Best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in NYC

Any new fitness program can be intimidating. You’re a beginner. Most people here have been training for years. You struggle to do push-ups in the morning, and these instructors and classmates seem capable to begin each day by bench pressing a dump truck. When looking for the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu facility in NYC, we wanted to find an inviting gym for any Jiu Jitsu difficulty. The beginner should be just as comfortable as the amateur MMA stud. The workout should be just as strenuous. After traversing the city, here are our three favorite Brazilian Jiu Jitsu facilities.

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  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Beginner

  Stepping into Vitor Shaolin is kind of like stepping into the home of a world renown professional. Wait, what am I saying? That’s what you’re literally doing when walking into Vitor Shaolin Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Vitor’s regarded as one of the best lightweights in MMA and best grapplers of all time. Crazy, right? From the moment we entered, we knew Vitor’s was a perfect choice for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The staff was beyond friendly and welcoming, which is nice when you feel as if you’re about to embarrass yourself with failed attempts at grappling a stranger.
  From there, we met Vitor for our class. Class began with a relatively nice warm-up: push-ups, a bit of cardio for the heart rate, and these weird falling exercises. I guess it’s to teach you how to fall safely. We also learned something called “shrimping,” which I initially thought was an activity reserved for fisherman. Once our bodies were limber, mine already feeling particularly achy, we dove into the techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like escapes, ground control, side control, and arm-locks and chokes, which we eventually performed with partners.
  Vitor takes a straightforward, easy-to-understand approach. I never felt as if I were struggling or behind. When someone was, they were assisted immediately. Overall, when you’re taught by a master, it’s easy to feel as if you’re quickly becoming a master. It’s almost a beast workout.

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  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Trial Class

  Red Dawn Combat Club

  **REVIEW FOR ALLIANCE. CLASS IS BOOKED, SO I CAN'T INSERT. CHANGE RED DAWN TO ALLIANCE I’d say Vitor and Alliance are neck-and-neck as one of the best BJJ studios in the city. Both clubs are considered the gold standard in Jiu Jitsu. At both locales, you know you’ll be training with the best martial artists in the field. With Alliance, there’s a certain Gracie standard they attain. I feel as though if you’re looking to train extensively in BJJ, this might be the best place in the city.
  As a beginner, I struggled a bit more. First of all, the studio is on the smaller size. Classes tended to be a little crowded, but that didn’t hinder the ability to learn. But, in my case, I thought individual attention could’ve been better. If you’re looking for a stellar workout, Alliance is the gold standard. After warm-ups, my body felt dead. The sheer amount of sweat emanating from my body boarded between swimming and dunk tank. During moments of the lesson, I felt I lagged behind the rest of the group. It took me a moment to realize, “of course I’m lagging, I’m training in a room full of professionals.”
  Simply put: small dojo, but big punch easily makes up for it.

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  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Trial Class

  Renzo Gracie Academy NYC

  Renzo Gracie is a first-rate facility in almost every way imaginable. I mean, with the name Renzo Gracie attached to it, you know it’s among the best. Before getting into the class review, I need to say that this might be one of the best dojos in the city simply because of its size and cleanliness. This place is massive compared to other Manhattan gyms. Also, it’s probably the cleanest I’ve seen. As someone with minor OCD tendencies, I take that into serious, serious consideration.
  Getting back on track, the class itself was a blast. I found the class to be a bit large for my liking. This can be both good and bad. It’s good because if you’re training extensively, you’ll constantly be pushed to improve, and you can tell there’s a close-knit family atmosphere. On the other side, there were times in class where I felt more like a number than a name. I had little to no individual attention at all. I found Renzo Gracie’s class to be truly motivating. The instructors are all world-class champions, and you can tell they want to share their knowledge and excitement with every student. Since this was more of a “trial class” for me, there was a lot of motivation to join the gym and become a part of this family. In short, strenuous workout. Large, clean gym. Large classes, which can be both good and bad. The inviting, familial atmosphere makes up for the minor faults.

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