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Learning jiu-jitsu in northern Seoul
This guide covers the academies of Nowon, Eunpyeong, Seongbuk, Jungnang, and Dobong, the neighborhoods north of the old city wall. 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.
Aim High Dobong Jiu-Jitsu
Who this academy suits
The commuter who gets home late: a full class at 21:00 with sparring to 22:30, parking in the building, one minute from Banghak Station's Daiso
Why we say it: The own standing timetable lists the 21:00 class and late sparring; the 2026-07-07 post prints parking and the walk (verified 2026-07-16)
A total beginner who wants a runway: a dedicated 19:00-19:30 beginner slot with drills and base conditioning runs before the main class, and the gym's own pitch leads with beginners fully welcome and 1:1 coaching
Why we say it: The own timetable lists the daily beginner slot; the gym's own posts repeat the beginners-welcome and 1:1 coaching pitch (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Kids classesParkingDaily beginner classes
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- Weekday evenings run a 19:00 beginner prep slot, main classes at 19:30 and 21:00 with sparring after each, kids at 18:00; weekends have an 11:00 class (Sat GI PRO, Sun GI BASIC) and weekday late mornings are open mat when two or more attend. Times can shift
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids and youth class runs weekdays at 18:00
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3F, Deokwon Building, 704 Dobong-ro, Dobong-gu, Seoul (1 min from the Daiso at Banghak Station, next to the S-OIL station)
- Parking
- Parking is available
Phone 010-8231-7950 / 02-6958-7950 Website Naver Map Apple Maps
Deep and High Sports, Sangbong
Who this academy suits
A first-timer who wants to look before committing: the gym prints a free trial class in its own words and aims it at zero-experience adults, women starting out, and parents
Why we say it: The own 2026-07-15 post prints the free trial verbatim and names beginners, women, and parents (verified 2026-07-16)
Someone who wants a coach who fought at the top: by the gym's own account the owner is a Spirit MC and Road FC champion and ex-UFC fighter, now a jiu-jitsu black belt teaching hobbyists
Why we say it: The own coach post lists the titles and belt (verified 2026-07-16, attributed); the independent-record crosscheck is held in research values
A beginner who wants striking and grappling under one roof: gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, and MMA run as one gym's programs
Why we say it: The own profile and the 2024-12-10 program post describe the multi-art lineup with twice-weekly no-gi (verified 2026-07-16); classified here as a BJJ program inside a multi-art gym
Free trialKids classesStriking classes too
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial class lets you see the room, the coaching, and the vibe before you sign up
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Kids jiu-jitsu classes run; ask for times
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3F, 190 Mangu-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul (Jungnang Station exit 4, next to the Sangbong Megabox)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Nam Yui-chul, a jiu-jitsu black belt by the gym's own account, and a former Spirit MC and Road FC champion who also fought in the UFC
Moai Gym Sanggye HQ
Who this academy suits
An after-work starter who needs slot options: evening classes at 19:00, 20:00, and 21:00 plus a weekday 11:00 class, three minutes from Sanggye Station. Weekends are personal training only
Why we say it: The own 2026-06-30 post publishes the evening slots, the 11:00 class, the weekday hours with PT-only weekends, and the station walk (verified 2026-07-16)
Someone who wants grappling and striking on one membership: jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and MMA classes all included, with free cardio-machine use
Why we say it: The own post and profile state one membership covers all programs (verified 2026-07-16); classified as a BJJ program inside a multi-art gym
A beginner who wants an active fighter as head coach: the owner is a jiu-jitsu black belt competing in Black Combat, by the gym's own account
Why we say it: The own post's profile block lists the belt, the Black Combat spot, and the record (verified 2026-07-16; attributed)
Schedule verified Kids classesStriking classes tooDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- Weekdays: an 11:00 class, a 12:30 competition-team session, kids at 17:00, and evening classes at 19:00, 20:00, and 21:00. Weekends are personal training only
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids class runs weekdays at 17:00, mixing jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and conditioning
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2F, 361 Hangeulbiseok-ro (Junggye-dong 450-2), Nowon-gu, Seoul (350m from Sanggye Station exit 4)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Kim Jong-hoon (Prince Moai) runs the room; by the gym's own account a jiu-jitsu black belt and an active Black Combat bantamweight fighter
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- Open weekdays 11:00-23:00; weekends run personal training only
Paraestra Hagye Jiu-Jitsu MMA
Who this academy suits
The shift worker or morning person: a 10:30 class runs every weekday, and the gym itself describes the room as full of firefighters, police, and self-employed regulars
Why we say it: The own 2026-07-12 post states the weekday 10:30 class and its regulars; the 2026-06-21 post adds Friday morning sparring (verified 2026-07-16)
