25 W Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
Academy 231 is Muskegon's premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts gym. Build confidence and get fit with our Kids Programs and 5-Week Beginner Challenge.
Reviews from Jiu-Jitsu Blog members who have trained at Academy 231 - Muskegon Jiu-Jitsu. Member recommendations raise an academy's Jiu-Jitsu Blog Score.
Awesome community if you wanna get the most out yourself come to 231 they’ll get you straight but hurry I’ve been coming for 2 months and I’m upset I didn’t sooner!!!
Academy 231 has just about anything you can ask for. The culture is very welcoming and you can tell the instructors are very experienced with Jiu Jitsu and passionate about teaching it. There are plenty of sessions throughout the week as well which is perfect if you have a busy schedule.
Great place to challenge and make yourself better. Friendly group of people, everyone welcomes you, and there are no egos. You will feel like you are cared for here. I look forward to every training session I attend!
Great place for all levels of experience. Everyone is super friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. Steve and Noah are amazing instructors, inspiring all to keep coming back.
This place is amazing! I joined the adult beginner class as someone who had never done a martial art before and everyone there made me feel welcome and included! Noah is awesome and goes above and beyond to make sure everyone understands everything and makes the class really fun and approachable! I am so glad I started going to this gym!
Great gym. Great instruction. Lots of classes to accommodate nearly any schedule and great beginner classes. Coaches do a great job at breaking down positions and gradually building students up to competition level ability. Clean, safe, affordable, and growing. One of the best BJJ communities I have experienced to date. The gym and wood fired sauna are a huge bonus, but it is the people who call this gym home that make it world class.
Academy 231 is sick. The owner/instructor Steve is knowledgeable and very quick to lend a hand or answer questions. The people are nice and class is a great mix of drills and live rolling. 10 outta 10 would recommend.
First night went great. Noah is an extremely knowledge and likeable teacher. I felt an instant connection with him and throughout the training session it only grew as the time went on. He is very thorough and goes out of his way to ensure that every student sees and understands every little detail of what is being taught and gone over. I can't wait to see where I am at the end of my beginner classes and beyond. I am confident that what I can achieve here is more than just the physical aspects of BJJ but also the mental and emotional that goes with it. The community was also great right away.
From the moment I first contacted the 231 academy I was treated with the utmost respect. Every coach I met spoke with me about my Jiu Jitsu goals, my concerns and my expectations. I wanted a class that explained the techniques so I could have a solid foundation to build on. I’ve been attending Jiu Jitsu for over 7 years sporadically and never felt comfortable enough in a class to stay for long. If you’re new to Jiu Jitsu or are looking for more advanced training this is the place.
This gym has been an inspiration, a gift, and a challenge - simultaneously. After looking around for a JJ teacher for our then-4+5yo boys, we had only found gyms that either didn’t take it seriously or tossed the little kids with 7 and 8yr olds and hoped for the best. As a homeschooling family, we wanted the discipline and respect that they would learn from a coach, but also wanted them to roll with kids their own size to increase peer-to-peer learning and minimize injuries. With nothing locally available in GH, this is where Academy comes in. We showed up unannounced one day just to watch a class. I want to SEE how you are going to talk to and train my kids, right? Not to mention it takes a special kind of saint to teach BJJ to 4-6yr olds. But they had a class at 4:15, so it wasn’t so late my kids were cranky, and they had a killer deal running so… We were floored. Kindness. Encouragement. Firm standards, but understanding. 4-6yrs is such a fluid and interesting age, but Coach Eldis and Coach Hayley have infinite grace, encouragement, patience, and firmness. Our boys have flourished under their guidance. Steve, the owner, knows everyone by name and is always accessible for questions or help. The other parents (and students) know each other by name and offer encouragement. The coaches are available for extra help and questions. Older students assist with the younger classes and comport themselves with grace, wisdom and patience beyond their years (truly). We are grateful and proud to have found Academy 231…it has been a gift to my wildling boys, and I can’t wait for my 2yr old daughter to be old enough to learn and roll with her brothers!
