We are Nash County's Original BJJ Academy.  Born in 2014, to a guy who'd been teaching his buddies how to break arms in his Grandparent's garage since 2000. Hey, when you know better, you do better, right? And so became Gustavo Machado Rocky Mount; built on a rock of friendship, loyalty & a passion for spreading the gospel of Jiu-jitsu. Since opening, our Academy has established a proud tradition echoed daily on the mats. Those buddies from my Grandparents' garage? They're here, too.  All of them black belts now & just adultier versions of themselves. Husbands, Fathers, Business Owners, Law Enforcement Officers- even a Pastor. Those friendships are the heart of this gym. There are no bad days on the mats with your family!

"What IS Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?"

I'm glad you asked. If you just binged all four seasons of Cobra Kai on Netflix, you might be wondering if this is karate. Spoiler alert: It's not.  (No offense, Karate! We like to sweep the leg, too!) BJJ is a self-defense system focused on grappling & ground fighting. Often referred to as a combat sport, BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a larger, stronger attacker using leverage & proper technique. The goal is to take the fight to the ground, most notably by applying joint-locks & choke-holds to defeat your opponent.  Live drilling & sparring, commonly referred to as "rolling," are training fundamentals. BJJ places a premium on performance, especially in competition. Progression through its exclusive belt system is highly coveted, with less than 3% of BJJ practitioners earning a black belt. Our Academy is the proud home of not just one black belt, but FIVE actively training BJJ black belts.  Together, our team boasts over 100 years of combined experience! We offer training for all levels of experience:
Beginner to Advanced. Men, Women, and Children!