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Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Chesapeake, Virginia
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
- 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
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule tidewaterbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (757) 237-1969
Hours
| Monday | 5:15–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:15–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 5:15–7 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My 10 year old daughter took a BJJ lesson at a camp and decided she wanted to pursue training in BJJ, so we went to Tidewater Academy for their youth program.”
“I've trained with this academy twice now, and have taken private lessons with Professor Chris and Dwayne.”
“Over the past few years, my son has competed in several tournaments and has consistently placed at the top in his age and weight class.”
“If you want to learn The art of jujitsu both self-defense and competition this is the place you need to be at.”
Other martial arts here
“My 10 year old daughter took a BJJ lesson at a camp and decided she wanted to pursue training in BJJ, so we went to Tidewater Academy for their youth program.”
What members say
“Great culture, recently upgraded facility, and tons of higher belts that provide great coaching.”
“Tidewater Academy is a first class operation.”
“They are amazing with children making it a perfect family sport.”
“The children don’t just learn techniques in theory or by endlessly repeating movements, as is common in some traditional martial arts.”
“I now see these values clearly in my son. He is confident and self-assured, balanced and determined—both on and off the mats.”
“Over the past few years, my son has competed in several tournaments and has consistently placed at the top in his age and weight class.”
From the reviews
After moving to a new home in 2011 and training BJJ for a couple of years, I decided to stop-by Tidewater BJJ in order to find a new place to train. What a great decision.... Jonathan and Dan are fantastic instructors/people and their facility is top notch.
Met Brandon of Tidewater BJJ at the US Grappling in VA Beach Sept. 24 as my two sons were competing. Brandon who is a children's coach did not hesitate to jump in and start coaching my oldest son throughout two of his matches. This was highly appreciated and displayed what BJJ is about.
i love Tidewater BJJ. God definately brought me to this academy and i see why. The people i train with are nice and John and Dan are the best Trainers/Black Belts in the area. If your looking for a good competition academy then this is the place to be.
My nine-year-old son has been training at Tidewater Jiu Jitsu since 2023, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with our experience. In my opinion, everything in martial arts rises and falls with the coaches. They determine the quality of instruction, the safety of the children, and the overall atmosphere of the gym.
New to muay thai? Start at Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy 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.
Your first muay thai class at Tidewater Jiu-Jitsu Academy
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.
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