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Learning jiu-jitsu in South Austin
This guide covers the 19 rooms of South Austin and the central-east side, down through Buda and Kyle — the heart of the city's independent scene: Simple Man in the B-Team lineage, 10th Planet Austin, and the metro's most transparent pricing, from Renzo Gracie's $20 visitor day pass to plans you can actually buy online. For someone just starting, the real question is not "which academy is best" but "which one fits me."
Open mats in South Austin
Rooms whose published schedule prints an open mat, each with the complete recorded summary of that schedule, its source and the date it was read. What an open mat is, and what a beginner does with one
- Atlas Jiu Jitsu, Buda A full weekly grid on the Buda page: Mon/Tue/Thu BJJ Gi/No-Gi 6:30-7:30 PM plus a kids class, Wed No-Gi 7:30-8:30 PM, Fri Gi 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Sat Open Mat 12:00-2:00 PM, Sunday closed source · 2026-08-05
- Integração Jiu Jitsu (IJJ) Austin A full published week: 'Adult Beginner No-Gi' Mon/Wed 6:00-6:45 PM and 'Adult Beginner Gi' Fri 6:00-6:45 PM, each followed by optional live training or open mat. Sixteen adult sessions a week, three named beginner source · 2026-09-01
- Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu South Austin Published as a plain weekly list: four taught adult sessions a week (Mon no-gi, Tue/Thu gi evenings, Wed gi morning) plus a Sunday open mat. Saturday is explicitly closed source · 2026-09-01
A schedule is what the page printed on the day it was read. The academy's card carries the visitor and price facts recorded for it; where admission to an open mat, or its cost, is not published, ask the academy.
Women's classes in South Austin
Rooms whose published schedule or programme page prints a women's or women-only class, each with the complete recorded summary of that fact, its source and the date it was read. What academies publish for women, and what to ask before a first class
- 10th Planet Austin A live calendar with real, differing capacity counters. 'Jiu Jitsu (Beginner)' runs four times a week (Mon–Thu, 6:00 PM) under four different coaches, above eleven 'All Levels' sessions including a 6:00 AM weekday slot. A named 'Women's Self Defense Jiu Jitsu' session runs Mon/Wed 5:30 PM source · 2026-09-01
- Gracie Barra South Austin, founded 2011 A live calendar; 'GB1 Gi - Fundamentals BJJ - All Levels' runs ten times a week (50% of the adult calendar), across lunchtime, early-morning and evening slots. A women's-only GBF class runs Friday 18:30 source · 2026-07-29
- VOW Jiu-Jitsu (Village of Wolves) A full published week: 'New Student Intro' runs 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 27 adult sessions/week, 13 beginner-eligible under the room's own restriction. Gated: Members-Only No-Gi Rounds x4, K.O.T.H. Sparring (Blue+) x1. A Women's Only No-Gi session runs Sunday 12:30 source · 2026-09-01
A summary records what the page printed on the day it was read. Whether a class is women-only or mixed, and who may join, is in the summary where the academy publishes it; visitor and price facts are on the academy's card; where something is not published, ask the academy.
