Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant

53 yo here and I love learning jiu jitsu and Muay Thai here at Royce Gracie Academy of Mount Pleasant with my Husband. It’s a fun way to practice couples therapy. My two youngest kids (boy and girl) also attend jiu jitsu here weekly. I’ve been practicing jiu jitsu for 2 years now. I started at a different academy that was really big and seems focused on tournaments. Since I’ve joined Royce Gracie, I’ve been able to learn and understand techniques along with body and space awareness in both jiu jitsu and Muay Thai. Joshua is a skilled instructor who helps me to know when to use the various techniques. Class sizes are also small enough to be able to ask specific questions. The men and who attend the academy are supportive and encouraging as well. This has been the safe place for my whole family to make mistakes and learn. Whenever I have company, I have them join me in class and which sparks a joy for martial arts. Im so grateful for this community. It doesn’t hurt that I got the meet Royce Gracie, himself! I’m still a white belt, but I don’t mind. I know that I am progressing according to my actual abilities and mindset and not solely attendance. I know that I becoming more confident and have also strengthened my situational awareness.

This is a great jiu jitsu school for anyone interested in self defense. My three kids (two daughters and a son) have been enrolled in classes at Royce Gracie Mount Pleasant for 6 months and I've already seen an increase in their confidence, self control and (obviously) jiu jitsu skills. I started taking classes a couple months ago and I think it's incredible. I get a workout and learn practical life skills at the same time. As a woman, I find the atmosphere welcoming and the teacher very approachable. The other adult students I've met have been awesome. Every one of them has helped me learn and improve my skills (no one has tried to flatten me into the mat just because they were bigger, stronger and more experienced). If you're interested in learning practical self defense in an uncertain world, this is the place for you (and your kids).

This has been such a great experience for my children! In addition to improving their agility and physical fitness, this program focuses on so many character development aspects-respect, self-control, and responsibility to name a few. Professor Joshua has created an environment where kids feel both encouraged and challenged. I’m thankful for this place and highly recommend!

We love True North! Our 3 kids (8, 10, 13) started off doing Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with True North last spring during the shutdown through private lessons. Once True North opened their dojo on Coleman Blvd we all started attending classes there (my husband and I joined as well). It's hard to believe we've been at this for almost a year! It's such a great workout and Joshua is so great with our kids. We all look forward to classes each week. As a side note, our kids formerly took karate classes. While those classes were good, they can not compare to what the kids are learning at True North, Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The de-escalation and conflict avoidance is wonderful but so is the knowledge our kids can defend themselves with a realistic fighting style.

I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Royce Gracie Academy and Professor Joshua! Our experience has been nothing short of amazing - for our 8 year old, somewhat shy daughter - Joshua produces the perfect environment by creating a combination of calmness, acceptance and kindness mixed with the steadfast adherence to meeting goals, consistent expectations and challenging his students. My husband has started there as well and the experience has been equally as wonderful - as soon as our son is old enough to attend, we plan to make it a full family experience for all of us. We are beyond grateful to be a part of the Royce Gracie Academy of Mt. Pleasant and under the tutelage of Professor Joshua! I can count on one hand the amount of reviews I've ever written online, mainly because I really have to believe in something strongly to share my thoughts to the masses and this review is at the all time top of my list...