Sapateiro Jiu-Jitsu Academy

“Stopped here while traveling and had a great experience! The gym had a warm and friendly family environment. Coaching was excellent and lots of tough training. Will definitely stop back next time I'm in the area. I've visited a few gyms on Oahu and this was my favorite”

“Sapateiro Jiu Jiitsu is my home gym whenever I visit Honolulu. Everyone here is extremely hospitable. Coach Ed is patient and has very insightful instruction, and will take time in the class to ensure your questions are answered. This gym is female-friendly and has a group of girls who will make you feel right at home. At the time of this review, the facilities are in the business complex. I would highly recommend Sapateiro JJ to anyone looking for highly technical instruction/rolls and a long term, friendly gym, as well as travellers looking for quality training during their stay! 😊”

“I found this place on Google maps when looking for a spot to train while working at the port in Honolulu. I reached out to Ed via Instagram and he was prompt and welcoming in his response and invited me to drop in. The gym is in a mall of sorts and has plenty of good parking, and has a nice variety of levels of skill in its students. As a girl myself, I was pleased to train with 4 women in 2 evening classes. While the vibe in the gym is friendly and relaxed, a couple people had recently competed and won, which is always a green flag for me. I would definitely recommend anyone visiting the Honolulu area to check them out! Thank you Ed!”

“During a recent trip back to my hometown of Honolulu, my two kids and I had the pleasure of training at Sapateiro. Edmund the head instructor, is an old friend and lifelong practitioner of BJJ. He has poured his heart and soul into creating a welcoming and safe space for everyone. My kids loved how warmly they were welcomed and how much fun they had learning new moves and meeting new freinds. As someone who is injury-prone, I felt completely at ease training here—the focus on safety and proper technique was evident. The other students were incredibly supportive and free of ego, making the experience even more enjoyable. If you’re looking for a genuine, family-friendly BJJ gym in Honolulu, I can’t recommend Sapateiro enough! On a side note Zippy’s, a favorite restaurant amongst locals, is incredibly close to the gym so after class you can indulge in a a large variety calorie rich meal with reduced guilt. So make your next stop Sapateiro’s first, then Zippy’s!”

“Whether looking for a competition feel training environment with highly skilled practitioners or just looking to break a sweat after a long day, Sapateiro Jiu-Jitsu Academy has it all. The team and students are friendly, knowledgeable, and are always willing to help each other grow. Head instructor, Edmund Li, is very thorough in his teachings, has a vast knowledge of past and modern day jiujitsu, and is always willing to spend extra time with his students to work through techniques as well as the concepts behind them.”