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Learning jiu-jitsu in eastern Seoul
This guide covers the academies of Jamsil, Songpa, Gangdong, Gwangjin, Seongsu, and the Wangsimni corridor, east of the center on both sides of the river. For someone just starting, the real question is not "which academy is best" but "which one fits me." This guide exists to answer that question.
Map
Only academies with verified information appear on the map. Grey pins mark verified addresses for academies still being confirmed.
Gangdong US Jiu-Jitsu, Gil-dong
Who this academy suits
Someone who wants zero pricing surprises: full adult and kids rate cards, day pass, and gi price, all published by the gym
Why we say it: The own pinned notice carries the complete adult and kids price tables (verified 2026-07-16)
A true first-timer who wants company: the gym states most adult members started with no background, and the free trial books online
Why we say it: The own notice states the beginner-majority adult mat and the Naver-booked free trial (verified 2026-07-16)
A parent weighing kids programs in Gangdong: a four-day elementary track with a published price table and a demand-driven new slot
Why we say it: The own notices list the four-day kids schedule, the July 2026 expansion, and the kids price table (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Pricing published Pricing publishedFree trialNaver bookingKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial class, booked through Naver booking or by phone
- Class schedule
- Adults Mon-Fri at 7pm and 9pm; elementary kids Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri afternoons with a new 4pm class from July 2026 (per the gym's February 2026 notice)
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Adults: 180,000 KRW a month for 3+ days a week (500,000 for 3 months, 850,000 for 6), 150,000 for twice a week, 100,000 for once; day pass 30,000; gi 120,000. A separate kids table is published
- Programs
- An elementary kids program four days a week, with its own published price table
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 5F Suites 501-502, 1496 Yangjae-daero, Gangdong-gu, Seoul (2 min from Gil-dong Station)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Jung Hyun-seok teaches directly; by the gym's own account a black belt with a KNSU master's degree and national coaching certifications
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Munjeong
Who this academy suits
A nervous first-timer wanting a structured, non-competitive start: a fixed Combatives beginner curriculum and a 10-day free trial with gi rental
Why we say it: The own posts define the beginner track as Gracie Combatives and publish the first-timer 10-day free trial with gi rental (verified 2026-07-16)
A Munjeong law-town office worker: a weekday lunchtime beginner class, one minute from Munjeong Station exit 4
Why we say it: The own notice launches the lunchtime beginner class for the office crowd and the address sits at Munjeong Station exit 4 (verified 2026-07-16)
Someone who wants a teacher who remembers being scared: the head came through an early injury, chose the Gracie system for safety, and frames the room around growth over competition
Why we say it: The head's own intro post tells the injury story, the 2014 start at GJJ Seoul, and the non-competitive mission (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Free trialStructured curriculumDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A 10-day free trial for first-timers: regular classes, free gi rental, booked by phone or Instagram DM
- Class schedule
- A weekday lunchtime beginner class (11:50-12:50) plus the fixed Combatives beginner track and Master Cycle advanced track; full grid on the blog notice
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1 Suite 110, Building B, 128 Beobwon-ro (Munjeong SKV1), Songpa-gu, Seoul; 1 min from Munjeong Station exit 4
- Instructors
- Head instructor Yoo Seung-hun, by the gym's own account a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt with 11+ years in the system since 2014
Jiu-Jitsu World Jamsil (Samjeon)
Who this academy suits
A Songpa beginner who wants the first step to cost nothing: a written one-time free trial, a beginner welcome, a minute from Samjeon Station
Why we say it: The own bio prints the free trial and beginner welcome; the own blog publishes the address by the station (verified 2026-07-16)
Free trialKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- One free trial class, per the gym's own notice
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids class is open for enrollment
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1, 9 Baekjegobun-ro 22-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul (a minute from Samjeon Station)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Lee Jun-seok
- Belt
- Black belt, as the gym publishes it
Knee On Belly Jiu-Jitsu, Seongsu
Who this academy suits
An after-work starter in Seongsu: two all-level evening sessions every weekday, taught by the black-belt head
Why we say it: The own pinned timetable lists Mon-Fri 18:30 and 20:00 all-level sessions taught directly by the black-belt head (verified 2026-07-16)
Someone who wants published prices first: the gym posts its full rate card, from 180,000 KRW a month to a 6-month plan with a free gi