This Place Is Legit. Steve Comes Off As Genuinely Interested In Spreading The Sport To Everyone That Steps In The Door.
It is really good! All the people are cool and communicative. They help each other and teach what you need to know. The place is also great! It's a ventilated, well-lit and well maintained place.
Great place to learn jiu jitsu!
Academy 231-Muskegon Jui-Jitsu is a community connected space that provides a thriving environment for people from different backgrounds to live into a discipline and reimagine their full potential.
Great place to learn Jiu-Jitsu!
Everyone here is very welcoming. Steve has cultivated an amazing environment for learning for casuals to competitors at any level.
My 5 yr old son joined Academy 231 about 3 weeks ago and we really enjoy it. The staff is friendly and patient with him, as he is learning in each class. I would recommend them for kids and adults.
5 star atmosphere, 5 star instructor, 5 star competitors who show great class and respect. I highly recommend Academy231 to anyone interested in bjj!
Today was my first day there, I have a few buddies who go there, so I joined up, and all the guys and girls were very friendly! and understanding that it was my first day.
Muy Thai is very fun and educational. Lots of different people to drill with and is nice to meet new people.
Being at academy 231 has really helped to discover my abilities. It has also been a great way for me to meet people. The thing I like most about it is the positive energy. Everyone trains together as friends, and we are always learning from one another. That is how I continue to make progress.
It is an amazing experience at 231, it is welcoming environment with great lessons and friendly people!
Excellent atmosphere. The instruction and class are great and I always have phenomenal matches. If you are looking for a fun new hobby or a great way to stay in shape, this is the place for you
Friendly and supporting community
I’m new to this gym and trying out their Muay Thai class. The atmosphere has been very welcoming since I’ve walked through the door. The instructor is great and the gym itself has a lot of space.
Have not been coming to this gym for long, but in the short time that i've been it's been a very enjoyable experience. Recently, the new Muay Thai Classes they started offering are awesome. I always had trouble finding a gym which taught it, all were far in Grand Rapids, so it's great there is a local spot with Great coaching on top of it being close!
Trained at a handful of different gyms across the states and academy 231 has the best culture and work ethic I’ve experienced. Great group of guys.
My son has been going to the kids classes and absolutely loves them! Comes home excited to tell us all about it! I personally grew up in a martial arts family, and watching this class, I really believe it’s perfect for the young ones! Keeps them moving while keeping them informed with plenty of supervision as well. The place is also very clean and tidy, with some comfy couches and benches for the parents to watch on the sidelines. Overall, I’m very impressed with this place and I’m really excited to watch my kid grow with this form of martial arts.
Very welcoming as soon as you walk through the doors, the atmosphere is great. The people there are very helpful and guide you in the right direction a great experience all around!
Very good and engaging atmosphere
Highly recommend great staff! 🤙
Absolutely love this place. I’ve learned so much so fast in an amazing environment.10/10!
loving muay thai gets the heart going for sure.
The instructors are all fantastic, everybody has created a very welcoming environment, making it easy to learn something new and be a part of a community.
Academy 231 is a perfect place for beginners. With very knowledgeable and friendly instructors, it made starting jiu jitsu very fun and enjoyable.
My daughter recently started at this club and she is so excited. Everyone at the club has been warm and welcoming, looking forward to the memories and friendships she’ll make.
My wife and I have been attending classes at Academy 231 for a couple months now and it has been nothing but great. Instructors are both knowledgeable and passionate about jiu-jitsu. Highly recommended for anyone looking to get started!
Very welcoming from the beginning. Wealth of knowledge & great clean environment. Would recommend them to any body in the area to check them out.
Very welcoming environment, the people were really accepting and friendly. They do a very good job of matching skill levels and great for beginners.
Great place. Friendly people. Clean environment. Great instructors.
