Exceptional gym culture. Clean and modern facilities. Knowledgable, yet personable instructors that are genuinely good at teaching. I've been training at this gym for 3 years now out of ~4 years total training BJJ. I've trained and done drop-ins at 5+ gyms now and no mat has felt more like home than MGA on 26th street. Scott and Kanan are both fantastic head instructors with different teaching styles that complement each other. They both foster an inclusive learning environment and a great sense of community and involvement. The gym culture is very relaxed, casual, and collaborative, lacking the traditional imposed rigid hierarchy of many other BJJ gyms and martial arts studios in general. This culture then trickles down from the top. The gym populace is overwhelmingly respectful, safe, and fun to train with, while still being stuffed full with absolutely high level people. The vibe is a "everyone is trying to learn and get better together." The curriculum and training also emphasizes takedowns and standup grappling, especially in the more advanced classes. So if you are interested in BJJ not just as a sport, but as a holistic system for fighting, you will definitely learn that here. This was a big plus of this gym for me. The facilities are also one of the cleanest I've experienced. The space itself is a brightly lit loft that, as far as NYC goes, is a great place to train and focus. The only downside is the "prison" style showers (in the men's room at least) which will take some getting used to but the plus side is that it maximizes shower throughput after class. Overall I strongly endorse MGA as a place to start your Jiujitsu journey or if you are an experienced grappler looking for highlevel training partners and advanced instruction. read more

What an amazing and open and friendly place to train. I've always been a big fan Marcelo and I've heard how nice and kind he is and when I was NY for my last work trip I decided to train here. The demeanor, culture and friendly atmosphere that Marcelo creates definitely shows! When in town again I won't hesitate to come back! read more

I've been here now for a few months and I've been holding off on writing a review until I felt like got to know the place. There are plenty of places in NYC to learn Jiu-Jitsu-it's like Thai places near restaurant row. What really stands out about this place is the really high quality of instruction and the friendly environment. There are three main instructors, Marcelo: The MAN himself, but he mostly teaches the upper level classes. So your other options are Paul Schreiner and Bernardo Faria, both world class level competitors and teachers and Bernardo is the number 2 ranked Heavyweight in the world. You have 3 world-class black belts as instructional staff and they're all nice and quick to answer questions, offer quick tips on how to fine tune technique. You'd be hard pressed to find black belts really get down to teaching a lot of beginner classes, much more the caliber that you find here. On top of that I haven't met anyone here that wasn't just as nice as the instructors. Marcelo is known as one of the nicest guys in the game, if not the entire world and it seems like everyone follows his quiet, smiling lead. During the recent promotion ceremony-where people from all over the country came there were numerous high level belts that went around shaking everyone's hand whether you were a familiar face or a perfect stranger. THAT to me is what sets a good school apart from a GREAT one. read more

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu - Hours of operation - Martial Arts Near Me - New York, New York

Okay, this review is a bit late and I have no real excuse for that. However, I went here in June of 2017 and it was a highlight of my training career (insofar as training can be a career). Anyway, this school is well situated between the financial district and midtown. The school is unassuming in that it is tucked away on the third floor of a building with almost no signage out front (or maybe none at all). Either way, it doesn't matter. You enter those doors and you are in Marceloland. In case it isn't obvious, I'm a huge Marcelo fan. I think he's a physical genius, but moreover, his approach to bjj strategy is impeccable and unique. Well, his school is not different. I mean, the building is just a building, and frankly it's too small for the amount of students who train there. But that is insignificant because of the format. I only came for one class and stayed to roll after. The class was an advance class, which focused on strategy. This is incredibly cool as that is the one thing I wish professors would discuss more. Everyone seems focused on moves, which is important, although when to do the move is more so. Anyway, class was great. It was also attended by 5-6 black belts, which is something I've never seen. The roll after was also great although tough in every way. The level of competition here was very high. Best part of it all... I got a picture with the man! It was great. Seriously, if you're ever in the area and want to train with the best, come here. Mat fee was $40 for the day. Well worth it. read more

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It's was an awesome experience to have been able to train with a legend even if only for one session! He and his instructors are world class people and have world class knowledge of BJJ. Anyone wanting to experience top notch BJJ and is visiting the NYC definitely hit up Marcelo Garcia Academy! Thank you Marcelo Garcia and Paul Schreiner for the awesome class! Aloha, Bradley Wakuta O2MAA read more

