Waugh Jiu-Jitsu Academy

I have trained here for about 1.5 years and have grown to love Brazilian jiu jitsu and the community at the academy. They aren’t just the people I do BJJ with, but are mentors, mentees, friends, and family to me.
Belt progression starts at white/​advanced white (adv), goes through yellow (adv), orange (adv), green (adv), blue, purple, brown, black. The belt promotion philosophy is to «show up to go up, and never give up.»
Master Orlando Waugh is currently a 4^th degree black belt from the lineage of Carlos Machado. He has a radiant personality, he is humble, and knowledgeable – which help him as a great teacher. Honing personal character and leadership skills is also important in addition to teaching physical skills, so that is something that is always talked about and the classes are an encouraging environment.
Basic membership allows you to participate in the first portion of the class and the other packages allow you to attend full classes.
Waugh Jiu-​Jitsu offers classes Monday through Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. Classes are usually 2 portions of drilling then time at the end to partner up and grapple (spar, roll, wrestle, practice). It’s a convenient time for me and I enjoy ending my day on the mat.
The creed at the school is «I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed. And the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times i can fail and keep trying.» The only way to get into bjj or to get better is to get started and spend time on the mat. Whether you find yourself winning or learning, you just have to put in the hours.

Waugh Jiu Jitsu is a great place to introduce yourself to the ART of Jiu Jitsu. I have visited a few other jiu Jitsu businesses across the metroplex and can honestly say they live by the #KeepItPlayful motto. Everyone who trains there acts like a family and makes sure to protect and not hurt anyone. Some gyms have obvious ego issues, and that is not the case here.
The classes are structured so that you learn Jiu Jitsu techniques, but Master Waugh also takes the time to talk about his life experiences and the power of a positive attitude. He used to hold a separate leadership class that is now introduced into every class that everyone can learn and grow from.
His children’s class is amazing way to teach children discipline and the importance of working hard in the classroom. He even rewards the students who bring in straight A report cards!

I came here for a trial class and although the class was pretty good, there was a lot more talk than teaching so in the limited hour you get you learn at a very slow pace. They give you too many belts, really Americanizing the Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu Martial Art by handing out stripe belts at each level. After three classes you receive a striped white belt. In the IBJJF standard there’s white-​blue-​purple-​brown-​black. It’s understandable to award additional belts in a kids class, but doesn’t seem necessary in the adults class. The instructor is a pretty nice guy and the classmates addressed one another as Mr/​Miss — courtesy is shown and they harbor a friendly environment.
The dealbreaker — The biggest off was they try to force you to sign up by saying you have to sign up right then and there or they will not give you their «special discount offer» which is definitely not a discount offer, $ 198?! Are you kidding me? They try to force you into a contract and tell you the special will not be offered if you don’t sign up now. I had to leave to pick up some friends from the airport and before entering the after class meeting they have I mentioned this, I was told she’d make it short and quick and it lasted well over 15 mins and then I was told at 9:20pm that I have until 10pm to accept the offer… I don’t respond well to someone strong arming to sign up.
Definitely look around at other gyms. They are quite cheaper and don’t try to force you into signing up, unless you have the dough to shell.