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Reviews from Jiu-Jitsu Blog members who have trained at Renzo Gracie Austin. Member recommendations raise an academy's Jiu-Jitsu Blog Score.
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Coach Jae and Jason are truly top-notch jiu-jitsu instructors in Texas. Their instruction is exceptionally detailed, purposeful, and thoughtfully tailored to individual development. Each session is run with a clear structure and a deliberate focus on identifying and correcting specific technical and strategic weaknesses. Since beginning private sessions, my overall jiu-jitsu performance has improved noticeably. I have trained under numerous black belts over the years, and Coach Jae stands out as an exceptional instructor whose knowledge, precision, and teaching ability are among the best I have experienced. For anyone serious about long-term improvement, private lessons with Coach Jae are an outstanding investment.
As a 25 year veteran of combat sports, I have found the instruction, community, and culture promoted by RGA to be on point with personal success.
As owners both Marc & Jason are amazing humans. They care about helping students and keep things professional with everyone.
The quality of instruction with Jae and Jason alone is worth the cost of tuition... so all the extras make it truly a gem for those that want a gym that scales itself to fit ANY goal.
I’ve been training at Renzo Gracie Academy for over two years, and it’s hands-down the best gym I’ve ever been to! The instructors are world-class, bringing incredible expertise and passion to every class. The atmosphere is welcoming, and I’ve made tons of great friends here. The facility is awesome with plenty of mat space and parking, making it super convenient. I absolutely love training here and highly recommend it to anyone looking to start or continue their jiu-jitsu journey!
I am visiting from Pennsylvania and attend Daniel Gracie in Philadelphia and since we are affiliated with Renzo Gracie I decided to drop in at Renzo Gracie Austin TX. I was very impressed with the attention to detail in the instruction by a fantastic instructor. They were very welcoming and it felt like I was training with people I have known forever. I will say if you are visiting Austin Texas great drop in school if you live in Austin Texas what are you waiting for go train here you will not regret it. Thank you Renzo Gracie Austin.
Did a new wave drop in. Everyone was super welcoming and encouraging, highly recommended!
Got through a lot of digestible yet related & effective techniques, then there was some positional sparring, finishing with a couple rounds of regular rolling.
100% Legit! Multiple Daily classes with Danaher. Very friendly and welcoming to newcomers. An absolutely fantastic place to learn from the best, where technique is paramount and partner safety and respect are at the highest levels. Definitely the best place I have ever trained. This is how all academies should be run.
I attended the 6:30am class that was instructed by Nicholas Mergali and the class was fantastic! I came in as a drop in and the staff and students were welcoming and friendly. If you're in Austin I highly recommend training here.
Just moved to Austin & signed up at RGA. I really love how many classes are offered at different times, every day of the week. Really helps you fit in training no matter what your schedule is. The professors are really great & they have some of the best in the world teaching. If you're in Austin and wanna do BJJ, check out RGA.
My 11 year old son joined this program and he absolutely loves it! Coaches are amazing! Staff is very friendly and professional! We definitely recommend :)
I moved here from out of town, and Jason, Marc, and all of my training partners couldn't have been more welcoming. Renzo Gracie Austin has world class instructors and if you want improve your Jiu Jitsu, come train!
Awesome gym with awesome people! We drive an hour away (from Temple) so that my 9-year-old daughter can train here. The professors and coaches are very knowledgeable, but also personable. She is a competitor and gets the time, support and attention here unlike any other gym we've dropped into in the area. They also started a moms class, the same time as my daughter's and it has been very fun and convenient for myself. :) Highly recommend for anyone looking for training for themselves or their kiddos.
All 3 of my kids have been attending Renzo Gracie Austin Little Champions classes since September 2022. My kids have developed amazing skills that they use on and off the mat. The confidence and discipline that the coaches at RGA have provided my kids is more than I expected. Looking forward to many more classes :)
Brand new, large facility with plenty of mat space and changing rooms. Bonus is a super cool Bodega counter which sells drinks and jiu jitsu apparel. World level instruction plus a super friendly and respectful staff makes this place amazing for training jiu jitsu and building friendships! Highly recommend!
This place is amazing! We have the best of the best. The instruction is world class, lots of great competitors and fun rolls. Renzos is truly a second home to me.
If you’re looking to just learn some basic self defense skills. This is your spot.
If you’re looking to just get shape. This is your place.
If you are looking to improve your jiu jitsu.. and compete, again, this is your place.
Great environment. Great team of staff. And oh… and world class coaching? What a cherry on top.
Truly a great group of individuals who’ve come together to make RGA a world class training facility.
