Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is becoming more and more popular every day and much of this has to do with the rise in popularity for MMA. There are a lot of Jiu-Jitsu schools around and a lot of great coaches. You can imagine that in a city like Houston that there are a lot of options and if you are new to the Jiu-Jitsu scene, you might find that so many options make it a difficult choice. Different styles, teams and coaches make the choice even more difficult than you might think. This is why we’ve compiled this list of some of the best BJJ schools in city of Houston.
Check out our list of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in the greater Houston area and if you get the chance, go check some of the schools out. The journey in Jiu-Jitsu is one that is exciting and fun. You won’t regret stepping foot on the mats. The friendships gained as well as how you will feel about yourself make it all worth it.
Houston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club
6982 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W suite F
Houston, TX 77069
(281) 770-3670
hbjjc.com
This is a great place to train if you’re looking for a high level black belt to teach the ways of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This team is led by head instructor Professor Art Alvarado. He has over 20 years of experience combined in Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. He started his grappling career when he wrestled for Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Then in 1994, he started training at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, CA in 1994 after having seen Royce Gracie tap Kimo Leopoldo in UFC 3. At the time, the Gracie Academy was owned by one of the founders of the UFC, Rorion Gracie. Back when Professor Alvarado was training there, he was working with some of the best BJJ practitioners in the world including Rorion, Royce, Robin, Rolker, Relson and Helio Gracie. It was at that time that he met Master Caique Elias. Outside of the Gracie sons, Elias was considered the most technical black belt out there.
That was about the time that Professor Art got his blue belt. He then started the instructor program as well as attending classes. Just because you are a tough fighter doesn’t make you a good coach and to teach practice classes in front of some of the best of all time should tell you something about Professor Art.
The principles followed here at Houston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club are ones that came down the line from Grandmaster Helio Gracie through Master Elias. This style of Jiu-Jitsu is focused on leverage, positions and finally, the submissions. The adult classes are open to men as well as women and they are designed to teach you how to protect yourself while getting into better shape.
Brazil 021
5410 Bellaire Blvd #210
Bellaire, TX 77401
(832) 377-1909
brazil021houston.com
The classes at Brazil 021 are taught by Professor Marcos Cerqueira. He is a 2nd degree black belt from the André “Negao” Terencio lineage. He started training in BJJ in 1994 where he was playing other sports at Atletica da Tijuca while some of his friend were doing BJJ. He then decided to give it a chance after seeing his friends involved.
This is where he met Master Carlos Henrique. For the next 14 years Henrique would be the man to lead Professor Cerqueira in his BJJ journey. While training in Brazil, Professor Cerqueira had the opportunity to train at some of the best BJJ schools in Rio de Janeiro like the famous Carlson Gracie Academy. In 2007, he was awarded his black belt and moved to the United States to start his own school in South Texas and this is where he landed.
They offer an array of classes for BJJ at Brazil 021 in Houston. The gi class involves using the traditional kimono (gi) while the nogi classes involve you wearing a rash guard and shorts for more of a submission grappling style that is used in MMA. The Anti-Bullying class for the youth is a fantastic way for your child to gain self-confidence and get some discipline.
All these classes are offered in a safe and fun environment where you can meet all your fitness and self-defense goals.
Gracie Barra Katy
21734 Provincial Blvd
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 647-6621
graciebarrakaty.com
The Gracie Barra in Katy, TX is one of the top schools in the area. The Gracie Barra lineage speaks for itself but if you were wondering about the instruction that you will get here then we can tell you that it is some of the best in the world.
This school was founded in October of 2006 and offers fantastic high level BJJ training for men, women, kids, families and law enforcement officials. All of the classes offered here are aligned with the Gracie Barra Program Structure that was created by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. These programs were created to help people of different genders, levels and ages meet all of their goals. You will find the environment in Gracie Barra Katy to be friendly, clean and structured around the progress of the students that attend. The goal is to give them a warm, inspirational and challenging training experience that will make them want to come back and keep training.
You will be receiving instruction from some of the best BJJ practitioners in the Houston area. The head BJJ coach at Gracie Barra Katy is 3rd degree black belt Ted Stickel. The goal at Gracie Barra Katy is to offer training for everyone no matter their martial arts background and to make them feel like they are a part of the Gracie Barra family.
