HomeKentuckyNewport › Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

5 ★★★★★ 121 Google reviews · Judo dojo in Newport, Kentucky

Judo dojo Free trial Kids & teens Private lessons

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most dojos welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth judo classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Open mat open-mat randori sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule carlsongracienky.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 859-414-6701

Hours

Monday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Tuesday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Wednesday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Thursday 12–1 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
Friday 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–8:30 pm
Saturday 2–4 pm
Sunday 11 am–1 pm

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-mat times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Judo classes on the schedule at Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai, confirmed in members' own reviews and the dojo's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Judo 6 mentions

“My daughter (10 years old) has been training here for a little over 7 months in the Little Bulldogs class for BJJ and recently added the striking class.”

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🥋 Adult Judo

“Her love for the sport has sparked my own interest, and I’ve since joined the adult classes myself.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“Just started private lessons with Matt 3 weeks ago and love it!”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“I wanted to sign her up for something where she could be active and that also has real world application.”

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Other martial arts here

Judo dojos are often multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai — mined from their reviews and the dojo's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 12 mentions

“My daughter (10 years old) has been training here for a little over 7 months in the Little Bulldogs class for BJJ and recently added the striking class.”

Other dojos that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu →

🏟️ MMA 2 mentions

“I’ve tried many MMA gyms both in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, and this is by far the best gym I’ve been too.”

Other dojos that also teach mma →

🛡️ Self-Defense

“Highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn self defense or to simply get a great workout in.”

Other dojos that also teach self-defense →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the dojo's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, wrestling, or sambo alongside your judo, confirm the current schedule with the dojo.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 121 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“Not only was the head coach (Andy) super knowledgeable and an amazing teacher but the students (Ben + others) were also kind and welcoming despite me just dropping by.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 9 mentions

“Not only was the head coach (Andy) super knowledgeable and an amazing teacher but the students (Ben + others) were also kind and welcoming despite me just dropping by.”

🤝 respectful, no-ego dojo 16 mentions

“Not only was the head coach (Andy) super knowledgeable and an amazing teacher but the students (Ben + others) were also kind and welcoming despite me just dropping by.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 3 mentions

“Bernie was a fantastic instructor and taught some really good techniques.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 4 mentions

“My husband and I are grateful for the personal growth that we see in our kids through the disciplines of judo and jujitsu here.”

From the reviews

The owners and coaches of Carlson Gracie NKY have provided a wonderful, safe environment for my kids to stretch and grow both physically and mentally. My husband and I are grateful for the personal growth that we see in our kids through the disciplines of judo and jujitsu here.

★★★★★ — Cv, May 2024

My six year old daughter has been going to this gym for almost seven months and she loves it. I wanted to sign her up for something where she could be active and that also has real world application. She has fun while learning structure, gaining confidence, a hard work ethic, etc.

★★★★★ — Cara, Aug 2022

Carlson Gracie NKY is everything you want in a BJJ/MMA gym. They have a huge facility with a boxing ring, full size cage, and most important a great group of training partners. I’ve been training BJJ for five years. I was I town for work and I felt right at home training here.

★★★★★ — Daniel, Feb 2020

I received such a warm welcome from the owner Andy. I was in town for a few days for a quick vacation trip and needed a place to train. I had some awesome rolls with some great people. The gym is in a great location - right after open mat I went to the aquarium just down the road!

★★★★★ — Gracie, Apr 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 121 reviews →

Your first judo class at Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

Nervous about walking into a judo dojo for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good sensei expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, learning to fall safely (ukemi), then drilling a throw or two and some groundwork with a partner — not hard randori. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a judogi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many dojos lend a loaner judogi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own judogi. Live randori eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the sensei. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Judo is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your sensei, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Carlson Gracie NKY - Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, & Muay Thai

818 Monmouth St, Newport, KY41071

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this dojo? Claim your listing — it's free.