A parent in Nowon's east: the kids class comes with a shuttle service, printed in the gym's own profile
Why we say it: The own profile's standing intro lists the kids class with shuttle (verified 2026-07-16)
A beginner curious about a different family tree: the guide's only room presenting the Japanese Paraestra line, by its own description, among otherwise Brazilian and Korean-network lineages
Why we say it: The own name and branding carry the mark (verified 2026-07-16); with network-side confirmation open, the claim prints as self-description, not verified membership
Schedule verified Kids classesDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- A 10:30 morning class runs Monday through Friday, and Friday is sparring day (10:30 and 20:00-21:30). Kids (with a shuttle), adult, and middle/high-school classes run; ask for the full evening grid
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids class runs, with a shuttle service
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2F, 51 Hangeulbiseok-ro 1-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul
Urban Jiu-Jitsu Suyu
Who this academy suits
Someone whose week does not fit an evening-only gym: weekend classes both Saturday and Sunday at noon, a Tue/Thu afternoon class, and two evening sessions
Why we say it: The own 2026-02-10 post states the Saturday and Sunday noon classes; the pinned NOTICE and the 2026-05-06 event post carry the afternoon slot (verified 2026-07-16)
A woman starting jiu-jitsu who wants a woman on the teaching staff: a female purple-belt instructor runs the Friday classes, by the gym's own posts
Why we say it: The own 2026-02-10 post names her and her Friday classes; a 2026-01 post advertises the class (verified 2026-07-16)
A first-timer who wants the head coach on the mat: a 16-year black belt teaches directly in a jiu-jitsu-only room, by the gym's own account
Why we say it: The own 2026-02-10 post publishes the head's career, rank, direct teaching, and jiu-jitsu-only positioning (verified 2026-07-16)
Schedule verified Franchise networkKids classesWomen's programDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Class schedule
- Weekday evenings run in two sessions with Tuesday's late class no-gi (20:40); a Tue/Thu afternoon class (14:30), weekend classes Saturday and Sunday at noon, and kids MWF at 17:30. Confirm exact times on the gym's pinned timetable
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids class for elementary grades 2 to 6, MWF at 17:30, launched February 2026; no shuttle service
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4F, 386 Dobong-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (3 min from Suyu Station exit 8, the Paris Baguette building by the Gangbuk-gu office)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Jung Hee-sung teaches directly; by the gym's own account a black belt with 16 years in jiu-jitsu
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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Another Jiu-Jitsu, Myeonmok · Official site4F, 394 Myeonmok-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul (160m from Myeonmok Station exit 2) · 0507-1328-9489 · Consult via the KakaoTalk channel (pf.kakao.com/_IKwIn) or Naver TalkLast checked: 2026-07-16
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In-On High Grit Jiu-Jitsu, Sinnae · Official site2F, Complex 9 shopping arcade, 135 Sinnae-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul · 010-9333-9138 · KakaoTalk justgo9138Last checked: 2026-07-16
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John Frankl Core Jiu-Jitsu, Suyu · Official site411 Opaesan-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (1 min from Suyu Station exit 2) · 010-9072-4661 · Head instructor Kim Jun-cheol; by the gym's own account a first-generation Korean black belt (the 17th, promoted by John Frankl in 2012), now a second-degree black beltLast checked: 2026-07-16
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John Frankl Crank Gym, Gongneung · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Gupabal · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Nokbeon · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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Just Jiu-Jitsu Jongam · Official site3F, 107 Jongam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul · Head instructor Kim Jung-woo teachesLast checked: 2026-07-16
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MMA Story Changdong, boxing and jiu-jitsu · Official site010-4183-7513 · Head instructor Hwang teaches directly; nationally certified in both boxing and jiu-jitsu by the gym's own accountLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Moai Gym Nowon · Official site2F, 32 Sanggye-ro 3-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul (1-2 min from Nowon Station exit 9) · 010-3667-6174 · Head instructor Kim Min-woo (Korean Moai) teaches directly; a jiu-jitsu black belt and former fighter by the gym's own accountLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Wire Jiu-Jitsu Baeks Gym, Mia · Official site237 Dobong-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mia-dong, near Suyu Market) · 02-981-1233 · Head instructor Cho Jun-yong; a black belt with some twenty years on the mats by the gym's own accountLast checked: 2026-07-16
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Wire Jiu-Jitsu Seongbuk · Official siteB1, Sanghui Building, 50 Dolgoji-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (3 min from Dolgoji Station exit 6, the Burger King building) · Reach the gym via its Kakao channel (pf.kakao.com/_RxfDxbxb) or Naver TalkLast 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.