Amazing gym would definitely recommend, owners and coaches are very nice and knowledgeable.read more

Area 502 mixed martial arts is a local Lousiville mma gym located on the south side of the city…read morejust off strawberry lane. The gym is massive with a huge area for workout mats, rings/cages and a massive free weight room in the very back. They offer adults and children's classes for everything from jui jitsu, kickboxing, wrestling and boxing. I've trained here a few times over the years and one of my daughters attended a jui jitsu class and it's a top notch gym with quality and knowledgable trainers. Overall it's great to support all Local mma gyms and fighters and I can say with confidence from first hand experience and from friends with kids who are more active here that this is a top notch Lousiville mma gym.

My son was extremely excited to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He went to the website and signed up…read morefor the 10-Day Trial. I was happy that he decided to do it, but then I found out he signed me up as well! Although I was apprehensive that I wouldn't be able to keep up or retain any information, I put my doubts aside and had the time of my life! That was back in February of 2023 and now we are members of a worldwide Brazillian Jiu Jitsu community. Allan and Leeann Manganello are awesome instructors! The entire staff are patient, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable in all things Jiu Jitsu. Come down to our Certified Training Center for your 10-Day Trial and get hooked on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

Signed up to learn self-defense 3 years ago and still going strong. I started in the women only…read moreWomen Empowered Program and the coed Gracie Combative Program and am now rolling on the mats in Master Cycle. The positive atmosphere and technical training keeps my interest. Love this place!

GJJKY is a great place to learn self defense, meet new people and work on bettering yourself as a…read moreperson.

I dropped into a couple gyms in Kentucky. Overall, I've dropped in at over 10 gyms and this gym is…read moremy favorite so far. It is very similar to my gym of 9 years and that's probably because they're both Pedro Sauer Association gyms. If you are part of PSA, you'll understand. Even if you aren't, you will learn some high level jiu jitsu and have fun doing it over here. This school has multiple instructors, and they are all highly technical and their classes connect which gives you a great learning experience if you're a beginner or an experienced jiu jitsu practitioner. I reached out online to inquire about dropping in since I was in town. They answered me back quickly with the class times. Upon arrival, The owner, Professor Scott Smith (4th degree Black Belt), welcomed me and introduced me to some of the staff and other members. I was able to take classes under multiple instructors and it just blew my mind on the details of each technique taught. In regards to the facility, there is a huge mat area and everyone can comfortably train. When you walk in, there's the front desk and a lounge area. They have changing rooms for males and females and two restrooms. They keep the facility clean and sanitize the mats after each class session (morning/evening). Do yourself a favor and check out this gym if you want to learn Gracie Jiu Jitsu!

My family has been part of this Jiu-Jitsu community for the past 5 years, and the experience has…read morebeen nothing short of amazing. From the very beginning, we've been challenged to grow, encouraged when things felt tough, and inspired to push past our limits. Over time, we've gained not only strength and endurance but also confidence, discipline, and respect for the sport. It's not an easy sport by any means--it demands focus and commitment--but the rewards are absolutely worth it. Mr. Aaron Burgin, the owner and instructor, is a huge part of why this gym is so special. He is incredibly kind, patient, and intentional with every student, whether you're brand new or have years of experience. His teaching style is admirable--he balances encouragement with accountability and makes sure every student is learning the right techniques while also having fun. He has a way of meeting students where they are while still pushing them to their full potential. The culture here is also worth mentioning. It truly feels like a family environment where everyone supports each other. My kids have gained not only skills on the mat but also life lessons about perseverance, humility, and respect. For adults, it's an excellent workout and stress reliever, and for kids, it's a safe, structured, and uplifting environment that builds both character and physical ability. If you are looking for a place to train, grow, and be part of a positive and welcoming community, I cannot recommend Mr. Burgin and this Jiu-Jitsu program enough. It has been such a blessing to our family, and I'm confident it will be for yours too!

I had my first official class and it was a fun experience everyone there is nice Master Aaron is…read morevery kind and helps people at their own pace and the other people that is also learning they are also kind and help you out as well.And I can't wait to spend more time at the dojo and get to know the people there more I say that it will be the best experience to learn and grow at Oldham County Martial Arts Academy and you should check it out and I'm sure you will also enjoy your time there I know I did.

Apex Martial Arts Academy is amazing! The coaches are knowledgeable, supportive, and truly care…read moreabout every student. The atmosphere feels like family -- full of energy, discipline, and fun. Perfect for all ages and skill levels!