Map
Every academy with a full entry is pinned on the map, and neighborhood-level pins say so. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
10th Planet Austin
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a real schedule before showing up: All Levels at 6 and 11 every morning, Technique All Levels at 6 PM Monday to Thursday, a women's class twice a week — though July's named Beginner class is gone and the live calendar is closed to readers, so the trial books into all-levels slots
Why we say it: The academy's own schedule graphic (read 2026-09-04) carries no Beginner-named class; the free-trial page lists only All Levels slots; the live calendar is disallowed to crawlers since September, so its counters can no longer be cited
A visitor who wants a zero-condition free class today, with the full rate card one click away
Why we say it: The free-trial page lists real bookable slots with no condition, and the full rate card is published as purchasable objects on the signup index (verified 2026-07-29)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialPricing publishedWomen's program
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial class is live and bookable by name today, with no residency, referral or exclusivity condition, into all-levels slots (the Wednesday beginner slot is gone). Drop-ins are now purchasable on the academy's own booking site: $25 open mat, $35 class pass, $50 day pass, beside the $79-a-month open-mat-only membership source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A live calendar with real, differing capacity counters. 'Jiu Jitsu (Beginner)' runs four times a week (Mon–Thu, 6:00 PM) under four different coaches, above eleven 'All Levels' sessions including a 6:00 AM weekday slot. A named 'Women's Self Defense Jiu Jitsu' session runs Mon/Wed 5:30 PM source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Not on the marketing page — the full rate card lives on the academy's own signup index: Monthly Unlimited $250, 2x/Week $209, Open Mat Only $79/mo, Women's Membership $99/mo, Kids $169/mo, among other tiers source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4509 Freidrich Ln #210, Austin, TX 78744 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Curtis Hembroff — confirmed on the academy's own staff roster, coaching multiple 'Jiu Jitsu (Beginner)' sessions each week among 28 named staff source · 2026-09-03
Atlas Jiu Jitsu, Buda
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a real, day-by-day timetable before calling: a full weekly grid on the room's own page, under a decorated head instructor, with a free class confirmed on both the room's site and the network's FAQ
Why we say it: The Buda page publishes a full weekly grid with named class types, and both the Buda page and network FAQ independently state a free class for prospective students (verified 2026-08-05)
Schedule verified Franchise networkFree trialKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- 'Try a Free Class' is the primary CTA site-wide, confirmed on the network's own FAQ. No pricing is published on either channel source · 2026-08-05
- Class schedule
- A full weekly grid on the Buda page: Mon/Tue/Thu BJJ Gi/No-Gi 6:30-7:30 PM plus a kids class, Wed No-Gi 7:30-8:30 PM, Fri Gi 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Sat Open Mat 12:00-2:00 PM, Sunday closed source · 2026-08-05
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2581 South Loop 4, Unit 525, Buda, TX 78610 source · 2026-08-05
- Instructors
- Jim 'Yeti' Niemie — Head Instructor, brown belt under Edward Scissorhands Anthony, training since 2014, with IBJJF top-10 rankings and a USMC infantry background source · 2026-08-05
Dojo Kyle Jiu-Jitsu
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants an unambiguous week-long free trial with no scheduling puzzle: a founded-2011 room co-owned by one of its own first students, now a black belt
Why we say it: The room's own site repeats '7 Days FREE' as its primary CTA, and its about page states Will Caldwell was one of the school's first students before becoming a black belt co-owner (verified 2026-08-05)
Free trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- '7 Days FREE' — repeated site-wide as the primary CTA. A separate limited-time offer is also mentioned with no figure attached source · 2026-08-05
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 111 S. Main Street, Kyle, TX 78640 source · 2026-08-05
- Instructors
- Ryan Shinto — founder (2011). Will Caldwell — co-owner and BJJ black belt, one of the school's first students source · 2026-08-05
East Austin Jiujitsu Parlor ('The Parlor')
Who this academy suits
A beginner anxious about sparring who wants those exact fears answered in writing: a free week trial with zero conditions, a named Fundamentals Coach, and a published Code of Conduct stating 'tap early,' 'ask before increasing intensity,' and 'respect a partner's decision to stop a round'
Why we say it: The room's own site publishes a no-condition free week trial, names a dedicated Fundamentals Coach, and publishes a full Code of Conduct with the quoted safety/consent language (verified 2026-07-29)
Pricing published Free trialDrop-ins welcomePricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- 'We give everyone a free week trial so they can see the space, try a few classes, and make sure the gym is a good fit! If you've already done a week trial, you can purchase a day pass for $40.' No residency, referral or experience condition source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Unlimited $200/mo, Strength & Conditioning $129/mo, Kids $129/mo, Open Gym $69/mo, Private Sessions from $150/hr, Day Pass $40, Week Pass $110. 'No sign-up fees. No contracts.' source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 979 Springdale Rd #111, Austin, TX 78702 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Vince Barbosa — Head Jiujitsu Coach, First Degree Black Belt. Tony Stolfa is a named Fundamentals Coach. Nine coaches named total, four black belts. A name match to a former B-Team instructor is recorded but not confirmed as the same person source · 2026-09-03
