All of the staff are very welcoming. The instructors keep the student disciplined and stick to their word when students aren’t listening. They teach technique and discipline which is essential for bjj. The staff is caring and it shows. My kids really enjoyed going here and I highly recommend it to anyone!! Love this place

World class Brazilian Jiu-jitsu for everyone!

Nick loves the competition. It builds her confidence. She talks about her classes and how informative they are.

Our familys experience at Marcio Cruz BJJ has been awesome. My son has been here for over a year and he LOVES it!!! The instruction is top notch, and the professor and coaches take time to reinforce the skills with the students when they drill. Time is taken every lesson to teach life skills of respect, honor, and hard work. Students are taught a skill, given time to practice, then they have 2-3 sparing matches where they are able to put the skills theyve learned to the test. He has had the opportunity to compete in several tournaments. The coaches were there to support him and coach him through his matches where he has come away with gold and silver medals. Students are recognized and awarded for displaying respectful attitudes on and off the mat. And all of this is done in a way that is exciting and fun for the kids. Our son has been at MCBJJ for over a year, and we are now planning to sign up our 5 year old daughter. We love MCBJJ!!!

Just trying to find a gym to train at in central Florida and scheduled an intro for me and 2 friends who have experience in grappling... They said we could join an advanced class instead of an intro class to see if we like the gym... waited a week for the class then we were informed it would be $135 in drop in fees since we arent taking an intro class... Wait what?? $45 per person for one class! Thats more than most seminars cost. I know quarantine hit gyms hard, but gouging fellow grapplers who are looking for a place to train is just bad business ethics. If anyone knows of a gym near north Tampa lemme know.

I have been training here for over a year and love it. Everyone, staff and students alike are so helpful. Don’t hesitate. Bring your whole family and learn from the best. Your health and self confidence will improve as well. If I could describe my experience at this gym I would say it is life changing.

I have 2 kids that go here, the instruction is top notch and every promotion is earned, not bought and paid for. The person who wrote the one star review is ridiculous, writing accusatory statements about a place they have never trained at. This is a family run business that is always looking to improve. They ask that you schedule an appointment in advance so that they can dedicate time to you and discuss the options available to you. There may have been some miscommunication due to a language barrier but I assure you, if you or your kids want to learn BJJ this is the place.

Our kids have been attending this academy for about a year and it has been a very pleasant experience. The instructors are very professional and knowledgeable. They have promotions which keep the kids motivated. They also have game time at the end of the training session to help the kids blow off some steam. I will sign for another year!

I just started training at MCBJJ and can’t say enough nice things about them. The gym is always clean. The Professors and Coaches are so knowledgeable and you can tell they actually care about their students. Everyone treats each other like they are family and willing to help you learn.Thank You for being a Great place to train!

Ive really been enjoying my time at MCBJJ. The gym itself is clean and pleasant, and the instructors are excellent. If you want to get in shape, and you are a competitive person, this is the way to do it. You will burn calories, make friends, stretch your limits, and learn about yourself, all while having fun.

As a business student, I admire how this Academy is well-organized. MCBJJ is definitively not Americanized because the quality is their focus, and I could see it when I did the intro class. Moreover, The instructors are patient, and they love what they do. I am happy with the investment I made here :)

Being a student at Marcio Cruzs BJJ academy has been a game changer for me. The physical benefits of training in BJJshould not require much explaining as theres plenty of videos demonstrating this. A benefit Id like to share is that of Mental Clarity. Marcio Cruzs academy is training me to be comfortable while being in an uncomfortable situations. While I dont get arm-bard at work, I do get involved in tense, high visibility, critical situations where time and stress management is key. The mental game that is played while rolling has many parallels to what I do in my profession while designing, implementing or troubleshooting complex data networks where stress management and keeping a collected mind is key.

Called to ask when a good time would be to bring my family up to look at the facility and to get pricing information and they gave us a time frame that we showed up in. Once we arrived, very unorganized. Once we found the office and spoke with the first lady she explained a little bit about the class times. Once we asked about pricing another lady came in and said we were going to interrupt her schedule for her to talk with us if she gave us prices then. She told us we had to come in for a consultation for private lesson and we would find the price out on that scheduled day. Why would we sign up for something that they wont provide prices for? Seems like a waste of money and not a legitimate learning organization but more of a buy your belt not earn your belt program. Fastfood martial arts 101 right here. What happend to traditional martial arts. Very disappointed.

