4711 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA
Great instructor and communication, responds promptly. Easy to stop by/drop in, sign up is easy. Instructors and participants are welcoming and awesome. Highly recommend!
Posted 10 months ago
I've visited many bjj gyms in the area, and decided to sign up here, which to me says a lot given the number of great gyms around. The instruction is top notch and the students are friendly. I am very glad this place is here.
Posted 11 months ago
Great Jiu Jitsu program in Des Moines! All levels welcome - solid fundamentals classes for beginners and plenty of hard rolls for folks who like to get after it! Owner Carsten is a top tier instructor who takes care to explain the details behind techniques.
Posted 1 year ago
I was in town for business. I called Carsten and was able to drop in for a Gi class. Great environment, great technique, and great class. I would suggest for you, or your family. Jiu Jitsu make travel all the better!
Posted 1 year ago
As a fellow gym owner in the Des Moines metro, I have immense respect and admiration for the community and culture that Carsten and his students have built at Renzo Gracie Des Moines. Their gym has become an epicenter for the area’s best to cross-train, exchange knowledge, and elevate each other’s skills. They’ve moved beyond outdated traditions that no longer serve the martial arts community while maintaining a high standard of respect, discipline, and technical excellence. I owe a significant portion of my growth as both a practitioner and coach to the people who make up this gym, and I strongly encourage anyone, even my own students, to take advantage of the high-level training environment that Renzo Gracie Des Moines provides.
Very welcoming community and Carsten is very personable and does a great job teaching in a very detailed manner. Highly recommend!
Great gym, very clean, very friendly and welcoming of new folks. I'm pretty new to BJJ, was visiting from out of town and got as good a class as the regulars. Carsten is a good instructor, very good with beginners. I'd really recommend Renzo Gracie Des Moines to anyone looking to join a positive space, get an amazing workout, and learn a new skill.
Best Jiu Jitsu experience in DSM While visiting Des Moines for the weekend I dropped in to the afternoon class at Reno Gracie Academy DSM. I’m a white belt, so it can be intimidating dropping into any gym, but I’m happy to say that this was a very positive experience. The owner and head instructor Carsten was welcoming and ran a well structured class. The gym was very clean, and had plenty of mat space. Each person I rolled with was very respectful, never out of control over too aggressive. I can say with confidence that this was the best Jiu Jitsu class experience I’ve had to date. I highly recommend if you’re visiting or live in the DSM area to check out Renzo Gracie DSM!
There are many great attributes to describe this gym. The values I see of this gym; having fun, in a community, having consistency, working hard, honest, and a safe place for people. There are a bunch more, you get the point though. Carsten is a great coach, the more I’ve trained the more I’ve been able to appreciate that. The best day I’ve had at Renzos, was my first day and I can say the same for many people there. I’m proud to be apart of Renzo Gracie Des Moines. If you’re reading this, this is the place and we will welcome you just as we all have been.
Great gym and people. I dropped in from out of town, the members couldn’t have been more welcoming. Highly recommend!
Dropped in while in town. Carsten made the process super easy and is a great teacher as well. Highly recommend!
Best place to train at Des Moines!!! I LOVE IT
I dropped in for a free trial. I've been a BJJ practitioner for quite a long time. Everyone here was very kind and inviting. Professor Carsten was a very smart and detailed instructor. I will be back next week to hand over my money. Love this place! Amazing first impression
I dropped in during a wrestling tournament, and I was impressed by the atmosphere. Every partner I had was focused on getting me better at whatever I was working on. The community fosters a fantastic culture, where help each other. If I find myself in Des Moines again, I won't hesitate to return. Exceptional individuals and an amazing atmosphere
My 8 yo is very new to BJJ and he is loving it so far. Other gyms have the ratio of kids to coaches way too high. RGA has the opposite approach. Class sizes are much smaller and there is way less chaos. They can really give each kid a ton of individual observation and instruction. The difference is phenomenal. Very grateful for this gym.
Great academy. Clean facilities and excellent instructors. Thanks for letting me drop in when I came for work.
The best BJJ school in North America
Always welcoming group and always get great training when I visit
We’re from Texas and always check out the BJJ gyms wherever we travel. We were impressed with this one. First of all, it was super clean and even had showers. Training was top notch. It had a smooth transition from technical to situational, and finally the rounds. It was a very inclusive environment, we felt welcomed and comfortable to ask questions. The teammates were respectful. We recommend this gym.
Absolutely love this gym and the people in it. Carsten is a great person, instructor, and friend. The community here has something for everyone -- hobbyists, competitors, women, men, younger, older. I'd highly recommend anyone to try it out/drop in.
Dropped in from out of town for an open mat, had a great time, super friendly and inviting! Definitely looking forward to training again when I am in town!
Best jiu-jitsu in Des Moines.
I’ve trained at 6 different gyms in 3 states and Renzo Gracie DSM had the best instruction. They will teach you the little details that make the difference when you apply techniques in a live scenario. Everyone is welcoming and when it comes to sparring the energy you bring is the energy you get. I couldn’t be happier with RGADSM.
I was in Des Moines for the night & stopped in for open mat. Derrick & everyone else was extremely welcoming. Great gym overall!
I am a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and I can tell you guys that in radius of minimum 500 miles you will not find better place to train Jiu Jitsu, it doesn’t matter what level you are at, what age , this is the best place to learn and be surrounded by nice people and awesome coach ( Carlsen Carsten) OSS
I'm from Des Moines but don't live here anymore. I decided I wanted to train while I'm in town visiting family. I was very welcomed to classes and I enjoyed my visit. Stellar Jiu Jitsu is taught here! I will definitely be training here every time I'm in town. If you are looking for great training and friendly people, this is your gym.
