Do I need experience to start BJJ?

No experience is needed. Our fundamentals classes are built for complete beginners. You'll learn the basics of positioning, movement, and technique in a welcoming environment before anything else.

What is the difference between gi and no-gi BJJ?

Gi BJJ is practiced in a traditional kimono (gi), which adds grips and collar chokes to the game. No-gi is done in shorts and a rash guard and focuses more on body-lock control and leg locks. We offer both at Zingano.

How long does it take to get a blue belt in BJJ?

On average, consistent students earn their blue belt in 1–2 years. BJJ progression is based on skill and knowledge rather than time — your coach will promote you when you're genuinely ready.

Is BJJ good for self-defense?

BJJ is widely considered one of the most effective martial arts for real-world self-defense. It teaches you to control and neutralize an attacker on the ground — where most altercations end up — without needing to rely on size or strength.

Do I have to compete to train BJJ?

Not at all. Competition is available and encouraged for those who want it, but the majority of our students train for fitness, self-defense, mental challenge, and community. You set your own goals.

Am I too old or out of shape to start BJJ?

No. Many of our students started in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. BJJ is one of the few martial arts specifically designed to work for smaller, older, or less athletic people — technique always wins over size and strength.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes in Broomfield CO

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

THE GENTLE
ART.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often called "human chess" — a grappling art that teaches you to control and submit opponents using technique, leverage, and timing rather than size or strength. It's one of the most effective martial arts in the world and, for most people, the most addictive.

At Zingano, BJJ is the foundation of everything we do. Our program is built on decades of Gracie lineage and led by a 3rd Degree Black Belt with competition experience at every level.

Try a Free Class → See Schedule

Women's BJJ class at Zingano BJJ Broomfield Colorado

Two Paths, One Art

GI & NO-GI
BJJ.

We offer both gi and no-gi classes. Each has its own feel and skill set — and training both makes you a more complete grappler.

Traditional

Gi BJJ

Practiced in a traditional kimono (gi). The gi adds grips, collar chokes, and sleeve attacks to the game — slowing the pace and rewarding precision. Great for building fundamentals and understanding the deeper technical layers of the art.

Modern

No-Gi / Submission Grappling

Practiced in shorts and a rash guard. No fabric grips — control relies on body-locks, underhooks, and leg entanglements. Faster-paced and increasingly popular in competition. Essential for MMA and growing in its own right.

Black belt BJJ instruction at Zingano Broomfield Colorado

The Curriculum

WHAT YOU'LL
BUILD.

Classes are structured and progressive. No randomness, no chaos. Here is the skill set you develop:

Positions and Hierarchy	Guard, mount, side control, and back control. Understanding where you are and where you want to be.
Escapes and Defenses	How to get out of bad positions safely and systematically without burning out or getting submitted.
Takedowns and Guard Pulls	Getting the fight to the ground on your terms, whether through wrestling-based takedowns or guard pulls.
Sweeps and Guard Passing	Reversing position from the bottom and advancing from the top to reach dominant control.
Submissions	Chokes, armbars, leg locks, and the setups and combinations that create them in live rolling.
Transitions and Chains	Linking techniques together so your game flows from position to position instead of stalling out.
Live Rolling	Controlled, ego-free sparring that pressure-tests everything you learn in class against a resisting partner.

The Lineage

DIRECT GRACIE
LINEAGE.

In BJJ, lineage is everything. Where you learn — and who taught your teacher — shapes the quality and authenticity of your training. Zingano's lineage runs directly through the Gracie family, the founders of the art.

Judo Master / PioneerMitsuyo Maeda

→

BJJ FounderCarlos Gracie

→

BJJ Co-FounderHelio Gracie

→

6th Degree Black BeltCarlos "Caique" Elias

→

3rd Degree Black Belt · FounderMauricio Zingano

→

3rd Degree Black Belt · Head CoachMatt Simms

When you train at Zingano, you're learning BJJ that traces directly back to its source — not a watered-down or disconnected version of the art.

Your Journey

BELT
PROGRESSION.

BJJ has one of the most meaningful belt systems in martial arts. Promotions are earned — not purchased, not time-based. Each belt represents a genuine level of skill and understanding.

White

Blue

Purple

Brown

Black

Most dedicated students reach blue belt in 1–2 years. Black belt typically takes 10+ years. The journey is the point — every step genuinely earns the next.

Blue belt promotion at Zingano BJJ Broomfield Colorado

IBJJF champion Tim Funk representing Zingano BJJ Broomfield Colorado

Competition Team

PROVE IT
ON THE MAT.

Zingano has produced competitors at every level — local tournaments, IBJJF Opens, Fight to Win, and national championships. If you want to compete, the infrastructure is here: competition drilling, strategy sessions, and a team that shows up for each other.

Competition is never required. But if you want to test your game under pressure, there is no better training environment in the area.

Meet the Team →

Why Train Here

BJJ DONE
RIGHT.

The school you choose shapes the BJJ you develop. Lineage, coaching quality, and culture are everything — and Zingano doesn't cut corners on any of them.

🥋

3rd Degree Black Belt Instruction

Head instructor Matt Simms holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt and has competed and coached at the highest levels. You're learning from someone who has genuinely mastered the art.

🌳

Direct Gracie Lineage

Our BJJ traces directly through the Gracie family — the founders of the art. Lineage matters. You're not learning a copy of a copy.

🧠

Structured Curriculum

Clear progression from fundamentals to advanced. Every class builds on the last. You always know what you're working on and why — no random technique dumps.

🛡️

Ego-Free Culture

Rolling is cooperative, not combative. Students help each other improve. The culture here produces better BJJ practitioners because people train smarter and stay healthier.

🏆

Competition-Proven

Zingano students have medaled at IBJJF Opens, Fight to Win, and national-level tournaments. The curriculum produces real results under pressure.

👨‍👩‍👧

All Ages, All Levels

White belts to black belts. Students in their 20s to their 60s. Kids and adults. BJJ here is for everyone — and the team culture reflects that.

Common Questions

BJJ
FAQ.

No experience is needed. Our fundamentals classes are built specifically for complete beginners. You'll learn positioning, basic movements, and core technique in a welcoming environment with no pressure and no sparring until you're ready.

Gi BJJ uses a traditional kimono which adds fabric grips, collar chokes, and sleeve attacks. No-gi uses shorts and a rash guard — no cloth grips, so control relies on body position and clinch. Both are valuable and we offer classes in each style.

For consistent students training 3+ times per week, blue belt typically comes in 1–2 years. BJJ promotions are based entirely on demonstrated skill — not time served. Your coach will promote you when you're genuinely ready, not on a schedule.

BJJ is widely considered one of the most practical martial arts for real-world self-defense. It teaches you to control a larger attacker on the ground — where most altercations end up — using technique rather than size or strength. It's the foundation of MMA for this exact reason.

Not at all. The majority of our students train for fitness, mental challenge, self-defense, and community. Competition is available and encouraged for those who want it — but it is never required or expected.

No. BJJ is specifically designed to work regardless of size, age, or athletic background. Many of our dedicated students started in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Technique always compensates for what youth or athleticism you think you lack.

BJJ CLASSES IN
BROOMFIELD, CO.

THE GENTLE
ART.