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Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 32 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Ormond Beach, Florida

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Fitness classes

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • 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
  • Fitness & conditioning muay thai fitness and cardio classes — a serious workout you can do without ever having to spar
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule gracieflorida.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (386) 227-7988

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 6–8 PM
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 6–8 PM
Friday Closed
Saturday 11 AM–2 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 Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 2 mentions

“I just started at Gracie Florida with no experience and it has been amazing.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 4 mentions

“Looking forward to bringing my daughter there to train with him.”

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Teen Muay Thai

“My son is now graduating from high school and STILL embodies the principles that JM instilled in him from an early age.”

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🏆 Fight Team

“Extremely competent Jiujitsu with direct Gracie lineage.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 5 mentions

“This is the place to go if you want to learn real life self defense all while having fun and getting in shape.”

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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 Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 15 mentions

“Our Jiu-Jitsu has improved DRAMATICALLY after training with him and having come up and do seminars at our school.”

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 32 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 4 mentions

“Professor John-Michael is an amazing instructor who will teach you everything he knows, also everyone that trains there are very friendly and helpful as well.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“Both instructors and students are knowledgeable and welcoming at John Michael's jiu jitsu academy.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 8 mentions

“Professor John-Michael is an amazing instructor who will teach you everything he knows, also everyone that trains there are very friendly and helpful as well.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“Strong fundamentals and practical self-defense oriented.”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 2 mentions

“Extremely competent Jiujitsu with direct Gracie lineage.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 3 mentions

“Everyone is really welcoming and my self confidence has improved significantly.”

From the reviews

John Michael is by far the best instructor we have ever had for martial arts. For the kids’ classes, I couldn’t BELIEVE how well he connected with them and seriously changed their lives for the better - bringing confidence, skills, discipline and respect to a seriously high level.

★★★★★ — Marsha, Jan 2020

Extremely competent Jiujitsu with direct Gracie lineage. Instructor John Michael Kaleikini has his black belt from Relson Gracie. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Small classes with hands on instruction directly from the most experienced martial artist in the area.

★★★★★ — Robert, Jan 2020

I trained muay thai for the first time with Jon Michael. Excellent instructor, very insightful, great sense of humor too. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. Looking forward to bringing my daughter there to train with him.

★★★★★ — Michael, Oct 2022

Came here to train on vaca! Absolutely amazing gym! The class felt tailored to what I was looking for! Great rolls and will be back next time I’m down in FL 💪💪

★★★★★ — Aaron, Jan 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 32 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu

Gracie Florida 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 Gracie Florida 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 Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu

719 S Nova Rd, Ormond Beach, FL32174

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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.