Kids Jiu-Jitsu
Ages 5 and up
Confidence, focus, and real self-defense — in a room where being the small kid is an advantage.
Learn moreBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Sullivan, MO
Gi and no-gi classes for kids and adults, right on Main Street. No experience needed — most people walk in having never trained a day in their life.
- Black belt instruction
- Kids & adults
- Beginner friendly
- First class free
Programs
Find your class
Four nights a week plus Saturday mornings. Kids and adults train separately, so nobody is in the wrong room.
Adult Jiu-Jitsu
All levels
Gi classes four nights a week. Total beginners train alongside experienced grapplers.
Learn moreNo-Gi & Grappling
Kids and adults
Shorts and a rash guard. Faster pace, wrestling-friendly, Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Learn moreNever Trained Before?
Start here
What actually happens in your first class, what to wear, and why you will be fine.
Learn moreYour instructor
Meet Stephen Carlisle
Stephen Carlisle is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the head instructor at Sullivan Jiu-Jitsu. He brings years of experience training, competing, and coaching in both gi and no-gi, and a deep understanding of the technique and strategy behind the art.
His teaching style breaks complex positions into pieces students can actually use — whether they are stepping on the mat for the first time or sharpening a game they have been building for years.
Why train jiu-jitsu?
- It actually works. Leverage and technique beat size and strength — that is the entire premise, and you will feel it in week one.
- The best workout you will not dread. An hour disappears because you are solving problems, not counting reps.
- Real confidence. Not the kind you talk about. The kind that comes from knowing what you would do.
- A room full of people pulling for you. Small-town gym, no egos, everyone remembers being the new person.
Never done this before?
Then you are exactly who we built this for
Walking into a jiu-jitsu gym for the first time is the hardest part of jiu-jitsu. Here is precisely what happens so there are no surprises.
- Wear a t-shirt and shorts. No gi, no gear, no purchase. If you decide to stick around, we will point you at what to buy later.
- Show up ten minutes early. Stephen will meet you at the door, learn your name, and introduce you to a few people before class starts.
- Warm up and drill. You will learn two or three techniques slowly, with a partner who knows you are new and is not trying to prove anything.
- Roll only if you want to. Live training is optional on day one. Plenty of people sit out their first class and jump in the next.
- Go home sore and thinking about it. That part we cannot help with.
Weekly schedule
When we train
Kids classes start at 5:00, adults at 6:45, Monday through Thursday. Saturday mornings are no-gi.
- Monday nights are beginner-focused — a good night to walk in for the first time.
- Tuesdays are no-gi for both kids and adults. No gi needed — shorts and a t-shirt work.
Monday
Little Kids Gi (ages 5–7)5:00 – 5:45 PM
Big Kids Gi (ages 8 and up)5:45 – 6:30 PM
Adults Beginner Gi6:45 – 7:45 PM
Tuesday
Little Kids No-Gi5:00 – 5:45 PM
Big Kids No-Gi5:45 – 6:30 PM
Adults No-Gi6:45 – 7:45 PM
Wednesday – Thursday
Little Kids Gi5:00 – 5:45 PM
Big Kids Gi5:45 – 6:30 PM
Adults Gi6:45 – 7:45 PM
Friday
Adults No-Gi Open Mat6:00 PM
Saturday
All Ages Kids No-Gi9:30 – 10:15 AM
Adults No-Gi10:30 – 11:30 AM
Sunday
Closed
Find us
Right on Main Street
134 W Main StreetSullivan, MO 63080
479-367-1866
We are a short drive from Bourbon, St. Clair, Cuba, and Union — plenty of our students come in off I-44 on their way home from work.
Your first class is free
Come try a class. It costs nothing.
No experience, no gi, and no commitment required. Show up in a t-shirt and shorts and we will take care of the rest.