Bellum Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Derek runs a fantastic gym. I come from an affiliate gym, but I always feel welcome when I visit. Culture is important to me, and this gym has developed some done a great job vetting their guys!

Excellent training facility. Having cerebral palsy it is always a concern how patient instructors will be with my lack of flexibility. However, everyone here is great and very encouraging. My girlfriend’s daughter did the kids class and really enjoyed it.

Bellum is a wonderfully woman-friendly BJJ. Prof Derek teaches BJJ very methodically. As an academic, I observe Derek's teaching methodology very closely and even apply some of his approaches to my classroom while teaching history to my students. Bellum is a lifetime learning place. Strongly recommending.

Bellum balances top-notch instruction and solid workouts with a chill non-competitive vibe…best intro to BJJ that I could imagine! Great for my kids. And exactly what I was hoping for as a former college athlete.

As one of the newer members at Bellum, everyone has been very welcoming. This is a great academy, great instructors, and a great group of people.

I went to the women’s self defense class and it was amazing. I learned a few fundamentals. I hope to be back soon. Great teachers and everyone was so nice. Everyone was extremely welcoming.

Bellum has been our gym for years - just about since they opened. We started our son in the kids class when he was about 6-years old and he thrived! The instructors are firm, but don’t have expectations the kids can’t meet. They teach about being the bully and about being the victim of bullying. My son has ADHD and social issues, but Bellum found his strengths and emphasized them to help him learn leadership skills. They are encouraging and teach respect. It’s so beautiful to watch a child who had some behavioral and social challenges come into his own and I definitely credit Bellum for a lot of that influence. My husband has also trained there when his work schedule has allowed and loves the training techniques. They are knowledgeable and skilled. The gym is always clean. We’ve been to other gyms and they just don’t compare. We’ll be attending Bellum for all BJJ training without hesitation!

I started my BJJ journey 2 plus years ago. I lived close to Bellum and drove by a hundred times before I worked up the courage to walk through the door. I had (and still do to a degree) dealt with self-esteem issues and depression and Bellum has been one of the best things to have happened to me to help me deal with all of that. It's such a welcoming environment with people from all different walks of life. The coaches are all encouraging and supportive and are always willing to help and talk about more than just Jiu-Jitsu if you have something on your mind. All the higher belts have always been great with being patient and helping out all the new people. Overall it's a fantastic place to go if you're considering starting BJJ no matter your reason.

Bellum cultivates a fantastic culture of camaraderie, learning, and coach engagement. The coaches, Fabio and Derek, both pride themselves on teaching tactful Jiujitsu and using the full breath of their skill to work with each student. One of the most unique aspects of Bellum is that both coaches give insightful feedback after class to ensure student growth and development. You are not just a number here, you are a valued student. This culture results in an environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and respected. In addition to that foundation, Bellum has fantastic talent with many higher belts who share the Bellum culture. This is a great place to learn/ hone your skills! Lots of rolling. I highly recommend this gym for both Adults and kids.

I have been training at Bellum since January ‘22. Great welcoming environment, and I’m a natural introvert. Derek, Richard, Brandon, and Fabio are excellent coaches. No egos. A bunch of people training for fun, fitness, and self-defense.