Gracie Barra Buda
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants the most generous trial in the metro: a purchasable free week, not merely a claimed one, that runs as long as it takes to decide, under eight named instructors
Why we say it: The room's own booking tenant lists Free Trial as a purchasable 7-class object described as open-ended; eight instructors are named with rank on the academy's own page (verified 2026-07-29)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialDaily beginner classesPricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- 'Free Trial' — a purchasable object on the room's own booking platform, '7 Classes,' 'a week or as long as it takes to be sure Gracie Barra Buda is a good fit for you.' No drop-in or day rate is published anywhere; the free trial is the only visitor door source · 2026-07-29
- Class schedule
- A live, unfiltered calendar: 14 adult BJJ sessions/week, of which 11 are 'All Levels' and 2 are 'GB1 Fundamentals.' The academy's own 'View Schedule' link renders an empty calendar due to a filter misconfiguration, not a closure — the unfiltered calendar is the one that shows real classes source · 2026-07-29
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Adults Unlimited from $206.07/mo, Kids Unlimited from $190.01/mo — figures carry a tax/proration-inclusive 'FROM' qualifier, not a clean list price source · 2026-07-29
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2610 Main Street, Buda, TX 78610 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Eight named instructors with rank on the academy's own page; Professor Orlando Bernal, 3rd Degree Black Belt, is the highest rank and the only one credited with the school's growth — recorded as attributed lead (no single 'head instructor' title is used) source · 2026-09-04
Gracie Barra South Austin, founded 2011
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants the best fundamentals ratio in Austin: a named GB1 class ten times a week — half the adult calendar — flagged free-trial-eligible on the room's own system
Why we say it: The live calendar shows GB1 Fundamentals ten times out of twenty total adult sessions, and every fundamentals session carries the free-trial flag (verified 2026-07-29)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkDaily beginner classesWomen's programPricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free trial is mechanically enabled on both fundamentals sessions, but form-gated on the website. Drop-in is enabled on every class mechanically, but no drop-in price exists in the published catalogue source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A live calendar; 'GB1 Gi - Fundamentals BJJ - All Levels' runs ten times a week (50% of the adult calendar), across lunchtime, early-morning and evening slots. A women's-only GBF class runs Friday 18:30 source · 2026-07-29
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Purchasable memberships: 5-Year Paid in Full (1 year free) $9,500, Month-to-month $199, Once-a-week $189 (flagged Unlimited despite the name). No drop-in product exists source · 2026-07-29
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 8204 Brodie Ln #102, Austin, TX source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Professor Alexandre Ferreira Santos ('Dande') — 4th Degree Black Belt under Master Carlos Gracie Jr., the only employee in the room's own Wodify staff filter source · 2026-07-29
Gracie Humaitá Austin
Who this academy suits
A total beginner who wants zero financial or procedural friction: a standing free beginners class, no sparring, open to every belt, with no form and no condition
Why we say it: The site itself states 'Beginners classes are free to the public' and separately describes the class as 'No sparring involved' — both the room's own words, captured 2026-07-29
Free trialFranchise network
Your first visit
- Free trial
- 'Beginners classes are free to the public' — a standing, unconditional offer with no form, residency clause or membership prerequisite. Everything else is a $30 drop-in fee plus $10 gi rental. Gi rule: white or royal blue only source · 2026-09-04
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 321 W Ben White Blvd, Suite 108, Austin, TX 78704 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Paulo 'Coelho' Brandão — 6th Degree Black Belt, Head Instructor, the only instructor corroborated in Austin context by the page's own testimonials. Four other instructor bios on the same page are Columbia, Missouri sibling-template content and do not render source · 2026-09-03
Integração Jiu Jitsu (IJJ) Austin
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a named 45-minute beginner class in both gi and no-gi, immediately followed by optional live training, plus a written promise that every other class welcomes beginners too
Why we say it: The room's own schedule names beginner classes at fixed weekly times, each followed by optional live training, with an explicit anti-gate sentence directly beneath it (verified 2026-07-29)
Schedule verified Daily beginner classesFree trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial class and no contracts, in the rebuilt site's own words ('your first one is on us'); newcomers are welcome in any class. No price, drop-in rate or membership figure is published anywhere on the site source · 2026-09-03
- Class schedule
- A full published week: 'Adult Beginner No-Gi' Mon/Wed 6:00-6:45 PM and 'Adult Beginner Gi' Fri 6:00-6:45 PM, each followed by optional live training or open mat. Sixteen adult sessions a week, three named beginner source · 2026-09-01
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1600 W Stassney Ln c, Austin, TX 78745 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Gabriel Martins — head instructor, resolved via a cross-read of the recall probe's independent IBJJF dedup note source · 2026-08-05
Paragon Jiu-Jitsu Academy Austin
