Every Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and La Pine: kids classes by age, women-only classes, gi and no-gi, who teaches and where their belts came from, posted prices, and what to expect in your first class.
By All Things Bend · Updated October 23, 2026 · Every academy checked on its own website
A gi class at Clark’s University of Martial Arts in northeast Bend. Photo: Clark’s University of Martial Arts.
Find the right jiu-jitsu gym
A parent looking for a class for a 5-year-old, a woman who wants to start with other women, a former wrestler who wants no-gi, and a visitor who wants one roll on Saturday need different gyms. Tap what matters and the academy list below narrows to match.
🧒 Kids & teens
Age-grouped kids classes, from 3–5 year olds up to teens.
Every jiu-jitsu academy in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and La Pine
Bend first, then Redmond, Prineville and La Pine. Instructor ranks and lineage are as each academy states them.
1BJJ academy + Muay Thai · Bend
Connection Rio Jiu-Jitsu Academy
The biggest BJJ timetable in Bend: early, noon and evening classes, a women-only BJJ class and kids from age 4.
Kids & teens
Women-only classes
True beginners
No-gi
Competition
Striking & MMA too
Visiting? Drop in
Bend native Dennis Asche started Kenpo Karate in Bend at age 7, spent 12 years in Rio de Janeiro, and now teaches in the same former Kenpo studio where his martial arts started. Gi and no-gi are both on the schedule, plus Muay Thai and MMA. Every class, kids included, is programmed by Asche.
Lineage: Gordo Jiu-Jitsu. Asche is a 4th-degree black belt who, his bio says, was the first foreigner promoted to black belt (2009) by half-guard pioneer Roberto “Gordo” Correa in Rio. He earlier trained under John Machado in Los Angeles.
Memberships $129–$169 a month depending on the program
Household, student, veteran, military, law enforcement and first-responder discounts
Visiting practitioners: call first; approval and a signed waiver required to drop in
Kids
Ages 4–6 gi (Mon/Wed 4 pm), 6–10 gi and 10–14 gi (Tue/Thu), 8–14 no-gi (Mon/Wed/Fri 5 pm), 8–14 competition class Saturdays, and a 3–5 no-gi class listed as coming soon. Kids Muay Thai for 8–14.
Women
Women’s Only BJJ & Self Defense, Tuesdays 5–6 pm, plus women-only Muay Thai Monday evenings and Friday mornings.
Beginners
BJJ Fundamentals Monday 5 pm and Thursday 6:15 pm, plus all-levels classes.
Facility
Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA classes in the same building
Who teaches here (5 listed)
Dennis Asche4th-degree black belt
Head professor. Black belt under Roberto “Gordo” Correa in 2009; ran the first BJJ hostel in Rio; also trained and competed in Muay Thai, boxing and pro MMA.
Danny Fry1st-degree black belt
Connection Rio’s first black belt, ranked under Asche in gi and no-gi. Started in 2006 on Maui and trained in Bali and around the world before moving to Bend in 2018.
Fred ColettaBlack belt
The academy’s first homegrown white-to-black belt under Asche; teaches adults and kids.
Andre MunhozBlack belt
Black belt instructor (bio not yet posted).
Josarah AschePurple belt
Owner and instructor with 12 years in martial arts; teaches the women’s BJJ and kids classes.
A Gracie-family affiliate with four black belts and two brown belts on staff, small classes and a Saturday open mat.
Kids & teens
True beginners
No-gi
Competition
Striking & MMA too
Owner Paul Moresi grew up next door to Ralph Gracie in the Bay Area, trained his whole BJJ career under him, and came to Bend for a business degree at OSU-Cascades. The academy says its classes average 10–12 people and run about 15 minutes of warm-up, 45 of instruction and 30+ of rolling, and that nobody is ever required to spar.
Lineage: Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Moresi received his black belt from Ralph Gracie in 2015; the academy calls him the first and only Gracie black belt in Oregon.
The deepest kids program in town, from 40-minute Little Dragons classes for 5–6 year olds to Samurais and Shoguns for 11–14.