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu - Martial Arts Near Me - New York, New York

If you are serious about learning BJJ this is the place for you. The atomostphere is amazing, the instructors are top notch, and the level of training is about as elite as it gets. Leave your ego at the door and be humble enough to learn from your experiences. Marcelo Garcia teaches every day, and not only does he teach, but like every great instructor he rolls with his students as well which is a huge part of your success and learning curve. Marcelo also participates in all the warm up drills, and he is on top of his students to make sure they are applying the technique correctly. Aside from the training, what makes training here so special is Marcelo the person. He is as down to earth and friendly as it gets. He cares deeply about his students as people and that means just as much as the training IMHO. read more

Clean facilities, technique and Marcelo was such a cool guy to meet. It was a pleasure visiting this place, if you're ever in New York and you want to check out places definitely come here and roll. All my partners were extremely technical (I'm a white belt and I like to learn and go light) and definitely went the same pace as me, and we got some good rolls in. Thanks Marcelo! read more

Hands down, best bjj/grappling gym in the US. I went there once for a trial class and met Marcelo. i wasn't able to join at the time for a few different reasons. I came back 6 months later and signed up. the day i walked in, i was greeted by the smiling assassin, himself. Amazingly, he remembered my name. Thats the kinda guy he is. Someone wrote: ''Marcelo is never there''. NOT THE CASE. He's there in almost every class. if he's not rolling with his students, his watching over, evaluating, critiquing, teaching... The man cares about his school. His academy is not a business... its his life. This fact pours out of every class and every lesson. After class, him and his black belts sit around working in small groups answering questions and working through any movements you have questions on. These sessions alone are worth their weight in gold. its in kin to a private with these guys. outside of all this and at the end of the day... Steel sharpens steel. In any given class, you'll see 3-6 black belts, 2/3 browns, 8-15 purples and a group of season blue belts that will make you reevaluate how good you think you are. Best gym in the country. read more

Training Jiu-Jitsu at the MG Academy is equivalent to playing basketball with the '96 Chicago Bulls. Marcelo (aka Michael Jordan) trains and teaches classes everyday. He makes a considerable effort to roll with as many people as possible. Also there is an incredible group of world class black belts (Pippen, Rodman, Longley) to assist teaching each day. UFC, ADCC & Mundial training camps...Cobrinha, Lucas Leipre, Gabby Garcia, Batista, Ryan Hall, Jake Shields, Mark Boceck, Cole Miller...Yup they all have come and trained in regular classes! that's pretty much the Jiu Jitsu dream team. What more can I say? Top notch instructors. Well structured class schedule. Pleasant environment and culture. I would be absolutely shocked if you were able to find a more impressive place to learn Jiu Jitsu. read more

I have trained at a couple other good gyms and this gym has the best combination of facilities, people, and instruction around. The only downside is that it's so popular that classes can get crowded, but that happens at other academies as well. The instructors are top notch. They all have excellent records in competition and are well regarded as some of the best in the world. I'm relatively new to the sport of BJJ but I feel like the instructors do a great job of teaching things that you can understand no matter what your skill level. The people who train at MG are also some of the best in the world. Many students there compete in IBJJF tournaments and are a great wealth of information. Training with a partner is the best way to learn and the caliber and variety of people available to you here will help you develop your skills. The facilities are some of the best I've seen in NYC. The mat space is large, open, and clean. The showers are clean. As alluded to earlier, sometimes locker rooms and mats get crowded but that's to be expected when you're training at the Mecca of BJJ. If you want thinner crowds, come in the mornings. I highly recommend this gym to anyone looking to pursue BJJ in NYC. read more

I'll start off with the bad. First, there is this some brazilian guy in there who teaches all the time and acts like he is some 5 time world champion or something. Second, there is this instructor who is trying WAY too hard to be a hipster, who is an excellent instructor except he always tries to make you listen to indy rock. Third, another instructor there is from brazil named Renrique Iglesias or something like that who is always trying to sing while you roll with him, weird thing he is singing about jiu jitsu. If you got this far in this post then you will realise that I am just messing, however there is no messing around when i tell you that this is one of the best academies of the art of Jiu Jitsu in the world. Top notch instructors and training partners who always stick around to explore technique or chit chat about world issues. Great academy come by and check it out. read more

