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Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu

4.9 ★★★★★ 80 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fitness classes

Plan your first class

  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Fitness & conditioning muay thai fitness and cardio classes — a serious workout you can do without ever having to spar
  • Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule chapelhilljiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 919-265-4255

Hours

Monday 8 am–12 pm, 3–8 pm
Tuesday 8 am–12 pm, 3–8 pm
Wednesday 8 am–12 pm, 3–8 pm
Thursday 8 am–12 pm, 3–8 pm
Friday 8 am–12 pm
Saturday 8:30 am–1:30 pm
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Muay thai classes on the schedule at Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 5 mentions

“I'm in the beginner class, and we focus on positions for sprints of 3 weeks (for example: when I started, we were focusing on guard, then side control, and now mount).”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 2 mentions

“My kids and I have been training here for a few years, and I wish I had started sooner.”

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📘 Fundamentals 3 mentions

“I have been taking foundational classes here and all the coaches (Mazi, Jake, and Megan) are supportive, super knowledgeable, patient, kind, and teach very well.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“I've gained valuable self-defense skills, improved my fitness, and found a welcoming community of like-minded individuals.”

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🔥 Muay Thai Fitness

“I love taking cardio kickboxing with Liv.”

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Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing 3 mentions

“Liv was very welcoming and helpful to me during my first time kickboxing!”

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🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 17 mentions

“I've always believed that any training facility should have a welcoming and friendly feeling, and Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu definitely meets that description.”

Other gyms that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu (bjj) →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, boxing, or MMA alongside muay thai, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 80 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 4 mentions

“I've been to several other gyms over the past few years on and off, but this school offers the best instruction I've received.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 13 mentions

“I'm in the beginner class, and we focus on positions for sprints of 3 weeks (for example: when I started, we were focusing on guard, then side control, and now mount).”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 20 mentions

“I have been taking foundational classes here and all the coaches (Mazi, Jake, and Megan) are supportive, super knowledgeable, patient, kind, and teach very well.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 11 mentions

“When I miss certain details during his demonstrations, he will take the time to walk me through the technique and explain the reasoning behind certain movements.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“I love taking cardio kickboxing with Liv.”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 3 mentions

“It is a great gym and BJJ school for all.”

From the reviews

I can't say enough about how awesome of a place this is to train. The training is world class as our instructor is one of the best teachers I've ever met throughout my life. The facility is incredibly nice and the environment is great!

★★★★★ — Dance, Feb 2017

Chapel Hill Jiu-Jitsu is an outstanding martial arts academy that I highly recommend to anyone looking to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From the moment I joined, I was impressed by the welcoming atmosphere and the professionalism of the instructors.

★★★★★ — Tom, Jun 2024

Extremely positive experience with everyone from Chapel Hill Gracie. I've been to several other gyms over the past few years on and off, but this school offers the best instruction I've received.

★★★★★ — Jonah, Apr 2021

I always enjoy Gracie CHJJ with Mazi Heydary. World class instruction in a fun, family, environment. Truly a gem of a gym. We are lucky to have this in incredible resource right here. It has changed my life for the better in countless ways. Thank you Mazi!!!!!

★★★★★ — Robert, Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 80 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Muay thai is a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu

1728 Fordham Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC27517

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.