Kids & teens
True beginners
No-gi
Striking & MMA too
Ryan Clark opened one of Oregon’s first BJJ academies, and the Bend school now runs gi and no-gi BJJ plus Muay Thai in a 5,000-square-foot space with a full-size ring, heavy bags and a lounge with seating. Kids programs use monthly goals, curriculum testing and instructional videos. Clark also works against child trafficking with the Guardian Group.
Lineage: Wellington “Megaton” Dias. Clark’s instructors page lists him as a 5th-degree black belt under Megaton (its homepage still says 3rd degree). He also trains Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts. Patronus Jiu Jitsu in La Pine is run by his black and brown belts.
Membership prices aren’t posted online; ask with your free trial
Kids
Little Dragons and Little Pandas (5–6, 3–3:40 pm Mon–Thu), Black Belt Club and Little Ninjas (7–10), Tiger Jiu Jitsu (6–12, Tuesday 12:45 pm), Samurais and Shoguns (11–14, weekdays 4:45 pm), kids Jiu Jitsu Saturday 10 am, kids Muay Thai 9–14.
Beginners
All-levels BJJ and no-gi classes; the site says it has beginner programs for every age.
Facility
5,000 sq ft with a full-size ring and heavy bags · Seating areas for parents and students
Who teaches here (2 listed)
Ryan ClarkBlack belt (5th degree, per instructors page)
Founder and lead coach; black belt under Wellington “Megaton” Dias, with Muay Thai, JKD and FMA background.
Coaching team
Aaron Nelson (BJJ and Muay Thai), Aaron Tiegs, Quinn Payton, Simcha Lachman, Martin Tabaco, Debbie Sanderl, Cody English, Liz Casner and Crystal Oconnell. Ranks aren’t listed on the site.
Women-only BJJ with female coaches, a 3-to-teens kids program, and judo, wrestling and Muay Thai under one roof.
Kids & teens
Women-only classes
True beginners
Striking & MMA too
Part of Straight Blast Gym International, founded in Portland. SBG Bend opened a 6,000-square-foot facility in 2022 and teaches through SBG’s “Aliveness” approach: drilling against a partner who moves and resists, built up with the I-Method (introduction, isolation, integration). It also runs a Homeschool Leadership Academy for ages 8–12 and hosts seminars, including Chris Haueter in 2025 and SBG founder Matt Thornton in 2026.
Lineage: Straight Blast Gym (Matt Thornton). Coach Chris has trained under Thornton since 2002. Coaches’ belt ranks aren’t posted.
Book a trial by age group in the site’s booking form
Kids and adult classes overlap
Prices & policies
Membership prices aren’t posted online
Kids
Growing Gorillas: Micro Monkeys (3–5), Spider Monkeys (5–7), Chimpanzees (7–10), Juniors (10–12) and Teens (12+). Teens aim to master one takedown and two ground techniques each month.
Women
Women’s-only BJJ for beginners through experienced students, taught by female coaches, with its own free trial class.
Beginners
A co-ed beginner program; kids and adult classes overlap so families can train at the same time.
Facility
6,000 sq ft, opened 2022 · Also MMA, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, judo, fitness and yoga
Who teaches here (6 listed)
Chris20+ years BJJ and MMA
Trained under SBG founder Matt Thornton since 2002; software engineer; teaches fundamentals through the I-Method.
NatalieBJJ coach
Focuses on bringing women into the sport; part of the women-only program’s female coaching staff.
JCBJJ coach
Trained Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing, FMA, BJJ and Krav Maga; joined SBG in 2022 and coaches kids and adults.
BrennanBJJ coach
Started BJJ in 2022 after moving from Chapel Hill, N.C.; works with a nonprofit at St. Charles.
Neil4th-degree judo black belt
Judo since 1968; masters-level medalist; board-certified in psychiatry and neurology.
NickKids coach
Former Padres minor-leaguer (UCSB, 2022 draft); assists kids classes and trains BJJ.