Best academy in Florida. Very lucky to be able to train under a ADCC World Champion Professor Marcio Cruz.

I was very impressed from the very first moment I walked into Marcio Cruz BJJ. My first impression was how professional the organization was. In my experience with other martial arts, the workouts were good but the business operation wasnt run well. With Marcio Cruz BJJ I could tell how much detail and planning went into place to make the business run as successful as it is. Even before taking the first class my respect was earned!Introductory class was very structured, fun, and beneficial. More importantly for me, I walked away with wanting to know more. The instructors not only show the move of the day but they take time to break down the technique. Special shout out to coach Mauricio. He does an amazing job at teaching and pushing you to your full potential.If youve been thinking about trying something different, regardless of martial arts experience, this the place. The environment is positive and motivating with zero- egos! When I walk in the feels like Im working out with family. I highly recommend just trying a class! Youll get hooked...

I love the school atmosphere here. I have great training partners of every size and shape; and Professor Cruz is a fantastic instructor and BJJ Mentor. His experience and insight into the subtleties of technique cannot be obtained anywhere else in Florida.-Keith Drummond

One of if not the best academy in Florida super organized and well run.

This place is awesome!! Probably HANDS DOWN the best BJJ in the whole Tampa area. I see a lot of BS reviews on here and you either couldnt handle the training or couldnt afford it in the first place....whatever it is your wrong!

The best Jiu Jitsu school in Florida!, excellent and personalized attention to each family.We are very graceful with Ariana since the first time that we met her, her guidance and dedication was key helping our daughter in a very big change in her life.Our daughter started 2 month ago and she just love it, she wants to be the first one arriving to the class and she is learning very important things about Jiu Jitsu and about the life itself, like dedication, respect, discipline, etc.The couches are not only excellent professionals they are excellent humans being. We want to take this opportunity to thank all the couches for the excellent work and dedication in every class, and specially to couch Craig for all the support and empowerment that he gives to our daughter during her first steps and till today.

Best academy in FL treat you like family and make you feel at home. The last gym I trained at would have you live sparring on your first day training without prior teaching of basic defense. Since making the change here at MCBJJ my grappling has improved rapidly, the instructors all dedicate their time to truly make you understand Jiu-Jitsu in all aspects to keep you safe and make sure you can develop your Jiu-Jitsu the most effective way possible.

This review its overall of MCBJJ. its long but worth it.So i called to get my fiancee into BJJ so she could be able to defend herself because she is a very shy soft spoken person, but what sold us was that there is a woman class on Saturdays run by the excellent instructor Ariana Cruz the wife of the owner. the results so far have been more than expected in the mat and outside the mat, outside the has gain confidence and its more secure about herself she also gain more muscle mass, inside the mat she from being shy and submissive she has become aggressive and sure of herself. she has been there only 4 months now. I ended up joining too, the coaches are professionals and are very good but i must compliment the ones that have teached me the most which are my main Coach Luan and Coach Craig (he the purple belt on the photo) he gives me tips whenever he can.The people are very friendly and its very diverse which i appreciate, there are Brazilians, Whites, Latinos among other groups and all get along like family. the other thing i noticed is that parents go for their kids and end up joining themselves.As for the price i find it very reasonable, You can go to BJJ how many times you want to go, Muay Thai, Conditioning and Yoga so there is a little for everything you can also ask and take what you want out of the 4. but i think you are better off whit the complete package no matter what you take you can go to the Wesley Chapel location and the Carrolwood location(ill leave a separate review there too). besides that they divide the classes into Fundamental (white belts), Advanced(white stripes and up) Executive(older than 40) they have multiple classes either morning or evenings. for people who like competition there are competitions every Friday.I try to accompany her to every Saturday class as support but even thought its a woman and i cant participate(obviously) class i learn a lot by watching Coach Ariana Cruz teach the girls, i like watching the girls because they need to have cleaner technique than brute strength which is what almost all martial arts are about.I dont mean to be dramatic, highly advise woman to take BJJ especially women on law enforcement, military, a mother or just a general civilian there to much abuse of women, as a parent, spouse,boyfriend the best gift you can give is the ability for female to be able to defend themselves.Why need a gun when your body is the gun and in the process get stronger and fit.

I just started training about a month ago. Ive never trained BJJ and didnt know what to expect...other than knowing I didnt want to deal with egos! I must say the instructors are very helpful and you can see they truly have a passion to teach. If youre looking for a great place to train..... regardless of your age and level of experience. I highly recommend Marcio Cruz BJJ!!!

