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Bear Hug Jiu-Jitsu

Bear Hug Jiu-Jitsu

564 reviews
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About Bear Hug Jiu-Jitsu

Bear Hug Jiu-Jitsu in Helena, Montana was founded by Tony Butler, a lifelong martial artist who began training Judo in Montana's Flathead Valley in the early 1970s. Over the decades, Tony built an extraordinary martial arts career spanning boxing, wrestling, Karate, Tae-Kwon-Do, and over 20 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Tony's BJJ lineage includes training directly with Royce, Relson, and Rodrigo Gracie, as well as world-class instructors Bernardo Faria, Marcos Santos, Marcelo Garcia, and Dave Rosenmarkle. A West Point graduate (Class of 1992), Infantry officer, US Army Ranger School graduate, and Bronze Star recipient, Tony brought the same discipline and commitment to his gym that he carried throughout his military career.

At Bear Hug Jiu-Jitsu, training was focused on practical, technical BJJ built on a foundation of respect and hard work. Tony's Helena academy became a home for serious practitioners who valued authentic instruction and a family-like training environment.

Reviews

5
64 reviews
Dani Nix
2026-01-12

Bear Hug has been a huge blessing to my 2 kids. It's perfect for us as a homeschool family because it gives my kids a chance to learn while doing a physical activity. Also, the flexible class schedule makes it very low pressure. All the coaches are terrific with kids and very welcoming. I cannot recommend this place enough!

alysen hartwick
2026-01-13

I am very pleased with the organization and communication with Coach Tony! He is so patient and knowledgeable when teaching my son. His passion to teach kids is inspiring, he does an incredible job at Bear Hug! It takes more than just the effort of the child, it takes a coach who can take his time to teach, to impact a child, and Coach Tony definitely does just that! Highly recommend Bear Hug!!

Alex Johnson
2026-01-16

Bear Hug is such a great place! My 7 year old son has been going for a while and it has taught him so much about jujitsu, good sportsmanship and mental toughness. What a great way to stay active, to learn great skills and to have a ton of fun while doing it! I recommend Bear Hug highly to anyone looking!

Jer
2026-01-12

I have been apart of Bear Hug since it first opened. Professor Tony has not only been trained and worked with the best in the World, but his way of teaching young students as well as adults is second to none. My 6 year old son Love to train and he always seems to be a lot more mellow and focused afterward. Good way to get the wiggles out while learning about self control and self defense. Very highly recomend.

Hettie McGregor
2026-01-12

My son has had a great experience learning and growing at Bear Hug. Our family has tried various other martial schools in the Helena area and our experience at Bear Hug has by far been the best. The coaches are awesome, supportive and consistent. There is definitely a community feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHO IS THE HEAD INSTRUCTOR?

Bear Hug BJJ was founded by Tony Butler, a West Point graduate, US Army Ranger, and Bronze Star recipient who has trained with Royce Gracie, Marcelo Garcia, and Bernardo Faria.

WHAT IS THE TRAINING STYLE?

Our instruction emphasizes technical precision, leverage-based grappling, and the classical principles of BJJ as passed down through the Gracie lineage.

DO I NEED PRIOR MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE?

No prior experience is required. We welcome beginners and will build your foundation from the ground up.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY FIRST CLASS?

Wear comfortable athletic clothing. A mouthguard is recommended for sparring.

IS BJJ GOOD FOR SELF-DEFENSE?

Absolutely. BJJ was developed specifically for self-defense situations where a smaller person must defend against a larger, stronger attacker.