Gracie Martial Arts Tampa Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense

My first 5 star review somehow disappeared, so I had to come back to say how much I love the people here. Something about this place attracts the best people, and I think it’s driven by the awesome instructors-James, Kyle, and Saulo-who have built an incredible learning environment. They’re honestly the main reason I choose to continue training here. They are all absolute gems who create a welcoming, psychologically safe environment, balance humor with thoughtful instruction, and genuinely invest in their students. I feel lucky to learn from people with a strong sense of integrity and zero ego. In addition to being encouraging, patient, intelligent, and helpful, they’re pretty funny! As a professor, I care about solid teaching methods, and they truly excel at it. The structured curriculum used here is detailed and makes learning approachable. You can tell the instructors have worked hard to create a safe place to train, especially for women. Everyone in class is kind and I was surprised to find a lovely little community here. TLDR: good humans here. Would follow these instructors across the earth!

Training at this school has been an incredible experience. The owner, Emiliano Cardona, is not only an outstanding Gracie Jiu‑Jitsu instructor but also one of the most humble and kind people you’ll meet. He’s always willing to slow things down, help you truly understand the art, and share meaningful life lessons along the way. A huge shout‑out to the team members — Jessica, Saulo, Kyle, and James — for creating such a welcoming environment and making my Jiu‑Jitsu journey even more enjoyable. Their support, patience, and positive energy make this place feel like a second home. Highly recommended for anyone looking to grow both on and off the mats.

Emiliano Cardona has built a wonderful team of instructors (Kyle, James, Saulo!). I started a few months ago and have had a wonderful experience. Emiliano focuses on the right skills and getting it right in a safe way. I'm looking forward to being a student for years to come in my BJJ journey!

First time trying Jiu Jitsu and I couldn’t have picked a better place to do my first class! Great atmosphere, everyone was very nice and welcoming, which I think is so important when you’re trying something new and are already anxious about doing it on your own. It was a great experience and I hope to be back soon! If you want to give Jiu Jitsu a try you need to come to Gracie Martial Arts.

I have been a member since June of last year, taking part in both the Women Empowered and Gracie Combatives programs. I honestly wasn’t expecting to love Brazilian jiu-jitsu as much as I do now. I have worked with James, Kyle, and Saulo the most, and they have been amazing! They are genuinely invested in us and love what they do. I appreciate the structure of the curriculum and the level of detail that our instructors go into in order for us to grasp the techniques. Most importantly, I feel extremely safe working with everyone on and off the mat, and the camaraderie that we have motivates me to keep coming back and improve myself. Kudos to Emiliano for building a strong team of staff (shout-out to Erick and Jess!) and instructors who have done an excellent job promoting a fun and healthy experience for all of us. I always look forward to stepping on the mat here, and I am grateful to have chosen jiu-jitsu and Gracie Martial Arts Tampa to be a part of my martial arts journey!