For this blog, we jump over Hadrian’s Wall and head up north to Glasgow, Scotland, a historically tough and gritty city, so there is bound to be some tough Glasgow Jiu Jitsu. In this article, we go through some of the best BJJ academies in Glasgow. Scotland has a special relationship with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with the Gracie Jiu Jitsu family having its roots in Scotland.

The Griphouse

The Griphouse is one of the first academies that comes to mind when thinking about BJJ in Scotland. A mainstay of the Glasgow Jiu Jitsu scene, The Griphouse has produced many high-level competitors. Founded in 2005 by Guy Ramsey and Paul McVeigh, the Griphouse was established to give those with an interest in combat sports a venue where they could receive the highest level of coaching in a host of reality-based martial arts. The Griphouse is the only gym in Scotland with two BJJ Black Belt coaches under Roberto Atalla – Paul McVeigh and Garry Christie.

What is Available?

• Freestyle Wrestling
• BJJ
• Muay Thai
• MMA

Pricing

• £7 Pay as you go
• £70 per month

MNBJJ

MNBJJ (Marcos Nardini Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) is centrally located in Glasgow, headed by Marcos Nardini, a third-degree black belt and European and multiple-time IBJJF Champion. He received his black belt in 2006 under Professor Amal Easton in Colorado. The academy is purely BJJ-focused, with Beginners, Advanced, and Competition Classes offered from Monday to Saturday.

What is Available?

• BJJ (Gi & No-Gi)
• Strength and Conditioning for MMA

Ronin Grappling

Ronin Grappling is another BJJ-only academy in Glasgow, offering classes for all levels. Head Coach Giles Garcia is a black belt under Christian Graugart. Ronin Grappling offers Gi, No-Gi, Open Mats, Yoga for BJJ, and Women’s and Non-Binary-only classes.

What is Available?

• BJJ (Gi & No-Gi)
• Yoga for BJJ
• Open Mats
• Women's and Non-Binary-only classes

Pricing

• Unlimited training: £50/month
• 8 classes per month: £35
• Pay as you go: £6 per class
• Visitors: Free classes

Gracie Barra Glasgow

Gracie Barra Glasgow is part of the world-renowned Gracie Barra network, known for producing top-tier BJJ practitioners. Head Coach Ricky Gillon is a First Degree Black Belt under Lagarto, a direct student of Carlos Gracie Jr. The academy offers a variety of BJJ classes, including a Black Belt Program and a specialized Women's class.

What is Available?

• BJJ (Gi & No-Gi)
• Kids Classes
• Women’s-only classes
• Barra Fit (Jiu-Jitsu-inspired fitness classes)

10th Planet Glasgow

10th Planet Glasgow is the only 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu academy in Scotland. Head Coach Steven Thompson is the first and only 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu instructor in Scotland, a black belt under Eddie Bravo. The academy has been open since 2013, offering a full range of grappling training, including No-Gi and wrestling.

What is Available?

• BJJ (Gi & No-Gi)
• Wrestling
• MMA
• Kids Classes

Pricing

• £45/month, which includes access to fitness classes, cardio, weights, MMA gyms, sauna, steam room, and adult exercise classes.

Competitors and Well-Known Practitioners

Mark Lindars, Sean Coates, Oliver Lovell, Shane Curtis, and others have made significant contributions to the BJJ community in Glasgow and are key figures in the local BJJ scene.

Final Thoughts

While this list is not exhaustive, these are five of the top Glasgow BJJ academies. Keep your eye out for similar articles on the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scene in the UK and other places around the world. Wishing you all the best out there on the mats!

- Team Progress Jiu Jitsu