High-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA in the heart of Augusta. Old-school roots, modern coaching, and a mat that's built for everyone — first-timers, fighters, kids, and families.
We opened our doors in January of 2019 with one goal: bring high-quality Jiu-Jitsu to the Augusta area. We started with BJJ and grew into a full martial arts and fitness gym for kids and adults alike.
Today we coach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Cardio Kickboxing, and Yoga — in a family-friendly environment with an atmosphere that's comfortable for everyone who walks through the door.
We've also hosted seminars with some of the sport's true legends — Kurt Osiander, Kenny Florian, and Gabriel Gonzaga among them — bringing world-class instruction right to our mats in Augusta.
From your first day on the mat to fight-ready conditioning — pick a discipline and we'll meet you where you are.
Gi & No-GiThe gentle art — a self-defense martial art and combat sport built on grappling and submissions. Take an opponent down, control them, advance position, and finish with joint locks or chokes.
Hands & FootworkSharpen your stance, movement, defense, and punching mechanics in a classic stand-up striking format that builds timing, confidence, and conditioning.
Art of Eight LimbsA stand-up striking sport blending strikes with devastating clinch work. Known as the "art of eight limbs" for its use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
Full ContactA complete combat sport built on striking, grappling, and ground fighting — pulling the best techniques from disciplines around the world into one cohesive game.
ConditioningA fast-paced, high-energy fitness class built around bag work and full-body conditioning. No experience needed — just bring the energy and burn.
Mobility & RecoveryMobility, breathing, and recovery to keep you healthy and on the mat longer — for every body and every level.
Sunday open mats to put it all together — roll with the team and sharpen your game in a relaxed setting.
Dedicated competition classes for athletes ready to test their skills and represent Black Bear on the podium.
Tough training, welcoming room. You don't need to be in shape, athletic, or experienced to start — you just need to show up. Our mats are a place where beginners are coached patiently and competitors are pushed hard, side by side. We grow together.
Confidence, focus, respect, and real anti-bullying skills — taught in a fun, structured environment that helps kids grow on and off the mat.
A welcoming, judgment-free place to build strength, skill, and confidence. Whether you're here for fitness, self-defense, or community, you'll have a team behind you.
Train in the same home gym, share the same values, and grow together. Black Bear is built to be a family-friendly community where every generation belongs.
For those who want to compete, test themselves, and sharpen every edge. Serious coaching, hard rounds, and a room that pushes athletes to perform when it counts.
Control, restraint, awareness, and decision-making under pressure. This training gives officers and first responders practical grappling skills that translate directly to real-world encounters.
A strong fit for service members and veterans looking for challenge, brotherhood, and a mission-driven training environment. The mats offer a place to stay sharp, decompress, and keep moving forward.
Stepping onto the mat for the first time is often the hardest part — but it is also where the journey begins. Every black belt, every competitor, every coach, and every teammate started the same way: uncertain, uncomfortable, and brave enough to take that first step.
Life is full of first steps. The first day at a new job. The first time walking into a new room. The first time trying something that challenges who you are and what you believe you can become. Jiu-jitsu is no different. It asks you to show up, to be vulnerable, to learn, to fail, and to keep coming back.
At Black Bear, the mat is our safe space. There is no judgment here — only growth, effort, and respect. Whether you are a brand-new white belt, a seasoned athlete, a parent looking for confidence, or someone simply trying to become a stronger version of yourself, you belong here. We train together. We struggle together. We improve together.
This is more than a class schedule. It is an open invitation to take that first step. Our tribe is here, and we grow together. Feel free to call with any questions you have. Or better yet, stop by and watch any of our classes. No matter what life has thrown at you, when you walk through our door, you’ll be greeted with a smile by some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet in your life.
Give us a call or stop by, we can help you find the best place to start. Give us a ring →
Black belts, lifelong grapplers, and elite striking coaches trained at the highest level. Decades of mat time, ready to help you achieve your goals.
