Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Schools in Iowa

50 of the 241 martial arts schools we track in Iowa have a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program. "Martial arts" on a map search lumps BJJ mats in with karate dojos, taekwondo studios, and kickboxing gyms, so grappling-specific searches drown in strikers that never teach a guard pass. Every school tagged here has BJJ confirmed as an actual class on its own schedule or program page, not just a mention in a general "martial arts offered" list. Full listings for every city are on the Iowa page.

Des Moines 5

Des Moines Jiu-Jitsu Academy BJJ / grappling

841 11th St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1544

+15159990278 Website All Des Moines martial arts schools

Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Kids classesBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingMMA

617 Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313

+15153714170 Website All Des Moines martial arts schools

Iowa Martial Arts and Wellness Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingMMA

2580 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321-1125

+15156641900 Website All Des Moines martial arts schools

Pinnacle Jiu-Jitsu Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMMA

340 Wright Rd. Suite G, Des Moines, IA 50316

🕒 Thursday from 5:30-6:30 PM

+15158500096 All Des Moines martial arts schools

Renzo Gracie Academy Des Moines Kids classesBJJ / grappling

4711 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311-3301

+15155054259 Website All Des Moines martial arts schools

Council Bluffs 4

Council Bluffs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grappling

300 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-4428

+17127961558 Website All Council Bluffs martial arts schools

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Council Bluffs Kids classesBJJ / grappling

3415 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51501-3289

+17123555703 Website All Council Bluffs martial arts schools

Sho Rei Shobu Kan BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo

1600 High St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

+17123221510 Website All Council Bluffs martial arts schools

The Best Jiu Jitsu BJJ / grappling

5 Arena Way, Council Bluffs, IA 51501-6991

+17123100547 Website All Council Bluffs martial arts schools

Iowa City 4

Arroyo Grappling Academy BJJ / grappling

1604 Sycamore St, Iowa City, IA 52240-4666

+13192448250 All Iowa City martial arts schools

Citadel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMMA

2325 Naples Ave SW, Iowa City, IA 52240-7608

+13198558110 Website All Iowa City martial arts schools

Iowa City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu BJJ / grappling

2001 Stevens Dr, Iowa City, IA 52240-4347

+13193585945 Website All Iowa City martial arts schools

Iowa City Karate BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondoMMA

2400 N Dodge St, Iowa City, IA 52245

🕒 Tuesdays & Thursdays at 5:45pm – 6:45pm

+13193212646 Website All Iowa City martial arts schools

Davenport 3

Breaking Point Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMMA

3840 W River Dr, Davenport, IA 52802-2412

+13094287410 Website All Davenport martial arts schools

Kingdom Warrior Jiu Jitsu Academy BJJ / grappling

1605 N Harrison St, Davenport, IA 52803-4863

+15632238722 All Davenport martial arts schools

Nick Tarpein's Martial Arts BJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo

235 W 35th St, Davenport, IA 52806-6141

+15633864240 Website All Davenport martial arts schools

Cedar Rapids 2

Mission Athletics BJJ / grappling

5265 Rockwell Dr NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-2014

+13194030399 Website All Cedar Rapids martial arts schools

Tipping Point Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BJJ / grappling

5313 N Park Pl NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-6216

+13194403063 Website All Cedar Rapids martial arts schools

Clinton 2

Iowa Top Team Boxing & Jiu-Jitsu Free trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxing

123 Main Ave, Clinton, IA 52732

🕒 FRIDAY 5PM-7PM

+15732893921 Website All Clinton martial arts schools

Iowa Top Team Mixed Martial Arts Free trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingMMA

232 5th Ave S, Clinton, IA 52732

🕒 FRIDAY 5PM-7PM

(563) 241-2816 Website All Clinton martial arts schools

Fort Dodge 2

Faiferlick Martial Arts Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondoMMA

326 S 25th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-4316

🕒 Mon-Thurs 4pm – 8pm Fri 5pm – 7 pm Sat 1pm

+15155707532 Website All Fort Dodge martial arts schools

Southside Martial Arts Kids classesBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingMMA

1028 S 22nd St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-6125

+15155711352 Website All Fort Dodge martial arts schools

Grinnell 2

Gus CBBA Grinnell Free trial classBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo

1331 Hobart St, Grinnell, IA 50112

(641) 485-7625 Website All Grinnell martial arts schools

Squared BJJ Grinnell BJJ / grappling

1201 10th Ave, Grinnell, IA 50112-1200

All Grinnell martial arts schools

Pella 2

Pella Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxing

926 Opportunity Place, Pella, IA 50219

+16197980551 Website All Pella martial arts schools

Triumph Martial Arts: Jiu-Jitsu • Taekwondo • Krav Maga BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo

1582 Washington St, Pella, IA 50219

+18666488480 Website All Pella martial arts schools

Altoona 1

10th Planet JiuJitsu Des Moines BJJ / grappling

301 9th St NE, Altoona, IA 50009-4213

+15159578622 All Altoona martial arts schools

Ames 1

Alliance Ames Brazilian JiuJitsu Kids classesBJJ / grappling

104 Kellogg Ave, Ames, IA 50010

+15155204308 Website All Ames martial arts schools

Burlington 1

Kutting Edge Jiu-Jitsu Academy BJJ / grappling

724 N 3rd St, Burlington, IA 52601-5025

+13197689422 All Burlington martial arts schools

Coralville 1

Ascent Jiu Jitsu BJJ / grappling

708 5th St, Coralville, IA 52241-2337

+13192200520 Website All Coralville martial arts schools

Cumming 1

Grappling Ronin BJJ / grappling

1183 Warren Ave, Cumming, IA 50061

+15154181145 Website

Dubuque 1

Dubuque Jiu-Jitsu Free trial classBJJ / grappling

3135 Cedar Crest Rdg, Dubuque, IA 52003-6740

+16085743794 Website All Dubuque martial arts schools

Fort Madison 1

Olive Branch Jiu Jitsu Kids classesBJJ / grappling

802 Avenue G, Fort Madison, IA 52627-4553

🕒 Monday: 10 AM–11 AM & 6 PM–8:30 PM

+13194709717 Website

Harlan 1

Midwest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BJJ / grappling

915 7th St, Harlan, IA 51537

+17122696599 Website

Hiawatha 1

Phoenix Down Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Free trial classBJJ / grapplingMMA

2050 Boyson Rd, Hiawatha, IA 52233-2397

+13193203665 Website

Jefferson 1

No Coast Jefferson Kids classesBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxing

105 N Chestnut St, Jefferson, IA 50129

+15153701784 Website

Logan 1

Loess Hills Martial Arts Kids classesBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo

112 S 4th Ave, Logan, IA 51546

+17122161687 Website

Manchester 1

Crucible BJJ BJJ / grappling

412 Lincoln St, Manchester, IA 52057-2028

+13195388745

Marshalltown 1

Zura Jiu-Jitsu BJJ / grappling

104 E Linn St, Marshalltown, IA 50158-2901

+16417511412 Website All Marshalltown martial arts schools

Nevada 1

Main Street Jiu Jitsu BJJ / grappling

1121 6th St, Nevada, IA 50201-1827

+15152155098 Website

Newton 1

Newton GusCBBA Free trial classBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo

1000 E 12th St S, Newton, IA 50208

(641) 485-7625 Website All Newton martial arts schools

Norwalk 1

Pinnacle University BJJ Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMMA

340 Wright Rd, Norwalk, IA 50211-1603

🕒 Thursday from 5:30-6:30 PM

+15158500096

Ottumwa 1

Guardian Jiujitsu and Judo BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo

102 S Market St, Ottumwa, IA 52501-2921

+16417778371 Website

Robins 1

Revolution Martial Arts and Fitness Center Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondoMMA

945 Robins Square Dr, Robins, IA 52411

+13195508328 Website

Sioux City 1

Jiu Jitsu Unlimited Kids classesBJJ / grappling

6009 Gordon Dr, Sioux City, IA 51106

+17125222845 Website All Sioux City martial arts schools

Spirit Lake 1

Jiu Jitsu Okoboji BJJ / grappling

1900 41st St, Spirit Lake, IA 51360

+17123369622 Website

Urbandale 1

No Coast BJJ Kids classesBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxing

8104 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322-2474

+15158229425 Website All Urbandale martial arts schools

Vinton 1

Grind Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BJJ / grappling

1007 W 4th St, Vinton, IA 52349-1018

+13194311868 Website

West Des Moines 1

Zero Dojo Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondoMMA

2600 University Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266-1456

+15154145531 Website All West Des Moines martial arts schools

Woodbine 1

Iowa Jiu Jitsu and More BJJ / grappling

501 Weare St, Woodbine, IA 51579-1225

Ask about gi vs. no-gi before you show up. Most academies run separate gi and no-gi classes on different nights, and some require your own gi by the second week — a decent Gameness or Fuji starter runs $60-90. Also check the school's competition lineage (who's the black belt under, and which federation they compete in); it tells you more about instruction quality than the website ever will.

Also in Iowa

Good to know about brazilian jiu-jitsu schools

How much do BJJ classes cost per month?
Most U.S. academies charge $150-200/month for unlimited BJJ classes, with some bundling in no-gi or open mat for the same price. Drop-in classes typically run $20-30, and many gyms waive the enrollment fee if you sign up during a trial week.

Do BJJ gyms offer a free trial class?
Yes — the large majority of U.S. BJJ academies, including chains like Gracie Barra and 10th Planet affiliates, offer one free trial class or a discounted first week (often $19-49) so new students can try a roll before committing to a monthly membership.

How to become a certified yoga instructor?
To become a certified yoga instructor, complete a Registered Yoga School program, usually requiring 200 hours of training covering anatomy, philosophy, and instruction techniques. Afterward, register with an official organization like Yoga Alliance to receive your credential. For guided martial arts and fitness instructor pathways, explore options on MartialArtsAtlas.

Where did brazilian jiu jitsu come from?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu originated in Brazil in the early 20th century. It developed from Kodokan Judo ground fighting fundamentals brought to South America by Japanese martial artist Mitsuyo Maeda, which were then adapted by the Gracie family. MartialArtsAtlas helps students find qualified BJJ academies nationwide.