Awesome gym and really good environment!
Academy 231 is an awesome home away from home. Great culture, clean facility, and tough rolls. I will be swinging through anytime I’m in The 231!
This gym is top notch. The environment is positive and welcoming, and the instruction is professional and conducive to beginners. Highly recommended.
Super helpful and positive environment especially to those like myself who are just getting into Jujitsu. The nerves quickly went away due to Steve and Noah’s positive encouragement and feedback. Great place to learn Jujitsu!
Awesome place to get your foot in the door, every one is very friendly and understanding. The schedule is very flexible as well with early class and afternoon classes too
231 academy it’s a family , every single one is very awesome, they try to help you learn the jujitsu technique and everything about it, and I really like Steve his very good guy , if I have a chance to choose jujitsu gym ? I will choose 231 academy again 100%
Great environment
I have been participating in the Jiu-Jitsu classes for a month now and I have to say all my stress goes away when I step my foot on the mat. My only focus is how I can be a better me, a smarter me and a stronger me. Coach Noah has helped me build strength, even when I felt like I couldn't do the techniques. He keeps telling all of us to just keep showing up. I have met a lot of great people in class. No one is there to judge anybody, we are all there to be the best versions of ourselves.
Great gym! The beginner course is a great on-ramp to BJJ covering the fundamentals. The people are very welcoming to newcomers with no prior experience. Highly knowledgeable instructors.
Great place, good instructors, and overall a great time.
I signed my daughter up for the beginner classes here at academy 231- Steve was very prompt in responding to my request ensuring my daughter had a smooth transition being that she has had no previous experience in martial arts or wrestling- he has been quite helpful in helping my daughter get the most from her membership! Haley has been patient and very hands on with teaching my daughter in the ways of jiu jitsu- just observing them in class and how she teaches makes me very confident in my choice for my daughter! If you want your child to learn a new skill and reap the benefits that come with self discipline and hard work towards new goals I highly recommend academy 231 for any beginner looking to gain confidence in a new skill! Great job to all staff at academy 231!
Very respectful and a competitive enviornment forsure
Good instructors, Good environment, Good training. Definitely recommend
Super welcoming and safe environment. The coaches are super supportive and helpful with everything. Definitely recommend going!
What an atmosphere! Everyone is having a good time while getting better mentally and physically.
Had a great time at this place! I have no prior experience with this kind of stuff but the guys I rolled with and the instructors were very patient and personable. Made it easy to understand and learn!
This place is exactly what you need if you’re looking for fun, fitness and community. With a gym, sauna and free gi included with membership this place has everything you need in one. My only regret is not joining sooner!
Great Instructions, Great People, Great Experiences!
Academy 231 is top notch. Friendly atmosphere, knowledgeable instructors and excellent facilities.
Steve is an amazing dude and very knowledgeable. He knows where to put people. I went in there without knowing anyone and it was like a family from the start!
My 5 year old daughter absolutely loves it!
I recently moved to the area and checked out a couple gyms and Academy 231 was an immediate fit. Everyone is so welcoming. Great place to start learning.
I visited a few different Jiujitsu gyms before finding this one. I am overweight and very out of shape. I never once felt out of place and if there is a maneuver I cant do the instructor takes the time to walk me through it or shows me an alternative way. This place teaches self defense in a curriculum that has been proven to be effective and is not just made up by them. I will hopefully be going here for a very long time as I have felt included and I feel capable of participation despite being out of shape and weaker due to autoimmune concerns…
My 5 year old loves it here ! We look forward to our time every week . The instructors for the kids class are younger and an excellent fit as trainers. The owner is incredible helpful making it a smooth and easy process for parents and kids to get started. Very professional, clean and fun environment.
Best Joy-Jitsu in Michigan! Tons of one on one instruction and coaching, each instructor is passionate and knowledgeable in their craft. It really shows in the skills of each student. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!
