Manchester, New Hampshire · Gracie University Affiliate
Practical jiu-jitsu for people starting from the beginning.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Manchester teaches structured self-defense to adults with no previous experience required — at a pace built for a first class, not a tryout.
Before you start
If any of this sounds like you, you're exactly who this is for.
“I’m not in shape.”
Class pace is controlled, not exhausting. You train at a level that fits you, and conditioning follows over time — it isn't the price of admission.
“I’ve never done anything like this.”
Good. Gracie Combatives assumes zero background. Every technique is taught from the ground up, in order, the same way for every new student.
“I don’t want to get hurt.”
Beginners train at beginner pace, under supervision, with partners who were beginners themselves not long ago. Training is deliberate, not chaotic.
“I’m worried the room will be intimidating.”
There's no hazing, no posturing, and no expectation that you already belong here. Most of the room remembers exactly what your first class felt like.
“I’m not interested in competing.”
You don't have to be. Competition is optional and outside our core curriculum. Most students train for skill, confidence, and self-defense — not trophies.
Why here
A different kind of training room.
A curriculum built for beginners
Gracie Combatives breaks self-defense into a specific teaching order, developed over decades, so a first-time student always knows what comes next.
Practical self-defense, not random technique
Every class ties back to controlling and ending a real physical confrontation — not a highlight-reel move with no context for when you'd use it.
A training room that's actually co-ed
Women and men train together in Gracie Combatives as a matter of course, not exception. Women Empowered exists alongside it, not instead of it.
Fifteen years as a Gracie University affiliate
We teach the Gracie University curriculum under license, with a standard of instruction that's been refined across thousands of students.
15+
Years teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Manchester
~50/50
Everyday balance of women and men on the mat
3
Structured programs, one clear path forward
1
Curriculum, built for real self-defense — not sport rules
Programs
Three programs. One clear path.
Most students start in Gracie Combatives®. Many women train Women Empowered® alongside it — the two aren't a choice between one or the other.
Co-ed · Beginner Program
Gracie Combatives®
A structured beginner curriculum focused on controlling and ending a physical confrontation through positional control, escapes, and submissions.
Learn more
Women-Only Program
Women Empowered®
A women-only self-defense program built around escaping common threats and dangerous situations, trained in a room of women only.
Learn more
Advanced Study
Master Cycle®
Continued training for students who've completed the beginner curriculum — deeper positional understanding and live practice.
Learn moreYour first visit
What a first class feels like.
No surprises. Here's exactly what to expect from the moment you walk in.
Meet an instructor
You'll be greeted by name and introduced to whoever is teaching that day — no waiting around, no guessing where to go.
Tour the school
A quick walk-through of the mat space, changing areas, and what a normal class night looks like.
Discuss your goals and concerns
A short, honest conversation about why you're here — self-defense, fitness, confidence, something else — and anything you're unsure about.
Learn foundational movement
A small set of positions and movements that every technique in the curriculum builds on.
Train at a controlled pace
You'll practice with a partner at a pace built for a first day, not a tryout.
Decide if it's a fit
No pressure, no scripted sales pitch. We'll answer questions and let you decide what's next.
In their words
Different reasons to start. A common experience once they did.
"I can’t speak highly enough about the people and environment here! As soon as you walk through the door you’re treated like family."
"The staff is very friendly and welcoming. All my partners have been patient, kind, friendly, and willing to help."
"The instruction is top notch, and there are online videos detailing the techniques as well. There is also a focus on personal safety to prevent injury which is greatly appreciated"
"The atmosphere is second to none. The mats are always clean, the schedule is flexible, and the coaching staff is approachable and attentive."
School culture
More than a workout. A place to practice becoming capable.
Students come for different reasons — self-defense, a return to physical activity, a genuine challenge, a community that shows up consistently. What holds the room together is structure: a curriculum, a pace, and people who train alongside each other for years, not weeks.
Instruction
Taught by people who remember being new.
Our instructor team teaches under Gracie University's affiliate program, which sets a standard curriculum and teaching method rather than leaving instruction to individual style. Every instructor has spent years working specifically with first-time students — the pace, the vocabulary, and the reassurance a beginner needs are treated as a skill in their own right, not an afterthought.
What that means for you: a consistent teaching progression, a low-pressure training environment, and instructors who are as invested in your first six months as your first class.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need experience to start?
Do I need to be in shape first?
What should I wear to my first class?
Will I have to train with men?
Do I have to compete?
Get started
You do not need to get ready before you begin.
Beginning is how you get ready. Schedule an intro class and see the room for yourself.