I had done martial arts for many years, beginning with Judo training under Sensei Jim Pedro Sr. and…read morelater his son two time Olympic Medalist Sensei Jimmy Pedro, During those years I was competing in amateur boxing and taking BJJ becoming a Purple Belt and having occasional success in regional level competitions. I ended up tearing my rotator cuff, my first surgery actually caused more damage and I had 3 more additional surgeries to repair it as best they could. This was in 2013, for over 12 years I no longer trained in martial arts and I was nervous to step on a mat fully aware that my skill level was no longer equal to my belt level, I had also went from being in my prime to being in my mid 40s which doesn't help with the athleticism aspect. The BJJ Community can be harsh when the skill doesn't match the rank, my first day I was willing to start as a white belt (kinda hoping to actually) I was gassed in two minutes and I go sit next to Travis who I remember watching along with other Olympic Team members training I got to be in some of the classes they were in I was a judo Brown Belt and was amazed at the dedication and skill these athletes had especially Travis, the injuries he overcame and trained through takes a different breed of human. Obviously I'm intimidated he isn't going to remember some random dude from judo 14 years earlier. I apologized to him for how out of shape and just plain bad I was and I offered to exchange my belt for a white belt which he quickly dismissed and the fear of judgment went away I'm still amazed at his talent and nothing against my previous professor because the art had evolved since I was a Purple Belt but his Blue Belts are as good and better than the Purple Belts of 2012 and I can confidently compare having competed as a purple belt in tournaments like Naga and Grapples quest and winning medals against others purple belts, it not just the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu it's also the systematic approach to grappling, in my opinion it actually in a way makes students who don't train with intent on purpose end up training with intent by design. It's only been 2 months I still suck but suck less, and the atmosphere of the other instructors as well as training partners have made a decision i thought I might regret into the best decision I've made recently. None of the judgment happened it was actually the opposite and when I would get down on myself after getting smashed while rolling that training partner was usually also encouraging me and reminding me that it will take time for the head knowledge to get in sync with the muscle memory. The entire team is supportive of whether you want train as a hobbyist or if you want to compete & you won't be pushed one way or the other but if you have a goal they will get you there as long as you put in the effort and dedication, my goal for now is to get to a comparable level as I previously was and I know I will & I spoke to Travis about competing (when I'm back to how I was) and he is fully supportive. You get world class training, and really some of the nicest guys I've had the privilege to train with and learn from, I'm glad I didn't let my fears keep me from entering that door. If you are looking for a great place to train & you live in New England I highly recommend coming here.

Top instructor Travis Stevens is not only one of the best american grapplers alive, he is one of…read morethe best grapplers to ever step on the mats. One of the best things about Fuji and the entire team is how welcoming they are to any outsider. The intimate clases give you direct access to the great knowledge of all the instructors.

I started training with Ron when I was in HS and what a family this has grown into. There are…read morehundreds of people representing ffc and that's no surprise. Ronaldo is a technical master of the art and its a great way to get into great shape. All the coaches at fenix are great people. Any age shape or size can benefit greatly from bjj not only physically but mentally from this!

I've been training BJJ for 14 years and have been at "Fenix" for the last 4 years. The school has…read moregreat instructors, students and training atmosphere. I've trained and visited several schools and I put Fenix right up there with any of them. The head Instructor, Coach Ron is a great instructor who not only gives great technical instruction, his leadership is second to none. As far as the students go, you will meet a lot of great people at Fenix.

Defensive Edge is an amazing gym where our family of four enjoys a variety of classes, sometimes…read morewe get to train together. The staff genuinely cares about everyone's success. I've participated in the women's self-defense class, Fight Fit, women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and traditional Gi Jiu-Jitsu, and I love them all! The gym offers something for everyone and has truly become our second home. It's helping teach my children discipline and humility while they have fun, learn self-defense, and stay active. We highly recommend it for individuals of all ages!

My son started at Defensive Edge a year ago. He loves the instructors. They show the kids each…read moremove a couple times, then have the kids practice. Each time giving them praise and feedback. Thanks for all you do!

