Best for families who want to train directly under one Machado black belt, not a rotating staff.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Recreational & CompetitiveLocally-Owned
Group & privateIndoorOngoing enrollmentFree trialYear-round
(817) 510-8154
info@sampsonbjj.com
280 Commerce St Suite 175, Southlake, TX 76092
Thu · 5:30PM – 8PM
Monday4:30PM – 6PM
Tuesday5:30PM – 8PM
Wednesday12PM – 6PM
Thursday5:30PM – 8PM
Friday12PM – 1PM
Saturday10AM – 12PM
SundayClosed
Pricing not published — contact the studio for current rates.
Class days & times

What's offered

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for kids, teens, and adults, plus all-ages private lessons, Monday–Saturday (closed Sunday). Programs: Lil' Champs (4–7), Jr. Champs (7–13), Adult BJJ (14+), all-ages private lessons, and a Veterans & First Responders track. Class length runs about 30 minutes for Little Champs, 55 minutes for Jr. Champs, and 1–1.5 hours for adults. Because it's a private studio, new students are matched to the right class by age and experience; the first class is a free trial.

Weekly classes

Preschool2
  • Little ChampsMon, Wed · 4:30pm–5pm · ages 4–6
  • Little ChampsTue, Thu · 5:30pm–6pm · ages 4–6
Elementary3
  • Junior ChampsMon, Wed · 5pm–6pm · ages 7–13
  • Junior ChampsTue, Thu · 6pm–7pm · ages 7–13
  • Junior Champs No-GiSat · 10am–11am · ages 7–13
Teen5
  • Adult BJJ – GiTue · 7pm–8pm · ages 14+
  • Adult BJJ – GiWed · 12pm–1pm · ages 14+
  • Adult BJJ – No-GiThu · 7pm–8pm · ages 14+
  • Adult BJJ – No-GiFri · 12pm–1pm · ages 14+
  • Adult Open MatSat · 11am–12pm · ages 14+
Our take

Sampson Jiu Jitsu Academy is a private, family-run studio where you train directly under one high-level black belt, Jason Sampson — a 3rd-degree black belt under Carlos Machado and a Bellator MMA veteran — rather than a rotating franchise staff. It's well-reviewed by a large number of local families, and the academy's own pitch is less the fight résumé than the way the room treats a nervous first-timer or a shy kid.

It's built for the whole family, ages 4 and up. Lil' Champs (4–7) and Jr. Champs (7–13) key on confidence, focus, and respect as much as technique; the kids' curriculum is organized around four stages of childhood development the academy calls PIES (physical, intellectual, emotional, social). Adults (14+) train Gi and No-Gi for fitness, self-defense, and stress relief, and there's a Veterans & First Responders track plus all-ages private lessons. Belts are earned on readiness, not a calendar, and beginners are welcomed in every class.

Who it's for: families who want real competition pedigree and a coach who knows their kid's name over a drop-in gym or a belt mill. The on-ramp is a free trial class — you can watch a session first, and the studio matches you to the right class by age and level. If you want a large, casual, come-whenever facility, this isn't it; if you want a private academy with a genuine Machado lineage, it's a strong fit.

Local Tips

Sampson trains out of Suite 175 on Commerce St — a private studio, so go by the suite number. A few practical notes:

  • Free parking and a dedicated parent observation area, so you can watch your child's whole class.
  • There are no walk-in open hours — the mat runs on the class schedule — so the way in is to book the free trial first; call ahead and they'll place your child in the right class and confirm a time.
  • Arrive about 10 minutes early for a first visit.
Credentials

Sampson Jiu Jitsu Academy is owned and led by head instructor Jason Sampson, a 3rd-degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt directly under Carlos Machado and a member of the Carlos Machado Jiu Jitsu Association. Jason is a Pan American champion, a Bellator veteran with a 14-1 professional MMA record, and a former All-American wrestler; he returned to competition after a C4/C5 spinal fusion. He has coached military, law enforcement, and survivors of domestic violence, and teaches the classes personally. The studio is private and family-run.

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