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Learning jiu-jitsu in Seoul
Jiu-jitsu has quietly taken root in every corner of Seoul. 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.
Bon Jiu-Jitsu, Dangsan HQ
Who this academy suits
Someone who wants the home academy of a large Korean network, with private lessons available
Why we say it: The Bon network's HQ, with a published private-lesson program and a formalized visit-consult path (verified 2026-07-10)
Franchise network
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Start with a visit consult: call the branch or email bonjiujitsu@gmail.com. No experience needed
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Gi-based training (rash guard under the gi; gis sold at the branch at a discount)
- Private lessons
- Private lessons 1:1 ₩130,000/hr (2:1 ₩65,000 pp, 4:1 ₩32,500 pp)
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4F Hongik Bldg, 233 Dangsan-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울 영등포구 당산로 233, 홍익빌딩 4층)
Bon Jiu-Jitsu, Mullae
Who this academy suits
A family in Yeongdeungpo looking to start a child in jiu-jitsu
Why we say it: The branch's own blog (June 2026) centers on kids programs from age 6 and elementary-school groups; onboarding is the visit consult (verified 2026-07-10)
Franchise networkKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Start with a visit consult: call the branch
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A strongly kids-focused program, from age 6 through elementary school
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3F, 52 Mullaebuk-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울 영등포구 문래북로 52, 3층)
Bon Jiu-Jitsu, Sillim
Who this academy suits
A working adult in southwest Seoul who wants after-work training with a competition current nearby
Why we say it: The branch's own blog (June-July 2026) shows office-worker classes, weekend sessions, and an ASJJF competition team (verified 2026-07-10)
Franchise network
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Start with a visit consult: call the branch
Classes and cost
- Programs
- Adult and office-worker classes, weekend training, and an active ASJJF competition team
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4F, 1635 Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul (서울 관악구 남부순환로 1635, 4층)
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 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
KOREA BJJ Sinchon HQ (Lee Hee-sung Jiu-Jitsu Academy)
Who this academy suits
A complete beginner who wants a genuinely structured on-ramp
Why we say it: A rolling 16-week fundamentals curriculum with a dedicated beginner tier, and sparring is optional (verified 2026-07-10)
A working schedule that needs beginner classes available every day
Why we say it: Beginner classes run seven days a week: two weekday evening slots, Mon/Wed/Fri lunch, and weekend mornings (schedule verified 2026-07-10)
Someone drawn to lineage and a training-first, not competition-first, culture
Why we say it: The academy describes a Rickson Gracie line via AXIS Tokyo and states it prioritizes everyday practitioners over athlete development (its own words, verified 2026-07-10)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialDrop-ins welcomeDaily beginner classesStructured curriculum
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Book a free trial on the website: weekday 19:00, 20:00, or 21:00, weekend 11:00 or 12:00. Arrive 10 minutes early in comfortable workout clothes
- Single session
- Drop-in ₩30,000 (₩10,000 for members of KOREA BJJ branch gyms)
- Class schedule
- Weekdays: beginner 19:00 & 20:00, intermediate 21:00; lunch beginner Mon/Wed/Fri 12:00; weekends: beginner 11:00, intermediate 12:00 (closed holidays)
Classes and cost
- Membership
- 8 classes/month ₩150,000 · 12/month ₩160,000 · unlimited ₩170,000 (3/6/12-month discounts; VAT included)
- Programs
- Adult beginner & intermediate tiers on a rolling 16-week fundamentals curriculum; sparring optional
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2F Village Plaza, 3 Ewhayeodae-1an-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (서대문구 이화여대1안길 3, 2층)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Lee Hee-sung teaches directly (network founder)
- Belt
- Black belt, 4th degree. The academy records a 2008 black belt and a 2023 4th degree, both from Takamasa Watanabe
- Founded
- Opened 2003, per the academy's own timeline
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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Body & Seoul Martial Arts and Fitness Center · Official site010-6397-2662 · Multi-discipline studio; BJJ runs in both gi and no-gi, with kids classes · No free trial; a paid drop-in costs ₩17,000. Register online for a first class · Drop-in ₩17,000 · 5 classes ₩80,000 · 10 classes ₩150,000 (3-month validity)Last checked: 2026-07-10
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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: 2026-07-11
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GTCG Jiu-Jitsu HQ, Hongdae · Official site02-6406-9755Last checked: 2026-07-10
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GTCG Jiu-Jitsu, Sangam · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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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: 2026-07-10
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Hongdae Jiu-Jitsu · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-10
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John Frankl Crank Gym, Gongneung · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Extreme Combat, Hongje · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl GNGC Academy, Gangnam-gucheong · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu Gwanak, Sillim · 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, Magok · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Namsan · 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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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Seodaemun · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Sinchon · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Yaksu · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Jiu-Jitsu, Yeongdeungpo-gucheong · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Movement, Yangjae · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Ratel Yellow, Gocheok · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Ratel Yellow, Mokdong · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Ratel Yellow, Sinwol · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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John Frankl Ratel Yellow, Ujangsan · Official siteLast checked: 2026-07-12
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KOREA BJJ, Gui branch (이희성 주짓수 구의지관) · Official site02-6012-1113 · Head instructor Lee Hee-tae, a 3rd-degree black belt by the gym's own accountLast checked: 2026-07-10
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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: 2026-07-10
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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: 2026-07-10
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.