6 Best BJJ Gyms in Knoxville (2026)
Ranked by the Let's Roll Roll Score™ · Updated August 2026
Knoxville BJJ Snapshot
Why Knoxville for BJJ
Knoxville is home to a committed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, anchored by Knoxville Martial Arts Academy, Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Knoxville TN. It has 6 academies and 9 weekly open mats listed on Let's Roll.
Quick Picks
Where the Top 6 Are
Pins are numbered by Roll Score rank. Tap a pin for the gym.
The Rankings
- 1Google5.0(149)1 open mat/wkHigh confidence
Why #1: Highest-rated gym in Knoxville — 5.0★ across 149 reviews.
Best for: Travelers dropping in.
- 2Google5.0(144)2 open mats/wkHigh confidence
Why #2: One of the most-reviewed gyms in Knoxville — 144 reviews at 5.0★.
Best for: Competitors, no-gi & submission grapplers, and kids & families.
- 3Google5.0(144)2 open mats/wkHigh confidence
Why #3: 5.0★ from 144 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed Knoxville academy.
Best for: Competitors, no-gi & submission grapplers, and kids & families.
- 4Braga Bjj Knoxville93EliteGoogle5.0(87)High confidence
Why #4: 5.0★ from 87 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed Knoxville academy.
Best for: Anyone after a consistently well-reviewed Knoxville gym (5.0★).
- 5Shield Systems Academy89ExcellentGoogle5.0(46)2 open mats/wkSolid confidence
Why #5: 5.0★ from 46 reviews — a consistently well-reviewed Knoxville academy.
Best for: Kids & families and travelers dropping in.
- 6Cate BJJ and Kickboxing88ExcellentGoogle5.0(37)2 open mats/wkSolid confidence
Why #6: Runs the most no-gi classes in the top 10 — a strong no-gi pick.
Best for: No-gi & submission grapplers and travelers dropping in.
Compare All Top 6
| Gym | Area | Roll Score | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville Martial Arts Academy | — | 95Elite | 5.0 | 149 |
| Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | — | 95Elite | 5.0 | 144 |
| Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Knoxville TN | — | 95Elite | 5.0 | 144 |
| Braga Bjj Knoxville | — | 93Elite | 5.0 | 87 |
| Shield Systems Academy | — | 89Excellent | 5.0 | 46 |
| Cate BJJ and Kickboxing | — | 88Excellent | 5.0 | 37 |
Which Knoxville Gym Fits You?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you to the best-fit gym from the top 6.
Plan Your BJJ Weekend in Knoxville
Pick the days you're in town — we'll build a roll-every-day itinerary with times, drop-in costs, and directions.
Your plan: 2 sessions across 2 gyms in Knoxville.
Train This Weekend in Knoxville
The best open mats, no-gi sessions, and drop-in-friendly rounds, Friday through Sunday.
📅 Friday
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Knoxville TN — Adult BJJ (All Levels) · 6:00 AM
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — Adult BJJ (All Levels) · 6:00 AM
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Knoxville TN — Adult BJJ (All Levels) · 11:00 AM
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — Adult BJJ (All Levels) · 11:00 AM
- Cate BJJ and Kickboxing — Open Mat · 6:15 PM
📅 Saturday
- Shield Systems Academy — Open Mat · 10:00 AM
- Knoxville Martial Arts Academy — Open Mat · 11:00 AM
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Knoxville TN — Open Mat · 12:00 PM
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Knoxville TN — Adult Open Mat · 12:00 PM
- Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — Open Mat · 12:00 PM
📅 Sunday
No sessions listed — check individual gym pages.
Frequently asked
- How many BJJ gyms are in Knoxville?
- Let's Roll lists 6 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms in Knoxville, Tennessee. The top 6 are ranked above by Roll Score.
- Which is the best-rated BJJ gym in Knoxville?
- Knoxville Martial Arts Academy has the highest rating in Knoxville at 5.0★ across 149 Google reviews.
- Where are the best open mats in Knoxville?
- There are 9 weekly open mats across 5 gyms in Knoxville. See "Train This Weekend" above for what's on this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Run a gym in Knoxville?
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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 August 2026.