Great gym. Came in for a trial class and everyone was very welcoming. Instructors are top notch and all the members are extremely friendly. I would definitely recommend this gym for every skill level. It was only my second jiu jitsu class, but I learned a lot. One of the students even stayed after the class and helped show me a few guard passes. Can't say enough about this gym, and definitely one of the best group of staff and instructors I have ever had the privilege of meeting. read more

Trained here for over two years. What separates this school from others is the reason why I would recommend anyone who is new or on the fence about training BJJ to join. Beyond that, there is enough depth to the classes to ensure people from all experience levels gain something. Josh is not only a talented and knowledgeable instructor, but he will put in the effort to know you on a personal level, and is as approachable as the other very friendly instructors. The class atmosphere is great - there are no egos or tensions from competitiveness, and the vibe is very relaxed when not training. The culture, a product of the instructors, is maintained by the students that train there. They are just as friendly and approachable. The facilities are the best in NYC. Clean and comfortably sized locker rooms with multiple individual showers. Bathrooms are also clean and accessible. The mat area is relatively big, and can accommodate a large class. The location is also a big plus, as it is a great place to be after training hours, especially on weekends. Highly recommend to anyone considering trying BJJ out and to those looking for an engaging way to get in shape. read more

Stopped by here for tournament prep.. Russ and his crew are awesome people! If you're looking for a school in the NYC area please consider clockwork BJJ. Not only is the gym in a wonderful area but the instruction at this school is superb. They have showers in the locker room which is great if you want to train before work. If you happen to be on the road and want a place to train definitely consider stopping by CLOCKWORK BJJ. Definitely a place I will go back to again when I come back to NYC read more

Normally I hold back writing a review without having comparable experiences in which to gauge, but in this case I felt my experience warranted posting this. I had never experienced BJJ prior to coming here, my roommate got me involved, and after 2 months of training I can safely say I am incredibly grateful I was given the opportunity to learn this sport, but more importantly learn from this gym. The instructors Josh, Russ, and Sebastian all take their teachings very seriously. You can tell they are there for their passion and love of the sport and that they genuinely care and take constant measures to foster a productive, welcoming learning environment which caters to all levels. The gym is well maintained, classes are small enough that you can ask for direct feedback whenever you need, and there's a wide range of folks from several blacks who go here down to white belts that you have as options for training with. Overall another huge bonus is the level of relaxed, fun, overall chillness they really push within the gym. Every time I went to class, it was a lot like heading over to a buddy's place to hang out and catch up, I'm always excited to be here. I look forward to future years training and learning from these masters in this great place and would encourage you to check them out if looking for a place to learn and roll. read more

I've been training at CW for almost 4 years . It's one of the best choices I've ever made . Josh Griffiths is a great teacher of the art . He's serious about jiujitsu but he's also very down to earth and extremely funny . He always makes you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door. The facilities are state of the art and very clean. I highly recommend clockwork jiujitsu for your training needs . read more

Okay, where do I begin with how awesome my experience was training at Clockwork Jiu Jitsu?! I have a friend who trains there and invited me to train while traveling to my hometown of NYC. I live and train in the Los Angeles area. To be honest I was a little apprehensive about the idea of training at another school. I didn't know what to expect as far as culture or how effective the instruction would be. My home school culture is very friendly, helpful and the training is highly effective. The instructors are really knowledgeable at Clockwork and treat you with respect. You can tell they value their current students and guests; I was treated as if I was part of their family. I learned so much while I was there (I train 3 days there). All the students there were very welcoming and their technique is sharp and effective. The location is extremely convenient and the facility is very clean as well. When I'm in town, Clockwork Jiu Jitsu will be my home away from home. Thanks, Josh, Russ, Sebastian and their students for making my experience there such a wonderful one. read more

I visited when I was staying in SOHO. Clean gym, 3 showers in he ladies room. Josh and Sebastian as well as the students were really nice partners to train with. Thanks again Clockwork. read more

I've been training Jiu jitsu for a few years and have tried my fair share of academies and this is one of the best in the country. Mind you, this is not only speaking technically, which it has an incredibly high bar of students...but the ambiance an attitude of the school is by far the most enjoyable I've experienced. Everyone is so incredibly friendly and willing and wanting to help out or to discuss technique. its got and A+ on all fronts: technique, instruction, students, energy, cleanliness. I HIGHLY recommend going here if you have never trained or trained all your life, because it reminds you what Jiu Jitsu is really about. read more