We absolutely love MCBJJ!! Our daughter started first, then my husband and I started after. Even though we train in a group we still get the 1 on 1 attention that we need. And we love the fact the MCBJJ a family run academy!

Im the real Leyna :) Its sad to see that someone went as far as creating a fake account in MY name to leave a negative review. This academy is not a scam. they arent trying to steal money. They dont lie to customers about ANYTHING. They are VERY straightforward when students sign up to the academy. Not only is the academy very family oriented, they are also always their for the students because they are not just another customer. They are family. Signing up for MCBJJ will be one of the most beneficial things anyone could ever do for themselves and their children. try it out for yourselves before believing all the negative reviews.

My son has been coming to this school for almost a year now, and he really feels that he is in the right place with the right team. The coaches, and administration are excellent. My son is looking forward to compete, and thanks to the training he gets he has the confidence to participate at world class level jiu jitsu.

I initially joined this school as a means to learn some self defense and help stay in shape. Before i knew it, i caught the bjj bug. This is a sport where you never stop learning and the challenge always exists. Come stop in for a class and witness the atmosphere. People here treat each other like family and egos are left outside the training facility. Professor Cruz is a world class bjj competitor and an excellent instructor.

I have had the pleasure of training at Marcio Cruz BJJ for little over two years. I can honestly say I feel blessed and honored to be instructed by a six time BJJ World Champion. Besides the caliber of instruction, Marcio and Ariana always make you feel welcome as part of their family. Its nice to go train at a school where everyone is polite, cordial and respectful; that includes the students!! Come check us out and see for yourself.

Great academy with down to earth and professional instructors. The gym is always kept clean. All members of staff are easy to get a hold of and every interaction I have had with them has been pleasant. I would recommend Marcio Cruz Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy to anyone who is interested in learning BJJ.

I was permanently injured in one of their classes. In spite of the permanent injury, they have decided to send my account to collections. I am no longer able to participate in this sport because of the injury and they do not care. This is why they want you to sign up for a contract. You are not able to cancel. I will update and write a new review​ every week to state the progress of this issue.

Amazing experience. Theres no where to do serious Jiu-Jitsu where I live, but over the summer I has the opportunity to attend some classes while staying in Westley Chapel with family. They worked out a deal with me for a little package for the couples weeks I would be there, and I loved every session. Professor Josh, Coach Mike, and Coach Mauricio were all excellent and super informative. From what little time I spent there, I learned a lot and wont be skipping any chance to go back and attend more classes!

My son has been a student at MCBJJ for nearly a year now and in that time he has grown not only in jiu-jitsu, but also in respect, dedication and self-esteem. Coach Mike and Professor Josh are fantastic instructors, helping the kids not only with skills on the mat, but also helping reinforce skills that help them off the mat.

One of the most high level academies in Florida.

Seemed nice. Everbody there was nice. 1 year contract if you join. If you break year contract you pay a third of the remaining time. Looked like pricing ranged from 1.2k to 1.5k for a year. They have specials and military discounts which was nice being a veteran myself. I did the intro class, told him id like to start in 3 weeks after my family vacation, seemed like an issue to them and i never recieved a call back. Weird. O well theres others out there.

I was permanently injured in one of their classes. In spite of the permant injury they have decided to send my account to collections. I am no longer able to participate in this sport becuase of the injury and they do not care. This is why they want you to sign up for a contract. You are not able to cancel. I will update and write a new reveiw every week to state the progress of this issue.

This is an amazing academy! The whole family trains here and loves it. The professors, coaches, and administration are great! They treat you like family. I was nervous at first, being an older female, to start Jiu Jitsu. My husband and kids trained for a while before I decided to give it a shot. At MCBJJ I always felt comfortable and the staff made me feel that I belonged on the mat. I would recommend this gym to anyone interested in Jiu Jitsu.

Marcio Cruz BJJ academy is amazing!I signed up for the complementary class to teach me the basics and more about the beautiful sport of Jiu-Jitsu. From there I was instructed by some of the most educated BJJ Professors/Coaches. Very well organized and strategic planning behind each move you learn. Coach Mauricio is the best coach a student could ever ask for. He is a well respected young man and athlete in the sport himself. Quoted “I would never put my own training over my students training”. Which is a fact.Fast forward one month later, attending 5-6 classes a week and absolutely in love. My favorite part of the day is putting on that White Gi and belt then getting on to that mat leaving all my worldly problems behind it just zone in on what we are learning then try applying it. Each student is respectful and helpful yet highly competitive. “Iron sharpens Iron” as coach would say. More confident and my body is leaner then ever before. Definitely not afraid to go outside alone any longer which is also a plus.

