How to Find a Place to Train Jiu Jitsu in Melbourne
Melbourne has BJJ gyms from the CBD to the outer suburbs. This guide covers where to look, class times, gi and no-gi, trial costs and five gyms to try.
Published: October 31, 2026
Key takeaways
- Melbourne's gyms are spread across the whole metro, so the one you'll stick with is usually close to home or on your way to work.
- Several inner-city academies run classes at 6 or 6:30 a.m. and at noon on weekdays, which makes training around an office job realistic.
- Melbourne has plenty of no-gi, and some of its biggest grappling programs are mostly no-gi, while others are almost all gi.
- Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood, Extreme MMA and Dominance MMA Abbotsford are five good places to start.
Melbourne has one of the biggest jiu jitsu scenes in Australia. Our Melbourne page currently lists 126 gyms, from the CBD out to Werribee, Sunbury and Pakenham.
That much choice is great, until you try to pick one. The best-rated gym on paper isn't much use if it's on the wrong side of the Yarra from your house, or if its classes clash with your train home.
This guide covers where to look, when Melbourne gyms run classes, how the gi and no-gi split works, what a trial or casual class costs, and five academies to start with.
Where in Melbourne should you look for a gym?
Most people stick with a Melbourne gym that's within 20 or 30 minutes of home or work. Start with where you'll be on a weeknight, then look at what's nearby.
If you work in the CBD, a gym near your train or tram line makes before-work and lunchtime classes easy. Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD is a minute from Parliament Station, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne is two minutes from Windsor Station, and Dominance MMA Abbotsford has rail and tram access on its doorstep.
If you drive, check the parking before your first visit. Dominance has a large off-street car park, Extreme MMA has a car park behind the gym, and Carlson Gracie points members to free two-hour parking a minute away.
The north and west have plenty of gyms of their own, from Coburg and Reservoir to Point Cook and Werribee. Our Melbourne page maps them all, which makes it easy to spot the ones near you.
When do Melbourne gyms run classes?
Melbourne gyms run plenty of classes before work and at lunchtime, especially in the inner suburbs. Carlson Gracie starts at 6 a.m. every weekday, Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD and Dominance MMA Abbotsford at 6:30 a.m., and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood from 5:30 a.m. on Monday to Thursday.
Lunchtime is just as easy. Absolute, Dominance and Extreme MMA all run noon classes every weekday, and Carlson Gracie trains at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Evening classes run from about 5:30 p.m. until 9 or 10 p.m. Weekends vary more: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood trains seven days a week, while Absolute's CBD gym has no Sunday classes.
Is Melbourne a gi or a no-gi city?
Melbourne has a lot of no-gi, but it has plenty of gi gyms too. The split varies a lot from gym to gym, so check the timetable before you book a trial.
Some big programs are mostly no-gi. About two-thirds of the BJJ classes at Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD are no-gi, and 13 of Extreme MMA's 15 weekly adult BJJ classes are no-gi.
Others are mostly or all gi. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood teaches only in the gi, Carlson Gracie is mostly gi with five no-gi classes a week, and Dominance runs a little more gi than no-gi.
If you don't know which you prefer yet, a gym that teaches both lets you try each before you commit.
What does it cost to try a Melbourne gym?
Most Melbourne gyms offer locals a free trial, while visitors from interstate or overseas usually pay a casual rate. At the time of writing, here's what the five gyms in this guide charge:
| Gym | Trial for locals | Visitors and casual classes | Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD | Free trial class | $45 a day or $79 for 7 days | Ask the gym |
| Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne | Free first class | $30 a class | $99 a fortnight |
| Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood | 10-day free trial | Ask the gym | Ask the gym |
| Extreme MMA | Free trial class | Sunday open mat welcomes casuals | Ask the gym |
| Dominance MMA Abbotsford | Free trial | Ask the gym | $55 to $60 a week |
Carlson Gracie and Dominance both say there's no lock-in contract, and Dominance charges no joining fee.
You don't need your own gi to start, either. Carlson Gracie and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood lend you one for your first class.
If you're visiting, the usual etiquette for training BJJ while traveling applies: book ahead where the gym asks you to, and turn up early.