My own attitude towards Brazilian Jiu Jitsu before I started training at Clockwork was pretty apathetic at best. I was much more into Muay Thai and the few grappling classes I tried here and there, while kinda fun, had not really captured my interest. One week at Clockwork and I was a convert. Josh is a meticulous technician who really loves to teach, encourages students to ask questions, and is very good at explaining the little details. The students are competitive but helpful, all of which help you learn quickly, and next thing you know, you have your first submission, then the next, then another... Classes are big enough that you have a great variety of mixed talent to spar with, but still small enough that you get plenty of individual attention, and Josh also jumps in as well, giving students the opportunity to roll with the head instructor. I actually liked it so much I started regularly dragging myself out of bed to get mat time in at 7 am and I have NEVER been a morning person. Clockwork offers a full schedule of both gi and no-gi classes, including early morning, noon and evening training, so it is pretty hard NOT to find a class that will work for you. There is also a new Monday morning Yoga class, as well as a kids class three times a week for the 14 and under set (so cute, and I actually learned a couple of things the time I came in to watch). I love training here, and think it's a great gym for anyone who wants to learn about BJJ at any level, whether you are a complete newbie who thinks all that ground fighting looks cool but confusing, or already have some experience and want to improve your technique. The school atmosphere is friendly and non-intimidating so beginners needn't worry and more experienced grapplers looking to perfect their games will also gain a lot from Josh's curriculum; a number of the students go on to compete (and win) regularly. Most importantly, it's fun!! There is a free trial class, so you can check it out for yourself. Don't be surprised if you get hooked (pun intended). read more

I started at Clockwork a month ago and my experience training BJJ here as a newcomer to the art has surpassed all my expectations. Each and every one of the instructors is topnotch--knowledgable, friendly, and welcoming. As a novice who'd tried a handful of BJJ classes at my old gym (that'd left me feeling overwhelmed and discouraged), I've found the curriculum and the way the learning process is structured at Clockwork to be second-to-none. The white belt classes I've participated in are broken down into warm-up drills (BJJ-relevant movements) that flow seamlessly into the technique drills that follow, which are then capped off with optional rolling where you can experiment with techniques in a "live" setting. The mats and locker room areas are clean and well-kept. The positive vibes extend to every student who enters the gym--the owner, Josh, and his staff have truly cultivated an ego-free, meathead-free environment rooted in learning and respect. I'd urge ANYONE who's interested in BJJ but might have had apprehensions in the past to try Clockwork on for size. It doesn't matter what age you are, your gender, or whether you're in it for fitness, self-defense, or have competitive aspirations--you will find a home here, whether you're a beginner like me struggling through learning the fundamentals, or a seasoned BJJ practitioner looking to hone your skills and up your game! Extra points for the fact that the gym's credo, "PMA" (positive mental attitude) comes from one of my favorite Bad Brains tunes! read more

I've been training at Clockwork BJJ for almost 3 years now. Its facilities are hands down the best in the city. Most other gyms barely have enough mat space for you to hold class, but Clockwork's spacious SOHO loft can support tons of students of varying skill levels per class. There are 3 showers each in the Men's and Women's locker rooms as well as ample cubby space for students. The environment is very professional and caters to working professionals wishing to include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into their lifestyle. All the instructors are very helpful and step aside with you to address any questions you may have. Instruction is done very technically with sufficient drilling time before sparring starts. Overall, Clockwork BJJ has done a great job improving my skills as a martial artist and connecting me with professionals from a variety of different backgounds. read more

The space is amazing and the instructors are very talented and impressive, as well as nice and professional. I trained with Sebastian who is one of the main instructors and he was very patient but when he could, would teach me a couple extra movements here and there. Some classes offer sparring, some don't- my fave, hah. In other words, while this place is excellent for men and women who really want to learn jiu-jitsu and get competitive, it's also for women like me who simply want an excellent strength-training and cardio workout to get results faster than just about any other workout I've tried so far. read more

