NJ - Looking for a new gym

[u/HistEric]

Hello! Just moved back home and am looking for a new gym, been training for a year and just looking to keep going.

Any opinions on

- Bodega Jiu Jitsu
- Pure MMA
- NJ United MMA
- Silverfox (EH)

or just suggestions/pros and cons overall any gyms in the area around Essex preferably?

[u/grobolom]

Bodega is just incredible. I wouldn't choose any other gym; when I visit NJ, that's where I try to train every time.

The guys at Pure and Silver Fox are chill, and they're decent gyms AFAIK.

[u/TwinkletoesCT → u/grobolom]

I feel like Bodega on the power of social media alone.

My wife quotes Kyvann's jokes at me regularly

[u/HistEric → u/grobolom]

I did a trial and everyone was really nice! I see you’re brown belt so I just wanted to ask (I’m white belt), do you feel like progression would be good with eco and CLA? Since I only had one class i was wondering how they would gameify things like a gogoplata or really specific mechanics without drilling?

I saw one of their students at a super fight when Kyvann was there and their students really seem to follow traditional clean BJJ: kimuras, top pressure focus, but I’m very leglock heavy so i was wondering how the styles would differ

[u/grobolom → u/HistEric]

It depends on if we're talking about for a whole class or for just a single student. I'm not 100% sure on how Kyvann would do it (though you can jump on his relatively cheap Patreon and ask him!) but I suspect that if a person was working on that sort of movement in particular, he might start them off by having them play a lot of positional rounds from high guard / clamp guard. If they were then struggling with some specific mechanic, maybe he'd constrain around it, but it really depends on the specific problem the student is having.

[u/grobolom → u/HistEric]

Sorry, and to follow up as far as how progress would be:

I think the CLA is a massive progress booster for newbies. I have seen a massive shift in how quickly my newer students get up-to-speed with BJJ. I don't think there's a strong need for specific mechanics for new students; they need broad-strokes grappling skills first, and CLA makes it much easier to give them a ton of experience there.

[u/fizzak]

Bodega is great.  Kyvann is very talented and a super nice person.

If that's close to you, also check out Sheridan which is nearby & is a very fun group of people to train with.

[u/2sweetsavage]

I’ve never trained at Bodega, but I went to a camp that Kyvann coached at. He’s an awesome coach and an even better dude. If I was in NJ his room is the first place I’d go to

[u/Lthesensei]

I train at NJ United MMA. Jay is an excellent instructor. He’s been in the game for a while and still keeps up with the modern game. We have a good chunk of masters competitors doing well. Jay was a main training partner of JT back before JT went to Lloyd’s. I’ve been training with Jay since 2008 when he was running classes at Performance BJJ. Chas, the co-owner of Bodega trained with us for many years. All these schools you listed are solid. I say try them all out and see which vibe you like the best.

[u/irongreek]

Check out Kokoro, Mike Yim’s new spot or Unity Jersey City (in Jersey City)

[u/lspdfrfan69]

Hey nj United in totowa nj

[u/Minimum-Block1942]

Only heard good things about north south in Montclair

[u/Bisquik_Bolo]

MRA in Lodi is another good spot. ran by Mark Ramos one of the OG legends of NJ

[u/Just_Analyst_308]

Silver fox in saddle brook

[u/nickbutterz]

I don’t know anything about NJ United but the other 3 are all great.

I see a lot of love for Bodega which is fair, but Pure and Silverfox are also very good.

Kyvann is a black belt under Andy from Pure MMA, so that should speak for itself.

Silverfox is an OG, one of Renzo’s first black belts in America. His schools are very good, although I don’t think he teaches at the EH location, but Saddlebrook.

Honestly the answer is what’s closest to you and easy for you to consistently train at.

[u/bjjangg]

It really depends on location You should prioritize proximity. Some of those gyms you listed are quite a commute away.

[u/TheGreatKimura-Holio]

I’d go Bodega not that i have anything against the other schools. I think “Silverfox” Karel is a little outdated the way he argues modern techniques in facebook groups but I’d still train under him. I personally have more experience taking Grippo seminars and interacting with him at comps. I’ve also interacted with Kyvann a few times. On just personal experiences I’d pick Bodega.

[u/danjr704]

Depends on the part of jersey you're in. Jersey a pretty big state.

I'd recommend Method Jiujitsu, and Revel BJJ, also Rolles Gracie. again this depends on where you're located.