Beginner Jiu Jitsu at Elite Edge
Jiu Jitsu in Ankeny, Iowa
Jiu Jitsu in Ankeny, Iowa
Elite Edge Jiu Jitsu provides Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training for beginners, adults, teens and kids serving the Ankeny and Des Moines area. No wrestling background required. No martial arts experience required. And no, you do not need to get in shape first.
See it in action
Watch the training.
See what a real Elite Edge class feels like before you take your first step through the door.
Jiu Jitsu at Elite Edge
Quick facts
Clear training. Real progress.
ProgramBrazilian Jiu Jitsu / BJJ
Who it is forComplete beginners, adults, teens and kids
Beginner option90-Day Beginner Jiu Jitsu Program
CoachesJoe Brammer and Josh Neer — Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts under Cesar Gracie
Location6717 NE 15th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313 — serving the Ankeny area
Service areaAnkeny, Des Moines and surrounding Central Iowa communities
Start where you are
If You’ve Been Thinking About Trying Jiu Jitsu… This Is Your Sign to Stop Thinking About It.
Elite Edge Jiu Jitsu provides Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training for beginners, adults, teens and kids serving the Ankeny and Des Moines area. No wrestling background required. No martial arts experience required. And no, you do not need to get in shape first.
Every person on the mat was a beginner once. Our job is not to see what you already know. Our job is to teach you.
The beginner roadmap
New to Jiu Jitsu? Good. We built a program for that.
The 90-Day Beginner Jiu Jitsu Program gives new students a roadmap instead of dropping them into the deep end. You begin with the positions, movements and concepts that make the rest of Jiu Jitsu easier to understand.
Movement & defense
- Movement and positioning
- Escapes and defense
- Safe live training and etiquette
Build your game
- Guard and guard passing
- Positional control
- Fundamental submissions
Learn with purpose
- Takedowns and balance
- Problem-solving under resistance
- Fitness, confidence and consistency
For the whole family
Adult Jiu Jitsu and kids Jiu Jitsu in the Ankeny area.
Adults learn technique, positional control, escapes, takedowns, submissions and live application while building fitness, confidence and problem-solving skills. Kids use Jiu Jitsu to practice physical skill, discipline, coordination, respect and perseverance through instruction, drills, games and age-appropriate training.
Learn from coaches who have lived it
High-level experience, made understandable.
Elite Edge Jiu Jitsu includes instruction from Joe Brammer and Josh Neer, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts under Cesar Gracie. Their job is to make fundamentals understandable to regular adults and kids walking onto the mat for the first time.
The part nobody tells you
Here’s The Part Nobody Tells You About Starting Jiu Jitsu
The hardest part usually is not the first escape, takedown or submission. It is walking through the door while your brain is inventing 47 reasons you should wait another month.
“I’m too old.” “I’m out of shape.” “I’ve never wrestled.” “Everybody there is probably going to be a killer.”
Good news: every person on the mat was a beginner once. Our job is not to see what you already know. Our job is to teach you.
A better reason to train
WARNING: Jiu Jitsu May Ruin Boring Workouts For You
There is a reason grown adults become mildly annoying about telling their friends they train Jiu Jitsu. You are not simply counting reps or watching the clock. You are learning a skill while somebody across from you is creating a problem you have to solve. You move, pull, push, brace, grip, escape and think. Then class ends and you realize you just got a serious workout without spending 45 minutes wondering how much longer you have left on the treadmill.
No fight required
You Don’t Have to Want to Fight
Some students want competition. Some want self-defense. Some want fitness. Some miss having something difficult to chase. Others simply want a hobby that does not involve another screen.
You do not have to become a fighter. You do not have to compete. You just need a reason to get better.
Adult Jiu Jitsu in the Ankeny Area
Adult students learn technique, positional control, escapes, takedowns, submissions and live application while building fitness, confidence and problem-solving skills. Competition is available for students who want it, but it is not required.
Common starting points
“But I’m 40?” “But I’m Out of Shape?”
“But I’m 40…”
Then train like a smart 40-year-old, not a reckless 19-year-old. Technique, consistency, appropriate training partners and recovery matter. You do not win anything by turning Tuesday night practice into the finals of the world championship.
“But I’m Out of Shape…”
You do not need to get in shape for Jiu Jitsu before starting Jiu Jitsu. Begin where you are. Your conditioning can improve as your skill improves.
For kids and families
Kids Jiu Jitsu in Ankeny
Our kids program uses Jiu Jitsu as the vehicle for teaching physical skill, confidence, discipline, coordination, respect and perseverance. Classes combine instruction, drills, games and age-appropriate training.
Common questions
Jiu Jitsu questions, answered.
Do I need experience to start Jiu Jitsu?
No. Elite Edge beginner Jiu Jitsu training is designed for people with little or no previous experience. You do not need a wrestling, martial arts or athletic background before starting.
Do I need to get in shape before starting BJJ?
No. You can begin at your current fitness level and gradually improve your conditioning through training. Let your coach know about limitations or concerns before class.
Am I too old to start Jiu Jitsu?
Adults start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at many different ages. Older beginners may need to be thoughtful about intensity, recovery and training partners, but age does not automatically prevent someone from learning.
Do I have to compete?
No. Competition is optional. Students may train for fitness, recreation, self-defense, skill development or community.
What should I wear to my first Jiu Jitsu class?
Contact Elite Edge before your first class so we can tell you what you will need for the specific class. Requirements may differ between Gi and No-Gi training.
Your first class
What Your First Class Is Really Like
Nobody expects you to know what you are doing. We introduce you to the room, explain the basics and help you participate at an appropriate level. Bring a good attitude, be willing to learn and ask questions. That is enough for Day One.
Visit the academy
Elite Edge Jiu Jitsu — Ankeny area
6717 NE 15th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313
Serving Ankeny, Des Moines and surrounding Central Iowa communities.
Ready to start?
Stop researching. Come experience it.
Walk through the door, learn your first technique and decide whether you want the next class.
Take the next step
Take your first step onto the mat.
Tell us what you are looking for and the Elite Edge team will help you find the right Jiu Jitsu starting point.
What happens next
A coach will review your inquiry, answer your questions, and help you choose the right starting point.
Beginner-friendly · No obligation · Serving Ankeny, Des Moines and Central Iowa
Your information stays with Elite Edge and is used only to contact you about your inquiry.
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