This is an excellent gym for learning mixed martial arts. It is led and owned by a veteran of the…read moreUS Navy who is totally committed to his gym, winning multiple awards and championships. This is A great locally owned business centrally located in Summerville.

The lowball reviews seem a little simplistic . I've known Dwight for a number of years now, and…read moretook his classes until I was in a wreck. He's an awesome instructor and knows how to run a business. He supports the community from law enforcement to women's defense, to fund raisers supporting the military. As with any business that has a monthly membership, it's assumed you're attending unless you cancel your membership in person. Even Planet Fitness requires you to cancel in person. Instruction-wise, he's had a number of students go on to win first place at the many competitions he requires his students to attend before being promoted to a new belt. You don't have to compete at all of the competitions, but you do need to compete at one. I'm good with this because a competition is the only place a fighter can fight a total stranger, which is usually the main reason a person wants to get into a self defense class in the first place. He teaches legitimate self-defense. This isn't an after-school self esteem building school for your kid. Whether you're a child or an adult, you're going to be fighting each other and learning how to put knuckles on foreheads.

NO WARMUPS. I was sold at zero warm-ups. No bowing to a picture of helio on the wall no weird stuff…read morelike calling the instructor Professor or sensie. This has by far the highest quality of students anywhere in Charleston. My last coach told me I was almost ready to get promoted and I was feeling cocky about my skills. I dropped into a class there one days and was getting submitted at will by thier bluebelts and some of thier whitebelts. It was then that I knew if I cared more about winning and being the best then I did about getting a blue belt it was time to change schools There is no bowing in or out of class which means the rolling stops when nobody can go any longer. They roll more here than any school I've ever been to. They have top of the line Fuji mats and the owner keeps the mats very very clean. If you want to get really good this is the school to go to. Just tonight we had a blackbelt from another school come here to train for his ADCC run with the purple belt here who medal at worlds last year. Best part is everyone here is cool respectful and pushes you to get better

Great gym, just moving into Charleston I was looking for something similar to my old gym a more…read morelaxed less formal type of gym that works both nogi and gi pretty even, I feel like these type of schools are very effective for learning and getting better. The Instructor I met was very down to earth and chill which I think also helps with the improvement of students. Definitely recommend if your a beginner or just looking for a different place to train -Robert

I had an incredible time at Devine JJ in Charleston! Space was clean and the instruction was great…read more Thank you Jeff and Mike for letting me train with your guys and for the awesome rolls. I highly recommend anyone interested in jiu jitsu or looking for a place to train while traveling to visit this gym!

Great gym with excellent instruction and friendly members. You'll learn, sweat, and improve. Can't…read moreendorse this gym enough.

This is an amazing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy. The school…read moreis gorgeous, always clean, great energy and the staff is super welcoming and friendly. Professor Henrique is a very thorough instructor and the classes are lots of fun! I am very thankful for Gracie Barra Charleston as there are no other schools in the area nearly as high level as this. I highly recommend!

Outstanding Experience at Gracie Barra! My 6-year-old has been taking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie…read moreBarra, and we couldn't be happier. The staff is amazing, and the instructors are incredibly skilled--not just at teaching techniques on the mat, but also at building confidence, discipline, and respect that carries over into everyday life. They truly pay attention to each student's individual capabilities, which makes a huge difference. I've recommended this class to everyone I know who's even thinking about trying jiu-jitsu. Highly, highly recommend!

I've been looking for a place like this for my kids! I have a 10-year-old daughter and a…read more13-year-old boy who eagerly need more physical fitness in their life. I was looking for some type of martial arts besides karate so I tried this spot out. Right right away they gave me one week of Jujitsu and MMA classes for free. After the first day my children were hooked! I was surprised to see so many families and adults participating here because it is located in the Omni fitness gym. At first it was a little hard to find but as soon as I walked in the door I knew exactly where to go because of the boxing ring, octagon, stand up punching bags and matted floor that took half of the facility. The staff is amazing! The couple that are the main instructors are very good with children and they maintain a high level of discipline. They have other assistant instructors that help out and who look to be in very good shape and are in the amateur fighting business. They have boxing classes, kickboxing classes mixed martial arts, jujitsu and other classes for both kids and adults. Both of my children signed up for one month of MMA and jujitsu twice a week from 5-630 pm for $190. I thought this was an unbelievable deal and my kids are absolutely worn out and hungry at the end. I so glad I found this place.

My kids have been going to Beaufort MMA for over a year now and absolutely love it. Sensei Abe and…read moreSensei Brittany are amazing in their patience with all their kids while still demanding discipline and obedience that makes it fun, enjoyable and engaging for children of all ages and skill. My kids look forward to coming to MMA always! The Beaufort MMA Senseis' abilities to build children up with confidence has worked wonders on my middle son who went from shying away from every situation and being timid to a child filled enough with confidence in himself that he willing engages and participates in tasks with others in all aspects of his life. My two sons went from being bullied and unsure of people and situations to being confident in making good choices to stand up for themselves and others to deescalate situations in the least confrontational way.

Great gym, great coaches, great atmosphere! My husband and…read moreI have been taking BJJ there for about 2.5 years and really love the coaches! Highly recommend for any woman that wants to feel confident in their ability to protect themselves!

I went for the 6 week Women's empowerment session and it was amazing. I have tried multiple other…read moregyms and this one made me the most comfortable. You will learn so much and the instructors cater to all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. It is such a worthwhile investment for all women. I highly recommend trying the 6 week Women's empowerment session and joining other classes. You will find such a safe and welcoming environment!

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.

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.