TRA - Jiu Jitsu — Local services in Jersey City

TRA is undoubtedly the premier BJJ school to train at in the Hoboken/Jersey City area. No matter what your martial arts goals are TRA has something for you. Thiago is an exceptional instructor. He never goes through the motions in a class. If you’re a true student of the sport you will really appreciate Thiago’s attention to detail and technical prowess. Thiago pays meticulous attention to his students while they are sparring and drilling and always provides valuable and constructive feedback. He really cares about your individual growth and progress as a student and it shows because the competitive level of the room is quite high especially for a young school. Besides Thiago, the other instructors at TRA provide the same level of high quality and hands-on instruction.

TRA has the most robust schedule of any school in the area. There are BJJ classes in both the morning and evening every weekday. TRA offers beginner classes if you’re just getting started and advanced classes for more experienced students, as well as women’s classes. Beyond just BJJ, TRA offers high quality Muay Thai and MMA classes several days a week if you want to mix things up. No matter what class you go to though the friendly vibe is the same. Everyone just wants to make each other better.

The academy is the cleanest I’ve been to. The mats are sanitized before and after each class and the locker rooms are always clean. There are also...

I never imagined my life on a jiu jitsu mat. I never set out to be attending multiple classes a day, multiple times a week. I never thought I would buy a gi, let alone 4, and I never thought I'd like a martial arts practice where I'd, more or less, have to be rolling with all men (who were so much bigger than me)! When I first walked onto the mat, I was terrified. Things didn't make sense, I had no idea what my body was capable of, and it was definitely strange being so close with people I didn't even know. That was a year ago. Now, I'm a completely different person. I love jiu jitsu and I love being on the mat as much as I possibly can. I've competed. I've won. I've lost. I've learned submissions. I've learned when to back down and when to add pressure, and that goes for far more than just my jiu jitsu practice. I wouldn't be where I am today without Thiago. He had confidence in me before I even had confidence in myself. I'm very fortunate that he chose me to be his student and saw something in me because there's no one else I'd rather train under. He's skilled, smart, and knows what strategy works best for everyone. This place, and these people...They're my teammates...But they're...

Joined in August of 2022 @ 326 lbs, severely unmotivated & never having participated in combat sports/training prior.

Before agreeing to commit to TRA BJJ I was fortunate enough to take intro classes at two other local BJJ establishments and felt very comfortable ultimately choosing Thiago Rela and family…

Thiago and this club has been a breath of fresh air and a blessing since my first class. TRA BJJ has a healthy mix of beginners and experienced players, with a focus on proper technique and safety while also catering to competition BJJ folks.

As of today I’m weighing in at 298 lbs and training between 3-4 times weekly depending on work & physical limitations. I’ve achieved 1 stripe on my white belt and feel proud to say that I’ve earned it through a bit of grinding, this gym is not promoting people based on politics or tenure.

The space we get to train in is on the larger side based on other local spots I visited and thoroughly disinfected and swept between classes. There are two restrooms (one has a small shower) and a fair sized changing room. Recently they built out a cubby/seating area facing the mats and storage is no longer an issue here.

OSS & hope to see you...