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Learning jiu-jitsu in Gangnam
This guide covers the academies of Gangnam, Seocho, Apgujeong, and Yangjae, south 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.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gangnam
Who this academy suits
A complete beginner who wants a fixed, named curriculum with a structured on-ramp
Why we say it: Gracie Combatives® is a standardized beginner program named on the academy's own site; the free trial books through Naver Reservation (verified 2026-07-09)
Someone who wants to keep training while traveling, inside one network
Why we say it: A certified Gracie University center; membership includes GU Online and up to 30 consecutive days a year at any certified center worldwide (verified 2026-07-09)
Pricing published Franchise networkKids classesFree trialNaver bookingParking
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Book a free trial class through Naver Reservation
- Single session
- Single-session passes from ₩35,000
Classes and cost
- Membership
- 8 classes/month ₩200,000 · 12/month ₩220,000 · unlimited ₩240,000
- Programs
- Adult fundamentals (Gracie Combatives®) · kids · adult advanced (Master Cycle®)
- Private lessons
- Private lessons ₩60,000 per 30 minutes (varies by instructor)
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B2, Yeoksam-dong 601, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 역삼동 601, 지하 2층)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Park Jun-seong, with instructor Lee Jang-won and director Noh A-rim (romanized)
- Belt
- Black belt. The academy states he trained directly under Ryron and Rener Gracie at the US headquarters
- Parking
- 2 hours free (valet ₩5,000)
- Founded
- Opened 2014. By the academy's own account, Korea's first certified Gracie University center
- Online curriculum
- Free Gracie University Online curriculum (600+ techniques)
- Network benefits
- Train free at any certified center worldwide, up to 30 consecutive days a year (network benefit)
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- Mon–Fri 11:00–13:30 / 18:00–21:30 · Sat 09:30–14:00 (closed holidays and summer/winter breaks)
John Frankl BnG Gyodae Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Who this academy suits
A woman starting jiu-jitsu in Seocho who wants a female black-belt head instructor: Kwon Ji-woo leads the room and also examines belts and referees at national and city level
Why we say it: The family's own network post names the Gyodae head; her own blog intro presents the female black-belt head and examiner roles (read 2026-07-16)
A hobbyist who wants a settled neighborhood room rather than a competition squad: the academy states ten full years of operation and a recreational majority on its mats
Why we say it: The academy's own 2026-03-21 post (ten full years) and 2026-02-05 post (recreational majority), read 2026-07-16
A Seocho family wanting weekday kids classes where the head teaches the children herself
Why we say it: The own 2026-02-05 kids post publishes the weekday kids classes and the head's own class notes (read 2026-07-16)
Franchise networkKids classesWomen's program
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Start with a phone consult: 02-523-4113, taken anytime per the academy's standing notice
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids classes run on weekdays; the academy has no shuttle service
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1 Sinseung Building, 332 Seocho-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 서초대로 332 신승빌딩 지하)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Kwon Ji-woo, a female black belt who also serves as a national and Seoul-city belt examiner and referee, per the academy's own profiles
- Belt
- Black belt, first degree, per the academy's own postings
- Founded
- The academy states ten full years of operation, in its eleventh year as of its 2026-03-21 post
John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Gangnam-Sinsa (Garosu-gil)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants to start at the origin line of Korean jiu-jitsu, with a simple phone-consult entry
Why we say it: The network HQ, run by John Frankl's first Korean black belt, publishes its adult enrollment consult on the academy blog (verified 2026-07-10)
A family in Gangnam wanting bilingual (KO/EN) weekend kids classes
Why we say it: The owned blog (June 2026 notices) publishes the bilingual weekend kids program (Sat/Sun 3:30-4:30) with a dedicated KO/EN contact (verified 2026-07-10)
Franchise networkKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Adults start with an enrollment consult by phone: 02-546-0516
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids classes every Sat & Sun 3:30-4:30 PM, taught bilingually in Korean and English
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3F Kukje Bldg, 53 Apgujeong-ro 2-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 압구정로2길 53, 국제빌딩 3층)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Suyong Lee, introduced on the academy's blog as John Frankl's first Korean black belt and the national team head coach
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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Daechi Jiu-Jitsu and HapkidoJaseung Building, 30 Seolleung-ro 76-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · 02-576-3842Last checked: 2026-07-16
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Daehan Judo and John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Irwon HQ · Official site02-445-8263Last checked: 2026-07-16
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Daehan Judo and John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Jagok branch · Official site02-451-8263Last checked: 2026-07-16
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Gangnam Jiu-Jitsu Park · Official site6 Seolleung-ro 8-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 선릉로8길 6) · 010-5777-0432 · KakaoTalk '강남주짓수파크 오피셜짐' · Beginner-first teaching from the basics, kids to adults, with 1:1 PT availableLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Jiu-Jitsu World DogokLast checked: 2026-07-16
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John Frankl BxG Bangbae Jiu-Jitsu, the family HQ · Official site51 Seocho-daero 25-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울 서초구 서초대로25길 51) · 010-3207-5877 · Head instructor Park Jin-woo teaches directly, per the family's own blog profileLast checked: 2026-07-16
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John Frankl GNGC Academy, Gangnam-gucheong · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Movement, Yangjae · Official site2F, 23 Gangnam-daero 43-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 강남대로43길 23 2층)Last checked: 2026-07-16
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Shaka Jiu-Jitsu (John Frankl Apgujeong Academy) · Official siteRuns dedicated beginner basics classes; the gym introduces an IBJJF 3rd-degree black belt teaching every classLast 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.