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White Dragon Judo
4.9 ★★★★★ 50 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Overland, Missouri
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
- 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 wdjudo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 314-223-9398
Hours
| Monday | 6–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6–9 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10:30 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | 3–5 pm |
The classes they run
“I've been going since I was a little kid, I stopped going, and when I came back, they welcomed me back with open arms like I never left.”
“A good place to try if you’re interested in learning judo and or want to compete!”
“Whether you want to get in shape or learn self defense, White Dragon is the right decision”
“Having no experience related, they did a wonderful job explaining and teaching the history and importance of what they are doing.”
Other martial arts here
“Very good judo club, has a friendly atmosphere for beginners, Glenn, Philipp and other instructors are very knowledgeable.”
“I began Judo 1 yr ago with no previous wrestling or grappling experience.”
What members say
“Amazing place to learn judo with great instructors that make the learning process simple and straightforward.”
“Having no experience related, they did a wonderful job explaining and teaching the history and importance of what they are doing.”
“Very good judo club, has a friendly atmosphere for beginners, Glenn, Philipp and other instructors are very knowledgeable.”
“A good place to try if you’re interested in learning judo and or want to compete!”
“Would definitely bring a friend in who wanted to learn self defense and some discipline!”
From the reviews
Best judo club in the whole Saint Louis area. Classes focus on skill learning rather than jumping jacks and push-ups. By that I mean they spend the whole class time teaching you judo / martial arts and waste no time doing something else, such as random stretching or exercises.
Very good judo club, has a friendly atmosphere for beginners, Glenn, Philipp and other instructors are very knowledgeable. Would definitely bring a friend in who wanted to learn self defense and some discipline! Thanks white dragon club for being out there for people to get better 🤝
Been here for years now. Best place to train judo in the area! A great fit for all ages and fitness levels, hobbyists, and competitors. I've seen people go all the way from white belt to black belt at this school. Always evolving and improving their judo and their community.
White Dragon Judo Club is the best Judo school in Missouri. The school has a top notch facility and elite instructors with tons of experience competing and instructing. Whether you want to get in shape or learn self defense, White Dragon is the right decision
New to BJJ? Start at White Dragon Judo
White Dragon Judo 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 White Dragon Judo
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.
More BJJ gyms near Overland
Gracie Barra Chesterfield Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense
5 ★★★★★ 113 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site