Manchester, New Hampshire · Gracie University Affiliate
A skill worth having. A room worth being in.
Some come for self-defense. Some for a challenge a gym can't give them. Some for the people in it. The curriculum is the same for all of them — structured, practical, built for adults starting from scratch.
★★★★★ 4.9 · 175+ Google reviews15+
Years teaching in Manchester
~50/50
Everyday balance of women and men on the mat
3
Structured programs, one clear path forward
0
Experience required to start
Why here
A different kind of training room.
A curriculum built for beginners
Gracie Combatives breaks self-defense into a specific teaching order, developed over decades, so a first-time student always knows what comes next.
Practical self-defense, not random technique
Every class ties back to controlling and ending a real physical confrontation, not a highlight-reel move with no context for when you’d use it.
A room worth showing up to
The student body spans ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. Most people who start here stay, not because of obligation but because the room gives them a reason to come back.
A long-standing Gracie University affiliate
We teach the Gracie University curriculum under license, with a standard of instruction that’s been refined across thousands of students.
Programs
Three programs. One clear path.
Most students begin in Gracie Combatives®. Many women train in Women Empowered® alongside it — the two aren’t a choice between one or the other.
Co-ed · Beginner Program
Gracie Combatives®
A structured beginner curriculum focused on controlling and ending a physical confrontation through positional control, escapes, and submissions.
Learn more
Women-Only Program
Women Empowered®
A women-only self-defense program built around escaping common threats and dangerous situations, trained in a room of women only.
Learn more
Advanced Study
Master Cycle®
Continued training for students who've completed the beginner curriculum, with deeper positional understanding and live practice.
Learn moreWho trains here
People at different points in their lives. Starting from the same place.
The professional who wants a meaningful physical challenge.
Screen and a calendar all week. Here for something that builds a real skill, not just calories burned.
The person who wants practical self-defense, not theory.
Not looking for choreography or conditioning with a self-defense label on it. Looking for a method that's been stress-tested against real situations.
The person looking for a room they’ll actually return to.
Has quit gyms before and knows the problem isn’t willpower. It’s having nothing to get better at. Here, there’s always something to get better at.
Your first visit
What a first class feels like.
No surprises. Here's what to expect from the moment you walk in.
Meet your instructor and discuss your goals
You’ll be greeted by name, given a quick tour, and have a short honest conversation about why you’re here and anything you’re unsure about.
Learn and practice at a controlled pace
You’ll cover foundational movement and work with a partner at a pace built for a first day, not a tryout.
Train before you commit
There’s no enrollment meeting after your first class. You’re welcome to try a few sessions and see if it’s a fit, for you and for us.
Before you start
If any of this sounds like you, you’re exactly who this is for.
“I’m not in shape.”
Class pace is controlled, not exhausting. You train at a level that fits you, and conditioning follows over time. It isn’t the price of admission.
“I’ve never done anything like this.”
Good. Gracie Combatives assumes zero background. Every technique is taught from the ground up, in order, the same way for every new student.
“I don’t want to get hurt.”
Beginners train at beginner pace, under supervision, with partners who were beginners themselves not long ago. Training is deliberate, not chaotic.
In their words
Different reasons to start. A common experience once they did.
"The staff is very friendly and welcoming. All my partners have been patient, kind, friendly, and willing to help."
"The instruction is top notch, and there are online videos detailing the techniques as well. There is also a focus on personal safety to prevent injury which is greatly appreciated."
"The atmosphere is second to none. The mats are always clean, the schedule is flexible, and the coaching staff is approachable and attentive."
This is the room.
15+ years in Manchester
~50/50 women and men
Complete beginners start every week
Instruction
Taught by people who remember being new.
Our instructors are certified by Gracie University and held to a defined standard of teaching — one they’re required to maintain through ongoing recertification. That means the curriculum and method stay consistent regardless of who is teaching, rather than varying by individual style. Every instructor has spent years working specifically with first-time students — the pace, the vocabulary, and the reassurance a beginner needs are treated as a skill in their own right, not an afterthought.
What that means for you: a consistent teaching progression, a low-pressure training environment, and instructors who are as invested in your first six months as your first class.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need experience to start?
Is this safe for a complete beginner?
Do I need to be in shape first?
Do I get to choose who I train with?
Get started
You do not need to get ready before you begin.
Beginning is how you get ready. See for yourself if it's the right fit.