Connection BJJ Academy

Connection BJJ Academy in Apex, NC, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy built to serve students at every stage of the grappling journey, from first-time beginners to athletes preparing for advanced competition. Located at 1231 Perry Rd Unit 102, the academy’s schedule offers a broad mix of GI and no-gi training, with classes designed for adults, teens, juniors, kids, and women-specific training. That range gives families and individual students a practical way to train under one roof while choosing the format that best fits their goals, whether the focus is self-defense, fitness, technical development, or competitive performance.

The program lineup is especially versatile. Students can choose from Women only GI Class, Women only NO-GI Class, Women’s Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu - All Levels, No-gi class - All levels, No-gi - All levels I, GI Class - All Levels, Gi Class (All levels), Adult Jiu-Jitsu (Gi) - All Levels, Adults GI - ALL levels, and open mat sessions for both GI and no-gi work. Younger students have structured options too, including Kids Class - Little Lions (ages 3.5-5), Kids Class - Juniors (ages 6-10), Kids Class - Teens (ages 11-14), Juniors - Gi class, Juniors class - NO-GI, Teens class - Gi, Kids Striking Class, and Kids Judo. For competitors, Competition Class (Blue Belt+) creates a more focused pathway for higher-level training, while Muay Thai and Muay Thai (Sparring Only) add striking to the academy’s overall martial arts offering.

Instruction at Connection BJJ Academy is led by Gabriel Sousa, Maria Rios, Gustavo Estebam, Kinho Sampaio, and Vinicius Coimbra. The belt ranks offered include Black belt, Brown belt, Blue belt+ for competition eligibility, and an IBJJF World Champion designation tied to Gabriel Sousa as a color belt, signaling a training environment with serious technical depth and high standards. The academy description emphasizes a Brazilian jiu-jitsu program built for beginners through advanced competition, and that breadth is reflected in the class structure. Students can move from foundational lessons into more specialized work without having to switch schools as their confidence grows.

For local practitioners in Apex, the practical appeal is clear: multiple weekly GI classes, dedicated no-gi options, open mats, youth programs, and a mix of grappling and striking make scheduling easier for busy families and working adults. The variety also supports different training styles, whether someone wants a measured beginner-friendly pace, women-only training, or a more competitive room. More details and current class updates can be found at https://connectionbjjacademy.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=My-Business.