BJJ & No-Gi Jiu Jitsu Classes in South Calgary
South Calgary's home for no-gi jiu jitsu
where beginners and competitors train smarter, not just harder.
Located in the Shawnessy area of Calgary, AB, Grapple Lab is the go-to BJJ gym for adults who want real skills, real coaching, and real results. No uniform required. No experience needed. First class is free.
FIRST CLASS IS FREE
*
FIRST CLASS IS FREE *
• South Calgary's only constraints-led BJJ academy
• 9,000+ coaching hours of combined experience
• First class always free
• No uniform required — beginners welcome
• Flexible memberships | Trial passes available
• Competitors trained to podium finishes worldwide
South Calgary's Premier BJJ Gym — Built on Science, Not Tradition
If you've searched for 'BJJ near me' or 'jiu-jitsu classes in Calgary' and ended up here, you're in the right place. Grapple Lab Calgary is a no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy serving the Shawnessy, Legacy, Midnapore, Silverado, and wider South Calgary community.
We're not your average martial arts gym. Our programme is built on the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) — a research-backed training methodology that develops real, usable grappling skills faster than traditional drill-based coaching.
Whether you're a complete beginner stepping on the mat for the first time, a hobbyist looking for a great workout and new skills, or a competitive grappler chasing a podium, Grapple Lab Calgary has a place for you.
-
CLA methodology proven to accelerate skill development
-
CSCS-certified head coach with 9,000+ combined coaching hours
-
No experience or uniform required
-
Athletes coached to wins at IBJJF, ADCC, PFL, and Grappling Industries events
-
Drop-ins, trial passes, monthly and annual memberships
-
A welcoming gym for all skill levels
Meet Your Calgary BJJ Coaches
Coach Harry Davis
Coach Harry Davis — Founder & Head BJJ Coach, Calgary
Coach Harry is the founder of Grapple Lab Calgary and holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, awarded in January 2024. A casual Masters competitor, Harry is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who brings a rare dual-lens of athletic development and grappling expertise to every class.
With over 9,000 combined coaching hours in strength & conditioning and grappling since 2016, Harry has helped athletes win at the highest levels of the sport — including the PFL World Championship, IBJJF European Trials, ADCC East Coast Trials, ADCC Opens, IBJJF Opens, and Grappling Industries events.
Frustrated by the low standard of coaching he experienced across basketball, rugby, and martial arts throughout his own athletic career, Harry built Grapple Lab on a simple promise: every student gets world-class coaching, regardless of their level.
Before opening Grapple Lab, Harry ran the beginner programme at Kuzushi Grappling Team in Vancouver for 18 months, guiding first-time competitors to podium finishes using a predominantly constraints-led coaching approach.
Coach Jana Finkbiner
Co-Founder, Coach & Sports Nutritionist
Coach Jana brings a formidable breadth of knowledge to Grapple Lab Calgary. She holds a degree in Kinesiology and Nutrition, is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with 15 years of industry experience, and has directed programmes at gyms across Canada and the United States.
Formerly an amateur boxer who competed until 2023, Jana transitioned to jiu-jitsu and has since earned podium finishes at every competition she has entered. She was also a co-partner at Empire Boxing Promotions in Vancouver, B.C., where she promoted professional boxing events and hosted a widely followed combat sports podcast.
Today, Jana works as a sports nutritionist for combat athletes worldwide and coaches both pro and amateur boxing. At Grapple Lab, she brings her exceptional background in body composition, movement science, and competitive combat sports to every session.
Our BJJ Coaching Philosophy: Develop Real Skills, Fast
At Grapple Lab Calgary, we believe that good coaching changes lives — on and off the mat. Our philosophy is simple:
1. Start with the fundamentals. Train at least twice a week, preferably three times. Consistency beats intensity every time.
2. Study the sport. Set clear goals before every session and pursue them with intention.
3. Prepare your body for grappling outside of mat time — mobility, strength, and recovery all matter.
4. Communicate with your coaches. The more we know about your goals and challenges, the faster we can help you improve.
Coach Harry has a rare ability to identify where you're already strong and, more importantly, how to quickly and intelligently develop your weaknesses into assets.
What is the Constraints-Led Approach to BJJ — and Why Does It Work?
Grapple Lab Calgary is the only BJJ gym in South Calgary built around the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) — a modern, science-backed coaching framework also known as the ecological method.
Instead of passively copying techniques through repetitive drilling, CLA coaches 'gamify' grappling scenarios, prompting students to problem-solve in real time against a live training partner. The result? Skills that actually work under pressure — because you built them under pressure.
This approach has been studied extensively across multiple sports and proven to increase the speed of skill acquisition compared to traditional methods.
