Jiu-Jitsu Near Me: Finding the Right Gym in the ArkLaTex
4 min read · Updated Jul 9, 2026
If you're typing "jiu jitsu near me" into your phone in Longview or anywhere else in the ArkLaTex, the tri-state stretch where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet, the real move is to go watch a class before deciding anything from a website. Team 515 (Team 515 Mixed Martial Arts), an MMA gym at 320 E. Tyler St., Longview, TX, runs no-gi jiu jitsu on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM, with a mixed gi and no-gi class on Friday at 7:00 PM. Walk into any of those, meet a coach, and see how the room actually treats a beginner.
What is jiu jitsu, actually?
Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling art built around control, leverage, and position rather than punches or kicks. It's sometimes translated as "the gentle art," since a well-placed choke or joint lock ends a fight with far less damage than trading strikes. A handful of core positions, mount, side control, back control, guard, form the map for almost everything else in the sport. Once you know those, even an unfamiliar advanced technique reads as a variation on something you've already seen. Whoever controls the hips usually controls the exchange, which is why coaches spend so much early time on hip movement and position before anyone starts hunting for a submission.
Do I need experience to start?
No. Most people who walk in have never trained before. That's true for nearly everyone in the room, including a lot of the regulars, once upon a time. A beginner course exists to teach you the language of the art, one solid answer from every position, rather than turning you into a specialist overnight. Even people who've trained for years still drill the same fundamentals, because they're not a phase you graduate out of. They're the foundation everything else sits on. You're also never required to roll (a live, resistance grappling exchange) with anyone in particular. Sitting a round out or asking to train with certain partners is normal, and nobody thinks twice about it.
What happens in a first class?
You show up about 15 minutes early in comfortable workout clothes. No gear is required for your first class, just water and a willingness to learn. A coach runs you through fundamentals alongside people at roughly your level, so you're training at your own speed instead of getting matched against someone with years on the mat. Nobody spars live on day one. Those first sessions are built around learning position, movement, and control, so you're comfortable before anything gets fast or resistant.
Gi or no-gi, what's the difference?
Gi jiu jitsu is trained in the traditional cotton uniform, and a big part of the game is using grips on the collar, sleeves, and pants to control position. No-gi strips that away, so you're working in shorts and a rashguard and relying more on underhooks, overhooks, and body pressure instead of fabric grips. At Team 515, no-gi is the emphasis, running Tuesday and Thursday nights, and gi is also part of the program in Friday's jiu jitsu class. Both versions teach the same underlying positions and principles, just with a different grip on the problem. For a deeper look at which one to start with, gi vs no-gi as a beginner walks through the tradeoffs.
How much does it cost?
A Brazilian jiu jitsu membership at Team 515 runs $105 a month on auto-draft (or $130 month to month). If you want the full program, the MMA All-Access membership runs $125 a month and adds MMA and Muay Thai nights on top of jiu jitsu. Everything is month to month with no contract, so you're never locked into anything longer than you actually want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sign up before showing up?
No advance signup is required. Call or text (903) 930-4599 if you want to confirm a class time first, or just show up 15 minutes early to any class on the schedule.
What ages can train jiu jitsu here?
Team 515 runs jiu jitsu for kids, teens, and adults. Kids' beginner and advanced BJJ/MMA classes meet Tuesday and Thursday at 5 and 6 PM, and there's a Monday no-gi Women's Jiu Jitsu class at 6 PM in addition to the regular adult program.
Is there a class specifically for women?
Yes. The Women's Jiu Jitsu class meets Monday evenings at 6 PM, no-gi, for $50 a month, on top of the regular co-ed program running the rest of the week.
Your first class at Team 515 is always free, so there's no reason to keep researching this from your couch. Call or text (903) 930-4599 to ask a coach which night fits your week, check the full schedule, or join once you know which nights you'll show up.