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 

http://www.thegriphouse.co.uk/index.html

When thinking about BJJ Scotland, The Griphouse Academy is one of the first academies that comes to mind. 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 go and 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. The Griphouse is a full time academy with specialist coaches to teach you in disciplines such as Freestyle wrestling, BJJ, Muay thai and MMA. In terms of pricing Griphouse is competitively priced, being only 7 GBP pay as you go and 70 GBP per month. This gym is a mainstay of the Glascow Jiu Jitsu scene and a leading academy in all of Scotland BJJ

MNBJJ 

https://www.mnbjjglasgow.co.uk/

Short for Marcos Nardini Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, this academy is centrally located in Glasgow, head coach Marcos Nardini is a third degree black belt and is also a European and multiple time IBJJF Champion. He was awarded his black belt in 2006 under professor Amal Easton in Colorado Amal Easton is a well known coach in the United States BJJ community, who received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the hands of Renzo Gracie. Assistant coaches include Chris Aiton is a black belt under Marcos who has fought MMA previously, and coaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Strength and conditioning for MMA. Jack Brown is a NoGi focused coach with a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, who is an active competitor. The academy is purely BJJ focused, with Beginners, Advanced and Competition Classes being offered from Monday to Saturday. 

Ronin Grappling 

https://roningrappling.com/

Another BJJ only academy representing Glasgow Jiu Jitsu is Ronin Grappling. Head coach Giles Garcia is a black belt under Christian Graugart, Ronin Grappling offers classes Monday to Sunday, with Gi, NoGi, Open mats, Yoga for BJJ and Women’s and Non Binary only classes. Assistant coaches include Lorna Kinnoch, who is an experienced Purple Belt competitor. In terms of pricing Ronin offers unlimited training for 50 GBP 8 classes a month for 35 GBP. Pay as you go is competitively priced at 6 GBP per class and Visitors are given the opportunity to train for free. Something to keep in mind when you are visiting Glascow and get the itch to train

Gracie Barra Glasgow 

https://www.graciebarrascotland.com/

No list is complete without a Gracie Barra, it seems the network of Gracie Barra is everywhere, with Gracie Barra helping progress BJJ Scotland.

Head Coach Ricky Gillon is a First Degree Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Lagarto, a direct student of Carlos Gracie Jnr, he is the Kids coach as well along with being a Kettlebell Instructor. Assistant coaches include Brown Belt Iain Macauley, Kimberley Gillon

Instructor and Women’s coach and purple belt who also teaches the Barra Fit Programme and Kellyanne Gillon the Thai boxing Coach and BJJ Blue Belt. Gracie Barra Glasgow also have a specialist No-Gi coach in Ahmad Kamal Salah

The timetable is especially diverse with multiple classes on offer, there are adult mixed classes, from Fundamentals, All Levels to Advanced training. If one truly falls in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu they can enter the Black Belt Program, an advanced training program.There are multiple kids classes across the ages and Gracie Barra Glasgow is not without a Ladies only class. Gracie Barra gyms aso offer a programme called ‘Barra Fit’ This class is a Jiu-Jitsu inspired workout that promotes weight loss while increasing your overall fitness. A great way for Jiu Jitsu players to complement their regular training schedule.

10th Planet Glasgow

https://glasgow10thplanetjj.wixsite.com/10thplanetglasgow/classes

While based outside of Glasgow, we can count this academy as Glasgow Jiu Jitsu. There are not many 10th Planet academies in the UK, with 10th Planet Glasgow being the only 10th Planet in Scotland. 

Head Coach Steven Thompson is the first and only 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu  Instructor in Scotland . He is the first Black Belt in Scotland under Eddie Bravo and the 2nd in the UK . 10th Planet Glasgow has been open since April 2013 . The academy is based at Acombat sports area, with a full ring, Octagon Cage along with a large matted area. As a grappler you couldn't ask for much more, showing even more the rise of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Scotland. The academy has classes every weekday evening and classes over the weekend. In terms of pricing, the academy is very reasonably priced, being part of a sports centre, the cost is 45GBP with that you get access to fitness classes, access to the cardio, weights & MMA gyms, complimentary use of the Sauna & Steam Room as well as all Adult exercise classes.

While of course 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