TRADITIONAL BJJ CLASS STRUCTURE (WHAT MOST GYMS DO)
Warm-up: Line drills — forward rolls, shrimping, crawling
Technique of the Day: You drill 10 armbars, your partner drills 10 armbars
Sparring rounds (if there's time left)
GRAPPLE LAB CLASS STRUCTURE (3X THE LIVE GRAPPLING VOLUME)
Warm-up: Live games that build skill and physical readiness simultaneously
Standing, Passing & Pinning: Skill development through live, purposeful drilling
Open sparring: 5–10 minute rolling rounds
The difference is significant. At Grapple Lab, you spend more time in live, pressure-tested scenarios — which is exactly where real grappling skill is forged.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH BEHIND THE CLA
• Keith Davids — Sheffield Hallam University
• Ian Renshaw — Queensland University of Technology
• Jia Yi Chow — National Institute of Education, Singapore
• Ludovic Seifert — University of Rouen
• Duarte Araujo — University of Lisbon
BJJ Memberships & Pricing — Grapple Lab Calgary
At Grapple Lab Calgary, getting started is as easy as showing up.
Your first class is always on us — no commitment, no credit card.
Just come in, roll, and see what we're about.
Free First Class
Your first class at Grapple Lab is completely free. No strings attached. Bring a friend — they train free too.
2-Week Trial — $49.99
Not sure if jiu-jitsu is for you? Try our 2-week unlimited trial for just $49.99. Train as many times as you like, at any class on the schedule. If you love it (and you will), rolling into a full membership is simple.
Be one of our 25 founding members and lock in an unbeatable membership rate for life.
This exclusive offer is available only to the first 25 people who join the Grapple Lab community. Once those spots are gone, they're gone. If you're reading this, you're early — don't miss your chance.
Annual Membership
Our best value option. Commit to your journey and save with an annual membership.
$1679.88 for the year.
Private Lessons
Accelerate your progress with one-on-one coaching from Coach Harry or Coach Jana. Private lessons are available for beginners, competitors, and anyone looking to fast-track specific skills.
Claim your first class free
Grapple Lab Calgary is located at
14707 Bannister Rd SE, Unit 100,
Calgary, AB T2X 1Z2
— in the heart of the Shawnessy community in South Calgary.
We're easy to reach from across South Calgary, including Legacy, Midnapore, Silverado, Sundance, Millrise, Somerset, and Fish Creek Park area. Free parking is available on site.
Find Our Calgary BJJ Gym — Shawnessy, South Calgary
Transit Access:
750m (a 10min walk) from Fishcreek Lacombe Station over the pedestrian bridge.
Grapple Lab Calgary
14707 Bannister Rd SE, Unit 100
Calgary, AB T2X 1Z2
236-512-6434
HOURS OF OPERATION
Tuesdays 12-1pm
Wednesdays 7-8pm
Thursdays 12-1pm
Sundays 11am-12.30pm
Get in Touch
Frequently Asked Questions — BJJ Classes in Calgary
-
No experience is required whatsoever. Our classes welcome complete beginners through to experienced competitors. Coach Harry and Coach Jana structure sessions to challenge and develop all levels simultaneously.
-
No. Grapple Lab Calgary specialises in no-gi jiu-jitsu, which means you train in athletic shorts and a rash guard or t-shirt. No gi or kimono is required.
-
Yes — 100% free, no commitment. Come along, meet the coaches, roll with the community, and see if Grapple Lab is the right fit for you. You can even bring a friend and they'll train free too.
-
We're at 14707 Bannister Rd SE, Unit 100, Calgary, AB T2X 1Z2 — in the Shawnessy area of South Calgary. We're a short drive from Legacy, Midnapore, Sundance, Silverado, Somerset, and Millrise.
-
No-gi jiu-jitsu (also called submission wrestling or no-gi BJJ) is Brazilian jiu-jitsu practised without the traditional kimono. Athletes wear athletic shorts and a rash guard. The techniques focus on body control, wrestling, and submission grappling — making it practical, athletic, and directly applicable to MMA and self-defence.
-
The Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) is a research-backed coaching method that replaces passive drilling with guided live problem-solving. Rather than copying techniques, students develop skills by working through structured scenarios with a live training partner. Studies show CLA develops skills faster and makes them more reliable under pressure.
-
We recommend a minimum of two sessions per week to see consistent progress — ideally three. The key is consistency. Our flexible memberships let you train as often as your schedule allows.
-
No, not currently.
-
Yes! Grapple Lab Calgary is located in Shawnessy and is one of the most accessible BJJ gyms for residents of South Calgary. We serve grapplers from across the south end of the city, including Legacy, Midnapore, Silverado, Sundance, Millrise, Somerset, and Fish Creek.
Ready to Start Your BJJ Journey in South Calgary?
Whether you want to get fit, learn real self-defence, compete at the highest levels, or just find a gym with a genuine community — Grapple Lab Calgary is ready for you.
Your first class is free. No experience needed. No uniform required. Just show up.
Or call us at 236-512-6434 | grapplelabcalgary.com
14707 Bannister Rd SE, Unit 100, Calgary, AB T2X 1Z2