The Jiu-Jitsu Academy

What The Jiu-Jitsu Academy does

The Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a privately held, single-location Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and martial arts academy based in Evansville, Indiana, operating from a dedicated training facility at 2254 East Morgan Avenue. The business is a direct-to-consumer, brick-and-mortar service — not a software or technology product — delivering instructor-led classes in-person across a tiered curriculum that includes Basic BJJ, Competition BJJ, Intermediate/Advanced BJJ, Pre-K BJJ (ages 3-5), Jr. BJJ (ages 6-13), and Judo, supplemented by private one-on-one lessons and day/week passes for traveling practitioners.

The academy is led by owner and head instructor Professor Bruce Shepherd, a 5th degree black belt under the IBJJF with 30+ years of training and an international competition record, whose lineage traces to Master Marcelo Ferreira and Grand Master Francisco Mansor. The facility features two training areas with Zebra mats, locker rooms and showers, a gladiator wall, and a pro-shop selling gis, rash guards, and apparel. The company also operates a branded mobile app used for scheduling and member communication.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly memberships (classes starting at $85 per month), with family/group discounts, law-enforcement discounts via the Adopt-A-Cop BJJ program, private instruction fees, and ancillary pro-shop sales. Marketing is conducted almost exclusively through Facebook and Instagram. The company has established affiliate relationships with seven partner academies across Indiana, Kentucky, and South Carolina, but operates no second company-owned site, has no disclosed institutional investment, and is not part of any larger parent organization.

Name

The Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Legal name

The JiuJitsu Academy

Website

https://thejiujitsuacademy.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a privately owned, single-location Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts academy in Evansville, Indiana, offering instructor-led group, private, and youth classes to local children, adult practitioners, competitors, law enforcement, and visiting travelers under a recurring monthly membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Grappling & Submission Arts Training (Judo, BJJ, Wrestling) (HSADADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG), Competition & Tournament Team Training (HSADADAJ), Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG)

Keywords

• Martial arts training
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Group fitness classes
• Youth martial arts
• Private instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Evansville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Monthly Membership: Recurring monthly subscription for access to group classes. Classes start at $85 per month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a brick-and-mortar Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training academy that sells monthly memberships for access to in-person group classes, private lessons, and competition training. Programming covers Basic BJJ, Competition BJJ, Pre-K BJJ (ages 3-5), Jr. BJJ (ages 6-13), Intermediate and Advanced BJJ, and Judo, with day and week passes available for traveling practitioners and discounted memberships for law enforcement under the Adopt-A-Cop BJJ program.

Product overview

The Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training facility offering a comprehensive portfolio of in-person training services. The core offerings include Basic BJJ, Competition BJJ, Pre-K BJJ (ages 3-5), Jr. BJJ (ages 6-13), Judo, and Intermediate/Advanced classes. Additional services include private one-on-one lessons, group classes, and day/week passes for traveling practitioners. The academy is led by Professor Bruce Shepherd, a 5th degree black belt under IBJJF, and features a facility with Zebra mats, two training areas, locker rooms, and a pro-shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic BJJ Fundamental Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu group class designed for beginners and advanced practitioners to learn and review core movements and fundamentals.
• Competition BJJ Cardio-focused Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu group class for individuals wanting to compete or improve their fitness level.
• Pre-K BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class designed for children ages 3 to 5.
• Jr. BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class designed for children ages 6 to 13.
• Judo Martial arts class focused on stand-up techniques and takedowns, available to beginners and advanced practitioners.
• Intermediate and Advanced BJJ Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class for intermediate and advanced practitioners to further their training and understanding.
• Private Classes One-on-one personalized training sessions allowing students to learn at their own pace.
• Day and Week Passes Temporary training passes for visitors traveling to the area who want to train at the academy.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Power Martial Arts (Jeffersonville Jiu-Jitsu Academy)minorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network. Located in Jeffersonville.
• Holy City Jiu-JitsuminorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network. Located in Charleston, SC.
• Octopus BJJminorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network.
• Anvil TrainingminorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network.
• Oldham County Martial Arts AcademyminorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network. Located in Oldham County.
• Harrison County BJJminorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network. Located in Harrison County.
• Ipanema BJJminorOthersAffiliate academy relationship within the JiuJitsu Academy network.
• Adopt-A-Cop BJJ ProgramminorOthersCommunity partnership providing discounted BJJ training for law enforcement officers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gracie Barra: The largest globally franchised Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy network, operating thousands of schools under a unified curriculum and black-belt leadership pipeline. Highly comparable to The Jiu-Jitsu Academy's affiliate-driven, BJJ-instruction business model and directly competes for the same beginner-to-advanced member base.
• Checkmat BJJ: A major worldwide BJJ organization with affiliates across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, offering structured programs for kids through competitors. Directly comparable as a BJJ-specific academy network competing in the same niche and customer base.
• Alliance BJJ: A globally recognized BJJ competition team operating a network of affiliated academies with standardized curricula and championship-grade instructors. Directly comparable as a multi-academy BJJ organization competing for the same serious-practitioner customer segment The Jiu-Jitsu Academy targets.
• Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ): A BJJ organization founded and led by the Mendes brothers with affiliated academies emphasizing technical instruction and competition success. Comparable as a brand-led, lineage-credentialed BJJ academy network serving youth through adult competition practitioners.
• Carlson Gracie BJJ: A lineage-based BJJ network descending from Carlson Gracie Sr. with affiliated academies across the U.S. and Brazil. Comparable to The Jiu-Jitsu Academy in offering lineage-anchored BJJ instruction across age and skill levels through affiliated independent schools.
• 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu: A well-known no-gi-focused BJJ organization with affiliates across the U.S. and internationally, founded by Eddie Bravo. Comparable as an IBJJF-adjacent, brand-credentialed BJJ academy network offering structured programs for kids and adults at a similar price point.
• Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ: A leading international BJJ competition team with affiliated academies worldwide, known for high-level coaching and a premium adult curriculum. Comparable in offering competition-grade and adult BJJ instruction in a multi-academy, credential-led model.
• Renegade BJJ Academy: An independently operated U.S.-based BJJ academy offering group and private classes for adults, kids, and competitors under a black-belt instructor. Highly comparable as a single- or multi-location independent BJJ school with a subscription model and age-segmented classes.

Regional players

• Evolve MMA: A large multi-discipline martial arts academy group based in Asia (Singapore, Thailand, etc.) offering BJJ, Muay Thai, MMA, and other arts with championship-level instructors. Comparable in offering structured BJJ programs among broader martial arts curricula, but does not directly compete in the U.S. Midwestern market.

Broad incumbents

• UFC Gym: A multi-discipline martial arts and fitness chain under the UFC brand offering MMA, BJJ, boxing, kickboxing, and youth programs. Comparable to the academy on BJJ and youth martial arts offerings, but operates as a much larger commercial fitness/MA chain rather than a BJJ-pure specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Thejiujitsuacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/Thejiujitsuacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-jiu-jitsu-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Jiu-Jitsu Academy