Real American Grappling

Checkmat Charlotte is a wonderful program! Checkmat is organized into different categories; 4-6 year old, 7-13, adult women’s & men’s classes etc. Class times are catered to the age of the class. Also, they have certain weekends they host their house scrimmage matches that you can sign your child up for and have them experience live competition in a small safe fun environment with food, drinks, music & of course Ju Jitsu! Furthermore, I love the fact they give you a free trial when you are deciding on signing up to see if it is something you would like to do and grow as apart of their program. All of the instructors are very knowledgeable, kind and patient. Coach Allen was very informative, communicative, clear, friendly, and amazing from the start. Being new to Charlotte, it was great finding a diverse program for my 6year old that embodies a rich culture built on structure and discipline, while still making sure the kids enjoy themselves. Checkmat Charlotte is located in an accessible area, and the gym is intimate and kept up well. I highly recommend this program especially for your little ones!

★★★★★ If you’re looking for top-tier training with an even better atmosphere, Real American Grappling Company is the place to be. From day one, the environment has been welcoming, motivating, and incredibly professional. The facility is clean, organized, and full of positive energy that makes you excited to train every time you walk through the doors. Professor Mike is absolutely outstanding. His instruction is clear, detailed, and easy to understand whether you’re brand new or have years of experience. He takes the time to break down techniques step-by-step and makes sure everyone feels confident before moving on. What really sets him apart is how much he genuinely cares about his students — he pushes you to improve while still keeping training fun and safe. You can tell he’s passionate about what he does, and it shows in the way he builds both skill and character in his students. If you want high-level grappling, a supportive team, and an awesome professor who truly invests in you, Real American Grappling Company is five stars all the way!

Great gym and instruction, Coach Allen is the best. I've been training at CheckMat Charlotte for over a year now and the gym is growing but the team is only getting. The gym has numerous black belts and higher ranked men and women on the mat daily that helps me get great training each time I'm in class. I would highly recommend stopping by to train and becoming a part of the gym family.

We absolutely love Real American Grappling. Professor Michael Allen and the other professors are incredible with the kids. They really take their time to demonstrate techniques and make sure the kids truly understand what they’re doing. What really stands out to me is how intentional they are. They pull the kids aside and speak life into them. It’s more than just encouragement they give the kids it’s a powerful mentorship. They give them strong affirmation, guidance, and real-life advice that actually sticks. You can tell they genuinely care about building their character, not just their skills. My son has grown so much since being there. He’s more confident, more focused, and he’s finally found something he truly loves. It’s inspired him so much that he even started writing a book. As a parent, that means everything to me. I truly cannot thank the professors enough for the impact they’ve had on my son’s life.

As a 34 year old with no experience in wrestling or grappling, it was very scary starting jiu jitsu. Thankfully coach Michael and the rest of the guys at this gym were very welcoming and made me feel at home right away. If you’ve ever wanted to try jiu jitsu, try it here. It’s a safe environment and they know what they’re doing.