5MMA gym: no-gi BJJ, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai · Bend
Danzig MMA
No-gi grappling taught with an MMA mindset by a UFC veteran, with a required intro program and posted drop-in prices.
Kids & teens
True beginners
No-gi
Competition
Striking & MMA too
Visiting? Drop in
Owned by husband and wife Mac and Angela Danzig. Grappling covers BJJ and wrestling (with elements of judo), taught for real-world use rather than just points. New students must finish the Level 1 intro program before regular classes; Level 3 needs a blue belt or a year of experience. Mats are cleaned twice a day, there are no long contracts (cancel with five days’ notice), and the gym is closed Sundays.
Lineage: Mac Danzig, a 2nd-degree BJJ black belt, 13-fight UFC veteran and winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 6. Redmond Grappling Academy’s head coach is one of his black belts.
A family Taekwondo school where the chief instructor is also a BJJ black belt and teaches youth and adult jiu-jitsu.
Kids & teens
Mostly a World Taekwondo school, teaching ages four and up since 1998. Parents can watch from a viewing room with free Wi-Fi. Master Graff is CPR certified, a USAT Level One coach, trained in concussion management, and certified through the Darkness to Light child-safety program. The BJJ page has no class details, so call for days and times.
Lineage: Team Carlson Gracie: Daniel Graff holds a BJJ black belt with 16 years under Marcelo Alonso.
Redmond’s original BJJ gym, with 5:30 am classes for early risers and a three-month starter rate.
Kids & teens
No-gi
Calls itself Redmond’s original Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym and is branded Joint Lock Cascão. Prineville Jiu Jitsu’s founders and several of its coaches started here. The site lists the schedule and a new-member promotion but doesn’t name its instructors.
Lineage: Cascão Jiu-Jitsu (Walter “Cascão” Vital), per the academy’s branding.
No-gi only, wrestling-heavy, with clear posted prices, a free week and drop-in rates.
Kids & teens
True beginners
No-gi
Visiting? Drop in
One adult no-gi class for every level, so beginners train alongside experienced grapplers and are paired by size and experience. Youth no-gi runs year-round for ages 6–13, plus off-season youth wrestling from February to September. Its posted academy standards cover hygiene, skin infections, mat rules and how parents should behave on the sidelines.
Lineage: Danzig MMA. Coach Juan Rasmussen is a BJJ black belt under Mac Danzig, and the academy calls itself associated with Danzig MMA.
No experience needed; new students learn to train safely before live rounds get harder.
Who teaches here (1 coach)
Juan RasmussenBlack belt
Black belt under Mac Danzig. All-State high school wrestler, wrestled three years at Southern Oregon University, 3–0 as an amateur MMA fighter, and started a grappling club while deployed to Somalia.
Prineville’s first and only BJJ and MMA gym, with every price posted and a free first week.
Kids & teens
True beginners
No-gi
Striking & MMA too
Founded in 2024 by Prineville native Blaine Noland, who started training at Joint Lock in Redmond. It teaches gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu and MMA for adults and jiu-jitsu for kids from age 6. As a Cascão affiliate it is IBJJF-recognized, so students can enter IBJJF events.
Lineage: Cascão Jiu-Jitsu, headquartered in Las Vegas under Walter “Cascão” Vital.
The closest BJJ for La Pine and the south county, run by a husband-and-wife team from Clark’s.
Kids & teens
No-gi
Competition
Jud and Taygan Klinger met on the mats in 2016 and now run La Pine’s academy, with gi on Mondays, no-gi on Fridays and a seasonal kids competition class. Taygan has coached kids jiu-jitsu for more than seven years.
Lineage: Clark’s University: both head coaches were promoted by Ryan Clark.
One free trial class, or a one-time $20 trial week
Membership prices aren’t posted online
Kids
Little Ninjas (5–9) and Samurais (10–14) Mon (gi) and Fri (no-gi) afternoons; kids 8+ gi Tuesday 5:30 pm; kids competition class Saturday 9 am (seasonal).
