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Wander Braga Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 112 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Cornelius, North Carolina

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Fitness classes Fight team

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 (ages 3–15) — 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
  • Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule wanderbragabjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (704) 303-0896

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Thursday 11 AM–8:30 PM
Friday 7 AM–6:30 PM
Saturday 10 AM–12 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 Wander Braga Brazilian 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

“The environment is welcoming, disciplined, and motivating for all levels—from beginners to experienced competitors.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 24 mentions

“Professor Wander is incredible with kids (all the coaches are as well) and the kids all love it!”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“The kids have so much fun while also learning valuable skills, getting great exercise, and building confidence through safe self-defense techniques.”

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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 Wander Braga Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing

“I highly recommend them for both kids and adults interested in jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, or Muay Thai.”

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🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 20 mentions

“If you're looking to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the Cornelius area, look no further than Wander Braga Jiu Jitsu!”

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 112 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 13 mentions

“On top of being one of the most skilled grapplers in the world, Braga BJJ is welcoming of all people and skill levels.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 17 mentions

“On top of being one of the most skilled grapplers in the world, Braga BJJ is welcoming of all people and skill levels.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“The kids have so much fun while also learning valuable skills, getting great exercise, and building confidence through safe self-defense techniques.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 4 mentions

“The classes build confidence and the community of people who train here or have kids that train here are wonderful - couldn’t recommend more and you won’t find better instructors!”

From the reviews

If you're looking to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the Cornelius area, look no further than Wander Braga Jiu Jitsu! On top of being one of the most skilled grapplers in the world, Braga BJJ is welcoming of all people and skill levels.

★★★★★ — Ryan, Aug 2023

I joined the Wander Braga Team just under a year ago and can say this is one of the best decisions that I've ever made. I'm 40 years old, was nervous at first and needed a new competitive outlet that I can also include my family in. My 5 year old actually prefers his classes here to any other sport at the moment.

★★★★★ — Brad, Mar 2025

Wander Braga BJJ is an outstanding academy. Professor Wander Braga is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about teaching real, high-level jiu-jitsu. The environment is welcoming, disciplined, and motivating for all levels—from beginners to experienced competitors.

★★★★★ — Chico, Dec 2025

My kids love going to Wander Braga for jiu-jitsu classes. The instructors are incredibly kind, attentive, and patient, and they do a great job adapting their teaching style to fit each child’s individual needs.

★★★★★ — Karah, May 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 112 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Wander Braga Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Wander Braga Brazilian 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first muay thai class at Wander Braga Brazilian 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 Wander Braga Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

19501 W Catawba Ave Suite DE, Wander Braga Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Cornelius, NC28031

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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.