I walked into Clockwork with zero previous martial arts experience but a long-standing desire to learn and I'm SO glad that Clockwork was my first stop. From the first email they were approachable and welcoming. They offer a free private intro lesson which is great for anyone who's completely new. They get you comfortable with the culture and level of contact before you even step into your first class. The classes themselves are well taught without being intimidating or overwhelming. The white belt program is fantastic and I always walk away from class with a huge smile on my face and feeling like I've learned so much and have so much more to learn. Everyone at clockwork is encouraging and they'll remember you by name and stay after class to answer any burning questions. There is a strong female presence and an overall great sense of community. No judgment, raised voices, pressure or unsafe training. The facilities are simple and clean. I can't say enough good stuff about my experience at clockwork so far (~3 weeks) and I look forward to being a part of the community for years to come. Since joining, I've visited a few other places while traveling and none of them come close to the level of community, comfort and growth that I've found at clockwork. I hope to see you there! :) read more

I love everything about this place! Extremely attentive instructors that actually spend time with you and help you really nail down techniques, very clean environment, and the students are humble and easy to get along with. There are no egos here which makes it much easier to get started if you're new. Highly recommend clockwork! read more

I have been training at Clockwork for nearly 3 years after training at several other BJJ schools in the NYC area. By far, Clockwork goes above and beyond what I could ever want in a jiu-jitsu school. The school provides a very welcoming environment that is full of positive energy and this is reflected from the staff to the students. Josh (the head-instructor) provides a very well-structured curriculum that focuses on drilling and improving techniques down to the smallest detail. Josh has a very solid understanding of the sport and this is reflected in his teaching style. The classes are always fun and laid back. Since joining Clockwork, I felt my game has improved by leaps and bounds. I have a more positive attitude towards training and look forward to attending class every day. I highly recommend this school for anyone looking to train BJJ, whether it be your regular gym, or if you are just popping in town. read more

Great kids program. The instructors are real pros and excellent with the kids. Fabulous space (could use a/c in the summer heat) Couldn't ask for better. read more

I just recently moved out to NY and this BJJ gym was the 1st 1 I was able to come check out. From my experience in Jiu Jitsu one of the most important things any gym can offer is a friendly ego free environment. All the staff was of great help and of course real welcoming to my friend and I from California. I would recommend this gym to anyone interested in BJJ! It's huge, one of the biggest white belt classes I've seen in a while, and they have showers which is HUGE :). Thanks Clockwork! read more

Clockwork has a very welcoming and friendly environment on top of the amazing teaching by Josh, Sebastian, and Russ. Highly recommend even if you have literally zero experience. read more

I've only been training at Clockwork for a couple months now but I trained at another gym for a couple years and, when I decided to leave that gym, I spent a lot of time trying out all the gyms in the city. I chose Clockwork because I liked the community--from the white belts all the way up to the instructors--and I felt like the schedule (classes 7 days a week) gave me the best opportunity to train as much as I wanted to. I love Clockwork and I plan on staying here for good. read more

I was traveling to NYC for work, and wanted a place to stop in and train. The gym is *very* responsive in replying to inquiries (I'd emailed 3 others, got no word). Drop-ins are free for the first, and $40 thereafter. I'd confirmed that this was the case even for out-of-towners like myself, and indeed it was (you may want to confirm, as it may change in the future). This compares equally to Vitor Shaolin's school, where it also cost $40 the last time I came - however there was no freebie first class. The school is big as far as NYC is concerned (or hell, even outside of the cramped city). There are showers, separate bathrooms, and cubbies for clothes. Bring cold water unless you want tap from the bathroom. I stopped in for the mixed-belt class. Technique started *right on time*, and lasted approx. 30 minutes, no warm-up, no fluff. I prefer this route, but YMMV. Aftewards an hour of training/open-mat. I'd gone to the 7pm class, got off the mat at 8:30, sweaty and drained - just how I like it. Josh, the head instructor was very helpful, and comes off very warm and welcoming. All the class-members were super-nice, and welcoming as well - this is usually normal with a well-run school - meatheads get filtered out pretty quickly. I'd definitely recommend coming to this school if you're looking for good technique, a considerate instructor, and an overall good attitude. Thanks for being nice to an out-of-towner! read more

