Welcoming, Professional, and World-Class Instruction…read more I was in Charleston for work and dropped in for a class at Gracie Barra Charleston -- and I'm so glad I did. From the moment I walked in, Professor Fabio Alves and the team made me feel like family. The atmosphere was incredibly welcoming, respectful, and positive. Even as a visitor, I was treated like part of the team. Professor Fabio ran a fantastic class with clear instruction, great energy, and technical depth that reflects his high-level experience. The facility was clean, organized, and full of good vibes. Whether you're local or just passing through, this is a must-visit gym for anyone serious about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Highly recommend and looking forward to coming back next time I'm in town!

Such a great atmosphere to learn and grow in! Very clean and comfortable too. There is a kids area…read moreso my kids can go and play when I am training. The instructors are great and very knowledgeable. They are extremely patient with my 101 questions. My partners here are wonderful! I couldn't ask for a better place to grow in.

I trained at this gym for approximately 335 days and progressed to a fourth-degree white belt…read moreduring that time. When I first joined, the experience was genuinely positive. The coach was supportive, motivating, and made learning jiu-jitsu feel welcoming and exciting. In the beginning, I felt encouraged and believed I had found a place where I could grow, improve, and be part of a team. Over time, however, the environment changed for me. I began having ongoing issues with a small group of students who were openly unwelcoming and dismissive. Simple attempts to be included--such as walking up to join a conversation--were often met with people bluntly walking away. This created an isolating atmosphere and made it difficult to feel like I belonged. The situation became especially frustrating during rolling. It was never a matter of me refusing to roll. In reality, certain students consistently did not want to roll with me, yet the issue was repeatedly framed as if I were the problem. Despite my efforts to handle the situation respectfully, the blame continued to fall entirely on me. I tried to communicate my concerns and hoped for guidance or mediation, but instead I felt increasingly singled out. Rather than addressing the behavior of everyone involved, the focus shifted almost exclusively to scrutinizing my actions while overlooking how other students were treating me. This imbalance made the situation feel unfair and discouraging. Jiu-jitsu is meant to teach respect, discipline, and accountability--both on and off the mat. Unfortunately, those values were not consistently reflected in the culture here. What once felt like something I looked forward to became emotionally draining and stressful, ultimately leading me to leave after nearly a year of dedication. This gym may work for some people, but for those looking for a supportive, inclusive environment where conflicts are handled fairly and respectfully, I would strongly recommend researching other options before committing.

I have had the privilege of training with Coach Ron for several years now. You'd be hard pressed to…read morefind someone as passionate and dedicated to his art. His years of experience, training, and ability to reach children at their level are truly amazing. If your child is interested in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Coach Ron is definitely your man! Enroll them today and watch your kid grow and learn! Go Titans go!

As someone who has had the privilege to live in a few major cities and travel to smaller ones for…read morework, I have trained at many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms across the United States. Generally speaking, each gym will vary in instruction quality, class availability, mat space, and student dynamics. After a year of training at Folly Jiu Jitsu, I can safely say that this gym excels in all four areas. The instructors here come from various backgrounds and have complementing skill sets. It's your first day and you have never set a foot on the mat before? Perfect. You want to get better at judo? Say no no more. Wrestling? Easy. Leg locks? Maybe even easier. Every instructor here has a knack for communicating and is well-equipped to teach you at whatever stage you are in your BJJ journey with a genuine smile on their face. Class availability is one of FJJ's strong suits: you can attend classes as early as 6am or late as 6pm, whatever works best for your schedule. The great part about this set up is you can easily join another class in the event you miss your typical session or if you are just looking to switch things up. Having a diverse set of talented instructors available throughout the day helps to keep your grappling mind and skills fresh. The gym used to be a former firehouse, which allows for an incredibly large mat space (one of the biggest I've personally trained on), and is kept meticulously clean by the staff. The overhead honeycomb lighting is a nice artistic touch and the gym is equipped with locker rooms and showers. As someone who has trained in a few crowded small gyms, having all of this space to move around in is incredible. As an extension of the instructors, the students here are very welcoming and all are at different stages of their jiu jitsu journey. There is a healthy mix of beginners, intermediate, and advanced practitioners in any of the classes one might attend; more importantly, everyone is looking to learn and help each other learn day in and day out. All in all, this gym has a lot to offer to anyone at any chapter of their jiu jitsu journey. From the casual beginner to the seasoned competitor, there is always something for someone to learn here. Whether you are looking to start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the first time or just visiting Charleston, swing by Folly Jiu Jitsu and you will be welcomed with open arms.

This place is a true gem of Mount Pleasant. As a former black belt in Tae Kwon Do in my formative…read moreyears, I wanted a more tangible skill set for my son. He has surged in his confidence and focus in all areas - quite noticeable at school and home. Alberto is a true sage teacher. My son reacts incredibly well to his humble patience, yet fatherly command of the class. Alberto demonstrates a sincere respect for the kids and masterfully identifies their strengths and gaps, which is evident in his individual instruction. This is a place to give your time and energy to. It's special.

Pack is such a great hit with my nephew! We come on Saturday mornings for $5 to play for ~2 hours…read more The staff is lovely and my nephew always has such a great time. It's a really great activity for both adults & kids as adults can be more hands on with their younger kids, but let older kids be more independent. The entire area is matted so super soft for landing.

Great environment!!! Love the staff!! now there's a Mount Pleasant location!…read more Love this place!!

There's a saying that will make this review much shorter and hopefully still resonate: "You are the…read moresum of the 5 people that you surround yourself with." GAC consistently coaches multiple athletes from barely walking toddler age to helping their athletes achieve collegiate success and scholarships. Our daughter has been with GAC and coaches for 18 months now and we would have never imagined the energy, time, consistency and the winning mentality that is present day in and day out here. We are so grateful how much they've poured into her and how it's paid off. While we do believe our daughter brings a lot of passion, and drive etc ...there is no doubt that her skills and confidence has been amplified because she is surrounded by such a committed owner, who empowers all her coaches which then trickles down to the athletes. Well I guess this is still a long review.

I have two young daughers who go to GAC. I've really been happy with the skills they're learning,…read moreand how excited they are about gymnastics in general. The facilities are clean, and the coaches are really helpful and encouraging.

Checkmat Charleston has been an incredible gym home for me over the past 4 years. Windson and…read moreJacque Ramos provide world-class instruction on a daily basis and the rest of the team make this the premier BJJ training location in the Lowcountry. Whether you're in town for a visit or wanting to learn some self-defense, this is the place to be!

best instruction in the State with authentic lineage husband and wife black belt team with over 10…read moreworld championships between the two of them including trips to Abu Dhabi, worlds, more.. the individuals of any class on the schedule can give you whatever you're looking for from basic introductory roles, to highly competitive grappling matches at a world-class level. very professional warm and inviting, you immediately feel at home and in good hands once the class starts. come give it a shot and if you're looking for a place to visit look no further.

Viktos has changed my life. I never thought I would ever do a martial art, let alone grappling, but…read moreViktos has been my home for the last 2.5 years and I'm not stopping any time soon! I felt immediately welcomed as a new female to the sport, not only by my training partners, but also by Zach and all the coaches. They are knowledgeable, intelligent, highly skilled, and genuinely care about your journey with BJJ. Viktos is like a bad ass family of trained assassins. There are people at all belt levels so there is opportunity for everyone to learn and challenge themselves. If you're reading this and ever wanna stop in to train or try BJJ for the first time, come find me on the mat at Viktos!

Great coaches, morning & evening classes. Kids classes are great and efficiently paced! Great…read moreenvironment for white belts & experienced people!