We came to Boston from AZ for a Noboundry Muay Thai event. The guys at Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu…read moreopened up their gym to us and really made us feel at home. Next time we are in the Boston area we will definitely be back

I've been training here for a while and I cannot recommend it enough. Learning BJJ has been so…read morerewarding. What I think sets Boston BJJ Woburn apart is the culture. Everyone is there to not only increase their own skill but they work to help others in the classes improve. You can always see the more experienced folks assisting the newer people on technique and approaches. Learn a lot and train with good people

I had the privilege of training at Mass BJJ Acton for almost a year before I moved out to Los…read moreAngeles. Top-notch BJJ training environment for the gi and no-gi with very welcoming instructors and classmates! Nate and Scot were both phenomenal and lighthearted instructors that took their time to really explain techniques, positions, and their decision making process. The most defining characteristics that stuck out to me was how down-to-earth and goofy Nate and Scot were during all classes. It makes you feel at ease and relaxed. No ego at all. Don't get me wrong -- they will absolutely destroy you during the advanced classes, but it was fun having the chance to roll with both of them and feeling the huge difference in skill level. All the classmates there are friendly, too! If you go to the non-fundamental classes, you'll have a great time rolling with the upper belts. The competition team was fantastic with Luis and Josh leading the way. Competition training was always fun and intense, but never out of control. Special thank you to Luis and Josh for taking time out of their weekends to come coach during competitions! You'll have a solid competition team to go compete with. If you have the chance to learn from Pat and Nick during the weekend classes, I would highly recommend it! Learning from these two high level black belts is always a good time. If you get a chance to roll with them, even better! Be prepared to be effortlessly destroyed by them. Only has a couple chances to learn from Ed before I left, but he was awesome!! 10/10 would recommend this place. I miss this academy and everyone in it! You'll love going here -- trust me! Thank you to Nate, Scot, Pat, Luis, Josh, Ed and Nick!!!

I cannot rave enough about our experience to date. Nate and Sue are lovely humans and this is true…read moreof all of the teachers my kids have had in jujitsu and kickboxing. Shout out to Scott who patiently works with my kindergartener and can level with my middle schooler. This is truly a family-friendly environment where my kids eagerly show up to classes, are treated with respect and feel welcomed wholeheartedly. The adults have yet to find the courage to try classes so a more full review will follow.

I live locally and always wondered what was in the white building behind the insurance agency…read more I did my introduction and history of BJJ with the extremely friendly Aaron. The following day I signed up, and have attended 3 more classes. Being new to BJJ I was nervous about joining a martial arts gym/academy. The members all went out of the way to introduce themselves and help with any questions I had. The staff are great, and genuinely have an interest in helping you improve. BJJ is a tough workout, but very rewarding. I highly encourage anyone local to come take a class. Or if you are just in Boston for a few days, it is 100% worth a visit.

The instruction is incredible. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Everyone is willing to help…read moreout and train, no matter age/size/skill level. Bernardo is a great instructor and his system feels solid and effective. Great gym and I couldn't be more happy to train here! In my opinion the best place in the Boston area to train, hands down.

Just an update that Coach Nassib is the new owner/head coach at Fenix Peabody (and a new great…read morelocation). I have taken many classes and lessons with Coach Nassib, and he is one of the best coaches around. The students are also very welcoming of visitors. If you are in the Peabody area, check this place out. Fenix also has locations in Woburn, Lowell and Stoughton.

Great group of people there. Friendly environment and worth stopping by to try it out. Corey is a…read moregreat guy and like all great teachers, he's patient. I would recommend bjj to anyone looking to get in shape at any age. Try it out!

Do not go here. The teachers/owners are good at what they do but so strict. My daughter went here…read morefor over a year and never did they speak to me about her behavior and then she had one hard day and they kicked her out. She is a 7 year old with ADHD and this was something she looked forward to every week. I watched her each week thrive there. I agree there should be consequences and am happy for her to sit out of class when asked. This was her first time and they emailed me and told me she was no longer welcome. They wouldn't speak to me over the phone about it. My daughter is now going to internalize their rejection with zero warnings. These are children here. I would understand if monthly she was asked to sit out but this is not the case. We were completely blindsided. Please do not use this business.