Alliance Jiu Jitsu
10555 Pearland Parkway U
Houston, TX 77089
(832) 509-0255
alliancebjjhouston.com
Alliance Jiu-Jitsu in Houston, Texas is a BJJ school with a rich history with a curriculum that was passed down from some of the best BJJ fighters in the world. This style of self-defense has been proven to be one of the most effective disciplines in all the martial artist. Alliance BJJ gives you the tools and skills that have proven via the Alliance team that has won 11 world championships. From ages 4 to over 60, students are taught based on their level of fitness and skill so that you will always feel like coming back.
The BJJ classes are led by head instructor Danny Duckworth. He has been training in Martial Arts for over 11 years. He trained under John Worrell and Patrick Price in the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and got his brown belt in the Japanese system of Zen Budokai. Since then he has gotten his BJJ black belt under Raul Jimenez in the Alliance System and continues to pass his knowledge along to the people that are willing to learn this gentle art.
The best thing about training Jiu-Jitsu at Alliance is that you will get the chance to improve your self-defense skills and your cardio. You will have the opportunity fast reflexes and special motor skills. Anyone can train in BJJ and the team at Alliance welcomes people of all backgrounds to come join them on the mats to see what all the talk is about.
Pablo Silva Jiu-Jitsu
5233 Bellaire Blvd
Bellaire, TX 77401
(713) 592-0310
pablosilvabjj.com
When you train at Pablo Silva Jiu-Jitsu, you are going to be learning from a world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter. Silva started his BJJ journey in Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil and the age of 14. When he was 16, he decided to leave his family to train at the Gracie Barra headquarters in Belo Horizonte full time. That was the moment that Pablo set his goals for his Jiu-Jitsu journey in being a world champion. He received his black belt in 2009 and set off to dominate the tournament where he won all the major tournaments in Jiu-Jitsu including the IBJJF World Championship, UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship, Pan American Championship, European Championship and the Brazilian National Championship to name a few.
In 2011, Pablo came to the United States from Brazil with hopes of opening his own school and Houston ended up being the destination. They soon became one of the best Jiu-Jitsu academies in Texas and he is the only IBJJF Adult World Champion that lives and teaches in Texas. That being said, you will be learning from one of the best and the curriculum is geared toward sport Jiu-Jitsu so you can become a champion like Pablo.
Pablo believes that BJJ can change lives. No matter if it’s mental, health, self-esteem or other emotional issues, he believes that BJJ can help you overcome these issues in some form.
With the help of Professor Jordan Burton, who is a world champion in his own right, these guys have created an environment that is perfect for learning and improving in every way. Give them a call or stop in if you are interested and we have a feeling that once you give BJJ a chance, there will be no turning back.
Warriors for Christ BJJ
16215 Westheimer Rd Ste 101
Houston, TX 77082
(281) 886-7544
Warriors for Christ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy has a goal of sharing the art of BJJ in a family friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The most important thing the team from Warriors for Christ BJJ shoot for is to teach their students all about respect, honor and duty on the mats and off. They want to create an atmosphere where people can create genuine relationships while learning this wonderful martial art. There aren’t many things in the world that will bring you closer to someone than sharing the mats. Through this martial art, the Christian community will then work towards reaching out to others for Christ through the art of BJJ.
The head instructor is Professor Alvin Tillman Jr. Tillman began training in BJJ in 1998 while he was a member of the US Army. Once he did his time in the Army, Tillman entered law enforcement while continuing his training in Jiu-Jitsu at Houma BJJ Academy where he really started taking off in the sport. He received his black belt from Professor Darren McCall in 2014 and hasn’t looked back.
If you are looking for a place where you can improve yourself inside and out, check out the team at Warriors for Christ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You will be shocked at how friendly and welcoming the team is. This is a journey that will prove to be one of the best decisions you have ever made.
Cantu’s Texas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Self Defense Academy
8674 Hwy 6
Houston, TX 77095
(832) 642-2313
cantuselfdefense.com
Cantu’s Texas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Self Defense Academy was started by Roy Cantu.
Cantu has been training in this martial art since 1998 and has a black belt. Before opening Cantu’s Texas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Roy was a coach at a local school called TNT. He then followed that up by opening his own school in 2008 with the help of some of his other coaches and students. They were in a shared space before deciding that more room was needed as many students were joining to learn the same thing that helped Roy Cantu navigate this life.
For adults, you will have the opportunity for two programs. The first is the Fighting Foundations course. This course is a 27 lesson system that includes over 100 different techniques that might end up saving your life at some point. The program is an adaptation of the private class curriculum of Helio Gracie and is set up in a group style. Under the leadership of Pedro Valente, they follow the F27 program to allow students to learn one of the best self-defense disciplines in the world. The key to learning is repetition so when something happens in a real threatening situation, you will react instead of thinking.
