Gracie Westchase
About
Gracie Westchase in Tampa offers comprehensive martial arts training across multiple disciplines including MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. The gym provides a family-oriented environment with clean facilities and effective teaching methods. Coaches like Professor Bamboo are noted for their friendly, informative approach, taking time to slowly ease beginners into learning while explaining the mechanics behind each move. The training incorporates wrestling aspects into jiu-jitsu for a well-rounded grappling experience, making it suitable for fitness, competition, and self-defense needs.
Members consistently describe a welcoming atmosphere where both coaches and fellow students create a supportive, motivating environment. Beginners appreciate how coaches make them feel comfortable and natural while providing good advice. The gym attracts a mix of local members and visiting practitioners, with Saturday morning sessions being particularly popular for their technical quality and camaraderie. While the adult classes receive universal praise, prospective members with young children should note that the littles class at 4:30 may have limited attendance outside of the coach's son.
The overall experience emphasizes both practical skill development and personal growth, with many members signing up for regular classes after introductory sessions. The gym successfully balances serious training with a friendly vibe, making it accessible to newcomers while maintaining technical rigor for more experienced practitioners. Members report feeling motivated to attend as often as possible, citing the combination of effective instruction and positive community dynamics.
reviewsWhat Members Say
Members praise the friendly, supportive atmosphere where coaches like Professor Bamboo take time to explain techniques thoroughly and make beginners feel comfortable. Many describe signing up for regular classes after introductory sessions, appreciating the well-rounded grappling that incorporates wrestling elements. Reviews highlight the clean facilities, family-oriented environment, and effective teaching that serves fitness, competition, and self-defense needs. One parent notes that the littles class at 4:30 has limited attendance beyond the coach's son, suggesting other locations might offer more social opportunities for young children.
rate_reviewGoogle Reviews (5)
Superior Exterior Washing
a month ago
Saw an ad on FB for an intro class and decided to give it a try. Wish I all could say it was that it was "fun" (it was) but it was also informative, both in instructional aspect as well as realizing I am SO far behind in hands on personal defense training! Big slice of humble pie was eaten that day, followed by desert of signing up for classes! I made the commitment and will be attending regularly now! Bamboo, the instructor, was friendly and informative and took time to slowly ease me into learning. And while I was completely new to this, he made it fee comfortable and natural. Taking time to explain the mechanics box the moves being shown. Over all a great experience!! And like I said, I signed up for classes and will be going as often as possible!
Kilika Black
2 months ago
This place is awesome they’re family oriented, clean gym, consisting of friendly and effective teaching everyone here’s been great definitely the place to go for all your fitness competition and self defense needs i 💯 recommend!!
Lennart L
11 months ago
Highly recommendation to start Jiu Jitsu here! As a beginner the coaches were really helpful and gave me good advices. The whole vibe is super friendly, motivating and supportive. Other students help a lot too.
Richard M
a year ago
Visited Tampa and trained with the team on a Saturday morning. Great group of guys, very welcoming and really nice technique. Also seemed to have incorporated some wrestling aspect to their jiu jitsu, which made for a really well-rounded grappling experience. Highly recommend giving them a try! Thank you Professor Bamboo!
Ashley Mitchell
3 weeks ago
Recently enrolled my son into the littles class @ 4:30 2x a week only to realize there aren’t any other kids that show up outside of the coach’s son. We went for an entire month and maybe saw 1 other child. While everyone was friendly, I’d skip this place if you have a 4 year old. There are other locations that offer littles classes with more children.
Contact
12807 W Hillsborough Ave suite f, Tampa, FL 33635, USA
scheduleHours
Monday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM