As part of my job I will occasionally travel and love to drop in at new gyms. Dropping in gives me a different view on the puzzle that we call grappling. I have visited great gyms and I have visited some poor gyms. My job tends to take me to less populated areas that might only feature 1 or 2 gyms in a town. At times I have visited areas where it required an hour drive to find a gym.
Therefore, I thought it may be helpful for those who travel to have thread giving a quick review of gyms that are on and off the beaten path. We all know how great AOJ is or Saulo's school. This thread should serve as a data base of both well known and perhaps less known gym from fellow F12'ers.
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Gym: Nashville MMA
Location: Nashville, TN
Website: http://www.nashvillemma.com/#!brazlian-jiu-jitsu/ckrg
Association: Shawn Hammonds BJJ
I absolutely loved this gym. I was a bit leery at first as the gym was part of the Lloyd Irvin association but left when all of that business happened. However, this gym is FANTASTIC.
I showed up on a Saturday morning for an open mat. This is a bit different than my usual drop in as I try to take a class but my travel schedule demanded otherwise. Regardless, Mr. Hammond (head instructor) showed up to welcome me personally and introduce me the other guys. The open mat was incredible and filled with some pretty tough and technical guys. Unlike some gyms I have visited no one tried to "defend their gym". Guys asked how hard I wanted to roll and actually stuck to it. I was trying to get ready for a tournament so we spent the few rounds on slow rolls and then cranked it up.
This is a place that I will stop at if I am ever in Nashville. Great instructor (who took a few minutes to show me an improvement to side control) and solid students who are respectful but ready to roll tough.
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Gym: Calvera Martial Arts & Boxing Club
Location: Minot, ND
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MNTNativeSports
Association: None
This is a hidden little gem in the middle of North Dakota. Mostly guys from the local air force base. The BJJ program is run by a purple belt from a well known instructor and lineage (which I can't recall to save my life at the moment). Friendly guys willing to share some knowledge. I believe at this time they are still unassociated and many of the guys have gone unpromoted for quite some time due to it. Being full of military guys means they have some turnover.
I stopped by for a few classes. The instructor focused on fundamental techniques from guard for that week. Good instruction and really focused on being fundamentally sound as opposed to chasing the newest techniques. I had some great rolls with the blues/purples at the school. Each played a fundamentally sound game and refrained from "defending their gym".
If you are in Minot, ND for some reason stop on on in and get in some great rolls. Very friendly and the end of class is merely an invitation to keep on rolling.
Furthermore, the gym owner, who runs the boxing program, has an awesome chihuaha. Stop in just for that little guy.
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Gym: Black Hills BJJ
Location: Rapid City, SD
Website:http://bhbjj.com/
Association: Team Atos
Who thought you would find a Team Atos gym in the middle of South Dakota of all places? BHBJJ is run by a Atos Purple Belt (under Tim Sledd) who is also a teacher at the local technical college. This makes for some incredible instruction. To this day I use the deep half setup that was taught the 2 days I dropped in (if your interested it is the shin-to-shin setup that Ryan Hall shows in his DH DVD) and drilled/rolled.
Pretty wide range of talent at this place. They have some cats that travel to compete as far as Minneapolis and Denver. They also have some brand new white belts and hobbyist white/blue belts. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at BHBJJ and would heartily recommend that if you are in the area to visit.
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Gym: Lovato's School of BJJ
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Website: okbjj.com
Association: Riberio
It has Justin Rader and Rafael Lovato Jr. What more do you need to know?
Incredible school, incredible instructors, incredible students. I only got to go for a week. I have been trying to get more work in OKC just to go here.
Only downside is a pretty hefty mat fee if you are only showing up for one day. Try to show up 2-3 days and the fee comes down considerably.
Therefore, I thought it may be helpful for those who travel to have thread giving a quick review of gyms that are on and off the beaten path. We all know how great AOJ is or Saulo's school. This thread should serve as a data base of both well known and perhaps less known gym from fellow F12'ers.
-----------------
Gym: Nashville MMA
Location: Nashville, TN
Website: http://www.nashvillemma.com/#!brazlian-jiu-jitsu/ckrg
Association: Shawn Hammonds BJJ
I absolutely loved this gym. I was a bit leery at first as the gym was part of the Lloyd Irvin association but left when all of that business happened. However, this gym is FANTASTIC.
I showed up on a Saturday morning for an open mat. This is a bit different than my usual drop in as I try to take a class but my travel schedule demanded otherwise. Regardless, Mr. Hammond (head instructor) showed up to welcome me personally and introduce me the other guys. The open mat was incredible and filled with some pretty tough and technical guys. Unlike some gyms I have visited no one tried to "defend their gym". Guys asked how hard I wanted to roll and actually stuck to it. I was trying to get ready for a tournament so we spent the few rounds on slow rolls and then cranked it up.
This is a place that I will stop at if I am ever in Nashville. Great instructor (who took a few minutes to show me an improvement to side control) and solid students who are respectful but ready to roll tough.
--------
Gym: Calvera Martial Arts & Boxing Club
Location: Minot, ND
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MNTNativeSports
Association: None
This is a hidden little gem in the middle of North Dakota. Mostly guys from the local air force base. The BJJ program is run by a purple belt from a well known instructor and lineage (which I can't recall to save my life at the moment). Friendly guys willing to share some knowledge. I believe at this time they are still unassociated and many of the guys have gone unpromoted for quite some time due to it. Being full of military guys means they have some turnover.
I stopped by for a few classes. The instructor focused on fundamental techniques from guard for that week. Good instruction and really focused on being fundamentally sound as opposed to chasing the newest techniques. I had some great rolls with the blues/purples at the school. Each played a fundamentally sound game and refrained from "defending their gym".
If you are in Minot, ND for some reason stop on on in and get in some great rolls. Very friendly and the end of class is merely an invitation to keep on rolling.
Furthermore, the gym owner, who runs the boxing program, has an awesome chihuaha. Stop in just for that little guy.
--------
Gym: Black Hills BJJ
Location: Rapid City, SD
Website:http://bhbjj.com/
Association: Team Atos
Who thought you would find a Team Atos gym in the middle of South Dakota of all places? BHBJJ is run by a Atos Purple Belt (under Tim Sledd) who is also a teacher at the local technical college. This makes for some incredible instruction. To this day I use the deep half setup that was taught the 2 days I dropped in (if your interested it is the shin-to-shin setup that Ryan Hall shows in his DH DVD) and drilled/rolled.
Pretty wide range of talent at this place. They have some cats that travel to compete as far as Minneapolis and Denver. They also have some brand new white belts and hobbyist white/blue belts. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at BHBJJ and would heartily recommend that if you are in the area to visit.
------
Gym: Lovato's School of BJJ
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Website: okbjj.com
Association: Riberio
It has Justin Rader and Rafael Lovato Jr. What more do you need to know?
Incredible school, incredible instructors, incredible students. I only got to go for a week. I have been trying to get more work in OKC just to go here.
Only downside is a pretty hefty mat fee if you are only showing up for one day. Try to show up 2-3 days and the fee comes down considerably.