Excellent academy. Many class options to choose from to fit your schedule. No uptight rules regarding brand of your gi. No rules on cross training with other gyms. They want you to be good at jiujitsu and they care about you and your journey. Worth the effort to visit and try out.
Was really excited and nervous about finding a new Jiu Jitsu gym after moving here from Minneapolis. The coaching staff and the other students are beasts, and I am tea glad I ended up here.
I came to Renzo Gracie Austin in hopes of leveling up my game. 5 weeks in now and I can already feel the benefit of training here. Lots of incredible athletes and a culture where everyone works hard and is focused on improvement. Many classes, so opportunities to train are plentiful regardless of your daily schedule. Staff and instructors are friendly and approachable! I would recommend this gym for anyone wanting to get better at jiu jitsu; whether you’re a competitor or hobbyist, this gym has a place for you!
My family and I have trained here since August 2021. A lot has changed since then, but it is still a great school for high level competitors, hobbyists and kids of all ages.
Instructors are extremely knowledgeable and provide instruction in a safe and comfortable environment.
I came from France to Austin for a wedding, so I stayed there one more week and went to train at RGA. The coaches and teammates were all amazing. Went to a few Meregali classes at 6:30 AM, and to 7 classes with John Danaher. Also went to the adult class at lunch. I wanted to go more, but my 37 yo body couldn't keep up 😅
I stopped in to Austin for a work training class and was invited out to the Warrior Wednesday open mat by a classmate. Coach Jason was very welcoming and invited me out for a New Wave class thr next night and it was excellent. Highly recommend if you are in the Austin area and will definitely visit again whenever I am in town.
Renzo Gracie Austin creates a room that will bring the very best out of you on and off the mats. Roll thru if you are looking for a place to train, and learn from the best in the world. 🌊🦁
Amazing gym. World class instructors with a wealth of knowledge. The black belt owner, Jason is an incredible man with a a great background of jiu jitsu and a love for the martial art. Very welcoming environment. High level room with lots of men and women to learn from. Highly recommend.
Ive gone to visit this gym so many times since it opened and every time is a blast! The staff is super friendly, especially Lisa Marie, she’s always smiling and ready to help. The gym is clean and the vibe is fire. I can’t wait to go back!
In a city that has become the center of jiujitsu, Renzo Gracie Austin is setting the standard. There is something for everyone at this gym. From the beginner kids or adults to the very highest level of competition, they have a curriculum that will suit your needs. There simply is not a higher level of instruction anywhere that I’ve ever seen. Despite the huge amount of visitors they receive, Jason and Lisa are ready to welcome everyone. I loved my experience there and can’t wait to go back.
Came to Austin for work and dropped in. Such a chill and welcoming gym. I’ve trained at so many gyms in so many cities and its rare to see a mix of great vibes and even better training. Felt right at home. Love the extensive schedule and loaner gis too. Will make this my spot every time I visit Austin.
I have trained in several jiu-jitsu gyms throughout the U.S. as well as abroad, and Renzo Gracie Austin is exceptional. It is a discernibly healthy environment that is comprised of a welcoming community of practitioners, upheld by gym owners Jason and Lisa, and reinforced by all of the high-level instructors. It is a gift to receive such a strong variety of teaching perspectives. I’ve never felt safer or more understood rolling in any place. It has been such an empowering experience to train at this facility. I’m very grateful for everything I have been able to learn here in just a short time. Thanks, RGA!
A couple of recent drop in classes with John made an immediate difference in my game. Do yourself a favor and check out this beautiful facility. . . World class instruction and friendly environment.
Jason and team at Renzo Gracie Austin were fantastic. They made it easy to train with them for a month. It's a clean and safe environment. I highly recommend to train here if you find yourself in Austin.
I recently moved to TX from OH and was skeptical about starting over at a new gym! The team at Renzo Gracie Austin made me feel right at home from day one! I feel extremely fortunate and am beyond grateful to be training with such high caliber instructors and teammates.
This is one of the best places to train in Austin, and given Austin's incredible BJJ scene, this makes it one of the best places to train in the world. Between the New Wave no-gi classes and coach Jason's gi classes, the students here are truly lucky to have a world-class environment that is suitable for both pros and hobbyists. I travel extensively for business, and have been in gyms across the US and Asia. This gym is truly on another level.
