Welcome to Golden Jiu Jitsu

You signed up. That was the hard part. Everything else, we’ll figure out together.

What Is This Place?

Golden Jiu Jitsu is a grappling gym in Golden, Colorado. We teach no-gi jiu jitsu through structured games, concept-first coaching, and a whole lot of play. If you’ve never grappled before, that’s fine. If you’ve trained for years somewhere else, that’s fine too. The format might look different from what you’re used to, and that’s by design.

We’re primarily a grappling gym (we do have an MMA program, but the fundamentals curriculum is all grappling). We play the game because it’s fun, it’s an incredible workout, and the problem-solving never gets old. We also include more standing wrestling than most jiu jitsu gyms because grapplers should be comfortable everywhere, not just on the ground.

How We Teach

Most of your class time will be spent playing, not watching. Our classes are built around grappling games with specific rules, positions, and goals. You learn by playing, failing, adjusting, and playing again. Coaches keep their talking short and get you moving as quickly as possible.

We teach concepts first. You’ll learn specific techniques too (usually as entrances into the games you’ll play), but the focus is on understanding why things work. When you understand the principles, you can solve problems you’ve never seen before. That’s the goal.

Every position is taught from both sides. You’ll attack and defend, pass and guard, pin and escape. This builds a more complete understanding than only ever practicing one side.

What to Expect

You will lose. A lot. That is the plan. Every member you train with has been asked to show you how playful we are, not how effective they can be on you. Your job in the early days is to get comfortable, learn to control your breathing, and start recognizing what’s happening around you.

The technical knowledge comes with time. The training habits matter more early on.

The Programs

Fundamentals. This is where all new adults start. Classes run four days a week (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri). The goal is to build well-rounded grapplers who are fun to train with, understand how grappling works conceptually, and can guide their own learning going forward. Every class includes games from at least two types of grappling engagements (guard, pinning, and wrestling), so you’re getting exposure to the full game from day one. There’s a rotating curriculum that covers different positions and concepts each week.

Advanced. Once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals format and have a baseline of grappling experience, you can start attending the advanced program. Advanced classes go deeper into single positions or topics over a block of time, with more detail and nuance than the fundamentals classes can cover.

Little Lions (ages 4-7) and Golden Tigers (ages 7-13). Our youth programs prioritize fun, life skill development, and physical literacy above all else. Kids play lots of games, work on movement skills like balance and coordination, and learn how to handle winning, losing, frustration, and teamwork. The grappling content is real (they’re learning actual jiu jitsu), but the program is designed to build them up as people first and grapplers second.

Your Next Steps

What to expect at your first class — logistics, what to wear, what will happen
Safety rules — tapping, intensity, and the non-negotiables
Hygiene basics — the non-negotiables for training on the mats

After your first few classes, check out the first weeks guide for everything else you’ll want to know.

Questions?

Ask a coach before or after class, or email us at hello@goldenjj.com.