Great vibes at this gym. I'm visiting Louisville for a couple weeks and wanted to drop in at a gym…read moreor two. I messaged Apex MAA on their website and they responded within an hour. Upon arrival, I was impressed with their mat space for their Muay Thai classes and Jiu Jitsu classes. There's a waiting area with chairs, restroom, changing room, and lockers. The instruction was great and the guys/girls in the gym were tough and had good vibes. You'll get good high level rolls, but still friendly vibes during and after. I would recommend this gym to any of my friends visiting the area.

Rob is the coolest! I dropped in from out of town while working in Louisville. Rob was great, easy…read moregoing, and chained ideas of BJJ together flawlessly. Enjoyed the experience! And...The Grapple Chapel!??? Why wouldn't you want to visit??!! Awesome building with awesome people.

After college, I moved to Louisville by myself to start a new job. At first, I felt really lonely…read moreand isolated. Luckily, by a serendipitous coincidence, I encountered Criterion Jiu Jitsu on the web. I was always interested in the sport, but many times before when I attempted to join a club, I ended up talking myself out of it. For one, I knew I would likely be one of the few girls in class (which is an intimidating idea for me), on top of which I never believed I was athletic enough to be of any good. However, by a strange impulse, I went to a trial class at Criterion Jiu Jitsu. Immediately I was fascinated by the respectful atmosphere. There are people from all walks of life and different levels of experiences, yet strangely, no one feels out of place. I loved the friendly and inclusive environment. And as a designer, I cannot help but appreciate the beautiful stained glass and high ambient ceiling of the classroom. From that day on, I went to my second, third, and fourth class, and not before long, I embarked on an exciting adventure that is jujitsu... Rob is a great instructor, his class is so relaxing, interactive, and fun. Though I was one of the few girls in the class, and at the beginning I struggled doing some of the basic warmups. But I always felt a strong sense of support and encouragement from my instructor and classmates. Slowly I witnessed progress in my techniques and discovered new potentials of my body I never knew before. Above all, I had a blast! I met some of the most amazing people through Criterion. And being a shy person, I am proud to say that I made a lot of friends without needing to exchange many words. As I kept going for weeks, I also noticed positive changes in other parts of my life through jujitsu. I started to feel more confident in myself, more focused and thoughtful in my professional work. Jujitsu taught me a lot about humility, and it helped me resolve a lot of insecurities and fears in my life. I feel very fortunate to find this big family in Louisville, and Criterion Jiu Jitsu has made this new city feel like home.

Coach Charlie is amazing! I've only been going a few days and I'm very much so a beginner but…read moreCoach Charlie has been so patient with teaching me the ropes. Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly. It's an amazing work out, I've been sweating my butt off. Can't wait to continue my journey and become a boxer. If you're even remotely interested in boxing I highly recommend you come check it out, first class is free! I recommend going on a Wednesday because it's footwork day and i think it was a good beginner class. Class times: Monday through Thursday 3,4,5,6 Friday 3,4,5 Saturday at noon

I have been a member and customer of Southern Indiana Martial Arts since 2017. I have been all over…read morethe Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky area looking for a place to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and there is no better place to train! The Coaches all have wonderful personalities and have become great friends of mine, during my tenure with Southern Indiana Martial Arts (Colloquially referred to as SIMA). The Kids Taekwondo and the Kids Jiu-Jitsu and Judo Programs are top notch as well. The Head Coach and Owner, Jason Dempster, really knows his stuff and has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 24 years and has been teaching for near 15 years. He and the other coaches work hard to ensure that the martial arts experience is positive for anyone of any walk of life. You don't have to be a national champion to get something out of the training at SIMA. SIMA also offers a Judo program run by Sixth Dan Sensei Eberhard Keislich of Toshi Dojo Brandenburg, who has over 40 years of Martial Arts experience in high level competitive Judo in Europe and the United States. It really doesn't get better than that! Additionally, Phil Back runs a wonderful Kid's Taekwondo Program that is highly credentialed and has gotten lots of positive reviews from parents. SIMA's kids programs all have coaches and adult leaders who have years of experience working with kid. Instructors have background checks done and most of them are also parents who have their children enrolled in the program as well. Really, it's a great place for your child to burn off that energy, stay healthy, learn coordination, and to make friends. It's an experience I wish I had been able to have as a kid! I cannot recommend this place enough! It's some of the best sports activities for kids and adults in Southern Indiana.