Very disappointed, I cant say anything bad about the coach and trainers, but I need to write my disappointment with the administration in this place, my son was there for 10 months and his contract was finishing in January 2017. I was forced to cancel the contract today, two months before the contract expired due to my son was ill and in the hospital (ICU) for medical issues that stop him for being able to continue with this activity. I walk in to the office and was welcom by a young girl that explain, I could freeze the account for $50 a month but with a doctor notice, this fee could be waive or I could cancel paying 1/3 of the remaining get balance that was $218.00. (So 1/3 will be approx $72.00). When I was ready to make the decision another lady took the lead and advised, if I freeze the contract, she will have to charge me $50 since I dont have the dr. notice with me (no that I couldnt bring it later due to I have records from the hospital and doctors) but anyway she said will waived next month, if account needs to continue been frozen but not this month or I could cancel paying 1/3 of the December payment and the full payment to for November since I didnt give a 30 days notice . I couldnt understand how I was suppose to let her know 20 days ago that in the future my son was going to be admitted to the hospital, expend 3 days in the ICU and will be walking out of the hospital with a diagnosed that will change his life forever. Like I could know that will be happening!! so because I couldnt predict the future of my sons health I have to pay $145.00 they charged me to cancel, indteaf of the fair and reasonable amount of $72.00. She said charging the $145 was doing the right thing 🤔. Right for who? I guess for her and the business, because I couldnt see the human sense in that. She was very heartless and cold. I guess since my son wasnt going to be a student any longer, the only thing important was to collect the much money they could.

My son has learned so much and the way they teach is that of traditional martial arts, all about respect for coaches and fellow students.

They are very kind and professional people. Even if they didnt know me (I was traveling trough Florida) they hosted me to workout with them. It was very good for me to have the opportunity to meet Marcio Cruz and Joshua Souder.Joshua was very helpful with me.All their students are nice people!I suggest you to workout there!Danilo Capuzi,multiple medalist in heavyweight Chinese boxing Champion

Marcio Cruz BJJ isnt just a place to train, it is a way of life. The kids classes are outstanding with Marcio training the children himself. The kids walk in and see all his trophies and are excited to be training under such an accomplished man. The adult classes are great and you have the ability to train up to six days a week. There are many regulars in the classes and it is a great environment to train and exercise. I highly recommend New Tampa BJJ (Marcio Cruz BJJ) to anyone who has had a love for the sport and trained elsewhere or a newcomer wanting to begin training.

I travel a lot for work and have had the chance to train at many places. For me when I find world class instruction i know it and this is the place. Great place to learn and improve your skills. Marcio is world class when it comes to his instruction and willingness to share his experiences. Everyone is friendly and trains with the intention on better jiu jitsu every day.

MCBJJ is hands down the best academy in the area for those wanting to train BJJ. Professor Marcio Cruz is a very well known and respected BJJ practitioner/World Champion. I was looking for a place to enroll my daughter and reached out to Professor Josh Souder, who immediately welcomed us with open arms. He and the other coaches are INCREDIBLE with the kids programs and are instrumental in keeping them engaged and maximizing the learning process. I have witnessed various methods of instruction over the years and to keep groups of kids engaged, interested and enthusiastic is no easy feat, but Professor Josh and his crew do it effortlessly. Seeing how much fun she was having and recognizing that I was letting myself go, I decided I could benefit from BJJ as well. Without a doubt, BJJ has positively impacted every facet of my life and I am in such a better place because of Professor Marcio Cruz and the rest of the staff. Their instruction is very detailed and they make sure each student understands the technique. From Day 1, I was welcomed with open arms and received tips and advice from Professors, Coaches, and students alike to help me achieve my personal goals and I have never felt out of place. Regardless of what your overall goals are (fitness, weight loss, self defense, cohesion, competition, etc.), MCBJJ is definitely where you want to be.

The best place to learn jui jitsu in the area, with one of the best of all times, Marcio Cruz from adults to kids it wont get any better than this, come and traing with professor Cruz and his great stuff of couches .