Beginners
Free trial class, or a $20 trial week if you want longer.
Who teaches here (2 listed)
Jud KlingerBlack belt
Black belt under Ryan Clark with 12+ years of BJJ; 3rd-degree ITF Taekwon-Do black belt; active competitor.
Taygan KlingerBrown belt
Brown belt under Ryan Clark, training since 2016 and coaching kids for 7+ years; active competitor.
Both will teach you to grapple. The difference is how many BJJ classes you get, whether the gi is part of it, and whether the grappling assumes someone might punch you.
BJJ-first academies
Connection Rio · Ralph Gracie · Clark’s · Joint Lock · Redmond Grappling · Prineville Jiu Jitsu · Patronus
More jiu-jitsu on the timetable: Connection Rio runs BJJ at 6 am, noon and evenings; Ralph Gracie at 12:15 every weekday
Gi and no-gi side by side (Redmond Grappling is the no-gi exception)
A clear belt path, usually with stripes, and kids programs built around BJJ
Striking is often still on offer: Connection Rio and Clark’s teach Muay Thai, Ralph Gracie has MMA-style striking classes
Pick it if you want to get good at jiu-jitsu itself, train in a gi, or compete in BJJ tournaments.
MMA gyms with jiu-jitsu
Danzig MMA · SBG Bend
Grappling taught with strikes in mind; Danzig says its grappling uses “an MMA mindset at all times”
Wrestling and takedowns get more time (Danzig teaches wrestling and judo elements; SBG has wrestling and judo classes)
Boxing, Muay Thai and MMA in the same membership or building
Structured on-ramps: Danzig requires its intro program; SBG has a co-ed beginner program and uses its “Aliveness” method
Pick it if you want self-defense with strikes in the picture, plan to cross-train, or like a fight-gym atmosphere. For more, see our MMA gyms guide.
SBG Bend’s 6,000-square-foot downtown mat room during a 2025 seminar. Photo: SBG Bend.
Kids jiu-jitsu in Bend
Every academy here teaches kids. The big difference is how finely they split ages: a 4-year-old and a 12-year-old in the same class is a very different thing from a 40-minute class just for 5–6 year olds.
Ages 4–6 gi (Mon/Wed 4 pm), 6–10 gi and 10–14 gi (Tue/Thu), 8–14 no-gi (Mon/Wed/Fri 5 pm), 8–14 competition class Saturdays, and a 3–5 no-gi class listed as coming soon. Kids Muay Thai for 8–14.
Little Dragons and Little Pandas (5–6, 3–3:40 pm Mon–Thu), Black Belt Club and Little Ninjas (7–10), Tiger Jiu Jitsu (6–12, Tuesday 12:45 pm), Samurais and Shoguns (11–14, weekdays 4:45 pm), kids Jiu Jitsu Saturday 10 am, kids Muay Thai 9–14.
Growing Gorillas: Micro Monkeys (3–5), Spider Monkeys (5–7), Chimpanzees (7–10), Juniors (10–12) and Teens (12+). Teens aim to master one takedown and two ground techniques each month.
Little Ninjas (5–9) and Samurais (10–14) Mon (gi) and Fri (no-gi) afternoons; kids 8+ gi Tuesday 5:30 pm; kids competition class Saturday 9 am (seasonal).
Coaching a kids class at Clark’s. Photo: Clark’s University of Martial Arts.Connection Rio’s kids team. Photo: Connection Rio Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
What a kids class looks like
Ages 3–6
Short and game-based. SBG says its 3–5 class builds movement, balance and “positional awareness,” plus basic classroom manners. Clark’s Little Dragons classes run 40 minutes; Connection Rio’s 4–6 class is 45.
Ages 7–12
Real technique with games that rep it. Clark’s 7–10 programs use monthly goals, curriculum testing and videos; Connection Rio splits 6–10 and 10–14, with separate gi and no-gi classes.
