Carlson Gracie Clapham

For your trial class at Carlson Gracie Clapham, you will be paired with an experienced member who'll guide you through the basics. You should wear sports clothes (shorts/tracksuit and sports top) and our classes run 60-90 minutes and include warm-ups, technique instruction, and optional sparring at your comfort level.

Absolutely not! At Carlson Gracie Clapham, almost all our members started with zero martial arts experience. We welcome complete beginners and all fitness levels. While there's a lot to learn initially, you'll quickly discover the fun side of jiu jitsu. Our experienced training partners and coaches ensure you feel supported from day one.

Absolutely, women are not only welcome but are a vital and growing part of the global BJJ community! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is uniquely suited for women because it emphasises technique, leverage, and strategy over brute strength or size. This means it's an incredibly effective self-defense system that empowers a smaller individual to control and defeat a larger, stronger opponent.

Carlson Gracie Clapham actively fosters a supportive and inclusive environment for women, to build confidence and competence to compete.

BJJ provides immense benefits and we encourage all women to experience the transformative power of BJJ!

Carlson Gracie Clapham offers monthly memberships starting at £50 for one class per week, £70 for two classes per week, or £90 for unlimited classes. Your first trial class is completely free. Gis (uniforms) are purchased separately. All memberships are monthly commitments. All classes are included in your membership with no hidden fees or premium class charges. Start with your free trial and find the membership that fits your schedule at South London's friendliest jiu jitsu gym.

Yes! Jiu jitsu at Carlson Gracie Clapham is excellent for both fitness and weight loss. Most members lose weight while building core strength and improving cardiovascular fitness. The intensity is entirely up to you and your training partner - from slow and technical to high heart rate workouts. You'll often be so focused during sparring that you won't notice how hard you're working, making it more engaging than traditional gym workouts. You'll typically see fitness improvements within a few months. While some members add strength training and stretching, jiu jitsu alone provides a complete workout.

Absolutely. BJJ training, through fight emulation and progressive resistance, builds crucial presence of mind as it is fundamentally a mindfulness practice and the strategic tools for de-escalation. Should a situation turn physical, it programs your subconscious with effective physical solutions. We highly recommend our Tuesday and Thursday No-Gi classes, as they focus on standing wrestling—where most fights begin.

Carlson Gracie Clapham is located at 68 St Rule St, Nine Elms, London SW8 3ED. We're easily accessible by public transport - just 10 minutes from Clapham Common tube station on foot, or take buses 77, 87, and 452 from Vauxhall or Clapham Junction. We run classes every day except Sundays. All classes are beginner-friendly while offering advanced concepts for experienced practitioners. Street parking is available nearby. Ready to start training? Fill in the sign-up form below to book your free trial class at South London's most welcoming jiu jitsu gym.