Our family of 5 moved to the area a couple months ago. We tried out various gyms for the kids' class to see which would be a good fit for our family. We went with Renzo and we are very happy with our choice. Our kids love the instruction and atmosphere. They enjoy the variety of gi and no gi as well as the jiu jitsu games that they play each week. Most importantly, the coaches are caring and loving to our kids. They also provide rules and structure. There is a good balance of both which is what we love about Renzo. My husband and I also train here and feel at home with this gym. We are currently attending the no gi New Wave classes but plan to add other classes into our schedule soon to check out what else the gym offers. Whether you move to the area or are just passing through, we highly suggest you check them out to see what the rage is all about.
Whether you’re looking to have your first day of BJJ or are an experienced pro, RGA is the best place to roll in Austin. Coaching is superb and tailored to your individual needs & skill level. Great facility. Amazing community.
I normally don’t write reviews, but I first stumbled upon this gym as it was the closest one to campus. This place was supposed to be just for me to work out and learn jiu jitsu, but I have now met some of the nicest people and they really make you feel like family here. I have not anyone who won’t try to help you or not be understanding.
To any first responders or veterans, I highly recommend Veterans’s Jiu jitsu, which is hosted at this location on Wednesdays. Little bit harder than regular nights, but the payout is way worth it. Those days are open to everyone; not just vets!
Also this place helped me grow out of my fear of police. After rolling with a good bit of them, I feel safer knowing there are guys in our country like Jason, who try to help train law enforcement with efficient grappling techniques and advice!
I have been training in Jiu Jitsu multiple years now and have trained at other gyms. This gym is one of the best gyms I’ve come across. The Professor is a great instructor and you can tell he enjoys teaching.
Professor Jason teaches the adults and children's class.
Jason is patient but firm with the kids, while he teaches them. The kids are very receptive and respond to Jason’s positive reinforcement and coaching style. The kids really enjoy the class.
Jason also works well with Coach Marc in teaching the adult classes.
The atmosphere is always light but also competitive.
Although a new school, Renzo Gracie academy is building a foundation to be a pillar in the Austin Jiu Jitsu community for years to come.
Since starting BJJ when Renzo Gracie Austin first opened, I’m feeling more confidence to accomplish the things I want in life... and it’s turning me into a resilient savage. Even when I get submitted, still feels like I’m winning cuz I get to do what I love. The fear of not being able to defend myself is gone forever.
All thanks to Professor Jason and Coach Marc, y’all are the best! 🙏
Great academy, great black belt professor, great coaches, great instruction, the classes flow very well. The atmosphere and community is vibrant and expands beyond the premises. This particular location definitely lives up to its name.
Could not be happier to have found such a welcoming place. The coaches are extremely knowledgeable, teammates are encouraging, and the building feels like home. Great for beginners and experts. Always very clean and nice. I recommend any and everyone to go!
Incredible atmosphere and knowledgeable instructors. Jason & Marc are both clearly invested in helping their students become better athletes and disciplined / competent humans. The community emerging at Renzo Gracie is also stellar, everyone is there to learn and the group has a blast training hard.
If you're in the neighborhood and considering BJJ, I strongly recommend you drop in — the inviting instructors / friendly crew are plenty convincing.
Renzo Gracie Austin is a great facility for all. They have classes for veterans, law enforcement and families. Keeping with Austin's tradition of having great vibes. This school has an amazing atmosphere. Once you walk in the door you're family.
One of the best things about this academy is the kids program. They start the kids as young as 3 yrs old building their confidence through fun and discipline insuring they will grow up bully proof.
If you're looking for a fun family atmosphere come visit Renzo Gracie Austin!!
I waited 1.5 months to leave this review to ensure it was not out of emotion. My main reason for writing it is to save the hassle for another beginner and help someone not get hurt. The overall vibe of this gym and theme of my experience is highly unwelcoming and competitive. Most people I interacted with there that worked there, especially the instructor, clearly did not care about teaching.
For context, I am a beginner. I have done some online classes to try to develop some context for jiu jitsu, so that I don't get hurt. My number one reason for attending class is for better personal safety.
I am trying to start up Jiu Jitsu, so I trialed 7 gyms in the area. I figured this one would be a safe pick as Renzo Gracie seems like a good name and there were very good Google reviews. This was my last stop of 7 gyms. 5 of those 7 gyms were really good. 2 were not. This gym was by far the worst.
They established the culture of unwelcome from the beginning email. They took a week or so to reply to my inquiry about coming by for a class with a brief "sure" as a response. No details on the class, no information, etc. I show up 30 minutes early to the class to get a lay for the land and hoping someone can give me a tour and explain the class schedule. There is an army of people still rolling from the last class and several people sitting around in various places of the gym. No one greets me. I can't figure out who actually works there, so I sat down in the nearest chair to try and scope it out. Everyone that is not rolling looks like they are in some intense conversation, so I figure I will just chill to see if someone comes to the desk. I sat there for the entirety of the 30 minutes without anyone interacting with me. This plus the email, I was thinking I should just get out of here, but I stayed to try to give it a chance.