Teens
Closer to adult class. SBG’s teens aim to be “highly proficient” with three moves a month: a takedown and two ground techniques. Danzig lets mature under-16s into adult classes only by exception.
What to look for in a kids program
Classes split by age, not just “kids” and “adults”
Partners matched by size; RDGA says it pairs by age, size, experience and ability
Clear rules about tapping and stopping
A coach who adjusts when your kid is lost or frustrated (SBG’s nervous-child guide suggests watching for this)
Somewhere to watch: High Desert MA has a parent viewing room with Wi-Fi
Safety training: High Desert MA’s Master Graff lists CPR, concussion management and Darkness to Light certification
A belt system that rewards progress; IBJJF kids belts run grey, yellow, orange and green
Competition as an option, not a requirement
Nervous kid? SBG Bend’s parent guide suggests asking the coach how they introduce partner work, keeping the first goal small (meet the coach, try one game), and asking “What did you try?” afterward instead of “Did you win?” Ask for a trial in the right age group, especially if your child is near a cutoff. For more ideas, see Bend with kids.
Kids rolling at SBG Bend. Photo: SBG Bend.
Women’s jiu-jitsu in Bend
Two Bend academies have women-only BJJ on the schedule, and both offer a free trial.
Women’s Only BJJ & Self Defense, Tuesdays 5–6 pm. The academy says it emphasizes leverage over strength, situational awareness and practical responses to common threats, for all skill levels and adult ages. Women-only Muay Thai and kickboxing run Monday 6:15 pm and Friday 9 am. Coach Josarah Asche (purple belt) teaches the women’s BJJ classes.
Women’s-only BJJ with female coaches, from first-timers to experienced students, including live drills and sparring under supervision. SBG’s write-up cites SBG coach Leah Taylor, who saw women in women-only classes attempt more attacks and spend more time in top positions. The site doesn’t post class times; book the “Womens BJJ Trial Class” online.
Every other academy here is co-ed, and that’s normal in jiu-jitsu. If you’re starting in a mixed class, ask the coach to pair you with someone your size, say so if a partner is too rough, and remember you can always tap or sit out a round. Ralph Gracie and Danzig both say live rolling is optional.
A women’s class circling up at SBG Bend. Photo: SBG Bend.
Jiu-jitsu by part of town
Jiu-jitsu sticks when the gym is on your way home. Here’s where each academy sits, plotted from its map location. Numbers match the academy cards above.
Bend. Lines cross at downtown; about 5 miles across.Central Oregon. Bend’s six academies are on the Bend map.
We didn’t find an academy in any of the three. Connection Rio lists Sisters, Sunriver and Tumalo in its service area. From Sunriver, try south Bend (Ralph Gracie, Connection Rio) or Patronus in La Pine; from Sisters, westside and downtown Bend or Redmond.
Who teaches jiu-jitsu in Central Oregon
In BJJ, lineage means who promoted your instructor, and who promoted them. It doesn’t guarantee a good class, but it tells you a gym’s style and where its black belts came from. Full coach bios are in each academy card.
Roberto “Gordo” CorreaRio de Janeiro’s half-guard pioneer → Dennis Asche, 4th-degree black belt, who has since promoted Danny Fry and Fred Coletta to black belt in Bend.
Ralph GracieSan Francisco, Gracie family → Paul Moresi (black belt 2015) and black belts Andrew Winge and Matt Juarez. Orell Moreno teaches there too, a black belt under Carlson Gracie Jr.
Wellington “Megaton” Dias→ Ryan Clark, who ran one of Oregon’s first BJJ schools → Jud and Taygan Klinger (black and brown belt) in La Pine.
Mac Danzig2nd-degree black belt and UFC veteran → Juan Rasmussen (black belt, Redmond Grappling) and brown belt William Aspen. Danzig’s Ben Smith is a black belt under Tony Basile.
Matt Thornton / SBGStraight Blast Gym, founded in Portland → SBG Bend, where Coach Chris has trained under Thornton since 2002.