Good Teaching - very technical group - I got smashed and I'm happy about it - I was just visiting but I would highly recomend.
Carsten, is an amazing instructor, he is very knowledgeable and patient. Carsten is also very aware of everyones need and does a good job at making sure everyone is getting what they need from training. This jiu jitsu gym is great for men and women a like. Carsten also has kids programs. If your wanting to shed some pounds, make new friends or learn the most effective self defense style known to man, this is the class for you! The people at this gym are friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend this gym to everyone!
Out of town guy guy that dropped in. Friendly environment and top not training. Recommend.
Hands down the best Jiu Jitsu gym in the Des Moines/West Des Moines area. Incredibly welcoming teachers, taught in a easy to learn manner, and overall a great time. You’ll look forward to every training session, it doesn’t even feel like a workout.
Love the atmosphere and Carsten’s instruction. His detail & passion for Jiu-Jitsu is second to none. My spouse and 3 children train here and are treated like family by peers and instructors alike. Incredible place for anyone to begin or continue training. Highly recommend!
Friendly staff and seems to be a great place to train.
I was in DSM for business and attended a couple of classes at RGADSM and I must say I was very impressed with Carsten. His attention to detail and knowledge of JiuJItsu was above reproach and even though I was a visitor, he treated me as one of his students. Carsten, I want thank you for the classes and the lessons on the mat. For all the Guys and Gals at RGADSM, thanks for the rolls and making feel at home. I'm looking forward to my next trip to DSM. For anyone living in DSM, this is a top notch school and would be my school if I lived here.
Renzo Gracie Academy Des Moines and Coach Carsten have both elevated my jiu jitsu game since moving to Des Moines. One of the best aspects to being coached by Carsten is his attention to detail. His ability to break down each technique and spot your missteps has helped me to re-focus on bad habits I had developed , and for brand new students allowed them to build the right foundation up front. I recommend Jiu-jitsu to just about everyone and there is no better place to learn it in the Des Moines area than RGADSM.
Highly recommend! Carsten is a fantastic instructor and is incredibly welcoming. If you're looking for Jiu-Jitsu in Des Moines IA, then Renzo Gracie Academy Des Moines is a great choice!
RGADSM is an outstanding addition to the BJJ scene in the Des Moines area. Owner/instructor Carsten is top notch and is perfect for whatever your BJJ goal is whether it be competition, fitness, or hobbyist. He is an accomplished competitor himself, extremely knowledgeable and very patient with those just starting out on their jiu jitsu journey. The atmosphere at the school is very friendly and inviting, but make no mistake, when it is time for class you will learn, work, and sweat. There is no other workout like it. Classes are offered both during the day and evening which is an added bonus. If you get a chance come try a class!
Des Moines is very fortunate to have RGADM. Carsten is a knowledgeable instructor that makes learning BJJ a great experience for all levels. I appreciate the focus on building community and highly recommend them.
Carsten is a great coach who brings high level jiu jitsu and a wonderful attitude! Very attentive with your game as he is genuinely trying to improve his students! Highly recommend!
Carsten is an amazing coach, and there is a great class atmosphere! Couldn't be happier with my decision to attend RGADM!! If your interested in BJJ and looking for a great way to get in shape, this is the place!
Carsten is the real deal. He has an innate ability to break down techniques and teach them in a way that all levels can understand and apply them. Carsten is not only friendly, but deeply passionate about Jiu Jitsu. We are so lucky to have the caliber of skill he possesses in Des Moines. Bonus he looks like a strapping young Paul Newman with a good head of hair.
I absolutely have fallen in love with training at Renzo Gracie Academy Des Moines- I was also lucky enough to start at the right place, with the right coach Carsten Carlsen. As a life long strength & conditioning coach and nutrition coach, coaching is my forte. I understand and study the art. Coach Carsten is everything you could ask for in a coach and BJJ mentor, plus some. His speed is your speed, and he can be as strong as a lion yet as gentle as a lamb in the same class. It's really something to witness, and awesome to be a part of. I very much am "the new guy" at school. And I'm happy being that guy. I'm a firm believer in a "white belt mentality" and will continue to have that when I've completed hour 5,000...and if I don't have that mentality I'll never make it that far... -That's the beauty of Jiu Jitsu- If you live in Des Moines and are looking for something new, fun, and challenging both physically and mentally I can't recommend Renzo Gracie Academy Des Moines enough. You won't regret walking into Carsten's class and will leave a better man/women because of it.
Carston was a perfect host. He communicated very clearly. His technique was outstanding, and his demeanor was superb. Thank you so much for having me. I travel a lot for work and train at many different gyms. Renzo Gracie Des Moines and Carston will go down as one of the best! I will definitely be back next time I’m in town. Thanks Carston! Mike
If the kids class was shaped like the adult class this would be the best gym within the state of Iowa but it's not so much left on the table. Carsten is a great guy kind, methodical, and talented. It's unfortunate it didn't workout for us. If you are looking for a softer easy going class this is for your child. That's wonderful you want to create fun learning environment for the children. Some kids thrive off a competitive environment instead of games. Our child was flat out bored and told us so repeatedly. If we had a suggestion it would be let the kids roll. Thanks.
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