Top 10 BJJ Clubs in Austin, TX: Membership Prices & What to Know

Austin's BJJ scene punches well above its weight for a city its size, anchored by a wave of elite competitors who have relocated there in recent years alongside a deep bench of longstanding local academies. Here are the 10 clubs with the most established reputation, national profile, or lineage credential in the city — with real membership pricing where an academy publishes it, and honest notes where it doesn't.

Top 10 BJJ Clubs in Austin, TX

**1. Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu**, North Austin — led by Gordon Ryan alongside Garry Tonon and John Danaher, three of the most decorated names in modern no-gi grappling. The gym (rebranded from New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in 2025) opened its own facility in mid-2025. Published pricing: a 3-classes-per-week plan runs $350/month for adults ($300 for kids), with an unlimited-classes plan at $400/month for adults ($350 for kids); active/retired military, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS get a 20% discount on any membership.

**2. Simple Man Martial Arts** (formerly B-Team Jiu-Jitsu), 1701 W Ben White Blvd, South Austin — the team Craig Jones co-founded in 2021 before splitting off; rebranded in 2025 under Nicky Rodriguez, Nicky Ryan, Ethan Crelinsten, and Damien Anderson, now running hobbyist, kids, and MMA classes alongside pro-level training. Membership pricing isn't published on their site — contact the academy directly for current rates.

**3. Brazilian Fight Factory**, 9607 Research Blvd #675, Austin TX 78759 — the city's local Checkmat affiliate, led by Rodrigo "Brucutu" Cabral (black belt under Léo Vieira) alongside pro competitors including Kody Steele and Andrew and William Tackett. This is one of the most-searched clubs in Austin for membership pricing specifically, but Fight Factory doesn't publish rates on its site — call ahead or ask about their free first class to get a current quote rather than trusting a third-party number.

**4. Gracie Barra Austin** — operates several locations across the city (North Austin, South Austin, and Westlake), giving students access to Gracie Barra's globally consistent curriculum under the team founded by Carlos Gracie Jr., one of the largest BJJ organizations in the world.

**5. Renzo Gracie Austin**, with a main location on Guadalupe St and a second Lakeway location — part of the international Renzo Gracie Academy network, teaching the same lineage-based curriculum as the original New York "Blue Basement."

**6. Aces Jiu Jitsu Club**, East Austin — founded in 2013 by BJJ black belt and international champion Mikal Abdullah, with a self-defense-first philosophy alongside sport BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA programs.

**7. Gracie Humaita Austin** — led by BJJ world champion Paulo Brandao, carrying the Gracie Humaita lineage's traditional self-defense-oriented curriculum.

**8. Atos Austin**, with Bee Caves and North Austin locations — an official affiliate of Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ, the San Diego academy led by 6-time ADCC/IBJJF World Champion Andre Galvao.

**9. 10th Planet Austin** — teaches Eddie Bravo's no-gi-focused system, built for students more interested in leg locks and no-gi competition than traditional gi training.

10. Paragon Jiu-Jitsu Academy, South Austin — a longstanding local club and official Jiu Jitsu World League team academy, offering a more traditional community-gym environment alongside the city's newer high-profile arrivals.

Austin BJJ Membership Pricing: What's Actually Public

A huge share of the searches that lead people to this page are looking for a specific number — what Brazilian Fight Factory, B-Team/Simple Man, or Kingsway actually charge per month. Here's the honest state of that information: Kingsway is the only club on this list with pricing published on its own site ($350-$400/month for adults, tiered by class frequency, per above). Brazilian Fight Factory, Simple Man, Gracie Barra, and the others don't list rates publicly — which is standard practice for most BJJ gyms, since pricing often depends on a trial class, contract length, or current promotions. Treat any specific dollar figure you see for those gyms on third-party sites as unverified unless the academy's own site or a staff member confirms it directly.

Why Austin Attracts Elite Grapplers

The concentration of top competitors in Austin isn't an accident — several ADCC and IBJJF world champions have relocated there in the past few years, drawn by lower cost of living compared to grappling hubs like Las Vegas or Los Angeles, plus population growth in Texas generally. That means a hobbyist in Austin can train alongside, or even under, some of the sport's most accomplished competitors — a rare situation outside a handful of cities worldwide.

What to Check Before Joining an Austin Club

Training focus varies a lot between these clubs. Kingsway and Simple Man lean toward high-level no-gi and competition training; Gracie Barra and Paragon run more traditional gi-and-no-gi curricula built for students at every level, not just competitors. Pick based on your actual goals, not just a name recognition.

Class structure for beginners matters more than a gym's competitive pedigree if you're new to the sport — ask whether fundamentals classes are separated from advanced/competition training before you commit. See our guide on choosing a BJJ gym close to you for more on what actually predicts whether you'll stick with training.

Trial classes are standard practice at every legitimate academy in this list — use one before committing to a membership anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu open to hobbyists, or only professional competitors? Kingsway trains students across levels, though its coaching staff and reputation are built around Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, and John Danaher's high-level no-gi system.

What happened to B-Team Jiu-Jitsu in Austin? B-Team rebranded to Simple Man Martial Arts in 2025 after founding member Craig Jones stepped away from the team; it's now run by Nicky Rodriguez, Nicky Ryan, Ethan Crelinsten, and Damien Anderson.

Does Gracie Barra have multiple locations in Austin? Yes — Gracie Barra operates separate North Austin, South Austin, and Westlake locations, all following the same globally standardized curriculum.

Is Austin considered a major BJJ city? Increasingly, yes — the relocation of several ADCC and IBJJF world champions to Austin in recent years has made it one of the more notable grappling hubs in the United States, alongside longer-established scenes like Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

How much does Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu cost per month? $350/month for adults on the 3-classes-per-week plan, $400/month for unlimited classes (kids run $300 and $350 respectively) — the only club on this list with pricing published directly on its own site. Active/retired military, law enforcement, fire, and EMS get a 20% discount.

How much does Brazilian Fight Factory charge for membership? Their pricing isn't published on their own website despite being one of the most-searched Austin BJJ membership questions — call the gym directly or ask about their free first class to get a current, accurate quote rather than relying on unverified third-party numbers.

What is the Checkmat affiliate in Austin? Brazilian Fight Factory, led by Rodrigo Cabral, is the local Checkmat Jiu-Jitsu affiliate in Austin, training under the same lineage founded by Léo and Ricardo Vieira that has produced multiple world champions.

The Bottom Line

Austin's BJJ scene has grown from a solid regional market into a genuine destination, with elite-level coaching now available alongside its established community gyms. Match the club to your actual goals — competition-focused no-gi training at Kingsway, Simple Man, or Brazilian Fight Factory, or a more traditional curriculum at Gracie Barra, Renzo Gracie Austin, Gracie Humaita, or Paragon — confirm current pricing directly with the academy since most don't publish it, and use a trial class to confirm the fit before committing.