Next is the Fighting Mastery program. This is an advanced program that will teach you different combinations and techniques to connect together to improve your knowledge and reaction time. This is where you will learn how to truly use your skills in a setting that encourages creativity and hard work.
Gracie Humaita Houston
13304 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W
Houston, TX 77065
(833) 447-2243
graciehouston.com
Gracie Humaita in Houston teaches Jiu-Jitsu that was created by Grandmaster Hélio Gracie. It was then improved upon by his sons and then passed on to the many students that chose to learn from the Gracie family.
The Gracie Houston is made for anyone that wants to make a commitment to this beautiful sport. The students and coaches are held to a very high standard and it should be that that way. Everyone that trains in this facility is there for the same reason and that is to become a better person both inside and out. If you are looking for a place to learn the Gracie style of BJJ, this is the right location for you.
The spirit of a school must be enforced, regulated and maintained by all those that train there. The atmosphere here truly embraces the ideas of mutual respect, understanding and trust. When you come to the school, keep these in mind and word towards being a kind person.
Belts are given out in the traditional style of martial arts in which it is given during a class, individually, by the professor. This is a special moment for the student so to separate them from the rest of the class and award them a belt is something the team at Gracie Humaita Houston prides themselves in.
Urban Jungle Self Defense
707 Yale St
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 861-7252
urbanjungleselfdefense.com
Urban Jungle Self Defense has a passion for offering high quality fitness and martial arts classes in Harris County. This is only a minutes away from Houston Heights which means the convenient location offers a home for anyone looking to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Houston area. They are constantly changing their programs for the better and keeping up with new trends and techniques that are being used in the BJJ community and these include drills, exercises, techniques and safety exercises that give you a realistic view of self-defense.
The knowledgeable staff and state of the art facility gives you an atmosphere that is encouraging and non-intimidating. If you decide to become a member of this fantastic team you will build self-discipline, confidence, make great friendships and learn self-respect. This goes for students that are young and old, experienced or a beginner. You will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best in a great environment.
Rilion Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy
9791 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77042
(713) 471-0644
riliongraciehouston.com
The Rilion Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Houston is a top academy for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA and self-defense. The Rilion Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a great place to go if you are looking for authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The sport was started by Carlos Gracie Sr., Rilion’s father, in the 1920’s and has a been proven to be one of the most effective martial arts disciplines ever created.
The adult programs offered here include Wrestling, NoGi Jiu-Jitsu as well as the traditional Gi Jiu-Jitsu. There are classes for everyone so if you aren’t as skilled you can work in the Fundamental class while others who have trained longer can move into the Advanced class.
The kids’ program is fantastic and will teach your child discipline and confidence. This program gives you kid a chance to be “Bullyproof” and learn self-control at the same time.
The founder of the school is Rilion Gracie who is the youngest son of Grand Master Carlos Gracie Sr. Since he was born, Rilion has been involved in the family passion of BJJ and has grown up on the mats living a healthy lifestyle while improving on the philosophical concepts of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and working on life skills. These are the same ideas that are passed down to the students.
If you are new to BJJ or if you want to sharpen your skills, Rilion Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a great place to train and learn. No matter your age, skill level or gender, you have a place to train BJJ in this facility.
Memorial Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
1322 S Dairy Ashford Rd
Houston, TX 77077
(832) 317-0217
memorial-bjj.com
You might be wondering why you should join the team at Memorial Jiu-Jitsu versus many of the other schools we already mentioned. First, let us start by saying that this place offers a very friendly environment to train in. Many schools will give you a free class to try them out, but here you are going to get a risk-free 10 day trial to make sure this is the right place for you to learn Jiu-Jitsu. You will get a free uniform and have access to all the beginner classes that are offered here. Between the camaraderie, the high quality instruction and the class structure, we’re sure that you will enjoy what you experience at Memorial Jiu-Jitsu.
Professor Jackson Fortunato is a very experienced coach and competitor. He began his BJJ journey 1999 back home in Brazil. He went to college to get a degree in physical educations and then moved to London to start something special with two other coaches and black belts. The plan was to start a project called bjjschool.co.uk where they taught and learned BJJ. It happens to be one of the most successful schools in the UK with several locations and one of the best kids’ programs in the UK.
With the success of this venture, Professor Fortunato decided it was time to take the next step in his life by uprooting what he has known in the UK and turn to a life in the United States. After 8 years in the UK, he decided it was time to open a school in Texas and he has been coaching the last five years in Houston with the help of a great team behind him.
Check them out for a free 10 day trial.