Walter “Cascão” VitalLas Vegas → Joint Lock and Prineville Jiu Jitsu (head coach Chris Acarregui, 1st-degree black belt).
Carlson Gracie teamMarcelo Alonso → Daniel Graff, black belt, at High Desert Martial Arts.
A bit of local history from the coach bios: Asche says he produced Central Oregon’s first MMA events in the late 1990s, and Ralph Gracie’s Steve Kaneda started in 2009 at Roy Dean’s Bend academy, which closed in 2014.
BJJ belts and how long they take
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) sets minimum ages and time at each belt for academies whose students compete in its events. Gyms promote on their own judgment within those rules; Danzig says it never charges for a promotion.
White
No minimum time
Everyone starts here, whatever their age or background.
Blue
Min. age 16 · at least 2 years before purple
The first adult color belt.
Purple
Min. age 16 · at least 1½ years before brown
Juveniles (16–17) can hold it too.
Brown
Min. age 18 · at least 1 year before black
Adults only.
Black
Min. age 18 · degrees every few years after
First degree after at least 3 years at black belt.
Add up the minimums and it’s at least 4½ years from blue to black belt (2 years at blue, 1½ at purple, 1 at brown), with no minimum at white. Those are floors. Most adults who train a couple of times a week take much longer, and nobody in Bend is promoting on a schedule.
Kids belts
Under 16, IBJJF uses separate colors, each in three steps (with white, solid, with black), and sets no minimum time at each. Kids move to blue belt at 16 at the earliest.
Grey ages 4–15
Yellow ages 7–15
Orange ages 10–15
Green ages 13–15
Source: IBJJF Graduation System, June 2026 edition. Some schools, such as Clark’s, also use their own kids ranks (its Little Ninjas earn black-and-red belts).
Gi vs. no-gi: which should you start with?
Gi
The heavy cotton jacket, pants and belt. You can grab sleeves, collars and pants, so it’s slower and more technical, with chokes using the lapel. Most academies here run gi classes, and kids programs are mostly gi.
Gear: a gi (many gyms sell one; Ralph Gracie lets you take your free trial without one). Wash it after every class.
No-gi
Rash guard and shorts. Fewer grips means faster scrambles and more wrestling, closer to MMA. Redmond Grappling is no-gi only; Danzig is mostly no-gi; Connection Rio, Ralph Gracie, Clark’s, Joint Lock, Prineville and Patronus all have no-gi nights.
Gear: a fitted rash guard, pocketless shorts, compression shorts or leggings if you like.
You don’t have to choose. Connection Rio says it teaches both “in a way that is easily translated between the two.” If you’re a former wrestler, no-gi will feel familiar right away; if you want the traditional belt path and lots of kids-and-parent options, start in the gi.
Your first jiu-jitsu class: what to expect
Book it. Every academy here offers a free first class or week, except Joint Lock (text for details). Sign the waiver online first; Connection Rio asks for it before you arrive.
Arrive early. RDGA asks students to arrive a few minutes early. Shoes come off before the mat and go back on to leave it.
Warm up. Ralph Gracie’s classes open with about 15 minutes of warm-up, fundamentals and conditioning drills.
Learn a technique. About 45 minutes of instruction with a partner, repeating one or two positions or moves.
Roll, or don’t. The last 30 minutes or so is live sparring. It’s optional at Ralph Gracie and Danzig; RDGA starts new students at low intensity.
Tap early. Tap your partner (or the mat, or say “tap”) as soon as a lock or choke is on. Release instantly when your partner taps.
