Off Your Back Jiu Jitsu

At Off Your Back Jiu Jitsu in Salem, New Hampshire, students will notice right away that tradition takes a back seat to practical training and straightforward coaching. There’s no bowing before stepping onto the mats, no titles like Professor or Sensei—just first names and a focus on learning. Classes are run by Michael Green, a BJJ black belt with 16 years of experience across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, wrestling, and sambo, and supported by coaches like Christian Rivas. Michael’s lineage traces back to Marcelo Siqueira, and his approach is to meet students wherever they are, building skills through hands-on drilling and controlled live rolling without rushing anyone into sparring before they’re ready. The weekly schedule alternates between gi and no-gi, giving adults a chance to develop both styles. Evening classes run Wednesday and Thursday, with late morning and midday sessions on weekends. Kids ages 5 and up have their own BJJ/karate classes twice a week, taught with an emphasis on safety and steady progress. Every student’s progression is monitored individually—there’s a base curriculum for beginners, but advancement is based on ability, not a set number of classes. Private lessons are available for those who want extra attention or to focus on specific techniques. The academy’s space inside Salem Marketplace offers over a thousand square feet of mats, two bathrooms, and a lounge area. Drop-ins are welcome for a small fee, and the dress code is practical—rashguards under the gi, or shorts and spats for no-gi, with any color gi allowed. Off Your Back Jiu Jitsu keeps things simple: no annual contracts, no hidden fees, and no pressure to compete, but students who want to test themselves at tournaments will find full support from the coaching staff.

Amenities