My daughter started going here at the beginning of September 2024 and she has LOVED IT! The environment and atmosphere is welcoming the instructors are very knowledgeable and you can tell the kids really have fun by attendance and attentiveness. Forever thanking Academy 231 for their support 💙
Great place to start something new. The beginning class is slow and the instructor, Noah is patient and passionate in teaching new patrons Jiu-Jitsu!
I really wanted to try Jiu Jitsu. As a 50 year old woman with no experience , I was a bit nervous about joining. It seemed very intimidating. But everyone was so welcoming…. Even the guys who were leaving the previous class were helpful & kind. Noah teaches the beginner group & he is so enthusiastic…it’s contagious! So far it’s been a great experience.
Went in for a drop in to roll with a few friends and have some fun cross training and I was impressed with the experience. I am a purple belt that trains in Grand Rapids but I am originally from Muskegon, and man is it awesome to see and experience the facility that Steve has created. Tons of mat space with an excellent set up, and great training partners for both the hobbyist and the competitor. Anyone looking to get into training and looking for great partners should feel comfortable/confident trying this place out. I will definitely be back to train again!
Very, very welcoming, and amazing place. Attended an open mat session, had great rolls, with great people, and Coach Steve was very informative and welcoming. I am definitely going to attend again!
Amazing training facility! I’ve been to facilities all over the country and internationally and this is one of the best. Friendly and positive vibes from instructor and and students. Felt very welcome from the second I walked in. Very professional and well organized. Quite spacious and outfitted with comfy lounge where parents can watch or students hang out before or after class. High quality and very large mat area for live sparring. Fantastic resource for anyone interested in self defense. Impressive!
When I first joined Academy 231 the class is filled with great people,positive energy and very Motivating to be great at this form of martial art. Academy 231 teach you patience, performance,humidity, but in all it's a journey and I think you'll love it. And if you did or love wrestling you'll love Academy 231.
Everyone is super welcoming and easy to talk to. The whole program itself is well setup so someone like me with no experience can jump right it and start training
Academy 231 welcomed me like family very welcoming environment, everyone is there to have fun learn and to get better both on and off of the mat. I originally got into the beginner classes they teach you some basic self defense moves really worth attending, if your older and are wondering if you still got it or if you want to get it they accept all ages 3 and up jiu jitsu has changed my life in a short time and i highly recommend you slide by Academy 231 and see if this is the family for you YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
Dropped in this weekend for an open mat, very welcoming. great people with great jiujitsu!
Tried something new and it was fun ! The instructors and the rest of the class made me feel very comfortable going into a new environment, 10/10 !
I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and professional this gym is! All of the coaches are helpful and great with the kids. They give great, positive feedback. The owner is exceptionally helpful and easy to contact. We are glad we found Academy 231!
Just started a couple months ago. Great people and great atmosphere. Very welcoming to newcomers and highly recommend to anyone looking to start up jiu jitsu.
I took my first class and I can say it’s the best decision I ever made. I was VERY nervous walking in. Not only was the owner Steve welcoming but other students as well. Noah was an excellent instructor and made me feel at ease. Later, after class, Steve followed up to see if I had any questions. I’m looking forward to my next class.
Great people, great place, great workout!
Probably the best experience I’ve had in a very long time, excellent community, grateful to now be a part of!
Just started my journey with Jiu-Jitsu and can't say enough so far about the community running the classes. Steve is great about keeping in touch and checking in on progress and Noah is the most thorough instructor! They make us feel completely comfortable asking questions, staying a little later to run through moves, and I enjoy the comic relief tossed in here and there to keep us all in a good mood! You can tell everyone loves what they're doing, entirely committed to the martial art and to their people. I'm excited to excel through the beginner weeks and onto the next class!
