Example highlights of top schools’ offerings:

Choosing the best Jiu-Jitsu club in Bristol that suits your own individual needs is challenging – we get it. Everyone has their own goals and objectives and differing lifestyles mean that Jiu-Jitsu to the family-oriented individual may look very different from Jiu-Jitsu to the 17-year-old, hungry athlete looking to build a career in the sport.

In analysing the top Jiu-Jitsu schools in Bristol, we have collected a number of data points. Here’s a summary before we get started on the rankings.

📅 Timetable and overall availability
There is a very small selection of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, full-time schools in Bristol. And whilst this is not mandatory, having multiple sessions per day is one of the highest-ranking factors of customer happiness.

🥋 Multiple mat spaces (2+)
This is great for classes running at the same time, for people that can only make one-time slots and still have access to multiple classes. Great for running striking alongside grappling classes.

🌸 Women-only programmes
A Women-only programme is a solid indicator of a healthy welcoming environment. If a club fosters a culture of inclusivity and has a good attendance of female grapplers, this is a strong indicator of an environment they feel comfortable.

🥇 Competition classes
Competition classes, a full-time competition team and a general competitive focus are paramount in driving excellence in the qualify of Jiu-Jitsu within a club. Whilst individuals may not actively be seeking competition or dedicating their career, having this segment within the club, elevates the overall standard of coaching and reputation of the individual club.

💪 Over 40’s programmes
An over-40 programme is a great space for middle-aged practitioners to get started in their BJJ journey at a pace that they feel comfortable in, with like-minded individuals.

👨‍👧‍👦 Kids programmes
Kids programmes are a strong indicator of the success of a club. A more intricate data point is the segmentation of the kid’s classes. Larger, more established BJJ clubs will be able to facilitate better segmentation by age, and proficiency in order to optimise individuals learning (this is usually achieved by a larger facility and broader ranges of coaches in order to best serve).

Coaching techniques and teaching children discipline, overcoming failure, dedication and building social skills are paramount in their BJJ journey.

1. Roger Gracie North Bristol

Roger Gracie Academy Bristol is a full-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy with over 500+ active members. Primarily a BJJ school, RGA Bristol has recently expanded into boxing and kickboxing with prestigious coaches.

Run by black belt brothers Luke & Clayton Chamberlain, and 20+ coaches, the team delivers over 65+ classes per week in the weekly schedule. The school is open 7 days per week and with classes morning, afternoon, and evening, it has a schedule that meets all varying lifestyles.

There is a full spectrum within RGA Bristol with daily classes for children starting 3 years old, through to a full-time competition team that have starred on BBC, ITV and UFC. The core of the club are passionate, friendly and welcoming individuals that like to train regularly throughout the week – with the standards all spearheaded from a broad coaching and competition team who compete regularly and succeed at the sport’s highest levels.

Roger Gracie is widely regarded as the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) in the sport of Jiu-Jitsu.

2. Pedro Bessa BJJ

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school which runs out of a functional fitness and weights facility called Sweatbox. Pedro Bessa BJJ is one of the longest-running BJJ schools in the city of Bristol. Pedro Bessa is an accomplished competitor from Brazil. They offer over 22+ classes per week, with both kids and adults classes, including beginners and advanced classes. Pedro Bessa’s school also have high-level competitors who compete regularly and also have success at the highest levels.

3. Gracie Barra Keynsham

A full-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Keynsham, Gracie Barra Keynsham is part of one of the largest Jiu-Jitsu organisations in the world, Gracie Barra. Run by Salvatore Pace black belt Damien Barrett. With over 13+ classes per week, GBK offers classes for both kids and adults. With classes starting from 4 years old for kids, and both beginners and advanced classes for adults. GBK also have a Combat Academy running in the same facility, which is great if you wish to learn striking.

4. Impact Gym

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the Downend area of Bristol, Impact Gym is run by brothers Tom and Jake O’Hagan. They have 26+ Classes per week in their schedule, including MMA, Striking and Wrestling. They also have a weights facility in the same building as their martial arts. They also have classes for both kids and adults. Impact Gym also has a team of competitors who compete regularly.

5. Artemis BJJ

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the Easton area of Bristol, Artemis BJJ is run by black belt Can Sönmez. They have 12+ classes per week in their schedule, however, have a lot of ‘open mats’ which is where there is no class structure and you have the freedom to use the mats however you wish (stretching, practising technique, sparring etc). They offer only two kids’ classes which are on a Sunday.

6. Bristol Dojo

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the Bedminster area of Bristol, Bristol Dojo is a martial arts school with different martial arts classes such as Karate and  Kickboxing. Bristol Dojo offers 12+ BJJ classes per week in their schedule across two mat spaces, including classes for kids twice a week. It is a family-run school run by Simon O’Brien and his family. His son, Dylan O’Brien is a black belt, and his daughter Carys O’Brien runs K1 and Kickboxing classes. Simon also manages lots of different competitions around the South West of the UK such as Pro Sport Grappling and the Somerset Open.

7. Gracie Barra Yate

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the outskirts of Bristol, in the area of Chipping Sodbury. The school is run by black belt Antonio Bustorff. With 49+ classes per week, they include a variety of classes in their schedule such as Ladies only, competition classes, wrestling and more. The school is open 6 days a week and is closed on Sundays. GB Yate also has a handful of competitors who compete regularly and have had success in competition.

8. Aftermath BJJ

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the Knowle West area of Bristol. The school is run by black belt Nick Jordan. With 20+ classes per week. The school is open 7 days a week. Aftermath BJJ also has a handful of competitors who compete regularly and have had success in competition.

9. Art Of Movement

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the Lawrence Hill area of Bristol. The school is run by black belt Rad. With 12+ classes per week, the school is open 6 days a week and runs both Jiu Jitsu and Capoeira in the same facility. Art Of Movement also has a handful of competitors.

10. RR Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in the Hanham area of Bristol, RR Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a full-time academy with over 22+ classes per week. The school is run by head coach Rich Rubino, who is a black belt under Pedro Bessa. They offer a daytime schedule, classes for kids, and classes for women only, with also a competitive interest with competitive coaches and a competition team.