Hello, I would like to share to you all that this place is GREAT! My son is going now on his 5th year at Marcio Cruz Jiu Jitsu Academy and he likes very much. When he started 5 years ago, I just bought 1 GI and after his first year he was doing so well that I purchased 7 GI with different sizes just because I saw in my son that he was very committed to keep doing Jiujitsu.Marcio Cruz Academy definitely helped to reach a strong self confidence in my sons life. He is not afraid to compete with big kids or even adults, but also helped him to respect martial arts on a different powerful level. We as a family, enjoy the friends that we made at our Jiu Jitsu Academy. I wrote our academy because we are one beautiful Jiu Jitsu family. This school is not about money or selling belts to parents to give to their kids, this school is sharing the knowledge and helping our kids to achieve higher expectations in life with a beautiful and powerful thing. But also this school is about THE LOVE FOR JIU JITSU.And finally, I would like to say thank you Marcio and Ariana, you guys are doing a GREAT JOB and I cant wait to go and celebrate with you and our JIU JITSU FAMILY our 6th anniversary next month at the Star Ship Cruise.Marcelo Nobrega

My son attends the kids programs (jiu-jitsu & muay thai). Great coaches provide a fun, yet structured & disciplined environment. Top-notch instruction! Two thumbs up!!

Hello, I would like to share to you all that this place is GREAT! My son is going now on his 5th year at Marcio Cruz Jiu Jitsu Academy and he likes very much. When he started 5 years ago, I just bought 1 GI and after his first year he was doing so well that I purchased 7 GI with different sizes just because I saw in my son that he was very committed to keep doing Jiujitsu.Marcio Cruz Academy definitely helped to reach a strong self confidence in my sons life. He is not afraid to compete with big kids or even adults, but also helped him to respect martial arts on a different powerful level. We as a family, enjoy the friends that we made at our Jiu Jitsu Academy. I wrote our academy because we are one beautiful Jiu Jitsu family. This school is not about money or selling belts to parents to give to their kids, this school is sharing the knowledge and helping our kids to achieve higher expectations in life with a beautiful and powerful thing. But also this school is about THE LOVE FOR JIU JITSU.And finally, I would like to say thank you Marcio and Ariana, you guys are doing a GREAT JOB and I cant wait to go and celebrate with you and our JIU JITSU FAMILY our 6th anniversary next month at the Star Ship Cruise.

My second home! BJJ legend in Tampa of all places. Top!! Show de bola!!Knowing that I am learning from one of the best, its up to me to take advantage of the huge opportunity to learn from Pe de Pano. Ive learned not only jiu jiu-jitsu, I learned how to apply those principles on and off the mat. The people training here are a great group of people and there are no big egos here. If you live within 100 miles of Tampa, you need to train at MCBJJ.

I look forward to training here every week. Great instructors and training partners.

Marcio Cruz BJJ school is the Best Brazilian jiu jitsu in Tampa; to be more exact, the best school of Florida. Marcio Cruz is a 3rd degree in black belt and hold important titles, among them: 6x World Champion, 8x Pan-American Champion, 5x Brazilian Champion, ADCC Champion, European Champion. Im very proud to be part of this Family. If you interested in train with a Champion, and become a Champion inside the mat and/or outside the mat, this is the place to be.

Marcio is an amazing instructor with a wide range of talents. He has the ability to relay his knowledge in a way that each individual student understands. He is great with kids,teens,and adults. Myself and my two boys have become stronger and better people both mentally and physically through training Bjj the Marcio Cruz way. Joining this school has been a life changing experience. I couldnt ask for a better instructor,team mates,or Bjj family. The MCBJJ family is full of amazing and wonderful people.Anyone who trains with Marcio will always be ahead of the curve!

Marcio Cruz BJJ academy is the Best ! The instruction is excellent and head instructor is world class legend Marcio pe de pano Cruz the ultimate Champion of all champions.Great friendly bunch of people to train with. The academys learning environment is top-notch from young kids to older adults where everyone is treated with respect. Youll learn more than just sports or self defense techniques youll learn self discipline, self confidence, it will open your eyes to healthy diet habits etc..all those side benefits will last you a lifetime!If you are looking for a place to grow healthy through JiuJitsu, this IS the place to be with MCBJJ. Believe it because I have made the commitment with my life and I am a very happy student now.

Great to have one of the best BJJ players in the world right here in Tampa

One of best gyms in Florida.

Top notch instructors! Great family atmosphere

Horrible contracts and pricing. Check out Gracie Lutz instead.

I can not comment on the instructors due to the drop in fee. If you plan on dropping in, it will cost you $50 for one class.

Will not let us out of contract. Never again

Wonderfull place to be great people!!!

Great school !!!!