60 BJJ Academies in Melbourne.
Melbourne is the BJJ capital of Australia by competition results, depth of black belts, and sheer concentration of high-level training partners. The scene has been steadily building since the late 2000s, and by the late 2010s it was producing world-class athletes.
Absolute MMA is the headline gym — three locations across the city (CBD at 136 Exhibition Street, Collingwood, and St Kilda). The team is anchored by Lachlan Giles, a BJJ black belt and one of the most respected grappling coaches in the world. Lachlan made global headlines at ADCC 2019 by submitting three world-class heavyweights in the Absolute Division despite being one of the lightest competitors, earning bronze. He's also the founder of SubMeta (an instructional platform), holds an IBJJF No-Gi Worlds bronze, swept the 2014 Pan Pacific black belt division with four golds, and runs his coaching with a physio's attention to detail (he holds a PhD in physiotherapy).
The wider Absolute team includes Simon Carson as head coach of the MMA fight team (BJJ black belt; faced Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida in ONE FC), Kemal Akagunduz as head BJJ coach at the CBD location (Lachlan Giles black belt, co-founder of Absolute MMA Shanghai in 2018), and UFC fighter Jack Jenkins, also a BJJ black belt. Across the three locations the room sees a steady cycle of international visitors — drop-ins are common.
What to expect on the mat: classes are technical, the rolling is hard, and you're going to roll with someone wearing an ADCC patch or competing on the IBJJF circuit at some point in the week. There's a visible no-gi/leg-lock culture — Lachlan's instructional library has shaped a lot of how the whole gym moves.
Practical tips: drop-in pricing varies — ask the academy directly. Melbourne weather is famously variable ("four seasons in one day"), and gyms are well-heated in winter. Best months: October–April for warmer weather, but the gym runs year-round. The CBD location is the most central if you're visiting; Collingwood is just north and a short tram ride away.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu South Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Absolute MMA Collingwood
Melbourne, Victoria
Absolute MMA Melbourne CBD
Melbourne, Victoria
Absolute MMA St Kilda
Melbourne, Victoria
Academy Jiu-Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
ACSA Muay Thai
Melbourne, Victoria
Alexandre Santos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
Arakan Martial Art - Carlton Gardens
Melbourne, Victoria
Axis Jiu Jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Bayside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
Camilo's BJJ
Melbourne, Victoria
Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Cia Paulista Australia BJJ - Headquarters
Melbourne, Victoria
Cia Paulista Australia BJJ - Maribyrnong
Melbourne, Victoria
Cia Paulista Australia BJJ - Oakleigh East
Melbourne, Victoria
Clifton Hill Jiujitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
de Been 100% Jiu Jitsu - Melbourne St Kilda
Melbourne, Victoria
DKMMA
Melbourne, Victoria
DMD's Mixed Martial Arts
Melbourne, Victoria
Dominance MMA Abbotsford
Melbourne, Victoria
Dominance S&C Gym
Melbourne, Victoria
Eastside Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
Equipe Mestre Wilson Jiu-Jitsu Australia
Melbourne, Victoria
Essence of Jiu-Jitsu Blackburn
Melbourne, Victoria
Evolution Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tullamarine Martial Arts and Self Defence
Melbourne, Victoria
Flight Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
Fusion Martial Arts
Melbourne, Victoria
G-Force Mixed Martial Arts
Melbourne, Victoria
Glenroy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
Good Jiu Jiu
Melbourne, Victoria
Gracie Barra Hoppers Crossing
Melbourne, Victoria
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood
Melbourne, Victoria
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Footscray
Melbourne, Victoria
Jean Jacques Machado Jiu Jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Jiu jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
John Donehue Jiu Jitsu & MMA Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Kangaroo Boxing & Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
Legends MMA
Melbourne, Victoria
Legends MMA
Melbourne, Victoria
MakinaBJJ
Melbourne, Victoria
Martial Spirit
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne Budo Academy
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne Fight Club - Martial Arts Academy
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne Grappling Academy
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Melbourne, Victoria
Mustang BJJ Australia
Melbourne, Victoria
Nakama Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Nexus Jiu-Jitsu & MMA - Coburg North
Melbourne, Victoria
Omega Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts
Melbourne, Victoria
Renegade BJJ
Melbourne, Victoria
Resilience Training Centre
Melbourne, Victoria
Rise Mixed Martial Arts
Melbourne, Victoria
Science of Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
SJJA Pascoe Vale - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria
South Side Fitness
Melbourne, Victoria
Supreme Art Club
Melbourne, Victoria
Thrive Budo
Melbourne, Victoria
Wing Chun & Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Zero Point Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Melbourne, Victoria