Personal Trainer - 1-2-1- Mixed Martial Arts - Brazilian Jiu jitsu/Grappling - Boxing - Kickboxing - Muay Thai - Naqib Hasan

As you just realized it can mean many things. I'll say, overall, a "Gracie gym", means exactly what it says and is very ambiguous: someone has some form affiliation with a Gracie. Which Gracie? What affiliation? They paid them to use the name? They went through a process? They still train with them? Who knows. Now, within the Gracie's, probably Roger Gracie is one of the most if not the most respected and decorated BJJ practitioners. He has primarily taught and trained in London, exclusively for the last, say, 20 years. If your gym is not near there, I'll personally be slightly suspicious how source, 2025 ↗

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Personally, no. Not worth the effort. Guys like Roger Gracie moved to London with virtually zero BJJ culture, rolled with white belts the entire time and was still able to beat the top players in the game. The ROI of going to a gym 10 minutes away to get good training vs 1 hour to get what you perceive to be “great” training is not worth it. You’re better off spending that 2 hour commute in the gym weight lifting or something else. That commute is not worth it. source, 2025 ↗

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I will give you all the perspective of someone who has been lurking here for 6 months and wants to start but frankly I’m nervous / frightened. Was inspired by listening to jocko willink podcasts from episode 1 9 months ago to change my life for the better. Background I am 53 year old, I was 140kg but thanks to dieting, eating health food now we have a lady who comes and cooks for us three times a week and thus stop eating take aways etc. Plus personal trainer 3 times a week and weights at home I’m down to 115kg. Secondly my job is a medical doctor (anaesthesiologist) I cannot afford to inj source, 2025 ↗

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“Bringing knives in the situation is a non sequitur” No it’s not. It was one of the the main point of like 3 of my comments at this point. The OP said MMA. Self defense, personal satisfaction. I guess you don’t know it but in self defense situation in the real world which is what I pointed out, knifes exist. Or you have many people to deal with in mob mentality. In fact the exact scenario I have pointed out in this thread repeatedly is how MMA is with a ref, and rules, banned strikes, and breaks in between, which is nothing like a self defense situation ever is. It’s not a non sequitur, source, 2024 ↗

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you have so many options in east london! it would be easier to give you advice if you googled the bjj gyms that are easy for you to get to and made a shortlist. i'm quite on top of london gym knowledge as i've got one 😅 best thing to do though would be to take advantage of free trial sessions and go see the gyms and feel the vibes for yourself. every gym is different and everyone has to look for their personal best fit. feel free to dm if you have questions, happy to help! source, 2024 ↗

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Two places in the vicinity with higher belt women are London Grapple in Deptford, and Gracie Barra Oval in, well, Oval. Haven't trained in either so can't comment in the gym cultures, but have trained with the women in both places and they are legit. I'm personally not a huge fan of GB and their silly uniform rules and prices and bowing to whoever, but they do produce students with a decent level of jiu jitsu. source, 2024 ↗

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