I have been training with Marcelo since 2010 and have nothing but great things to say about the whole experience. The instructors are great - most of the classes I take are taught by Paul and he really explains things thoroughly and helps out with any additional questions or challenges. My whole crew of ladies there are especially wonderful and talented. The mats are clean, and while the ladies' locker room is a bit of a tight squeeze, it's always clean. The 7pm classes can get crowded but that just leads to a good selection of training partners! As far as training options in the city, MGA is top notch. Everyone is friendly, it's clean, and it's the highest level of instruction. See you on the mat! read more

I have been training here for about 1 year and plan on staying for many more years. Training with Marcelo and his team which consists of some of the best in the world as well as the many visits from UFC veterans and world champions, this alone is worth the monthly fee. I highly recommend anyone who's serious about training and learning the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to come train at this academy! read more

I have tried several schools in NY and this is one of the best.The instructors are great and 9 out of 10 times I've been there I've seen MG there and I started in December 2011.Other schools have a lot of politics and rush you in and out and use pushy sales men to sell memberships I have yet to experience that at MGs An awesome atmosphere all around.My only negative is that locker room is small and wish they had a kids program for my son so he can learn Jiu-Jitsu at its purest. Im really not happy where he is learning now and know he would love this school. read more

Exactly, as good as it gets. Marcelo never ceases to amaze. The level of instruction is just incredible. Marcelo, Paul, and Bernardo are world class. Paul is so technical in his explanation of every technique. The place is beyond clean. They vacuum and clean in between classes. They are always cleaning. Marcelo is a regular Danny Tanner. He needs everything to be super clean at all times. You can leave your cell phone on the side wall and worry not that someone will swipe it. In other words, your training partners for the most part are real class acts. Marcelo is always smiling and very welcoming to even spectators who just come to watch. Finally, everything used in this academy in top quality. They use Defense soap in the showers which is specifically meant to combat mat born gunk and sickness. They use awesome ice packs for those aches and pains. Etc. This is the place to train for BJJ. read more

Why train at Marcelo's school? - Professional and friendly staff - A key ID to check in (how advanced!) - tough as nails training partners from all over the world - the most accomodating schedule I've ever seen at a jiujitsu academy -immaculately clean mats - learn techniques from Marcelo himself! The few bad things are that it gets crowded and is expensive. But that's like that with anything good from NYC. I recommend training here for anyone who's serious about training Jiujitsu. You won't regret it. read more

World Class Gi Instruction from "Munch" Khera and No Gi from the Legend himself Marcelo Garcia. Team Marcelo Garcia are true professionals both on and off the mat, but make no mistake, it's a room full of killers. Leave your ego at the door as you are welcomed onto the mat. Be ready to learn and roll hard as all belts are encouraged to apply techniques taught. If dropping in for a class, go early - Phil will have some paperwork for you to sign. Good locker room with showers. It was one of my best experiences in NYC. The day I was there, multiple Black Belts shared the mat, as well as World Champion and IBJJF Hall of Famer Fabio Gurgel. In addition, World Champion and Top Ranked UFC Fighter Demian Maia trained hard in preparation for an upcoming UFC match. I look forward to my next visit. Mahalo Marcelo! Aloha read more

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu - Martial Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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I've trained at many academies across the world. None of them are perfect and they all have their advantages. However, Marcelo's is a great example of what an academy should strive to be. An awesome team of instructors in Marcelo, Paul, and Henrique, a mat full of solid guys of all belt levels, a ton of classes both gi and no gi, and reasonable prices (especially for NYC). Add in the fact that the academy is one of the cleanest I've ever trained at and the showers are waaaaaay nicer than the one I've got at home, and you've got 5 stars in my book. And if you feel like the students there are cliquey or unfriendly, let that motivate you to smash them more!! ;) read more

As an observer, The Marcelo Garcia facility is large, bright, clean and well-run. The training area is large enough to accommodate a class of over 60 grapplers, and padded surfaces are apleanty. Spectators can sit on the "window benches" and observe the efficiency of the class structure and the intensity of the sparring sessions. Members as well as staff are incredibly friendly, outgoing and welcoming. It was really cool to see Marcello Garcia himself teaching classes. Pick up a signed copy of his book while you are there, and he will probably sign it for you! For an active BJJ student, this gym is a must-stop while visiting in NYC!! read more

