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Whaling City Athletic Club
4.9 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · BJJ gym in New London, Connecticut
Mixed martial arts gym offering a range of training options, including boxing, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu.
Plan your first class
- 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
- 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
- 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 whalingcityathletics.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 860-625-0968
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | 9–10 am |
The classes they run
“A very friendly and welcoming group of people, and good quality no gi lesson.”
“It's the perfect environment whether your a hobbyist, competitor, or a beginner you will find what your looking for.”
“My husband and I did a drop in open mat and were welcomed by everyone there.”
“It's the perfect environment whether your a hobbyist, competitor, or a beginner you will find what your looking for.”
Other martial arts here
“The variety of classes the gym offers caters to all types of athletes, jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling, or just general conditioning.”
“The variety of classes the gym offers caters to all types of athletes, jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling, or just general conditioning.”
What members say
“I have tremendous gratitude for Kent Ward and all the supportive staff at WCAC who make this gym a welcoming and comfortable place.”
“I m came here only for couple of days for military training at the Coast Guard Academy, and they welcomed me here like a family, didnt even chargme.”
“It's the perfect environment whether your a hobbyist, competitor, or a beginner you will find what your looking for.”
“Schedule posted online made it easy to find mat times, gym was clean, mats mopped down and everything.”
“He has Parkinson's Disease, and the classes that he takes with fellow men and women, are exactly what he needs.”
From the reviews
Truthfully, I never felt like going to the gym every single day until I joined this one. I always get that feeling everyday of either hitting the bags or the pads.
My dad has been going to this INCREDIBLE gym for years now. He has Parkinson's Disease, and the classes that he takes with fellow men and women, are exactly what he needs. When I say, this place, is the MOST caring, hands on, energetic gym, I CANNOT say it enough.
I can't say enough good things about Whaling City Athletic Club. I came to Groton over the winter time for some work for about three months and was looking for a place to train Jiu Jitsu. Whaling City was the first place I went, and I am so lucky that that's where I ended up.
An incredible gym with amazing knowledgeable staff that are always looking to help anyone in the gym whether you are new or have been coming here for years. The variety of classes the gym offers caters to all types of athletes, jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling, or just general conditioning.
New to BJJ? Start at Whaling City Athletic Club
Whaling City Athletic Club 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 Whaling City Athletic Club
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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