Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes in Union, NJ
Renzo Gracie lineage since 2011. Real coaching. No ego. Schedule your free trial this week — no contract, no pressure.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes in Union, NJ for complete beginners and experienced grapplers alike, taught by Jamal Patterson — a 4th-degree black belt under Renzo Gracie, ADCC veteran, and former pro MMA fighter. Beginners welcome, no experience needed. Lock in your free trial now — no contract. Evening classes at 6, 7, and 8 PM. Built for working adults and NJ Transit commuters.
Real Adult BJJ — Not "BJJ-Inspired Fitness"
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art. No striking. The whole game is leverage, position, and submission. The premise — built into the art a hundred years ago by Helio Gracie because he was a small man — is that technique should beat strength. And it does, when it's taught right.
Our adult program runs separately from kids and from preschoolers. Real adult curriculum. Real adult intensity. Real adult students at every belt level.
If You See Yourself Here, Come In
The working adult
Treadmills don't compound. The technique you learn this month will still be in your body in ten years. The fitness benefit is huge. The skill benefit is bigger.
The "I've thought about it for a year" person
Most of our students "thought about" BJJ for a year before walking in. The dread on the drive over is universal. Two months in, you wonder why you waited.
The cross-trainer
Trained other martial arts and want depth? BJJ has more depth per technique than any martial art I've trained. A decade in, you're still finding new applications.
The parent setting an example
Your kids notice. When you train, they understand consistency, discipline, and showing up.
The woman wondering if she'll fit in
We have women at every belt level — including a current female brown belt who trains with men twice her size and holds her own. Leverage and technique work, regardless of who's using them.
Your First Six Months — Fundamentals
Warm-up
Shrimping, rolls, light movement. Get the blood moving.
Technique
Drill 1–2 specific techniques with a partner. This is where the learning happens.
Live rolling
Apply what you learned at controlled intensity. Tapping is normal, expected, respected.
After six months, you can join general adult classes that include open rolling and more advanced curriculum. You don't have to roll hard your first months. We pair beginners with experienced training partners who guide rather than test. There's no machismo problem at AllStar.
BJJ Class Schedule
Adult classes run Monday through Friday at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 PM, with Saturday classes at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. The evening slots are built for people who work all day and commute home on Route 22, the Parkway, or NJ Transit.
New to jiu-jitsu? Start with your free two-week trial. We'll tell you which classes to hit first. Book your free BJJ trial.
Why Lineage Actually Matters
A lot of schools claim BJJ. Few have the line of instruction to back it up.
I'm Jamal Patterson, and I trained directly under Renzo Gracie at his academy in New York. The wall in our gym shows the line: Carlos Gracie → Robson Gracie → Renzo Gracie → me. The teaching methodology is the one Renzo learned inside the Gracie family and passed to me.
Not a franchise template. Not a third-generation watered-down version. The real thing.
Four Reasons Adults Choose Us
A coach who actually competed
Pro MMA fighter, ADCC veteran, fought in the IFL and Bellator, won the UWC light heavyweight title. The technique I teach was tested under stadium lights with money on the line.
A real adult curriculum
Many gyms run adult classes that are "kids classes for big people." We don't. The progression assumes adult learning patterns and adult goals.
A community that's unusually good
BJJ communities are tight by nature. Ours is tighter than most. People notice when you don't show up. They tell you you're improving when you don't see it yourself.
A proven foundation for self defense
BJJ is practical self defense. Real leverage. Real control. Real escapes. Learn more about our self defense program →
From the People on the Mats
★★★★★"I've been training with Jamal at AllStar for almost 10 years. He's an incredible leader and an even better person — and a beast on the mats on top of that."
★★★★★"AllStar changed my life. I've made friendships I'll have forever, built real confidence, and the martial arts community here has opened doors for me all over the world."
★★★★★"World-class instructors from the Renzo Gracie lineage. Jamal was one of the most accomplished grapplers in the world during his time."
BJJ Near Union, Springfield, Cranford & Kenilworth
AllStar Martial Arts is at 1166 West Chestnut St, Union, NJ 07083, right off Route 22 with free on-site parking. Adults drive in for jiu-jitsu from all over Union and Essex County:
Keep reading before your first class
Frequently Asked Questions
I've never trained anything. Will I be lost? +
I'm in my 40s or 50s. Too late? +
Is BJJ safe? +
Can I just train for fitness without competing? +
Can I cross-train Muay Thai too? +
Do I need to bring my own gi? +
What about parking? +
What do I wear to my first class? +
How much does it cost after the free trial? +
Can I observe a class first? +
Where can I find adult BJJ or jiu-jitsu near me? +
Two Weeks Free. No Contract.
Show up. Bring water. We'll handle the rest. If we're not for you, you owe us nothing.