It is a TRAVESTY that there aren't a million 5 star reviews of this place. Very proud to be the…read morefirst. I've only been coming here for a few weeks at this point, but as a complete beginner I couldn't be having a better time. The website advertises "no egos" which is on point. The moment I walked through the door for the first time, one of the students comes over to say hi and introduce himself because he hasn't seen me before. Everyone I've worked with so far has been really cool and the more experienced guys will take things slow and easy and even let me pull off moves on them so I can get the feel for how it's supposed to work. Don't get me wrong, every class is a challenge both physically and mentally - but it's the kind of environment where you feel comfortable really pushing yourself. The great culture starts at the top with Owner/Professor Danny Morera and Co-Owner (slash Danny's wife) Angela. Just great people - knowledgeable, welcoming, helpful, friendly, and fun. There's always a lot of smiles and laughs, but when it's instruction time, they're appropriately serious and focused on making sure people learn the techniques safely and properly. If you're interested in learning jiu-jitsu, the advice I got from some experienced friends was to opt for a school led by an IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) certified black belt, and registered with the IBJJF (you can look people and schools up on their website). There are a lot of places that would be happy to teach you "jiu-jitsu", but if you're going to put in the time and spend the money you probably want to do it right.

I've trained at a few gyms due to moving out of the city and I can say I think Invictus will be my…read moreforever gym. The instruction is great, there are classes morning noon and night to accommodate any schedule and the culture is so positive and supportive. If u are new to BJJ the structured curriculum will guide u in starting the journey. If u want to start slow every roll starts with an agreement on intensity level so u wont feel like ur someones grappling dummy if u don't feel ur ready. If you've been training a while and want hard rounds we do that as well. Ask for Ryan (hard rounds with Ryan available in Gi only, for NoGi please ask for Rick).

Invictus Training Center and Nate Morrison (and the other coaches) set a gold standard for what a…read moretrue martial arts academy should be. From day one, I was blown away by the culture here. Invictus is built around learning, open-mindedness, and respect for the evolution of the sport. Nate leads by example, constantly encouraging exploration of different styles and techniques rather than forcing a "one-size-fits-all" approach while maintaining a structured class with high percentage moves. The environment strikes the perfect balance: it's competitive enough to push you to improve, but not so much that it leads to injury. As a beginner, I've never once felt out of place. The training partners here are top-tier, technical, tough, but incredibly generous with their knowledge and genuinely invested in helping each other grow. You feel like part of a team from the moment you step on the mats.

THE BEST BJJ I've been to! Since moving, I've tried 5 or so other places and haven't found the same…read morelevel of instructors and environment. Professor and all of the instructors here are phenomenal. They provide a great level of detail and clarity. They tell you what it should look like, how it should feel, where you should shift your weight. They also adjust according to your level and ability, even when there's like 20-30 other students. The environment and other students also make this gym awesome. I've been to some other place where students just want to demolish you, even if you're a lower belt. Most experienced students here will adjust their strength when you roll with them and will guide you along, especially if you're newer. When people get better, I've noticed they pass this along as well. On the flip side, if you want to go up against someone really good, you have plenty of options here. If I ever move back to Boston, I'll definitely come back here to continue. Seriously the best BJJ gym in the city! Easily 5 stars!

Gracie Barra Boston have owed us a substantial refund for months, and they did not respond to our…read moremany emails and BBB complaint. We enrolled our two kids in their program in August 2025. Shortly after, we requested a membership freeze (which they confirmed in writing), and later submitted a cancellation request that they also acknowledged. Despite both the freeze and cancellation being confirmed, they continued to charge us. We reached out multiple times over several months to resolve the issue. At one point they acknowledged the problem and said refunds were being processed, but the charges continued. We ultimately had to change our credit card number to stop the billing. It's unfortunate, because the program itself seemed good and our kids enjoyed it.