Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Life-Changing Community of Heart and Purpose To James Clingerman and the entire IBJJA family: Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being more than a gym you’ve been a lifeline. When I first walked through your doors in November 2023, I weighed 283.7 lbs and carried burdens far beyond the physical. Today, I’m at 235 lbs and dropping, but the true transformation runs deeper. This gym reignited my hope, discipline, and belief in myself. Your generous 30-day trial isn’t just a gift it’s an act of faith in people. Though I didn’t train as much as I’d hoped early on, I immediately felt welcomed like family. Ryan and the IBJJA manager, radiates kindness and authenticity, whether they guiding kids (who adore them both!) or cheering on adults. Coach Lionel’s judo expertise is unmatched, but it’s his patience that makes him extraordinary. Korey, who taught me to jab with grace, embodies the gym’s spirit: skilled yet humble, challenging yet encouraging. This place isn’t just about Jiu Jitsu it’s about rebuilding lives. Alongside my sobriety journey, the discipline and camaraderie here have saved me from self-destruction. God led me to IBJJA, and through James’ leadership, I’ve found strength I didn’t know I had. I no longer train here but I will always be grateful for the lessons learned! To anyone reading: Don’t take my word for it. Walk through these doors. Whether you’re seeking fitness, community, or a fresh start, IBJJA meets you where you are. James, Ryan, Lionel, Korey—you’ve given me more than a gym. You’ve given me a family. Forever grateful. 🙏 Start your journey here. Your future self will thank you."

"This is a wonderful school, the instructors are very patient and passionate about the block of instruction that they are teaching as it pertains to physical fitness and self defense. The entire staff is extremely family oriented, I really wish I didn't get so busy with work because I really enjoyed my time at the academy. I highly recommend that if you or anyone that you know who is interested in the sport, attend this academy. I have a few more months until I am scheduled to PCS to another location, and I can honestly say that everyone who I met will truly be missed."

"You can tell a lot about a place by the way they treat guests that do not benefit them…and with that being said, this is an amazing BJJ academy. I was traveling for work and wanted a place to train while out of town. Found this place and from the website alone, I could tell this was going to be a great experience with how welcoming they are with visitors. They did not disappoint. Went to the 6 AM class and was taught by Coach Kyle. The whole time I legitimately felt like I was part of the team. He was very welcoming and took the time to help me understand the drills and gave me great feedback to help me better my game. The rolls were great too. At no point did I feel like anyone had an ego and was out to hurt me. Everyone trained hard and safely. I went back in the evening to purchase some merch and thank the staff for allowing me to train. Candice reached out to me and made sure I enjoyed the class and was super helpful with assisting me with getting some rash guards. Met Professor James and he was about as nice as and as humble as they come. Everyone was awesome. Lastly, their merchandise they sell seems to be top notch and high quality. This is my new Indianapolis home away from home. Hope I can return in the future and train some more."

"Our family knew we wanted to be a part of IBJJA before we even stepped foot in the school. We did an extensive amount of research as we were looking for a very specific school. Honestly, we were looking for the best in Indy. And what we found at IBJJA exceeded all expectations -- facility, coaches, curriculum, cleanliness...all of it. We signed up before my husband even finished his first class. They treat their students and families with respect and kindness -- making them know they matter...and are not simply another dollar sign each month. Trust me, in this industry, there are many schools that do just that. Our son has also been accepted with open arms and has watched classes since he was a couple months old and now even gets some training in (age 4). Everyone knows him by name and truly treats him as one of their own. If he's not there, they always ask where he's at and when he'll be back. Like I said, everyone matters here. I could not ask for a better BJJ school for my son to grow up in -- and the fact he gets to learn at the same school as his father is icing on the cake. If you're looking for a top notch BJJ school, you've found it in Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and all their coaches/staff. Professor James Clingerman is truly one of the best instructors I've ever seen in the industry. 10/10 will ALWAYS recommend."