Reviews of Minneapolis School of Jiu-Jitsu

If a martial arts school is defined less by the art it teaches than how it teaches it, one glimpse at the couch across from the training mat at the Minneapolis School of Jiu-Jitsu should send a clear message: serious training in a laid back environment.

From your very first strike, it’s evident Sensei Christoph—a third degree black belt with two decades’ experience—combines heart and thought into every lesson he personally instructs. Approachable and quick to laugh, Mr. Noetzli breaks every movement of his street smart Jiu-Jitsu down step-by-step—from warm-ups to the “topic of the week,” students move at their own pace through techniques often well above their rank. And instead of just being welcome, comments and questions are encouraged; fellow instructors Greg and Mike, who have been with the MSoJJ since humble white belt beginnings, are testament to this, an environment which fosters the gradual nature of the learning process. Everyone is open to constructive criticism, and mistakes are corrected in a tactful, engaging way.

Since this is a smaller school (the largest class I’ve attended had ten people, and that included all three instructors) a high degree of personalization is the norm—while Christoph, Greg and Mike adhere to strict standards, such a wealth of collective experience allows the content of every class to ebb and flow depending on who shows up, so no matter if you’re in a room full of black belts or among fellow beginners, you’ll be empowered with self-defense you can easily apply or practice at home. Indeed, it’s this powerful one-two combination of top instruction and supportive community, the sound of laughter and ukes hitting the mat blending seamlessly together, that often makes attending a lesson at the Minneapolis School of Jiu-Jitsu the highlight of my day.

I had no experience in martial arts before attending MSJJ. I watched a class and decided to join the next week, a little intimidated due to the newness of the experience. Since then, I've attended class regularly and it has been a really good, positive learning experience. Sensei Christoph is extremely knowledgeable and always has answers to any scenario you can think of. He and the other black belt students are very good at explaining techniques and making sure you understand each technique. Since day one, I thought everyone was nice, respectful, patient, and supportive of me and another new student while we were learning skills completely new to us. It has been a challeneging and rewarding experience. I look forward to going to each class. Try it out!

I always wanted to learn martial arts and finally found a place that was a good match for me. The flow and the energy of the classes are at a really good pace so that even if you are just beginning, you feel like you are keeping up and gaining confidence in your skills and training. Sensei Christoph and the other instructors are amazing athletes and teachers. They do all they can to create an environment that makes learning self-defense both rewarding and fun.

People often put an emphasis on fitness only and disregard ensuring their and their loved ones' safety. I have been training under Sensei Noetzli at the Minneapolis School of Jiu-Jitsu since its inception and highly recommend you come down for a free class. The one technique you take away from it could be the one that saves you from physical harm some day.

I have been attending MSJJ for a number of years, and it has prepared me to defend myself in any type of confrontation. MSJJ is not only for beginners, but also those with previous training. A great school for anyone who would like to learn or improve their self-defense skills. I highly recommend coming down!