I visited a half-dozen academies in Manhattan before settling on Clockwork. I compared the schools on six categories and Clockwork won in almost every category. Ambiance The first thing that struck me about Clockwork is the great ambiance. They have a second floor gym, with huge windows on one end. The entire school is one long room, with a welcoming seating area at the entrance by the windows. From there, while you are taking off your shoes and chatting, you can see the rest of the students training. You walk past everyone (along the side of the mats) on your way to the showers at the back, which gives you a chance to see what's going on up close, and say hello to people you know. The whole layout can be summed up as "friendly, open, and welcoming". Compared to other gyms which often feel like dungeons or basements, Clockwork stands out. Attitude The next thing that struck me is the attitude. BJJ is inexorably linked to MMA, and a lot of people who train in it seem to have an attitude that they're going to crush their opponents, even if it's just their training partners. At some gyms, this left me feeling like I was fending for myself in a dog-eat-dog culture, where I'd have to claw my way to each belt ranking. Clockwork, on the other hand, seems to specifically promote more of a team feeling even from day one as a white belt. You feel like you're training with friends, who share their best tips and tricks (rather than trying to keep them secret so they can "win" during training). If you ask someone to roll lightly, they actually do. It makes it so students can train even with light injuries because they know their training partners will respect the injury. Furthermore, the school has no rigid rules the some schools have. You can ask a higher belt to roll, you can adjust your gi on the mat, and you're on a first-name basis with the instructors. Structure At nearly every other school I visited, the instructors seemed to choose "random move of the day" to teach. Clockwork seems to have a different model: they focus each week on a particular move, and they work on that move and drill it for the entire week until everyone is comfortable with it. I like this because it means I can come in each day knowing what to expect, and I can give thought outside of class to the move and really nail down the details of it to ensure it's polished. For someone who thinks about BJJ as more than just a workout, this is a great setup. Cleanliness On my first visit, I was struck by how clean and stink-free the gym was (as opposed to some of the other gyms I visited where the smell of sweat hit me in the face as soon as I entered the building lobby). What really made Clockwork stand out was the attention to detail. For example, it was the only gym where I was loaned a pair of sandals to use when entering the bathroom. The place is just CLEAN. Warmup Clockwork takes a very cool approach to warmups: they have you drill purely BJJ moves! Most schools have you run around the mats in circles to get warmed up, then do shrimping and falling exercises. Clockwork keeps the valuable shrimping exercises, but replaces the running with additional relevant warmup moves such as knee passes and side control side switching, etc. You definitely break a sweat doing it, and at the same time get used to common movements in BJJ. Distance While Clockwork wasn't the closest gym to me (in fact, one of the others is just 100 yards from my apartment), it is accessible from both my home and office by two train lines and was worth the extra travel time to me. Overall, I'm very happy to have found Clockwork and look forward to many more years of training! read more

I'm so Happy with Clockwork Jiu Jitsu that I just sign in for a year membership after the demo class. In this place everyone is so helpful, respectful and friendly. The instructors are the best, they take their time to explain and guide you through everything. Russell and Sebastian have an amazing knowledge of BJJ. Joshua Griffiths is always around just in case one has questions alone with everyone else. Looking forward to learn and grow at this school. read more

I am so glad I found this school! The instructors are experienced and super detailed in their instruction. You can see how they care for their craft as they walk around giving pointers on how to improve some moves. Even little things like remembering your name after the first class shows their culture. The instructors truly enjoy teaching and are happy to be there, that defenitely trickles down to the students. For me the best part is the structure of their teaching. Useful warms ups, lots of specific drilling and then rolling. Pure technique mixed with friendliness. 100% check the place out! read more