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a full free week rather than a single trial class, into a class the room labels GI FUNDAMENTALS — though the black belt titled 'Fundamentals Instructor' in July has left, so no named coach carries the role now
Why we say it: The room's own JSON-LD states 'Free week trial available' and the class list prints GI FUNDAMENTALS under the free-week button; the instructors page no longer names a Fundamentals Instructor (re-read 2026-09-04)
Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialPricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- 'START MY FREE WEEK TRIAL' — the room's own words: 'Free week trial available.' Not a single class, a full week — the booking widget served real, dated, bookable slots confirmed against the academy's own hours source · 2026-09-04
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Purchasable memberships: Adult Monthly $200/mo (unlimited), Adult 1-Month (no contract) $230, Kids/Juniors Monthly $170/mo. This conflicts with the site's own JSON-LD metadata ($149-159/mo) — the purchasable object controls source · 2026-07-29
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 6800 West Gate Blvd, Suite 116, Austin, TX 78745 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Robert Dembeck — founder, 3rd Degree Black Belt under Ricardo 'Franjinha' Miller. Corey Stockton is Head Instructor. Five named black belts with lineage; the Fundamentals Instructor named in July, Christian Carter, has left the roster source · 2026-09-04
Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu South Austin
Who this academy suits
A beginner or visitor who wants an explicit free-trial door — separately offered for adults/teens and kids — at a room whose instructor and lineage are corroborated across two independently branded owned channels
Why we say it: Both owned channels publish free-trial registration and name the identical head instructor and his Relson Gracie rank (verified 2026-07-29 / 2026-08-05)
Schedule verified Free trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial is published for two audiences distinctly: adults/teens and kids each have their own registration button, and the schedule page is headed 'Schedule a free trial class!' source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- Published as a plain weekly list: four taught adult sessions a week (Mon no-gi, Tue/Thu gi evenings, Wed gi morning) plus a Sunday open mat. Saturday is explicitly closed source · 2026-09-01
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 8213 Brodie Lane, Suite 107, Austin, TX 78745 source · 2026-07-29
- Instructors
- Richard Giberson — Gracie Jiu Jitsu 2nd Degree Black Belt, the highest rank and only instructor credited with cross-city seminar teaching; recorded as attributed lead. Also named: Ivelin Ivanov (Black Belt), Richard Johnson and Rory Roemisch (Brown Belts) source · 2026-07-29
Renzo Gracie Austin
Who this academy suits
A budget-conscious visitor who wants the cheapest single-visit door in Austin: a $20 unlimited day pass, free for arrivals from a Renzo Gracie affiliate school, with only a gi-colour rule to plan around
Why we say it: The room's own pricing page states the $20 day pass, the affiliate-free rule, and the gi-colour rule in its own words (verified 2026-07-29, page dated 2021-11-15)
Franchise networkDrop-ins welcome
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A visitor day pass is $20 (unlimited that day), free for Renzo Gracie affiliate schools with a visitor card. A conditional free trial exists for serious prospects. Gi-colour rule: blue, white or black only, except Sunday open mat. The pricing page is stamped 2021-11-15; confirm the $20 price before visiting. Membership price is form-gated source · 2026-07-29
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4631 Airport Blvd., STE 114, Austin, TX 78751 source · 2026-07-29
Simple Man Martial Arts
Who this academy suits
A brand-new student who wants an unambiguous on-ramp: a named Fundamentals program reached by appointment rather than a walk-in gamble
Why we say it: The site's own Fundamentals copy names the audience directly; the free trial is by appointment, so a beginner is met by a coach (verified 2026-07-29)
Free trialDrop-ins welcome
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Two doors, sorted by experience: a free trial class for new students, by appointment only (no walk-ins), and a $50 drop-in mat fee for experienced practitioners visiting from other academies source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1701 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX source · 2026-07-29
VOW Jiu-Jitsu (Village of Wolves)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants the most legible on-ramp in Austin: a published 6-week syllabus, a dedicated intro class five evenings a week, and an explicit rule keeping beginners in fundamentals-safe classes for three months
Why we say it: The room's own site publishes a week-by-week syllabus, a five-day-a-week New Student Intro, and the verbatim 3-month beginner restriction (verified 2026-07-29)
Schedule verified Daily beginner classesStructured curriculumDrop-ins welcomeWomen's program
Your first visit
- Free trial
- '$25 Class Pass, online or at the gym' — 'Non-Member drop-ins are welcomed!' A dedicated nav item backs it: 'Register with no hassle and no commitment!' Membership price is not published source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A full published week: 'New Student Intro' runs 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 27 adult sessions/week, 13 beginner-eligible under the room's own restriction. Gated: Members-Only No-Gi Rounds x4, K.O.T.H. Sparring (Blue+) x1. A Women's Only No-Gi session runs Sunday 12:30 source · 2026-09-01
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 5555 N Lamar Blvd H115, Austin, TX 78751 source · 2026-07-29
Academies being verified
We are re-confirming the essentials: class schedules and trial mechanics. Each academy joins the full guide once its facts meet the bar.
