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The environment is very welcoming, and the instructors are extremely knowledgeable. 10/10 one of the best martial arts school around.
Gracie Athens has mastered the art of teaching Jiu Jitsu for self defense. Their hospitality, professionalism, authenticity, and impeccable cleanliness is second to none. One of my favorite things about their teaching method is their organized curriculum that allows you to measure your progression. Not only do they measure your improvements but they also hold you accountable with their standards, etiquette, and discipline. I trained BJJ for 3 months and then became pregnant with my now 6 month old son. I decided to restart my training here in Athens and, wow, these last 2 months have relit my desire to improve my skills in this martial art with instructors who are truly the best teachers I have ever had. I have so much fun and learn a great deal going twice a week with my family. The entire Gracie Athens team is extremely accommodating, allowing my husband and I to bring our baby as he spectates from the sidelines. Once he’s old enough, he will absolutely start their kids program because we have found our BJJ home gym!
Absolutely phenomenal instruction. I wish I started jiu jitsu here but am really please to have continued learning here.
Clean, professional, organized, friendly. Definitely would recommend this place to anyone interested in learning Self Defense based Jiu Jitsu
Gracie Athens is where you want to train if you're interested in street effective, self defense based martial arts in the Athens area. The father/son instructor duo of Randy and Ryan McElwee can't be beaten. They're passionate, knowledgeable, organized, and excellent communicators.
I dropped in while traveling from Pennsylvania, and I would gladly train here full time if I lived in the area. This school has perhaps the most organized and well constructed curriculum that I've ever seen, and I've been to a good number of schools.
The student atmosphere is second to none. All students are respectful and helpful. No need to worry about getting injured or pushed too hard, but on the other hand, the training is highly realistic and covers a broad range of real life self defense scenarios, giving you the tools to defend yourself and others.
I could rave forever, but the bottom line is you need to book a class here and you'll see for yourself that this is an amazing place.
Great training environment with very welcoming folks and technical rolls! Hope to visit again soon!
I started training here about a year ago. When I decided to get into Jiu Jitsu at 34 years old, I had only one goal… to train and not get hurt. In my profession, my arms and hands are essential. I addressed my concerns with Randy day 1(he assured me that their #1 concern was safety), and I have had no issues at all. The training atmosphere is phenomenal, the other students are all friendly and courteous… it feels like I’m at home when I walk in. So glad I found this place. 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend.
ABBA is a great place to learn BJJ! The classes are fun and the pace is such that all students understand the topic before moving on. The instructors are patient and pay attention to every detail.
What an incredible friendly family environment with amazing instructors. This is the place to train for authentic Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Traditional Karate!
Ryan has an incredible gift for teaching young kids and adults. My daughter is enamored with jiujitsu because of him.
Great place to learn and grow and make new friends.
This is the first activity (out of many) that my 13 yr old has shown self motivation and interest in. It’s a wonderful, positive program that teaches the value of self discipline and builds confidence and character. Hands down, if your reading this, you should try it.
I highly recommend Athens Gracie Jiu Jitsu. My son has been taking lessons for about 3 years now and he really loves it. The Academy is impressive—very clean and well organized. They run a tight ship over there. The instructors are excellent. My son started in the children’s classes and is old enough now to move up to the adult classes, which he is very excited about. I am even going to pursue private lessons because he has enjoyed it so much. There is much to be learned there. A five star operation for sure.
Was so impressed with one private! Approach is common sense which helps to retain techniques.
This class is amazing and so empowering! The instructors are amazing and really take the time to explain things. This isn't just a run of the mill self-defense course. In this class, you learn to be aware of your surroundings, what precautions you need to take, how to NOT be a victim and lastly, how to escape if need be. This program was life-changing. I felt so confident after just one 2-hour course and enjoyed it so much that I signed up for the annual 4-week course. This course goes even more in-depth and really gives you a great foundation for ways to PREVENT things from happening but also instills the tools and confidence you need to know you can also get out of a potentially bad situation. I recommend this class to ALL women and strongly encourage that you try it. I was a bit nervous going to the first class but it is totally worth it.
The staff is INCREDIBLE. Not only are they encouraging and amazingly helpful, but if there is something that you are uncomfortable with or is a trigger for you, they are completely understanding and realize there are some things people are just not ready to participate in. There is no judgment and no pressure. It is a completely safe environment where you get to watch other women just like yourself become more confident and a bit stronger than when they walked through the doors.
Take the time to do this one thing for yourself...you will be glad you did.
5 stars
This has been the best class i have ever taken. I went out saturday night and some guy started to dance on me. He proceeds to grab my butt, which i pulled his hand away trying to control the situation in a nice way. After already pulling his hand away, he then proceeded to wrap his arm around my neck. Thats when all the self defense training kicked in, i used one of the moves from this class that told the guy that i was done with his unwelcomed "moves" and also showed that i was not going to back down. This class taught me how to speak up for myself, decide what my boundaries are , and make sure im always respected. Cookie, Randy and everyone else have great attitudes that inspire and teach in a way that prepares you for any situation. Thank you guys for everything! If you are looking for a way to develop confidence while having fun, this is the place to go. Take that!
A great course! What an amazing thing to know. I feel very good now!