Gabriel Gonzaga
Head coach
- 5th-degree black belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Judo black belt
- 2x World BJJ Champion
- Former UFC heavyweight title contender
- Multiple-time IBJJF Masters World Champion
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Leominster.
Gi jiu-jitsu for adults and teens 14+, taught by 5th- and 6th-degree black belts Gabriel Gonzaga and Luis Soto. Built for people who have never trained.
14+First class free
Who trains BJJ here
- Complete beginners. Most people who start jiu-jitsu have no martial arts background.
- Adults who want a hard workout that doesn't feel like the treadmill.
- Anyone who wants self-defense that works against a bigger, stronger person.
- Experienced grapplers who want black-belt coaching and a steady room to train in.
What a BJJ class looks like
Warm-up
Movement drills like bridging, shrimping and break-falls, the base for everything else.
Technique
A coach demonstrates a position, escape or submission and explains the details that make it work.
Drilling
You practice it with a partner at your size and level, slowly at first.
Live rounds
Controlled sparring, called rolling. Beginners start once they know the basics and how to stay safe.
Why people stay
- Self-defense for any size
- Jiu-jitsu uses leverage and position, so a smaller person can control a bigger one.
- A full-body workout
- Strength, flexibility, endurance and cardio in the same hour on the mat.
- Stress relief
- It's hard to think about work while you're solving a problem on the mat. Most people leave calmer than they came in.
- Goals you can see
- Stripes and belts mark your progress. Competing is there if you want it, never required.
Your coaches
Both head coaches have competed at the world level, and beginners get the same coaching as the black belts.
Luis Soto
Head coach
- 6th-degree black belt, Jiu-Jitsu
- 4th-degree black belt, Judo
- Judo National Champion, Masters
- 5th at the World Masters (Judo)
Your first class
Book online
Pick a program. We text you to set a day and time.
Show up 10 minutes early
Wear athletic clothes with no zippers. We lend you a gi for BJJ.
Train with a coach
A coach walks you through the warm-up and the basics. No sparring on day one.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu questions
Do I need to know judo or jiu-jitsu first?
No. Beginner classes start from zero, and many of our students had no martial arts training before their first class.
What do I wear?
BJJ is trained in a gi, the two-piece uniform. For your first class wear athletic clothes with no zippers and we'll lend you a gi. A mouthguard is a good idea.
Do I have to spar as a beginner?
No. Beginners focus on basic techniques and safety first, then work up to controlled sparring in class.
Can BJJ help me lose weight?
It can, especially alongside a healthy diet. Jiu-jitsu is a full-body workout that burns calories and builds muscle.
Is the adult class right for a teenager?
Teens 14 and up train in the adult BJJ classes. Younger kids start in Kids Martial Arts (ages 4–13).
Read next: Your first BJJ class: what to wear and what to expect
Other programs
- Kids Martial ArtsJiu-jitsu for focus, confidence and real anti-bullying skills.Ages 4–13
- No-Gi GrapplingFast submission grappling in shorts and a rash guard.14+
- MMAStriking, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, from fitness to fight camp.16+
- Women's KickboxingA hard, fun hour on the bags. Learn to throw a real punch.16+
Try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu free
Pick who's training and leave your number. We'll text you a class time that works. Prefer to talk? Call 978-502-5682.