Do I need to be in shape to start?

No. You get in shape by training, not before it. Every class scales to your level, and your first one is free.

I've never done martial arts. Is that a problem?

It's the norm. Most people walk in with zero experience. Coaches teach fundamentals first, and beginners are never thrown into hard sparring.

Yes. Training is coach-led and controlled. You learn technique and control before anything else, and day-one beginners don't spar.

Absolutely. Kids and teens programs run several nights a week in MMA and boxing. It builds discipline, confidence, and respect.

Can women train here?

Of course. All ages, all skill levels, men and women. Everyone is welcome on the mats. No egos, no attitudes.

Your first class is always free, and memberships are month-to-month with no contracts. Single programs start at $50/mo for Women's Jiu Jitsu, $90/mo for Boxing, and $105/mo for Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on auto-draft. The $125/mo MMA All-Access plan covers it all — 2 nights MMA, 3 nights jiu jitsu, and 4 nights Muay Thai across the week. Come try a class and we'll walk you through the options.

Where can I train BJJ near Kilgore, TX?

Team 515 in Longview runs a full BJJ program a short drive from Kilgore, at 320 E. Tyler St.

Do I need a gi or any experience for my first class?

No gi, belt, or gear is required for your first class, just workout clothes you can move in and some water. You'll drill positions and movement with a partner rather than spar hard.

Does Team 515 offer both gi and no-gi training?

Yes. No-Gi Jiu Jitsu runs Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM, and Friday's 7:00 PM class covers both gi and no-gi. No-gi tends to move faster since there's no fabric to grab, while gi work adds control through collar and sleeve grips.

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Jiu-Jitsu Near Kilgore, TX: Where Kilgore Beginners Train

3 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026

What Jiu-Jitsu Actually Teaches You

BJJ, short for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is built around the idea that leverage and position beat raw strength, which is why it works for a 130-pound teenager and a 220-pound grown man in the same room. Most of what you'll learn in your first months lives on the ground, inside a handful of core positions everything else branches from. Guard is the big one. Any time your legs are between you and the other person, you're in some form of guard, whether your ankles are locked around them or your legs are open and framing. From there you learn to control distance, work off your back without panicking, and eventually work toward passing someone's guard or escaping a bad spot underneath them. It sounds abstract until you feel it, which is why coaches teach it live instead of just talking about it.

Your First Class

Show up about fifteen minutes early. You don't need a gi, a belt, or any gear at all for your first class, just workout clothes you can move in and some water. Expect to drill positions and movement with a partner rather than spar hard. Everyone in the room started exactly where you're starting, and nobody's there to judge your first class.

Gi, No-Gi, and How Often You'll Train

Team 515, the Longview gym a short drive from Kilgore, runs no-gi jiu jitsu two nights a week, on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM. Gi and no-gi teach the same underlying positions, just with different grips and pace, and the gym's program covers both, with a gi and no-gi class on Friday at 7:00 PM. Times shift with the season and fight camps, so call Wade to confirm before your first visit. No-gi tends to move faster since there's no fabric to grab; gi work slows things down and adds an extra layer of control through collar and sleeve grips. Most people pick one to start and pick up the other once the basics feel familiar. If you're trying to decide which to try first, our breakdown of gi versus no-gi for beginners walks through the practical differences in plain language.

Is Jiu-Jitsu Worth It If You're Not Trying to Compete

Most people who walk in aren't chasing a competition trophy. They want to move better, handle stress, and know they could protect themselves if it ever mattered. BJJ happens to be one of the more honest ways to test that, since a smaller, calmer person genuinely can control a bigger, more aggressive one once the technique is there. If that's more of what you're after than the sport side, this piece on jiu-jitsu and self-defense goes deeper on how the two connect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to sign up before showing up? Call or text Wade at (903) 930-4599 before your first visit. Times shift with the season and fight camps, so he can confirm which classes are running that night.

What ages train BJJ at Team 515? Kids, teens, and adults all train BJJ. Kids ages 5 to 12 have their own Kids MMA/BJJ classes on Tuesday and Thursday, separate from the adult classes.

Roughly what does it cost, and where is the gym? Team 515 is at 320 E. Tyler St. in Longview. BJJ membership runs $105 a month on auto-draft, or $130 a month otherwise, for two nights a week, month to month with no contract, so you're never locked into anything longer than you want to be.

Your first class is always free, so there's no real reason to keep wondering what it's like from the outside. Call or text (903) 930-4599, or just check the schedule and show up to a class that fits your week.

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*Part of the guide: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Longview, TX: The Complete Beginner Guide*

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