Why we say it: The own pinned notice publishes the 1/3/6-month price table and member benefits (verified 2026-07-16)
A beginner who cares about the gear-and-culture side: the gym is run by the gi-shop company itself, flagship store one floor up, with member perks
Why we say it: The company profile states it runs shop and gym together; the pinned notice lists the 3F store and member perks (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Pricing published Pricing publishedParking
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- Mon to Fri, two all-level sessions: 18:30-19:30 and 20:00-21:30; Saturday open mat (time varies), closed Sundays and holidays
Classes and cost
- Membership
- 1 month 180,000 KRW; 3 months 450,000 KRW and 6 months 780,000 KRW, both with a free gi; members get 10% off the Fighters Market shop and free gi and belt embroidery
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2F, 3 Seongsuil-ro 6-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (5 min from Ttukseom exit 5 or Seongsu exit 4)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Yoon Se-hyun, by the gym's own account an IBJJF-certified black belt and a direct student of Baret Yoshida
- Parking
- Parking available after 6pm
Phone 070-7599-0508 (calls 10am to 6pm; after hours use the KakaoTalk channel) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
Techne Jiu-Jitsu Wangsimni HQ
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants new people taken seriously: a named beginner program with its own 20:00 slot, separate from the general class
Why we say it: The own March 2026 timetable post separates the 20:00 beginner time from the 20:30 general time, and the notice carries a beginner-program post (verified 2026-07-16)
An early riser near Wangsimni: a 7am Mon-Wed class, one to two minutes from the station exits
Why we say it: The own 2025-11-04 post announces the Mon-Wed 7-8am class and the profile places the room 1-2 minutes from the station (verified 2026-07-16)
Someone who wants a lineage that stays: the network's head room, whose head has promoted students through black belt, including its Sejong branch head
Why we say it: The own blog documents the June 2026 black-belt ceremony and the Sejong head's promotion from this HQ (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Franchise networkEarly morning classesDaily beginner classes
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- An evening beginner slot at 20:00 and a general slot at 20:30, plus a Mon-Wed 7-8am morning class (per the March 2026 notice; full grid on the blog)
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1, 4-24 Haengdang-dong (14 Majo-ro 1ga-gil), Seongdong-gu, Seoul; 1-2 min from Wangsimni Station exits 6 or 13-1
- Instructors
- Head instructor Lee Hyun-rae; the gym's own blog documents him promoting students through black belt (June 2026 ceremony)
Wire Jiu-Jitsu Gangdong
Who this academy suits
A total beginner who wants the door opened: a written free day trial, a mandatory newcomer orientation, and a Saturday absolute-beginner class
Why we say it: The own notice prints the free day trial; the pinned timetable requires the newcomer orientation and lists the Saturday absolute-beginner class (verified 2026-07-16)
Someone comparing on price and time: a published fee table from 130,000 KRW a month, a complete weekly grid with lunch classes, three minutes from the station
Why we say it: The pinned notice publishes the fee table and full grid including lunch classes, and the profile states the station walk (verified 2026-07-16)
A beginner who relates to a late start: the head left a nine-year corporate career and still reached an Asian Games reserve spot and an IBJJF Master title, by the gym's own account
Why we say it: The own instructor post publishes the corporate career, the Asian Games reserve selection, and the IBJJF Master title (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialKids classesPricing publishedDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- One free day trial, preceded by the bookable newcomer orientation
- Class schedule
- Weekday evenings: fundamentals 19:00, advanced 20:00, mixed 21:30 (Fridays no-gi); Mon/Wed/Fri lunch class and kids at 17:30; Saturdays (1st and 3rd weeks) a 13:00 class and a 15:00 absolute-beginner class; every newcomer books a one-time orientation first
Classes and cost
- Membership
- 130,000 KRW a month for 3 days a week (360,000 for 3 months) or 150,000 unlimited (410,000 for 3 months); day fee 30,000; a free gi and belt with a new 3-month sign-up
- Programs
- A kids class for ages 8 to 13, Mon/Wed/Fri at 17:30
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3F, 13 Yangjae-daero 89-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul (3 min from Dunchon-dong Station exit 3)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Jung Dong-seok; by the gym's own account a Wire black belt, 2018 Asian Games national-team reserve, and 2022 IBJJF International Master champion
Wire Jiu-Jitsu Jangan
Who this academy suits
A first-timer in Dongdaemun who wants a labeled on-ramp: a published BASIC tier plus a Saturday-noon beginner orientation
Why we say it: The gym's own pinned schedule notice defines BASIC as the first-timer class and lists the Saturday 12:00 beginner orientation (verified 2026-07-16)