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American Vintage Society · Official site17020 S I-35, Buda, TX · Professor Johnny Gomez — Black Belt BJJ instructor under Gracie Humaitá, 24 years on the mats, named with a full bio on the room's own about pageLast checked: 2026-08-05
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Austin Jiu-Jitsu Collective · Official site2032 S Lamar Blvd Unit B, Austin, TX 78704 · (512) 265-1110Last checked: 2026-09-03
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Debss BJJ / Supreme Academy ATX · Official site161 Weldon Johnson Way Suite A, Kyle, TX 78640 · (512) 268-9010 · Antonio W. Debss — 4th-degree Judo black belt, 2nd-degree BJJ black belt, '2019 World Medalist' · 'Beginner and Advanced BJJ' is a named program on the nav, alongside Judo, Kids Jiu-Jitsu and fitness offerings — but no class times or level structure accompany the nameLast checked: 2026-08-05
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Gracie Austin Jiu Jitsu · Official site4619 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78745 · 512-593-1789 · Professor Adam Martinez — Chief Instructor/Owner, 3rd Degree Black Belt under Royce Gracie (also Judo and Kajukenbo black belt ranks). A self-published 'UFC Referee' credential was not independently verifiedLast checked: 2026-09-04
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The OpenMat Co. (Ochoa) · Official site7085 Milo Way, Kyle, TX 78640 · Joe Ochoa — Head Coach, Black Belt BJJ under Dean Lister and Dave Dunn; curriculum spans Judo/BJJ/WrestlingLast checked: 2026-08-05
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Vasquez Academy · Official site12110 Menchaca Rd #401, Austin, TX 78748 · Rudy Vasquez — named as the account operator on the room's own Instagram, confirmed 2026-08-05. No rank or lineage is published on either owned channel · 'FREE Week Trial!' — the room's own landing-page claim, with no schedule or pricing published alongside itLast checked: 2026-08-05
Frequently asked questions
Which academies in South Austin offer a free trial?
10th Planet Austin: A free trial class is live and bookable by name today, with no residency, referral or exclusivity condition, into all-levels slots (the Wednesday beginner slot is gone). Drop-ins are now purchasable on the academy's own booking site: $25 open mat, $35 class pass, $50 day pass, beside the $79-a-month open-mat-only membership; Atlas Jiu Jitsu, Buda: 'Try a Free Class' is the primary CTA site-wide, confirmed on the network's own FAQ. No pricing is published on either channel; Dojo Kyle Jiu-Jitsu: '7 Days FREE' — repeated site-wide as the primary CTA. A separate limited-time offer is also mentioned with no figure attached; East Austin Jiujitsu Parlor ('The Parlor'): 'We give everyone a free week trial so they can see the space, try a few classes, and make sure the gym is a good fit! If you've already done a week trial, you can purchase a day pass for $40.' No residency, referral or experience condition; Gracie Barra Buda: 'Free Trial' — a purchasable object on the room's own booking platform, '7 Classes,' 'a week or as long as it takes to be sure Gracie Barra Buda is a good fit for you.' No drop-in or day rate is published anywhere; the free trial is the only visitor door …
How do I book a trial class?
It differs by academy. Where we could verify the booking method, it is listed under "Your first visit" in that academy's entry; otherwise, asking through the academy's official channel is the most reliable route.
I'm a complete beginner. Can I just show up?
It differs by academy. Entries show where a fundamentals program and first-visit process are verified. For the rest, check with the academy before visiting. For what a first class actually feels like, see the beginner posts on our blog.