GRACIE JIU-JITSU ATHENS at American Black Belt Academy

Where do I start. The instructors; curriculum and the environment..all TOP NOTCH!!!I have been training here for just over 4 years, if that tells you anything. If your looking to learn self defense or perhaps you need to gain more self confidence. Be sure to pay a visit.

Passing through Georgia, this was an exceptional gym. The owner and his son are both incredible coaches, and the atmosphere was very welcoming. I would recommend 100%.

Great place to learn new skills and meet great people. Instructors are very qualified and keep things safe.

Grace Jiu-Jitsu has been the best thing I have ever done. When I started coming I was mostly focused on having self defence for the real world, but to my surprise I have learned more than that. I have learned to be more mature for my age. Also coming has gotten me out there more, and I have made new friends being here. I love coming here and plan on staying for as long as possible.

If you want to learn authentic Gracie jiu jitsu from outstanding instructors this is the place to go. Family friendly and a great group of people to train with. I can’t say enough good things about this academy.

I have been a student at GJJ Athens for 7 years now. My love, respect, and appreciation for the academy, students, and instructors has grown ever since I first walked through the doors. You not only get a friendly atmosphere, filled with excitement, camaraderie, and a sincere passion for your success, but you cultivate real, tangible skills and personal development. Randy and Ryan have a vast knowledge of Jiu Jitsu and are excellent in their delivery and detail.

I have been attending for the past month, and I really enjoy this place. The staff is very respectful and knowledgeable, and the training is very well structured and diverse. The staff also has the best interests of the customer in mind and ensures every class keeps safety of each student as a priority. Also the community is great and all types of backgrounds are here, such as military, law enforcement, competitive athletes, and their families.

This place has hands down changed my life. The instructors teach in an interactive and easy to understand way and take the time to work with individual students to help them better understand the mechanics of juijitsu. The people are all extremely nice and supportive of everyone.

I love the camaraderie that is shared here. The people that you meet here are all super cool and love learning with you. The instructors give thorough classes and demonstrations. They review often and make sure you understand the technic and mechanics and will assist you directly when you struggle. Respect is shared by everyone and in the 14 months that I have enjoy, no one has ever said a mean word to me. The school hosts numerous events throughout the year and informs us of and makes available events in the surrounding area. If anyone is considering trying out I would definitely recommend Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Athens Ga.

Safe - Effective - Pressure Tested - WelcomingI think there's always a bit of an "intimidation factor" that comes with deciding to explore a combat sport. But if you're interested in BJJ this gym does everything right.---I initially walked into Gracie BJJ Athens 2 years ago as a long term yoga practitioner. I was interested in getting into BJJ but was wary of entering into a gym that might feel dangerous or needlessly macho or intimidating.After 2 years, I can say that this spot does everything right.It's run by father-son duo Randy and Ryan and they've struck the perfect balance of creating a space where genuine, effective self defense training occurs, without feeling intimidating to newcomers and outsiders.This place is extremely welcoming and has something for everyone. For the younger crowd, there's multiple families that train here with kids in their teens and younger. And for the more athletic crowd who are really wanting to train hard, there's plenty of bigger, tougher "upper belts" with 5, 10, or 12 years of training under their belt, so there's no shortage of challenges or competitive training partners.I'd say the best part of training BJJ is the intensity and depth of training you can achieve while minimizing the risk of injuries or excessive impact.(As a 6'3 190lb guy, I will say that you learn a lot about how effective this martial art truly is when a guy fifty pounds lighter than you can easily and repeatedly tie you into pretzels with a smile on his face without ever hurting you).All that being said, BJJ is a great way to build confidence, lose weight, and learn real combat skills. And Gracie Athens is an awesome environment, affordably priced, and run by some of the best.