5 Best BJJ Gyms in Kansas City (2026)
Ranked by the Let's Roll Roll Score™ · Updated June 2026
Kansas City BJJ Snapshot
Why Kansas City for BJJ
Kansas City is one of Missouri's deepest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu scenes, anchored by Alive Jiu Jitsu, Vava Jiu Jitsu, and Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy. It has 12 academies and 25 weekly open mats listed on Let's Roll.
Quick Picks
Where the Top 5 Are
Pins are numbered by Roll Score rank. Tap a pin for the gym.
The Rankings
- 1Alive Jiu Jitsu91EliteGoogle5.0(61)1 open mat/wkHigh confidence
Why #1: Highest-rated gym in Kansas City — 5.0★ across 61 reviews.
Best for: Travelers dropping in.
- 2Vava Jiu Jitsu88ExcellentGoogle5.0(37)2 open mats/wkSolid confidence
Why #2: Busiest open-mat schedule in the top 10 — 2 a week.
Best for: Competitors, no-gi & submission grapplers, and kids & families.
- 3Google4.7(27)1 open mat/wkSolid confidence
Why #3: 4.7★ from 27 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed Kansas City academy.
Best for: Travelers dropping in.
- 4Google5.0(3)Needs more reviews
Why #4: 5.0★ from 3 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed Kansas City academy.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed Kansas City gym (5.0★).
- 5Train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu56RatedGoogle5.0(3)Needs more reviews
Why #5: 5.0★ from 3 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed Kansas City academy.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed Kansas City gym (5.0★).
Compare All Top 5
| Gym | Area | Roll Score | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alive Jiu Jitsu | — | 91Elite | 5.0 | 61 |
| Vava Jiu Jitsu | — | 88Excellent | 5.0 | 37 |
| Sharkbait’s MMA & Jiu Jitsu Academy | — | 79Great | 4.7 | 27 |
| Emerald City Knights Brazillian Jiu Jitsu | — | 56Rated | 5.0 | 3 |
| Train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | — | 56Rated | 5.0 | 3 |
Which Kansas City Gym Fits You?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you to the best-fit gym from the top 5.
Plan Your BJJ Weekend in Kansas City
Pick the days you're in town — we'll build a roll-every-day itinerary with times, drop-in costs, and directions.
Your plan: 3 sessions across 3 gyms in Kansas City.
Train This Weekend in Kansas City
The best open mats, no-gi sessions, and drop-in-friendly rounds, Friday through Sunday.
📅 Friday
- Kraken Bjj Kansas City — Open Mat · 6:00 AM
- TMC BJJ — Open Mat · 6:00 AM
- Warriors Academy KC — Open Mat · 9:30 AM
- Kansas City BJJ — Open Mat · 7:00 PM
- Kansas City BJJ — Adult Open Mat · 7:00 PM
📅 Saturday
- Vava Jiu Jitsu — Open Mat · 9:00 AM
- Vava Jiu Jitsu — No GI All Levels (Followed by Open Mat) · 9:00 AM
- Bodyfit KC — Open Mat · 10:00 AM
- Chuan Fa Martial Arts Academy — Open Mat · 10:00 AM
- Bodyfit KC — Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open Mat · 10:00 AM
📅 Sunday
- Kraken Bjj Kansas City — Adult Gi Class · 6:00 AM
- Alive Jiu Jitsu — Open Mat · 11:00 AM
- Rilion Gracie Kansas City — Open Mat · 11:00 AM
- Kraken Bjj Kansas City — Striking/MMA · 11:00 AM
- Kraken Bjj Kansas City — Open Mat · 12:00 PM
Frequently asked
- How many BJJ gyms are in Kansas City?
- Let's Roll lists 12 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms in Kansas City, Missouri. The top 5 are ranked above by Roll Score.
- Which is the best-rated BJJ gym in Kansas City?
- Alive Jiu Jitsu has the highest rating in Kansas City at 5.0★ across 61 Google reviews.
- Where are the best open mats in Kansas City?
- There are 25 weekly open mats across 10 gyms in Kansas City. See "Train This Weekend" above for what's on this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
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How the Roll Score™ works
The Roll Score is Let's Roll's ranking metric, from 0 to 100. It's 80% a confidence-weighted Google rating (using a Wilson score, so a 5.0 from 3 reviews can't outrank a 4.8 from 600) and 20% review volume. As verified Let's Roll member reviews and check-ins grow, they'll factor in too. Rankings recompute regularly — last updated June 2026.