Eventually someone comes to the desk and I sign waiver, etc. They don't really tell me much about the gym despite a few questions I asked. The only real substantive thing they said was " Hopefully class starts on time, xx usually goes over his time." This must be a habit, because we started class 30 minutes late. I did not know who our instructor is or when class was actually starting because again, no-one spoke to me and all the people from the class before were still rolling competitively. Eventually a depressed looking man steps onto the mat and begins to disinfect it. The competitive rollers are not moving, so he just sprays disinfectant on/over them and they scatter one by one. When he is done soaking the mat with chemicals, he sits in the middle of the mat and 4-5 other people come up and sit around him. I assume this is class starting and I am correct.
We get right into it. No warm-up, no introduction, not stretching, no greeting. He just starts doing an example choke. Mind you, the mat is still soaking wet with disinfectant. There are only 6 of us total in this class, so I figured the upside of it being later is that there will be some more time for instruction. Boy was I wrong. This instructor ran through a complex choke really quick and then got up and sat against the wall, leaving the rest of us to find partners and start. Luckily I got paired with someone who was somewhat helpful, although smelled like he had not washed his rash guard in months. This was possibly the only advantage of him and I being covered with disinfectant. The class goes on without any help from the instructor. I don't know what I am doing because this is a complicated movement and he doesn't say a word. He is watching from the sideline and my partner is trying to help me with some of the body positioning, but he is also a learner and is only so helpful. This goes on for 30 mins. I don't learn a thing. My next partner is WILD. Doesn't respect the tap, twists on my neck, and completely jacks up my throat. Instructor does nothing. I eventually just got up and left before I got hurt.
The instruction and setup of the gym is 5 star. I trained here for several months, and during that time, all personal interactions were great. My problem is with the business practices. A year after training here, they started drawing money from my account without notifying me and without my consent. I had been told my account was permanently frozen unless I decided to reactivate it. I did not reactivate it and wasn’t training with them at this time. It had been a year! When I complained, the individual responsible for handling the issue attempted to blame me and referenced an email I never received. He did not apologize and had very poor customer service. I was refunded, but it was a unnecessary hassle and poor communication on their part. To take someone’s money for a service not provided or requested is very sketchy. If you train here and stop services, I’d make sure you contact your credit card company and set a merchant block on them if you put your card on file with this company.
Horrible ethics. The training was great under John Danaher but their business practices is terrible.
I was double charged for monthly membership in January and Febuary of 2025. When emailing them about the double charge they were rude and responded with incoherent logic.
To this day they can't explain why I was double charged for those months and resfus to give me a refund. It felt like I was spit on when they offered me a $100 credit in exchange for their overchange of over $650! Even worse my credit card company won't allow me to do a charge back because it's past 60 days since the transaction date. I guess it's my fault for not looking for a double charge from Renzo Gracie Austin!
For what its worth the staff is super nice in person which is why I was shocked when I got a response like the ones in the screenshots.
Buyer beware. Check you credit card statement for Renzo Gracie Austin scams.
This gym is certainly not for everyone due to several aspects.
First and foremost, as far as one can tell, it prioritizes opinions from higher belts compared to lower belts when there are times of disagreement. To me this seems pretty silly because many beginners come from diverse backgrounds replete of knowledge. Yet because they are beginners (or simply a lower belt in general) they're opinions are seemingly invalidated. This type of behavior has led me to believe that the gym follows a strict, hierarchical structure that must be implicitly followed or else you may find yourself in an unsavory position whilst rolling; it is not unheard of that a bad training partner could potentially break your bones on purpose.
Additionally, it is extremely confusing to me that this occurs especially because one of the gym owners is an ex-police officer. I have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone who serves partly because both of my grandpas were police officers too. Yet this gentleman seems to also follow the idea that higher belts are always correct without questioning otherwise. Jokingly I'd like to think that if this individual discovered evidence of a crime, and there was a purple belt and white belt present he'd automatically side with the higher belt. But who knows I could be wrong about that.
I'm truly very disappointed with this gym and how its conducted. I could go on about other things that have tremendously bothered me about this establishment, but I'm at the point where I don't think it matters. This is due to the fact that I've attempted to give my review here before, but they always take it down. It's concerning that they scrub my opinion from here rather than taking it for what it is. A strong opinion.