What to wear and bring
Rash guard or fitted athletic shirt; no tank tops at Danzig
Shorts or pants with no pockets, zippers, buttons or buckles
A loaner or new gi for gi classes, if the gym asks
Flip-flops or slides for walking off the mat
A water bottle (kept off the mat)
Trimmed fingernails and toenails
No jewelry, watches or rings
Hair tie; a mouthguard if you have one
Hygiene and mat etiquette
Hygiene (from RDGA’s posted standards)
Wash all training clothes after every class; never re-wear a rash guard or gi
No bare feet off the mat, and no shoes on it
Don’t train with ringworm, impetigo, staph or an unexplained rash until it’s treated
Stop and cover any bleeding before you go back on
Shower as soon as you can after class
Etiquette
Practice the technique the coach shows, not your own
Don’t coach over the instructor or other students
Train with control; the goal is to improve, not to win every exchange
Respect differences in age, size and experience, and pick partners accordingly
Tell a coach about injuries before class
Parents: cheer, but don’t coach from the sideline
Bend tip: lots of people here pair jiu-jitsu with trail running, skiing or climbing. Start at two or three classes a week while your body adjusts, and build from there. If something nags, see our physical therapy guide.
What jiu-jitsu costs in Bend
Monthly memberships run about $125–$170 where prices are posted, and most gyms are month to month. Five of the ten don’t post prices online.
Program. Connection Rio’s $129–$169 range depends on the program; Prineville charges $125 for jiu-jitsu and $150 with MMA.
Kids and families. Kids are $95 at Prineville and $125 at RDGA; Prineville takes $60 off each additional kid and 20% off households of two or more; Connection Rio and RDGA offer family rates.
Discounts. Military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders get discounts at Connection Rio, RDGA and Prineville (25%). Connection Rio also discounts students.
Contracts. Danzig and RDGA are month to month; Danzig needs five days’ notice to cancel.
Extras. A gi (if you train gi), rash guards, and tournament fees if you compete. Private lessons cost much more than group classes, Danzig notes.
Visiting? Danzig posts a $30 drop-in; RDGA charges $25 if you’re affiliated with another academy; Connection Rio takes visitors by approval. Call ahead, sign the waiver and bring your own gear.
Competing
We didn’t find a regular BJJ tournament in Bend; most Central Oregon competitors drive to the Willamette Valley
Sub League runs the Oregon Open and Sub League Opens in Salem
Kids competition classes: Connection Rio (8–14, Saturdays), Ralph Gracie (Fridays), Patronus (seasonal)
Danzig’s Level 3 class is for students who want to fight or compete
Prineville Jiu Jitsu’s Cascão affiliation gives students access to IBJJF events
Seminars: SBG Bend hosted Chris Haueter in 2025 and lists Matt Thornton for 2026
Questions to ask before you sign up
Classes
Is there a fundamentals class, or do beginners join all-levels?
Which classes are gi and which are no-gi?
Do I have to roll? How are new people paired?
How big are classes? (Ralph Gracie says 10–12 on average)
Coaches
Who teaches the class I’d attend, and what’s their rank?
Who promoted the head instructor?
How do promotions work, and is there a testing fee?
Money
What’s the monthly price for my program, and is there a contract?
How much notice to cancel or pause for ski season or travel?
Family, student or first-responder discounts?
Can I buy a gi there, and do I need a specific color or patch?
For kids
Which age group fits my child, especially near a cutoff?
Who coaches kids, and are they trained in child safety?
Can I watch? Is competition required?
How do you handle a nervous or frustrated kid?
Frequently asked questions
How much do jiu-jitsu classes cost in Bend?
Of the academies that post prices, Connection Rio lists $129–$169 a month, Danzig MMA’s required intro program is $159 a month for grappling ($189 with striking), Redmond Grappling Academy is $145 for adults and $125 for youth, and Prineville Jiu Jitsu is $125 for adults and $95 for kids. Ralph Gracie, Clark’s, SBG Bend, High Desert Martial Arts and Patronus don’t post prices, so ask during your free trial. Drop-ins run $25–$35 where posted.
Which Bend gyms have kids jiu-jitsu, and how young can kids start?
Connection Rio, Clark’s, SBG Bend, Ralph Gracie, Danzig MMA and High Desert Martial Arts all teach kids in Bend; Joint Lock and Redmond Grappling Academy in Redmond; Prineville Jiu Jitsu; and Patronus in La Pine. SBG Bend’s Micro Monkeys start at 3, Connection Rio’s youngest gi class is 4–6 (with a 3–5 class listed as coming soon), and Clark’s Little Dragons and Little Pandas are 5–6.