Great place to train & I was actually able to find parking on the street. Anyone who lives or travels into NYC knows what a gem that is. I attended MGNYC for the first time with my daughter for the 'Sibmit the Stigma' seminar which was fantastic & informative. We returned for the 'Girls In Gis' seminar shortly after which was also a great experience. The place is spacious with a lot of mat space. Overall, we had a nice experience & would love to return in the near future for other events or open mats. read more

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Being new to BJJ, I was scouting a few schools throughout NYC. After reading many reviews, I decided to check out Marcelo Garcia's academy. It was a bit above my price range, however it was by far the best school for me. There are plenty of class offerings (enough so that I am able to go any day of the week) and the people are very helpful. They are also very talented and the skill level at this gym is very high. There weren't too many egos and everyone is there to get better while having a good time. Oftentimes you take after your teacher and Marcelo is a great example to follow. He rolls with his students during class regardless of belt level and he's very friendly and inviting. I rolled with him and it was incredible to see how well knowledged he is. The mats are very clean and well kept, and the showers are clean as well as the bathrooms. The major downside is the size, its fairly small at times and it can get a bit crowded in both the locker room and the mats, but it usually isn't a huge problem. It's a great place to learn and a great place to improve your jiu-jitsu. The atmosphere is laid-back and and very warm. read more

Between the incredible instructors and students, there are world medals falling from the ceiling at Marcelo's. However, greatest part of this academy is that among all these elite athletes, it's simply a very welcoming place. I've been here two years and I've found that some people come to say that they trained with Marcelo but they ultimately stay because it's just a great place to be. It doesn't matter your skill level, personal goals, or current physical condition... There is a place for everyone at this academy. Marcelo is such a sweet, humble guy and that demeanor trickles down to the other instructors and students. The moral is very high here and people are grateful to be a part of it. The instruction is absolutely top notch, students are welcoming, the training in general is excellent. I encourage anyone looking to train, to check it out and see for yourself. read more

Marcelo is by far the best bjj'er ever. His academy is amazing and full of friendly people. Renrique and Paul are top notch instructors. If you ever thought about doing bjj, come here. They have a free trial offer. Feel free to stop by. read more

I dropped in last week and will definitely come back. Great place to train. Marcelo Garcia actually teaches classes and demonstrates things to people. Everyone was really friendly and helpful. I dropped in for the day and got to roll with black belts. I even had a class with Marcelo Garcia. read more

Great school and great atmosphere, I train here and one thing I can say is that your gonna learn from the best and a drama free zone just great jui jitsu.... read more

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu - Marcelo teaching the class - Martial Arts Near Me - New York, New York

This is the place to go, when in New York City. They have the best drop-in rate, which is for an entire day. read more

while in NY, any BJJ practitioner must visit Marcelo's. i'm pretty sure it's law. the gym is so clean and nice. the coaches and staff were very friendly. the men's locker room is crowded, but adequate, so plan for that. we did two classes, a gi and a no-gi class. the gi class was taught by one of Marcelo's black belts, Marcos Tinoco, an amazing practitioner. he taught techniques that my wife and i were both super excited about. after technique there was live rolling. next was the no-gi class taught by the infamous Marcelo Garcia himself. he taught just what you'd expect from Marcelo: awesome jiu jitsu. two techniques then live rolling. the live rolling was top notch. everyone was really nice and inviting and, most importantly, challenging. of course i didn't get to roll with Marcelo, but he was rolling too. Marcelo was super friendly and we got a picture and got to talk with him a little. i would visit NY again with the sole purpose of visiting Marcelo's again. read more

This is from a drop in tourist perspective. You wouldn't think that multiple champions and a variety of other jiu jitsu gods train and teach here. For them, just another day on the mats. Everybody is down to earth and welcoming, no mat bullies trying to show the yokels what big city jits is all about. Trained with Tinoco in a beginner's class, and later with Bernardo Faria himself. Marcelo was teaching the class after Bernardo, so you really get the guys on the mats. Check the descriptions...the f1 classes didn't have any live rolls. F2 had plenty, and all my training partners were skilled, but cool on the mats. Great experienceexperience. read more

Not what I thought it was gonna be. Marcelo is never there and to train is really pricey. I found out the Marcelo came from Alliance BJJ in NYC under Fabio Clemente so I thought if marcelo is the best why not train with the school the taught marcelo. read more

