Gracie Barra Back Bay

I’ve been training here for about a year and it’s been great. It’s a lot of fun, everybody is tough but they’re nice, helpful, and encouraging too. I’ve trained in different martial arts and at different schools over the years and this school has the best schedule and my favorite instructor, Alex Costa. He’s great to work with! He teaches nearly every class, has the best attitude, and because of him the whole gym has a positive, energetic, and friendly feel.
The class schedule has a great mix of sparring classes, fundamentals, and advanced training. It’s flexible enough to accommodate people before work, during their lunch hour, after work and even on the weekend. There are 7 days of training with a schedule that can fit anybody’s lifestyle. We have people from all walks of life too, so don’t be timid. We have professionals, students, guys, girls, younger, older, etc. 1 free class too, so come check it out!
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is super fun! It’s the only combat/​martial art that truly is for everybody. You don’t need to be super strong, ultra flexible or outrageously athletic to be able to be good at it. I’ve seen 130 pound girls submit 200 pound men. How? One reason is that many of the attacks in BJJ are based on leverage. Applying the strongest and largest parts of your body to your opponents smallest, weakest, and most vulnerable areas. You’ll learn more about this and more training at Gracie Barra Back Bay!

Ive trained at various MMA gyms and BJJ schools and very rarely does a team offer some of the best instruction along with an accepting team. GB3 does both of those, a great professor in Alex Costa and an extremely welcoming (and tough) team. GB3 allows people to train for fun, exercise or train to compete at some of BJJ’s highest levels. Ive been coming here for going on three years and couldnt be happier. FOR SURE check it out and learn some skills while getting into shape!!!

Having been involved in wrestling and other combat sports for most of my life, I came to Gracie Back Bay looking for a knowledgable, friendly place to train and expand my jiu-​jitsu game. What I got was more than I expected!
Alex Costa, Ashley, and everyone at Gracie Barra Back Bay have made this place one the best spots in Boston to learn, train, and make new friends. I was welcomed from the second I stepped through the door. Alex’s patience, deep knowledge, and commitment to teaching jiu-​jitsu is evident in every class. His regular students exude these same great traits on and off the mats.
If you’re looking for a place to learn jiu-​jitsu, get physically fit, and be treated like one of the family, then I highly recommend you come down the Gracie Barra Back Bay!

I have recently begun training at GB and cannot say enough good things.
For starters, Professor Alex is extremely knowledgeable and easy going, which makes being «the new guy» that much easier.
The facility is extremely clean and well kept, with locker rooms and bathrooms.
I would highly recommend GB to anyone of any age or skill level. The staff and fellow students make you feel welcome and always lend assistance to those in need of special instruction (usually me)
Hope to see some new faces in the gym!

I love this place!!! I was completely new to jiu jitsu when I walked in the door… I was so nervous, but I shouldn’t have been — everyone was so welcoming! Coach Alex is the best! I would recommend Gracie Barra Back Bay to anyone!

I came to train here over the Christmas Holiday. I was pleased to see that they were open on New Years Eve (more of an open mat, but that’s cool). Being a visitor of a school, you tend to be a bit cautious as you may have a bullseye on the back of your gi for whatever reason. That was not the case here. I was very welcomed by the staff and students and invited to come and train the following day (which I took them up on).
I did both a gi and no-​gi sessions. They were what you would expect them to be. Some interesting insights towards certain techniques and more or less of what you would expect from a Gracie Barra school.
The locker rooms and bathrooms were clean, but I was disappointed that there were no shower facilities on the premise. I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to that (having dealt with staph in the past) and like to shower after every session. That’s my one downside to that.
I only gave it a 3-​star rating, since I was only there for 2 days and none of the main instructors were present. Plus, you can’t really evaluate a BJJ joint if you are only there for a few days. I’m sure it will get a ⁴⁄₅ star rating if I joined full-​time, but for now, it’ll get an average 3-​star rating. I will return next time I’m in town.
OSSSSSSS

I recently visited this school while visiting Boston for a week with my wife. I stopped by twice to train. (I was a 4-​stripe blue belt, recently promoted to purple belt.). I felt very warmly received despite only being in town briefly. I was very impressed. Professor Costa went out of his way to support my visit, as did Mr. Moraes, one of his staff. The facilities were very well cared for, and cleanliness and pride in the academy were evident. Every person I rolled with was upbeat, friendly, and ready to work together to improve. At the same time, the skill level in the room was very high. It was a really rewarding experience, and I would definitely be excited to be able to train there again.

I am active duty in the Coast guard and move around every few years. I have been training for quite a few years at multiple schools in many different cities.
When I moved to Boston I went to every gym in the city and tried out a free class most gyms were either dirty or to aggressive. I never quite felt at home, until I found Gracie Barra Back Bay. This gym is located right in Newbury street under Newbury comics. There is plenty of street parking and it is right off I-​90, Storrow drive, Green and orange line stops and the Mass Ave. bus routes.
This place is built in what used to be a day spa and it still has that upscale feel. It is very clean with beautiful tile and wood work. It has a great entryway with couches and seating for parents and friends to hang out and watch through big windows while you train. There are nice locker rooms with great spa style showers and plenty of lockers and space to change. The mats and training equipment are all top notch, everything is always spotless and there is always good music playing. The owner Ashley makes this place a very welcome gym and the students make this place a family. They also regularly host events for holidays, MMA fights and special occasions.
The head instructor Alex Costa is the most enjoyable BJJ instructor I have ever trained under. He always makes you feel welcome and appreciated. Alex is a Carlos Gracie 1^st degree Brazilian Jujitsu black belt has very extensive knowledge of jujitsu as well as grappling, wrestling and stand up arts. He has been training daily for the past 20 years and it shows. His teaching techniques are very simple and easy to understand and he keeps the pace and feel very fun and friendly. He understands how to troubleshoot your technique if you are having problems and very easily helps you overcome them.
The kids class is always in high spirits and the instructors always keep a good balance between teachings and athletic games to keep the kids attention. There is plenty of laughter and fun, but the children still progress very quickly in the actual jujitsu art form.
As you progress at the gym or for people with previous experience, this gym also offers many very advanced classes including very technical competition based BJJ, wrestling, strength and conditioning and Muay Thai classes. Some of these classes are just not for the out of shape or faint of heart (Although very good for it).
Also you can check out their Facebook page for pictures of the gym and get a better feel for the place.
I cannot stress enough how wonderful this place is.

Where to start? First, the vitally important stuff. From the mats to the bathrooms… Gracie Barra Back Bay is always immaculately clean, well lit and welcoming. Alex and Ashley are always friendly, professional and incredibly knowledgeable.
The level of Jiu Jitsu being taught is incredible. At any given session there’s a solid mix of experienced, competitive practitioners and those of us who are just starting our journey. I’m challenged and learn something new every time… But always with mutual respect and collaboration… Never with ego or disrespect.
I came to Jiu Jitsu to learn a new skill and improve my physical fitness after my doctor told me to exercise or start suffering real consequences soon. Predictably, with a little bit of effort my fitness is improving. What I could never have predicted is that I would gain a new extended family of people around me. This is definitely a testimony to the environment Alex and Ashley create at Gracie Barra Back Bay every day.
Thanks guys!
PS– If you are wondering whether or not such an enthusiastic testimonial could possibly be real let me assure you… I’m there all the time!!!
(Current mayor as of 12÷4÷2012)