Five Melbourne gyms to check out
There's no single best jiu jitsu gym in Melbourne, but these five are a good place to start. They're well known, well reviewed and active, and between them they cover the CBD, the inner south-east and the east, with gi, no-gi and beginner classes.
| Gym | Area | Gi or no-gi | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD | CBD | Mostly no-gi | CBD workers and visitors |
| Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne | Windsor | Mostly gi | Early risers and visitors on a budget |
| Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood | Burwood | Gi only | Complete beginners and women |
| Extreme MMA | Malvern East | Mostly no-gi | Lunchtime training and no-gi |
| Dominance MMA Abbotsford | Abbotsford | Both | Early and lunchtime classes near the city |
Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD (CBD)
Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD is in a basement on Exhibition Street, a minute from Parliament Station, with a whole level set aside for grappling. Despite the MMA name, it runs about 26 BJJ classes a week, most of them no-gi.
It's ideal if you work in the city, with BJJ at 6:30 or 6:45 a.m. and at noon every weekday. There are no-gi intro classes for beginners, and free trials are for local residents, while visitors can buy a day or seven-day pass online.
Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne (Windsor)
Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne has trained on Duke Street in Windsor since 2002, two minutes' walk from Windsor Station on the Sandringham line. Its timetable is mostly gi, with no-gi classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
It's a strong fit for early risers, with a 6 a.m. class every weekday, and it charges interstate and international visitors $30 a class to drop in. Locals get a free first class with a loaned gi, and there's a women's self-defence class twice a week.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood (Burwood)
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood is a certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training center on Sinnott Street in Burwood, in the eastern suburbs. Beginners start with a structured program that covers 36 core techniques before moving on to the advanced classes.
That makes it the clearest choice for complete beginners in this guide. The 10-day free trial includes a loaned gi, classes run seven days a week, starting at 5:30 a.m. from Monday to Thursday, and its Women Empowered program is for women aged 13 and up.
Extreme MMA (Malvern East)
Extreme MMA on Warrigal Road in Malvern East, near Chadstone, started out in 1998 as Extreme Jiu-Jitsu & Grappling. Its grappling area has more than 220 square meters of mats, alongside a cage and a strength and conditioning gym.
It's best suited to lunchtime trainers and no-gi fans, with no-gi BJJ at noon every weekday and beginner no-gi classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Its Sunday morning BJJ open mat welcomes casual visitors.
Dominance MMA Abbotsford (Abbotsford)
Dominance MMA Abbotsford is on Harper Street, about 4 km east of the CBD, and has been open since 2002. It trains on more than 650 square meters of mats, with Muay Thai, wrestling and MMA alongside a big BJJ timetable.
It runs BJJ at 6:30 a.m. and at noon every weekday, with gi and no-gi alternating through the week. Intro and fundamentals classes run every weekday, and Saturday mornings bring an intro class and an open mat.
Where else can you train in and around Melbourne?
These five Melbourne gyms are a starting point, not the full picture. With 126 gyms on our map, there's probably a well-reviewed academy closer to your home than any of them.
Our Melbourne page shows them all on one map. Every gym on it is open, has Google reviews and has been checked for BJJ at that location.
If you live further out, Geelong has its own page. Wherever you look, run the same checks for a legit gym and try a class or two before you sign up.
Final thoughts
Melbourne makes it easy to train, as long as you pick a gym that fits your week. Look close to home or work, check the gi and no-gi split, and use the free trials before you commit.
Whether you end up in a CBD basement or a big suburban academy, the right gym is the one you'll still be driving or catching the tram to in a year's time.
FAQ
Can visitors drop in at Melbourne BJJ gyms?
Visitors can drop in at many Melbourne BJJ gyms, usually for a casual fee. At the time of writing, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne charges interstate and international visitors $30 a class, and Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD sells a $45 day pass.
Is there BJJ in the Melbourne CBD?
Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD runs BJJ in the city itself, a minute from Parliament Station, with classes at 6:30 a.m., noon and in the evening on weekdays. Carlson Gracie in Windsor and Dominance in Abbotsford are a short train or tram ride away.
Where can I train no-gi in Melbourne?
No-gi is easy to find in Melbourne. Most of the BJJ classes at Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD and Extreme MMA in Malvern East are no-gi, and Dominance MMA Abbotsford runs no-gi alongside gi every week.
Do Melbourne BJJ gyms offer free trials?
Most Melbourne BJJ gyms offer locals a free trial. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood offers 10 days free, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne a free first class, and Absolute, Extreme and Dominance a free trial, though some keep free trials for local residents only.
Do I need a gi for my first BJJ class in Melbourne?
A gi isn't needed for a first class at many Melbourne gyms, because they lend one. Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood both lend a gi for your first class, and no-gi classes only need a rash guard and shorts.