NO-GI JIU-JITSU
IN DOWNTOWN
ANN ARBOR.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for adults, teens, and kids ages 4 and up — led by a black belt head coach, seven days a week, two blocks from campus on E Liberty. Serving Ann Arbor and all of Washtenaw County.
First class free for adults and kids. Trained before? Join and train every class, Advanced included.
A GYM YOU
CAN TRUST.
Most of our members started with zero experience. Every class is scaled to the person in it.
Our goal is to build problem solvers. You train live from day one, at your level, with a coach watching the room. Beginners get a safe, honest start; experienced grapplers get pushed. You will fail at things along the way — that's how problem solvers get built.
- BB
Black belt under Margot Ciccarelli
Head Coach Royce Miller has 17 years on the mat, with his black belt awarded in 2023 by Margot Ciccarelli in Japan. He coaches the noon and Advanced classes and built the coaching framework every coach here teaches from.
- ECE
A degree in early childhood education
Royce holds a degree in early childhood education and designs and oversees the kids curriculum our kids coaches teach. Expectations are clear, progressions fit the age, and parents can relax.
- 7
Open seven days a week. Open to all levels.
6:00 AM, noon, evening, and weekends. Whatever your week looks like, there's a class that fits it. We scale the difficulty to push experienced grapplers and help people from day one learn to grapple.
- M2M
First class free. Then month-to-month.
Try a class before you join. Membership is $149/month for adults & teens and $100/month for kids 4–12, billed on your signup date, with no contract. Pause or cancel with 10 days' email notice. If this is the right gym for you, we'd rather earn that every month.
- P
Easy to get to. Easy to park.
Two blocks from campus on E Liberty and an easy walk from anywhere downtown. Free street parking mornings and evenings, and a free structure nearby in the evening.
WHAT MEMBERS SAY.
Google Reviews
“This place is awesome! Coach Royce is very knowledgeable and is able to accommodate different experience levels and training backgrounds. The gym has a really cool, modern atmosphere — I would definitely recommend this place.”
“My kids have already learned so much. The best part is we don't have to convince them to go to class — they want to go. The coach and his partner are wonderful people, and it honestly feels like family.”
“I've been training at Ann Arbor BJJ since opening day and have been fortunate to train with the head coach for around two years. During that time, I've made tremendous improvements in my skills, but more importantly, I've found an incredible community.”
“My daughter (11 yr old) has been training under coach Royce for 3 years. Without a doubt the best bang for the buck — flexible hours, unlimited training, weight room, modern training style.”
“Comprehensive instruction, well-maintained and modern facility, and a great training environment. I can't recommend this gym enough.”
“Been training here since the start of this semester and it's been awesome! Perfect location for students and very competitively priced for BJJ in AA. Royce is a great teacher and I appreciate his approach to teaching.”
“The space is very well equipped and clean, with a modern vibe. Sessions at 6am, noon, and evenings — every day of the week. Classes are fun and challenging with a great range of training partners. Great find!”
“In short: innovative & excellent BJJ instruction and supportive community. Good location for students and fellows living close to the area.”
“Extremely welcoming environment, for any level. I've enjoyed learning and hanging out with everyone, from coaches to fellow students!”
WE MEET YOU
AT YOUR LEVEL.
Jiu-jitsu is problem-solving under pressure. So that's how we teach it — live, and scaled to you.
Every class is built around a live problem — a starting position, a goal, and rules — and you solve it against a partner who's trying to win. The coach shapes the problem to fit you: tighter rules and a patient partner on day one, a harder problem and a tougher partner as you grow. The solution you find is yours, which is why it holds up when it matters. Coaches who follow the research call this the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA).
LIVE FROM DAY ONE
Real resistance from your first class. The task, the partner, and the pace are scaled so it's safe and productive whether you're on day one or 10+ years on the mat.
GAMES THAT TEACH
Classes are organized around problems to solve, so you build a real understanding of positions and how to move through them.
YOUR GAME, NOT A COPY
Everyone in the room gets the same problem — the position, the goal, the rules. Nobody solves it the same way. Your body, your build, and your background shape the answer, and that's the one we coach.
ROYCE MILLER.
Black belt under Margot Ciccarelli. On the mat since 2010. Coaching the noon and Advanced classes.
Royce started training in 2010 and moved to Florida in 2012 to train at American Top Team under Ricardo Libório, earning his blue belt there. Purple and brown came under Kevin and Brian Mahecha. In 2020 he began mentoring under Margot Ciccarelli, who awarded his black belt in Japan in July 2023.
He also holds a degree in early childhood education, which shapes how every kids class here is built — structured, patient, and designed for how kids actually learn.
ONE GYM.
EVERY AGE.
Three programs, one method. Find yours and read what to expect before your first class.
ADULTS & TEENS
All Levels at 6:00 AM and noon plays the whole game — standing, guard, pins — live from start to finish. At 6:30 PM, Foundations and Advanced run side by side and the coaches place you. Leg Locks Friday and Saturday, Standing — wrestling for BJJ — on Sunday, and open mat for members five nights a week.
KIDS
Our adult curriculum scaled for kids — games and live problem-solving in a structured, positive room. Real jiu-jitsu, taught the way kids this age actually learn, by our kids coaches on a curriculum Coach Royce designs.
LITTLE KIDS
A focused half hour of movement games, grappling basics, and listening skills. Short enough to hold attention, structured enough to build real coordination and confidence.
KIDS ATHLETE TRACK
For kids who want more. Athlete Track adds Kids Strength and Kids Skill Work on top of the regular classes — real strength training with a coach on every rep, and the deepest coaching we give any kid in the gym.
BUILT FOR TRAINING.
BUILT TO HANG OUT.
A purpose-built jiu-jitsu gym in the heart of downtown.
Two-inch Dollamur mats and padded walls, a weight room members can use any time, and a lounge where people actually stay after class. Plenty of our members study, work, or eat here between sessions.
- Dollamur mats and two-inch wall padding
- Open access to strength and training equipment
- Study and hangout area with tables for work or school
- Coffee and lounge
- Gaming setup and a big screen for watching matches
- A community event about once a month — potlucks, open mats, watch parties, game nights
MORE THAN MAT TIME.
STRENGTH + MOBILITY
A two-day strength program built on the research done on BJJ athletes, a mobility program, and a video for every movement. The weight room is yours to run it in.
NUTRITION
A calculator for your calories and protein, an example day of eating for training, and the three supplements proven to make a difference.
GYMDESK APP
Gym updates, class check-ins, upcoming tournaments and more, on your phone.
THE ANN ARBOR BJJ APP
Our curriculum, strength, nutrition and more, all in one place.
The strength and nutrition programs live on a members' page. It is password-protected, and members get the password.
HOW IT WORKS.
From this page to the mat in three steps. No phone call required.
PICK YOUR PROGRAM
Adults & teens 13+, or kids 4–12. Each has its own start page with exactly what to expect, what to wear, and what it costs.
BOOK YOUR FREE CLASS
Pick a day and a class online. It takes about a minute, and your confirmation, the waiver, and where to park land in your inbox.
SHOW UP & TRAIN
Come in athletic clothes a few minutes early. A coach meets you at the door. No experience needed.
WANT TO TEST IT?
Competition is optional. For members who want it, we run a comp team and travel to tournaments together — ADCC opens, UFC BJJ, IBJJF, and local Detroit events.
START THIS WEEK.
Your first class is free. Book online in about a minute — no experience needed.