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Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu

Affiliation: Marcelo Garcia
4.9139 reviews
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About Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu

Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu is located on the third floor of 250 West 26th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Founded by Marcelo Garcia — a five-time ADCC submission wrestling world champion and four-time BJJ world champion — the academy brings one of the sport's most decorated athletes directly into the instruction of its students. The gym runs classes seven days a week with early morning, midday, and evening sessions Monday through Friday, and weekend morning classes on Saturday.

The curriculum is structured into three tracks: a Kids and Youth program, Fundamental classes for beginners and intermediate students, and Advanced classes for experienced practitioners. A monthly membership grants unlimited access to both the Fundamental and Advanced weekly class schedules. Students new to the area in the tri-state region receive two complimentary trial classes, and visitors can purchase day or two-week passes. The academy also maintains a second location in Hawaii.

The gym places a strong emphasis on technical jiu-jitsu development rooted in Marcelo Garcia's well-known approach to the sport — particularly in guard work and submission hunting. It draws students ranging from hobby practitioners to competitive athletes training at a high level, all within a focused training environment in the heart of Manhattan.

Reviews

4.9
139 reviews
Santin B
2025-01-01

I had the opportunity to train at Marcelo Garcia’s academy during an afternoon class and had a great experience. The instruction was clear, technical, and detailed, and the training environment was focused and welcoming. Highly recommend for anyone looking for high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a professional setting.

Chinno O.
2025-01-01

Shame on me for not writing a review earlier. I've been a member of the school for almost 2 decades. Marcelo has always been extremely warm, kind and patient with me. For a very long time, this was the only gym I've ever known. I've grown a lot in this place and I've had the pleasure of forming long term friendships, friendships that I still have till this day. You are going to have some really tough rolls here. Marcelo is very selective in who he trusts as instructor so you're going to get world class instruction, if not from Marcelo himself then from someone who he personally groomed and selected for the job. Unlike any other place that I've heard or seen, Marcelo succeeded in making champions out of average Joes (I know this first hand as I'm one of them). Cleanliness is a top priority and there is zero tolerance for people coming in sick who could potentially infect others. Lastly Marcelo does his best to ensure that any kind of bulling is not tolerated. You very well may

BILLY
2025-01-01

Very clean facility, good atmosphere, lots of mat space and the coaches and staff were all friendly.

Mark Munster
2025-01-01

Great rounds, great atmosphere. Clean and professional.

Robert Turner
2025-01-01

I'm a Purple belt, training 8 years, and visiting from The Gentle Art academy in Singapore. I always visit gyms when travelling for work to meet new friends and see new techniques and could not pass up the opportunity to train here. Joel was very welcoming (esp at 7am) and I found his drills very useful and novel putting me in positions I hadn't been before and getting me to really think differently about fundamental concepts like positional control. Added bonus that the drills were a great workout. I also had a similar experience in a takedown class - an area of my game that needs particular work. His teaching style focuses on creative instruction of fundamental concepts (managing space, connecting hands, controlling weight). My training and sparring partners were all very positive experiences with a wide variety of size, shapes, and games. There is tons of mat space at this location, and it was memorable to see what felt like 30+ upper belts hip escaping across the room. Grea

Frequently Asked Questions

DO I NEED EXPERIENCE TO START TRAINING BJJ?

Not at all! Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu 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 toward the right gear.

IS THERE A FREE TRIAL CLASS?

Yes! We encourage you to try a class before committing. Contact Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu 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.

DO YOU OFFER PRIVATE LESSONS?

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu offers private one-on-one instruction for students looking to accelerate their progress. Sessions are tailored entirely to your goals. Contact us to schedule.