Are there women-only jiu-jitsu classes in Bend?
Yes. Connection Rio runs Women’s Only BJJ & Self Defense on Tuesdays 5–6 pm (plus women-only Muay Thai), and SBG Bend has a women-only BJJ program taught by female coaches with its own free trial class. Every other academy here is co-ed, and most welcome women in all classes.
Do I need to be in shape to start BJJ?
No. SBG Bend, Danzig MMA and Redmond Grappling Academy all say no prior experience or fitness is needed. Start with a fundamentals or intro class, rest when you need to, and tell the coach about any injuries. Ralph Gracie says rolling (sparring) is always optional, and Danzig says the same.
What should I wear to my first jiu-jitsu class?
For a gi class, ask whether the gym has a loaner; Ralph Gracie says you can take a free trial without buying a gi. For no-gi, wear a rash guard or fitted athletic shirt and shorts without pockets, zippers or buttons, with compression shorts or leggings underneath if you like. Skip tank tops at Danzig, take off jewelry, and bring flip-flops for walking off the mat.
What is the difference between gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu?
Gi classes use the traditional jacket, pants and belt, so you can grip the cloth; matches tend to be slower and more methodical. No-gi is done in a rash guard and shorts, with fewer grips, so it’s faster and closer to wrestling and MMA. Most Bend academies teach both; Redmond Grappling Academy is no-gi only and Danzig MMA is mostly no-gi.
Should I pick a BJJ-only academy or an MMA gym?
Pick a BJJ academy (Connection Rio, Ralph Gracie, Clark’s, Joint Lock, Patronus) if you want the full gi and no-gi curriculum, lots of BJJ class times and a clear belt path. Pick an MMA gym (Danzig MMA, SBG Bend) if you also want boxing, Muay Thai or wrestling, or you care about grappling with strikes in mind. Several BJJ academies also run Muay Thai, so you can cross-train either way.
How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ?
The IBJJF’s minimum time at each adult belt adds up to 4½ years from blue to black (2 years at blue, 1½ at purple, 1 at brown), with no minimum for white belt, and black belt can’t come before age 18. Those are minimums. Most people take much longer, and it depends on how often you train.
Can I drop in while visiting Bend?
Danzig MMA posts a $30 drop-in and a $40 day pass. Redmond Grappling Academy charges $25 if you’re visiting or affiliated with another academy and $35 for unaffiliated locals. Connection Rio takes visiting practitioners with approval and a signed waiver, so call (541) 797-8762 first. Bring your own gi and rash guard.
Are there open mats in Bend?
Ralph Gracie holds a Saturday adult open mat at 11 am (kids at 10), Danzig MMA has one Saturday at 11, Clark’s opens the gym to members Saturday and Sunday 11–12:30, Connection Rio has a members-only 18+ open mat Friday at 5, Redmond Grappling Academy has one Friday at 6 pm, and Prineville Jiu Jitsu’s is Saturday 11–1.
Are there jiu-jitsu tournaments in Central Oregon?
We didn’t find a regular tournament held in Bend. Most local competitors travel to the Willamette Valley; Sub League’s Oregon Open and its Sub League Opens are held in Salem. Connection Rio and Ralph Gracie both have kids competition classes, and Prineville Jiu Jitsu’s Cascão affiliation gives students access to IBJJF events.
Is there jiu-jitsu in Sisters or Sunriver?
We didn’t find an academy in Sisters, Sunriver or Tumalo. Connection Rio lists all three in its service area. From Sunriver, the closest options are the south-Bend academies (Connection Rio and Ralph Gracie) or Patronus in La Pine; from Sisters, the westside and downtown Bend gyms or Redmond.
Academy details were checked on each academy’s own website, schedule and pricing pages on October 23, 2026; the exact pages are listed under each card. Schedules change by season, so confirm before you go.