Haylee has helped me learn the dynamics of jiu jitsu i recommend Academy 231, very good atmosphere and clean environment
The 5-week beginner Jiu-Jitsu program is fantastic for kids starting out in self- defense. The instructors are great- super knowledgeable and patient, making sure everyone learns the basics of Jiu-Jitsu in a safe and fun way. What I love most is how they group beginners together, so no one feels lost or out of place. Plus, getting a free uniform is a nice bonus! My daughter had a great time, gained so much confidence, and picked up some really useful skills. If you’re thinking about getting your kid started in Jiu-Jitsu, this program is the way to go! 🙂
This is an awesome academy, with super nice staff and kids. My child first day, he was nervous about what he was doing but every kid he was paired with was patient and helped him through the steps. He enjoys going to every class and learning so much and to be respectful to others.
This gym is very welcoming and very respectful! I came here for the first time and all members treated me with respect and guided me into becoming better! Would definitely recommend!!
Academy 231 has a great gym space with great people! The people there push you to improve and are always a blast to roll with. Academy 231 helps you improve your Jiu-Jitsu regardless of what level you’re at when you join them!
Great Academy and super clean environment. They welcomed me in with open arms as a drop in even though I was just passing through from Wyoming. Very technical and would recommend it for anyone that is interested. Thank you so much for the hospitality!
Fun spot. Very welcoming.
great people and great instructor for the beginner classes.
Absolutely love A231! Everyone is so welcoming and more than willing to help you learn! An amazing environment with great people. If you want to start practicing jiu jitsu, this is definitely the place to do it!
Such a warm and welcoming staff. I would recommend this course for any teenagers trying to find their way in the world. The Academy teaches respect and toughness through positivity incorporated in the lessons!
Steve (owner and coach) is so personable, and has created an incredibly welcoming space here for students of all levels. The gym is spacious -- as well as super clean and well-maintained, which so crucial for a grappling gym. Students were all very friendly and amicable. A great place to come and train!
Signed my 11yr old son up while looking for ways he could get more exercise. He was really nervous about starting. Now he enjoys going. Before he would get tired really fast when doing exercise. He's lasting much longer now. I'm also starting to notice a change in his confidence and the way he communicates with his peers overall.
Steve and Academy 231 have provided a great landing spot for me. I have been involved in the sport of wrestling for almost thirty years so it’s been great to be somewhere that has zero expectations of me or to feel the need to prove myself. I get to show up, shut off the outside noise from the world, be surrounded by like-minded people and focus on nothing else but getting better. I definitely recommend 231 to anyone. I am better because of this place and these people.
Signed-up my 6 year old for lessons. He loves it! Love that lessons are co-ed too. The instructors teach fundamentals and add games for the kids at the end. All the kids love it! Great exercise, great instructors, clean facility.
Seems like a nice place from first impressions! I went there Saturday, June 8th for an hour of free rolling and it was a blast! The mats were very clean and the people were very nice. It was a great environment for a beginner. As far as I could see there isn't a drinking fountain or anything like that available. If you plan on going, bringing your own water is absolutely neccasary.
Our kiddos do the 3-6 year old class and we have been nothing but happy with Academy 231! Everyone has been welcoming from the staff, members, and other parents. The environment is clean and spacious. The coaches are so patient and kind with the little ones, getting down to their level when needed and thoroughly explaining information! So grateful we found this place, highly recommend!
My experience at Academy 231 has been first class. Having zero martial arts experience I was able to drop right in to the beginners classes no problem. The curriculum and environment is extremely conducive to learning, no matter your skill level. Couldn’t recommend enough!
When I was traveling to Michigan for work and I got the chance to train at Academy 231! Coach Steve and everyone at the gym was super cool and inviting! Got some good rolls in and learned a slick sweep when you're sitting in technical stand up and your opponent is trying to pass your legs. Definitely looking forward to stopping by again when I get the chance! If you're looking for a place to train in the Muskegon Michigan area definitely check out Coach Steve and everyone at Academy 231, you won't be disappointed! Looking forward to having Steve share the incredible the story of how he started his gym on Fighting for Your Life Podcast! See you guys next time!
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