJJ class at Vaca BJJ & MMA
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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