A parent starting a child: kids classes for ages 6 to 13, with a free kids trial on inquiry per the July 2026 event
Why we say it: The pinned notice lists the ages 6-13 kids class and the gym's own 2026-07-06 event post offers the free kids trial
Someone who wants working contact channels before visiting: published phone, KakaoTalk channel, Naver consult, and exact directions
Why we say it: The gym's own pinned posts print the phone, the KakaoTalk channel, and step-by-step station and bus directions (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Franchise networkKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A kids free trial per the gym's July 2026 event post; adult trial terms are not published, ask via the KakaoTalk channel
- Class schedule
- Classes run by type: BASIC for first-timers, ALL LEVEL, a drill and sparring session, kids ages 6 to 13, and a beginner orientation every Saturday at noon; the weekly grid is on the gym's blog notice
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids class for ages 6 to 13; the July 2026 event post offers a kids free trial on inquiry
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1, 124 Janghan-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (황금빌딩)
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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10th Planet New Seoul, Jegi-dong · Official site2F, 133-24 Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul · The gym presents itself as a no-gi specialist schoolLast checked: 2026-07-16
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AKEN Jiu-Jitsu, Munjeong · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Choi Jeong-gyu MMA and Jiu-Jitsu, Bangi-dong · Official siteB1, 149-2 Bangi-dong (468-1 Baekjegobun-ro), Songpa-gu, Seoul · 02-424-7989 · KakaoTalk mukbo78 · Head instructor Choi Jeong-gyu, a first-generation John Frankl black belt who promoted four students to black belt in June 2025Last checked: 2026-07-16
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ETC Jiu-Jitsu, Munjeong · Official site2F, 3 Saemal-ro 8-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul · 010-9018-9653 · Inquiries via the gym's KakaoTalk channelLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Flamestone Jiu-Jitsu, Hwayang · Official site3F, 102 Neungdong-ro 13-gil (Deokui building), Gwangjin-gu, Seoul · Inquiries via the Flamestone KakaoTalk channelLast checked: 2026-07-16
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GBK Jiu-Jitsu, Dongdaemun · Official site3F, 104 Jeonnong-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (서울 동대문구 전농로 104, 3층) · Consult via KakaoTalk 'occloo' · The gym introduces its instructor as an IBJJF 3rd-degree black belt · Morning training runs 9:30-11:00Last checked: 2026-07-16
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Grappling Lounge, Seokchon · Official siteB1, 381 Songpa-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul (near Seokchon Station) · 070-8065-2468 · Head instructor Choi Ju-hunLast checked: 2026-07-16
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu Gangdong, Myeongil-dong · Official siteB1, 61 Godeok-ro 38-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul · 010-9883-0665 (text if unanswered) · A free trial plus one re-trial within 3 days, booked through Naver booking; register within 3 days and get a beginner gi; arrive 15 minutes earlyLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Just Jiu-Jitsu Anam · Official site2F, 859-1 Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul · 010-6385-0820Last checked: 2026-07-16
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KOREA BJJ, Gui branch (이희성 주짓수 구의지관) · Official site4F, 358 Achasan-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (3 min from Gui Station exit 4) · 02-6012-1113 · Head instructor Lee Hee-tae, a 3rd-degree black belt by the gym's own accountLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Rush Clan Jiu-Jitsu, Wangsimni · Official siteSuite 402, 363 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul · 070-7763-8829 · Head instructor Jung Seong-jun, a 1st-degree black belt by the gym's own accountLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Shine-D Jiu-Jitsu, Seongsu · Official site3F, 386 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (by Seongsu Station exit 3, facing the Seongsu E-Mart) · 010-3702-0055 · KakaoTalk SHINED33 · Head instructor Yoon Hyeong-ok teaches directly; by the gym's own account a 2nd-degree black belt and active pro MMA fighterLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Strive Jiu-Jitsu, Gunja · Official siteB1, 296 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (3 min from Gunja Station) · 010-7979-9639Last checked: 2026-07-16
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Techne Jiu-Jitsu Gundae · Official site010-9267-1214 · KakaoTalk zytechneLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Urban Jiu-Jitsu Wangsimni · Official site4F, 275 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul · Head instructor Choi Won-changLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Wire Jiu-Jitsu, Jamsil · Official site4F, 197-7 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울 송파구 잠실동 197-7, 4층) · 02-422-6741 · KakaoTalk '잠실와이어주짓수'Last checked: 2026-07-16
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.