I came all the way from Sydney, Australia to train at Marcelo's Academy in NYC and the experience has exceeded my expectations in every way. Marcelo is one of the nicest and most genuine people you could ever meet; we all know what an amazing fighter/competitor he is but he is also an amazing teacher who hides absolutely nothing from his students or anyone else for that matter. No secrets! He teaches everything he does himself move for move down to the finest detail. Just check out the mginaction.com website, every class he teaches is filmed and available to view there, including his whole game, repertoire, techniques he uses and all sparring sessions with students, visitors and all the different grappling 'celebrities' that come to train with Marcelo on a daily basis. After every class you will see him staying back to answer questions from his students and any visitors. The other instructors at the gym are Henrique Rezende and Paul Schreiner. It shouldn't come as a surprise but it kinda did to me: both are also amazing teachers of the highest calibre and nice, genuine, friendly people as well. I personally was so impressed by the standard of their teaching and character, it just blew me away that this one gym had 3 of the best instructors in the world I have ever encountered. Having trained in many gyms around the world, I would have to say that this by far is the most positive and productive training/learning environment I have ever been a part of, the best Jiu-jitsu gym I have ever set foot in. Everyone is friendly and it is just an absolute pleasure to be able to train there, I seriously wish I could train there for the rest of my life. I have no hesitation in recommending anyone and everyone to go train at Marcelo Garcia's Academy in NYC. Just go see for yourself, drop in, and have a roll, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Cheers Liban Sydney, Australia read more

If you want to learn from the best in the world visit Marcelo Garcia's Academy. The instructors are some of the top practitioners and teachers on the mats. The students are serious about learning from the best in the world, if you are looking to "hang out" look elsewhere, but be sure if you put out your hand they will put out theirs. Leave your ego at the door and be ready to work. read more

Awesome gym. Everyone was really nice and friendly. Obviously the level of training was terrific. Very clean gym fully equipped with lockers, showers, changing areas, etc. Great experience with some great people. I highly recommend it and will definitely come back. read more

Just a drop in student who was in the area. But it's Marcelo Garcia for crying out loud clearly it's a 5star experience! These guys are legends on the mats yet so humble and eager to teach make for a incredible and unforgettable experience and the true reason we love Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to begin with! read more

Place is awesome and has everything a person needs to challenge and transform their body. Highest level of jiu jitsu and the best instructors I ever seen. I have been in different bjj gyms in NYC and this gym is the best. By the way, Marcelo very nice guy and very good person. Thank you. read more

I have been going to Marcelo's for a few months. I have been made welcome from day 1 from each member of the staff. Paul and Henrique (instructors) are two of the friendliest people I have ever met. They make sure and say Hi to me and other members each and every time. The detail and the teaching is unbelievable. It's also a great place to meet people from around the world who come to the Academy. Now for Marcelo- World Class elite jiu jitsu, p4p one of the best if not the best jiu jiu jitsu practitioners in the world , friendly and humble. He also goes out of his way to say hi. The fact that he is teaching day to day at his level is incredible. It's like having Michael Jordan teach you how to play ball. I can't imagine going anywhere else. the higher level belts also are very friendly, when drilling they are more than willing to help newer guys like myself become better.......i would give it more stars but Yelp wont allow me...... read more

Marcelo is one of the best in the world! You likely won't find a facility this large in NYC for a reasonable rate with World Class BJJ. They also have showers so that is great too! 40 dollars for a whole day is not bad at all with this level of skill! read more

I couldn't say enough about this place. I have the privilege to train with the best instructors in the world.

Marcelo Garcia Academy is fantastic. The students here are dedicated and ready to do work to improve their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu individually and collectively. The Professors are world class athletes and have a level of technical knowledge that is humbling and wonderful. If you're visiting NYC and looking to get some solid training or if you're planning a trip to NYC to check out all the amazing Jiu-Jitsu Manhattan has to offer it's essential that you add MGA to your itinerary. If you've got the time book a private with Paul "El Technico" Schreiner. It will change your game forever. If you're looking to join an academy in NYC you've got a tough choice to make with MGA, Renzo and Shaolin all within 1 mile of each other. I've trained at all three academies and ultimately chose to join Marcelo Garcia Academy. I've been very happy with that choice and I think that choice is the most sincere recommendation possible. read more

Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu - NYC academy. - Martial Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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I train here and everyone has a great high level game. Only down side is the bathroom can be packed but this ain't summer camp!

I have been a student for almost 3 months now and the MG Academy has been amazing. The teachers and students are all great people and my experience thus far has been nothing but positive. Definitely worth the cost and commitment! read more