Jeremy began martial arts in 2006 and completed the Army's Level One and Level Two Combatives programs (built on the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu system) while in service. He's trained BJJ full time for over a decade, has been teaching since 2013, and earned his black belt in 2018.
U.S. Army
A 4th-degree black belt in BJJ and 1st-degree black belt in Judo. Matt wrestled at Cony High School and later in college, and brings over 30 years of grappling experience across many different martial arts schools.
Chris has trained BJJ for over 10 years with 5+ years of teaching experience at several schools, and earned his black belt in 2020. Retired from the U.S. Army, he leads MMA grappling and brings patience and structure to the kids program.
U.S. Army
Juan began training in 2009 and learned Muay Thai under UFC veteran Thiago Silva at American Top Team in Florida. He's competed in MMA, kickboxing, boxing, and BJJ — and served his country in the U.S. Air Force.
U.S. Air Force
Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Lifestyle Educator, and CPR/BLS certified, with advanced training in Myofascial Release Therapy, Kinesiology Taping, and Sports Massage. Shaina brings the energy to every cardio kickboxing class.
A 2010 graduate of Husson University with a bachelor's degree in Nursing, Meagan leads our yoga and recovery sessions — keeping members mobile, balanced, and training pain-free.
The youngest member of the Black Bear family — and easily the loudest cheerleader on the mat. Sophia keeps morale high, delivers high-fives on demand, and reminds everyone exactly why we built this gym in the first place.
A three-time National Golden Gloves champion (2007, 2017, 2021) with a career record of 34 wins and 3 KOs. Liz defeated Yana Tolmacheva in the 2021 National Golden Gloves final and has competed across numerous New England and USA Golden Gloves events. She boxed for 23 years under former champion Robert “Bobby” Russo, current president of the National Golden Gloves Charities.
What you learn on our mats traces back to one of the pioneers who first brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu out of Brazil. Every technique we teach carries his legacy.
Grandmaster Joe Moreira began training at age five under his "master of life," Marco Moreira. By seven he was competing in Judo, and at the legendary Gracie Academy in Rio he came up under Carlson Gracie Sr., Reyson Gracie, Reylson Gracie, and the great Fernando Guimarães "Pinduka." He earned his BJJ black belt in 1984 from Francisco Mansor and his Judo black belt in 1986, later taking second place at the Judo World Cup in Japan.
In 1990, Joe became one of the first non-Gracie BJJ black belts to move to the United States, settling in California and co-founding the U.S. Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competed in the UFC at UFC 8 and UFC 14 representing Master Marco Ruas, organized the historic Copa Atlântico Sul, and released 38 instructional tapes that helped shape an entire generation of American grapplers.
His lifetime of mastery — bridging Judo, Vale Tudo, BJJ, and MMA — is the headwaters of everything we teach at Black Bear.
Jeremy Szady — promoted to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Instructor by Grandmaster Joe Moreira. The certification that connects every student at Black Bear directly to Team Moreira and the lineage of Carlson Gracie.
On and off the mats. We are more than a team. We are a family. You're not just a member of our gym, you're a member of our tribe.
Podium Finishers
Next Generation
Kurt Osiander Seminar
White Belt Crew
Halloween at the Gym
Community Events
Teammates on the Mats
Training with a Smile
Family Support
Self-Defense in Action
Beyond the Mats
Kenny Florian Seminar
Learning Together
Gabriel Gonzaga Seminar
Earning Every Stripe
Community on the Mats
Supporting the Team
Competition Day
Work Hard, Play Hard
Kids Class Tribe
Fight Night
In the Corner
Cage Ready
We're proud to support the We Defy Foundation, whose mission is to give combat veterans coping with military-connected disabilities a long-term means to overcome their challenges through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It's a cause close to our coaches' hearts — and to who we are as a gym.
Learn about the foundation →Walk-ins welcome. The hardest step is the first one through the door — we'll handle it from there.
No pressure. No commitment. Just step on the mat.
