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Kalamazoo BJJ

Kalamazoo BJJ

Affiliation: Carlson Gracie
526 reviews
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About Kalamazoo BJJ

Kalamazoo BJJ is a Carlson Gracie Jr. Academy providing the very best in the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training throughout the Kalamazoo area & Southwest Michigan.

Reviews

5
26 reviews
Manuel Bernal
2021-08-09

Kalamazoo BJJ is an incredible place to train. Professor Ben Lindhout's ability to breakdown techniques is helpful and accessible. He cares about his students and his love for BJJ also comes across in his classes. This place was welcoming from my first class onward. I appreciate all of my rolling partners. They train hard and are careful about safety. I recommend training here!

Gary Tyler
2021-08-16

I went to my first open mat last week and it was amazing! There's always some sort of nervousness that comes from being a beginner at anything but everyone here made me feel comfortable and eased that anxiety. I got destroyed in the few rolls I took part in, but I left feeling amazing and ready for the next one. I've wanted to start BJJ for a long time now and I can't recommend this place enough. If you're interested at all, give it a try! We'll learn together and have tons of fun doing it.

Chris Mack
2022-02-20

Have been training here for 1 year now and love it, had no prior experience and I felt really welcomed immediately. You are allowed to roll (spar) from the very beginning if you want which I think speeds up your learning process. Ben, Ivan, and Jake are great teachers

Ryan M
2022-08-29

Ben is very knowledgeable and everyone at the gym was welcoming. They make you feel like part of the team the minute you walk in. There was a good mix of talent and experience. Highly recommend checking it out if you are in Kalamazoo area.

Holly Krymis
2018-10-11

I’m a newbie to the area, and was unenthused with finding another place to train BUT…my apprehension was put to rest with Kalamazoo BJJ. Ben has a way of breaking down moves and concepts so that anyone from the complete beginner to advanced student can understand and implement. To top it off, his infectious energy while instructing creates a comfortable and engaging learning environment. The other instructors I’ve been fortunate enough to train with here are also incredibly clear, detailed, easy to follow and take the time to work with you on individual moves you may find challenging. There is already a phenomenal group of people training here, with different experience levels, genders, ages and body sizes. If you have the chance to drop in, you should!!

Frequently Asked Questions

DO I NEED EXPERIENCE TO START TRAINING BJJ?

Not at all! Kalamazoo BJJ welcomes complete beginners. We offer introductory classes specifically designed to teach the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a safe, supportive environment. Everyone starts somewhere, and our coaches will guide you every step of the way.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MY FIRST CLASS?

For your first visit, comfortable athletic wear such as shorts and a rash guard works perfectly. Once you train regularly, you'll want a gi (BJJ uniform). We train gi here — our coaches can point you to the right gear.

IS THERE A FREE TRIAL CLASS?

Yes! We encourage you to try a class before committing. Contact Kalamazoo BJJ to schedule your complimentary intro class and experience our training environment for yourself.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TRAIN AS A BEGINNER?

Most beginners see strong progress training 2-3 times per week. Consistency matters more than volume early on. As your conditioning improves, many students increase to 4-5 sessions per week.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A BLUE BELT IN BJJ?

On average, dedicated students earn their blue belt in 1-2 years of consistent training. BJJ progression depends on mat time, active learning, and open rolling. Each stripe reflects real skill growth.