i spend about a month or two a year in New York and everytime im in town i go to Clockwork to train. its the best BJJ school for anyone who goes downtown to train at. its conveniently located a block north of houston on broadway. their space is a huge flat where you never feel crowded no matter how many people are in a class. its so big you could run laps in there. the gym is immaculately clean 24/7. there are huge windows that can be opened to get good airflow in the summer. the changing rooms are large and clean white tile with 3 showers so you dont have to wait 30 min after class to get a shower. they probably have the most mat space by square foot of almost anywhere in NYC and the mats are high quality mats built for jiu jitsu. the head instructor is josh griffiths, a second degree blackbelt under famed UFC fighter kennny florian. his accommplishments in the sport and tournament victories are too copious to list. most importantly he is a patient and approachable instructor who gives as much or more attention to new students as he does to those who have been there for years. theres no reason to be intimidated if youre a first timer. everyone is so friendly there its like youre a new member of the family. josh teaches the same lesson all week in the gi and no gi classes, so everyone gets it down pat by the end of the week. he's backed up by other quality instructors like cisco sebastian and russ who fill in if josh is outta town or for off hours classes. there are a number of other brown belts and a couple black belts who are there all the time to help with any questions anyone has. but josh himself teaches all the primetime classes so you get alot of face time with the head instructor, unlike alot of gyms where the main guy doesnt even know your name. if you have kids the kids classes are packed theyre so popular. its a great sport for kids and they have dedicated kids classes for the little ones. all the instructors and students are so friendly and supportive of each other. its like training with your friends. no body tries to dominate anyone smaller or less experienced than them. i've never seen a serious injury there and theres no ego like you find at alot of places where people get hurt and feel like they ahve to keep training to prove something. everyone is really careful not to hurt each other. you could just as well be with these people at a bar or bbq as be at the gym rolling around on the ground trying to choke each other. its a great atmosphere to train in. read more

Great place to train. Extremely clean. Very friendly and helpful coaches with a tonne of knowledge. Everyone is super cool and fun to roll with; the members are quick to pass on tips and advise. My kids are regulars, too. They love it here. read more

Repetition is the mother of learning, and this is the founding philosophy of Clockwork Jiu Jitsu. Prior to training at Clockwork, I was at a traditional Brazilian - run BJJ school. One of the major differences that I found is that there is a high level of focus on repetition and continuity. As is the case with most other BJJ schools, the instructor will teach you an armbar one day and then a choke the next which is not really conducive to developing the muscle memory needed to really master a technique. At Clockwork, there is a singular focus on one move through out the week which is not only helpful to the ingraining of the technique to your memory but is even more helpful if you have a tough work schedule and can only make class maybe 2 non consecutive times per week. At all levels ( White to Black) , the students at CWJJ are operating at a high level of technically sound Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The environment is clean, supportive, and highly attentive. Master Griffiths teaches a really complex martial art in a simple and easy to learn format. There are no egos and everyone is free to roll (spar) with whomever they want regardless of rank, in other words as a white belt I can ask a black belt to spar with me (including Master Griffiths) and they would be glad to. This alone will improve your training 10 fold as you get to gain the knowledge and guidance from others who have been down the road you are travelling, thus making your journey to black belt that much shorter. If you are interested in learning the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, do yourself a favor and save yourself a lot of time and frustration by checking out Clockwork Jiu Jitsu. read more

This place is one of my favorites and I highly recommend training here. Weather you live in NY or you're just visiting. I've been training for just about 5 years, not much in the big scheme of things, but long enough that i know a good school when i see one. Josh, the owner, is a very technical and proficient teacher. Weather you want to compete, just train, learn self defense, or all of the above this is the school for you. The facility is big and it's clean. They have plenty of showers and laundry which makes it easy to train before work or after work and then go out. It's a positive atmosphere with a lot of great guys and girls and belts from white to black. train here! You will love it and your game will improve. craig melchiano read more

A brilliant approach to BJJ. Key points that I think set Clockwork apart: 1. Focus on chosen situations, per week, (eg. Half guard for a week, then side mount for a week) to truly drill and internalize each lesson. For me, this works much better than changing situations every day, as most gyms do. 2. A great balance of time spent learning, drilling and live rolling, in each class. Every day is a full workout yet I rarely feel "beat up", which lets me train much more often! 3. Deliberate continuity, from learning a move, though drilling and into live rolling. I find this really helps my learning curve. Great people and a great gym!! read more

I'm new to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Clockwork but I am absolutely loving it so far. The Clockwork instructors are extremely skillful and friendly, they want you to succeed and will work with you at your own pace. Every student I have trained with has been extremely kind and has taken time to help me perfect my techniques. Training at Clockwork has greatly benefitted my mental health, relieved my anxiety, and put me in great physical shape. I can't wait to continue my journey with Clockwork Jiu Jitsu and improve my skills one week at a time. read more

Good trainers (I was particularly fond of Alex) and an overall good experience here. Much better value than Gracie.

