Chau Kaizen teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in both Gi and No Gi at Prospect, 10 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Classes run Monday to Thursday, morning and evening, for ages 14 and over. Beginners start every week, and your first class is free.
BJJ is a grappling art built on leverage and position rather than size and strength. That is what makes it work for people who are smaller, older or less athletic than the person in front of them, and it is why it has become the base of modern self-defence and mixed martial arts.
Gi and No Gi: what is the difference?
The Gi is the traditional uniform. Training in it means you can grip sleeves, collars and lapels, which slows the game down and rewards precise, patient technique. No Gi is trained in shorts and a rash guard, with no cloth to hold, so it moves faster and relies on body control, underhooks and head position.
Most members train both. They teach different lessons, and a game built on both is far harder to deal with than one built on either alone. If you only want to do one, start with whichever fits your week and decide later.
When BJJ runs
The 11:00am classes suit shift workers, people who work from home and anyone who would rather train before the afternoon runs away from them. Members also have Open Gym & Competition Training on Friday from 5:45pm to 6:45pm to drill what they have been working on.
Your first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class
You will be introduced to a coach, shown where to put your things and paired with someone who knows what they are doing. The class works through a warm-up, then technique broken into steps, then drilling with a partner at a pace you can handle.
You will also roll, which is what we call sparring, in your first class. It is done under close supervision with a partner chosen for you. Rolling is how jiu-jitsu is actually learned, and doing it from day one under strict guidance is safer than putting it off for months. Beginners join the main class rather than a separate stream, so you learn alongside people at every level with the coaches watching where you are up to.
What to wear and bring
- BJJ Gi
- For your trial class, wear your own Gi or borrow one of ours. Once you join, a Chau Kaizen club Gi is required. A mouth guard and rash guard are recommended.
- BJJ No Gi and MMA grappling
- Shorts or pants with no pockets, plus a rash guard or fitted shirt.
- Every class
- A drink bottle, a towel, short nails, and thongs or slides for walking off the mats.
Comfortable training clothes are fine for your first class. You only need your own gear once you are training regularly.
Who trains BJJ at Chau Kaizen
Teenagers from age 14, people in their twenties and thirties who want a hard training session that is not a gym floor, and plenty of members well past that who train for movement, problem solving and the community. Ages 6 to 13 have their own Kids BJJ No Gi classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Belts and progression
Adults progress through the standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt order: white, blue, purple, brown and black. Every belt below black carries up to four stripes. As a guide, stripes come every three to nine months and belts every two to four years, but nothing here runs to a calendar. Belts and stripes are awarded when they are earned, on what you can do on the mats rather than how long you have been turning up. Suasday’s own rank is on the head coach page.
Prices and memberships
Adult memberships start at $40 per week for two classes a week on a 52-week contract, $45 per week for three classes, and $60 per week for unlimited training. New members can also start with the $300 Starter Pack, which covers ten classes over 30 days. See the memberships page for the full list and the timetable for class times.
Chau Kaizen takes 25% off all memberships for veterans and emergency services personnel. The discount applies to both adult and kids memberships, and extends to immediate family members only. Proof of service or eligibility is required. Chau Kaizen is trusted by the Australian Army to deliver Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.
Where we are
We are in the rear building at 80 Churchill Road, Prospect SA 5082, so walk down the driveway to the building at the back. There is limited parking on site and free on-street parking on Churchill Road and the surrounding streets. We are a short drive from Nailsworth, Broadview, Sefton Park, Fitzroy, Ovingham, Thorngate, Medindie, Collinswood, Walkerville and North Adelaide.
Common questions about BJJ
Should I start in Gi or No Gi?
Either. Start with whichever class fits your week. Most members end up doing both within a month or two, and the coaches will tell you what to focus on.
Will I have to roll in my first class?
Yes, and it is deliberate. Rolling is done under close supervision with a partner chosen for you, at a pace you can handle. It is how jiu-jitsu is actually learned, and doing it from day one under strict guidance is safer than putting it off for months.
Do I need my own Gi?
For your trial class, wear your own Gi or borrow one of ours. Once you join, a Chau Kaizen club Gi is required.
I am not fit. Can I still start?
Yes. Fitness is what training builds, not what it demands up front. Tell your coach before class and they will scale the session for you. If you are returning from an injury, get clearance from your doctor first.