Kimura Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Watertown

I have nothing but great things to say about Kimura and the entire team. I’ve trained at many BJJ gyms, and Kimura is by far the best I’ve been a part of. From day one, everyone is respectful, welcoming, and genuinely kind. Even more impressive is the level of knowledge and understanding of the art; it is exceptional. I’m truly blown away by the culture and instruction here and can’t imagine a better BJJ family. I am older, have health issues, and they work to make me the best I can be while keeping me safe. I drive over an hour to train here, and it’s absolutely worth it. Kindness and care really is the best way of life!! Thank you Joe and team, much respect to every belt on those mats!

I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Jean Kleber back in 1996 and trained under him continuously for about seven years, until 2003. In our city in Natal, Brazil, he was extremely successful — competing against and defeating black belts of all weight classes, building a strong reputation through hard work, discipline, and results. As opportunities grew, he made the difficult decision to leave our community to pursue a better future for himself and his family. After a period in Portugal, he eventually moved to the United States and settled in Boston. Even during that transition, he remained deeply connected to his roots and to his students back home. In 2004, he fully committed to his journey in the U.S. and founded Kimura BJJ in Boston. What stands out is that the same values he taught in Brazil are still present today — strong leadership, discipline, consistency, and genuine passion for Jiu-Jitsu. More than techniques, he uses Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a tool to positively impact people’s lives, helping them build confidence, discipline, and a healthier lifestyle. I strongly recommend Kimura BJJ to anyone — whether you’re an adult looking to grow through Jiu-Jitsu or a parent searching for a positive, structured environment for your kids. The benefits go far beyond learning self-defense.

I can’t recommend Kimura BJJ enough. My children and I have been training there for five years. From the moment we stepped onto the mat, we were welcomed by a warm and supportive community that truly feels like family. The instructors are exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about jiu jitsu. They bring a wealth of experience and a genuine commitment to helping their students grow. Their ability to break down techniques into understandable steps makes it accessible for all ages and skill levels. It's inspiring to see my kids not only learn valuable self-defense skills but also develop confidence, discipline, and respect. The facility itself is well-maintained and offers ample space for both kids' and adult classes. I also appreciate the emphasis on safety and proper etiquette, which is reinforced in every class. I’ve seen my children grow not only their Jui Jitsu skills, but also as individuals with strong values.

I took my first ever BJJ class at Kimura on a whim after driving past one day and remembering a friend from college recommending the sport. I signed up for the trial week with no real understanding of what to expect. Fast forward a year and a half, and it is easily one of the best decisions I’ve made. My conditioning and mobility is better than ever, and I’m healthier and more grounded than I was before I started. I owe a lot of that to the instructors at Kimura. I have learned more from Joey, Lyle, Nick, Bill, Pat, Andrea, Cormac, Marbs and others, both on and off the mats, than I have in years of formal schooling. Kimura is also an incredible place if you want to compete. I’ve competed five times and have never gone to a tournament without someone from the gym coaching and supporting me. Competing terrified me initially, and after losing my first two matches, I thought about quitting. Thanks to the encouragement and support from people at the gym, I stuck with it and improved far more than I thought I could. Even if you train purely as a hobbyist, Kimura is an incredible environment to learn and progress. They offer Gi and NoGi classes morning, noon, and night throughout the week. There’s a shower and plenty of parking nearby, which makes training manageable even with a busy schedule. The culture is respectful and safety focused; you can roll hard or light as long as you communicate, and there’s a clear catch and release mentality with submissions. I highly recommend trying a class at Kimura. The atmosphere is welcoming, the instructors care deeply, and it is a tremendous place to grow, both as a practitioner and a person.

My daughters Alice and Ariela both attend Kimura Jiu Jitsu School and we’ve had such a great experience. Marb is a very professional instructor who knows how to keep the class organized while still making it fun for the kids and teaching great techniques. Patrick is also amazing with the kids—very kind, patient, and fun. We’re very happy here and would definitely recommend it to other families!