I started training with Josh a couple of months ago, and I have no prior experience with the sport. Was referred by a friend of mine, and she's been doing it for almost a year. I can tell you that BJJ has changed my life for the better. Not only has it given me more confidence in a self defense aspect, but I feel that it allows a lot of life's challenges to be worked out through problem solving skills learned on the mat. Every move is looked at through different aspects, often counter intuitive and this transfers beautifully into day-to-day life. Also, a lot is to be said for the self control that comes with training, the experience of total power over another or vice versa and the sense to realize that this is training in case a life-threatening attack ever occurred. This knowledge is priceless for women. BJJ is mentally challenging, physically beneficial and tremendous fun. Josh, my instructor is an incredibly gifted teacher and wholeheartedly encourages everyone (men and women) to join the art. We have about 7 girls including myself who takes the evening classes (maybe even more) Once you give it a try it's easy to see why it can be so healthfully addictive! Who needs a gym, when you can have a great workout at Clockwork? Josh has also added a kids BJJ class, so if you have little ones or younger siblings, then this is definitely something that they will enjoy! read more

Awesome gym, awesome instructors. BJJ is a great and exciting way to rev up your fitness routine! I'm pretty picky, I seem to find pros and cons at every gym, but for me it all comes down to the training. I found that the training doesn't get any better than Clockwork. Its my new addiction and I feel GREAT! read more

I have been training here for almost two years and I love it! The atmosphere is friendly and the level of training is very impressive. All the students are welcoming and the head instructor Josh is very knowledgeable, as are all of the other teachers. The schedule is perfect, offering a variety of daytime and evening classes for both beginners and advanced students. One note: this is a very casual school. I come from a traditional karate background so I was a bit taken aback at first at the lack of structure. There is no line up or "bow-in", and with the exception of the white belt classes, there is no warmup. You just jump right into technique. Also, rather then pairing you up with someone, the instructor usually says to just "find a partner", which can be a bit awkward if you are brand new and don't know anyone yet. Thankfully, this is offset by the good attitude of most of the students, particularly the more advanced ones, who will offer to help out if you are lost. (Which I was!) Be prepared for hard training. While there are plenty of students here who do not compete (myself included) and Clockwork is welcoming to all, the level of the rolling is usually pretty aggressive. Overall, once you get over the hump of being brand new, this is a fantastic place to learn BJJ and I highly recommend it! read more

The dojo is very clean, spacious, instructors are welcoming and knowledgeable to any questions you may ask. It may get hot in there but that's what you should expect from a great class and workout sparring with other people from the gym. I've tried out other gyms before and at least this one has showers after you're done with class. The class times are great because they fit with my personal schedule between work and school. Everyone is just friendly, ego free, and eager to learn. read more

Clockwork BJJ is a solid training facility backed by competition winning techniques.There are serious winning competition players here but mostly you would never know who they are because they don't announce or brag about it.Everyobody here keeps a humble family approach to training and you would never be made to feel like you weren't doing your part by not competing.Most of the traditional MA etiquette structure has been deleted(bowing on and off the mats,asking permission to get a drink of water,lining up to bow into class)I am not certain of the reasoning for this but I can only assume that if you have the ability to Navigate life in NYC and have the humbleness to put yourself on the mats you have more than likely already learned manners.Instead if you had a poor attitude or came in having a bad day you would be teased into giving a smile back by the head instructor Josh Griffiths.This creates a relaxed feel that I quite enjoy.Dont get me wrong here,these are serious Jits players that want to win and learn. If your considering starting your BJJ path I can only say that it was a step in the right direction for me.I came to BJJ at almost 39 years old and continue to train in my 45th year.the last 4 years here at clockwork.Ive seen white belts progress very fast here.If you come and inject yourself into the scene by asking questions and being friendly ,people here won't hold back their knowledge or spirit. Let the good times "roll". read more

Haven't had a chance to train here yet because of my schedule :( But I did get a chance to stop in and check the school out. The facility is very clean and well kept. I was greeted properly and felt welcomed by the staff and students here. I watched their class for about a hour, everyone seemed very skillful and cooperative with each other. I look forward to taking some classes here once I'm ready. read more

Clockwork BJJ First Impressions I've been training in Brazilian jiu jitsu on and off for about a year, and I started going to Clockwork BJJ about a month ago after doing extensive research on schools in my area. As I usually do, I emailed the gym prior to going, just to give them a heads-up. The strange thing was I actually received a response with a phone number to call if I had any questions before my visit. If you've done any research, emailed, or called BJJ gyms, you know they don't bother to email you back, much less call. I figured, What the hell, so I gave them a call, and one of the partners, Russell Kerr, answered my questions and told me what to expect. I went to check out the gym the next day. The white belt class I took was well structured, consisting of about 15 minutes of an exercise that would later be incorporated into the technique of the week, about 25 minutes of that technique, and then some controlled rolling. Apparently, in Clockwork BJJ's white belt classes, they do the same technique for a week so you have a chance to build up reps; this also helps if you have a busy schedule, so don't miss anything. Their blue belt and mixed classes seem to be structured the same way. But the vibe of the gym is what drove it home for me! When you see Russ and head instructor Josh Griffiths around the gym, you get the impression that some buddies were just sitting at a bar and one said, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool to open a jiu jitsu gym and just roll around all day?" The atmosphere is extremely casual and friendly. It doesn't feel forced, the way it does in some gyms; it feels like the instructors genuinely want to get to know you, want to make sure you're learning and are having a good time. It's like they're your buddies. When I first showed up, Russ greeted me and got me set up for class. My first thought was, Okay, this guy's just being nice because he wants me to sign up. But I was completely off the mark. Russ wasn't being friendly just to gain a member; he's a genuinely nice guy. And you can't ask for a better instructor than Josh. He doesn't miss a detail, and despite the fact that he's crazy knowledgeable, has an impressive number of credible tournament wins and placings, and has an instructional blog, he never talks down to you. He walks around like he's just another one of the guys. But make no mistake, these guys take their business and jiu jitsu seriously. Classes start and end exactly on time. While the teachers crack jokes, the instruction is serious, and when it's time to work, we work; we just have a good time doing it. So far the rolling has been pretty controlled, and the students respect each other. The one time I saw guys getting a little nutty, the instructor asked them to slow down. That's really important to me, because I've been to gyms where that wasn't the case. There's always a risk of getting hurt when you're doing BJJ, but at Clockwork, the instructors make sure everyone is doing the techniques properly so that injuries are less likely to happen. The instructors are there to teach but also to make sure everyone is safe. The students are also great. They seem to be average people who love or share a genuine interest in learning jiu jitsu; it's not about ego. At other schools I've been to, there were teams that competed, and the students on those teams made sure you knew it. If there is a competition team at Clockwork, I haven't noticed it, so the ego aspect of it seems to be in check here. All I can say is, if you're looking for a friendly, casual gym that still takes BJJ seriously, I highly recommend Clockwork BJJ! read more

Long overdue review for Clockwork! Trained here as a novice for about 3 months while I was living in NYC. Clockwork is the real deal and the Yelp reviews are accurate. This is no Globo gym. I mostly attended the white belt classes that Russ and Sebastian teach. They have different styles, but they're both fantastic instructors. Josh runs an extremely welcoming gym and it's reflected in just how cool everyone is to work with here. There's no egos, no horror stories, the instruction is clear, your partners are welcoming. Another major plus with Clockwork is the schedule--there are white belt classes every day of the week (you'd be hard pressed to find this almost anywhere else). There's mixed belt classes, there's no-gi classes, and a lot of flexibility built into the schedule. In short, if you're looking to try BJJ in NYC, give Clockwork a shot. It's a great place to roll! read more

Professional, clean, well-run, very positive environment for all ages and experience levels. Our timid and quite small child observed a kids class for 10 minutes before jumping in and loving it, due to the instructors "no pressure", encouraging approach. Firm yet fun classes, and very age appropriate. I have seen other kids classes (soccer, etc) taught by instructors that were not as enthusiastic and age-sensitive, and it totally de-energized the kids. Not the case here at all. My daughter is so excited about jiu jitsu at Clockwork. Highly recommend this program! read more

Of all the gyms I have trained at, Clockwork is far and away the best. Its facilities are expansive and meticulously maintained. The class schedule allows for maximum flexibility (morning, afternoon, and evening classes are offered daily). The instructors are knowledgeable and approachable. For me though, the most important thing was the friendly atmosphere. There is a great range of students in terms of skill but every one is committed to helping their fellow students improve. From the moment I set foot on the mats I felt welcomed and comfortable, which allowed me to relax and focus on my training. Whether you are new to BJJ or are looking for a new gym, Clockwork is the perfect fit for you. read more