701 68th St, Byron Center. Ten minutes from Grand Rapids. Training families here since 2012.
Since 2012 • Team Kroyler Gracie • Two black belt instructors • 4.9 stars across 130+ Google reviews • Month to month, no contract
Real Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Authentic Gracie Lineage
Black Lion Jiu-Jitsu brings authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Byron Center and the greater Grand Rapids area. As part of Team Kroyler Gracie, our instruction traces directly to the family that created the art. Whether you want to defend yourself, get in the best shape of your life, compete, or just find a community that pushes you to be better, you'll find your place on our mats. No experience required. No ego. Just discipline, brotherhood, and jiu-jitsu.
CHECK YOUR EGO
AT THE DOOR
Whether you’re a white belt stepping onto the mats for the first time or a seasoned competitor chasing gold, everyone trains hard, respects the art, and pushes to get better. No excuses. No arrogance. Just hard work, discipline, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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Whether your goal is to compete in your next BJJ tournament, develop practical self-defense skills, build strength, or become mentally tougher, you belong on these mats. Our Jiu-Jitsu training is built around real progress, consistent training, and a team that pushes each other to improve.
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Discipline. Brotherhood. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Get on the mats. Get better. Let’s go.
What is Black Lion
Jiu Jitsu?
Black Lion Jiu Jitsu Academy is a Brazilian jiu jitsu school at 701 68th St in Byron Center, Michigan, about ten minutes south of Grand Rapids. It has operated since 2012 under Team Kroyler Gracie, a direct line to Helio Gracie, who created the art. The academy teaches gi and no-gi jiu jitsu, striking, and a competition class, with programs for adults, teens, and children from age four. Head instructor Chad Pomeroy is a first degree black belt and a retired Army Iraq War veteran. Adult memberships are $140 per month with no contract, and new students train free for two weeks.
Why People Drive Past Other Gyms to Train Here
01
Two black belts, and both of them served.
02
We tell you what it costs before you call.
03
Two free weeks, not one free class.
04
One room, all levels.
05
It doesn't get easier. You get better.
Who is teaching you
Chad Pomeroy, Head Instructor
First degree black belt under Kroyler Gracie, and one of only six people Kroyler Gracie has certified at black belt. Chad has trained since 2006 and is a retired Army Iraq War veteran. He founded Black Lion in 2012 and still teaches on the mat, which is not true at every academy this size.
WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY
4.9 stars across 130+Google reviews
Read every one of them on our Google profile. We have never asked anyone to leave a review they did not mean.
WHERE WE ARE, AND WHO WE SERVE
Black Lion is at 701 68th St in Byron Center, right off the 68th Street corridor and about ten minutes from downtown Grand Rapids. Students drive in from Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Cutlerville, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Caledonia, Dorr, and Kentwood.
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If you live in Hudsonville, Jenison, or Grandville, we are worth knowing about, because there is no jiu jitsu academy in any of those towns. Byron Center is the closest mat to you.
Common Questions
Do I need to be in shape to start jiu jitsu?
No. Most people who start at Black Lion have not exercised regularly in years. Jiu jitsu builds the conditioning as you go, because the training itself is the workout. Show up twice a week and your fitness takes care of itself.
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What should I wear to my first class?
A t-shirt and gym shorts with no pockets, zippers, or buttons. That is all you need. For gi classes we will loan you a gi during your trial, and if you continue you will need a black jiu jitsu gi, available at the academy or online.
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Am I too old to start jiu jitsu?
No. People start in their thirties, forties, and fifties and do well, because jiu jitsu rewards leverage and timing rather than speed and explosiveness. You control the intensity of your own training, and the technique gets better with age even as the athleticism does not.
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Will I get hurt?
Injuries are uncommon in a well-run room, and we run ours carefully. You tap the moment you are caught, and your partner releases immediately. Beginners are paired with experienced students whose job is to keep you safe rather than to beat you. The people who get hurt in jiu jitsu are usually the ones who refuse to tap.
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Is the mat clean?
Yes. Mats are cleaned regularly, shoes never touch the training surface, and shoes go back on for the restroom. We ask that gis and rash guards be washed after every session and that fingernails and toenails stay short. Skin infections are a real thing in grappling and they are almost entirely preventable by these habits.
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How long does it take to get good at jiu jitsu?
You will feel noticeably less lost after about three months, and competent enough to handle an untrained person within a year of consistent training. The belt system runs white, blue, purple, brown, black, and a black belt typically takes eight to twelve years. Blue belt, the first real milestone, usually takes one to two years.
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How often should I train?
Twice a week is enough to make steady progress and it is what most of our members do. Three times a week is noticeably faster. Once a week works if that is what your life allows, it just takes longer, and it is still far better than not training.
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What is the difference between the Cub class and the Kids class?
The Cub class, ages 4 to 6, is thirty minutes and teaches movement, listening, and basic positions through games. The Kids class, ages 7 to 12, is real jiu jitsu with technique, live drilling, and the option to compete. If your child can follow multi-step instructions and stay focused for forty-five minutes, they belong in the Kids class regardless of exactly where they fall in the age range.
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Do you have classes for women?
Women train in all of our regular adult classes and always have. We do not currently run a women-only class. If that matters to you, come watch a class before you decide, and talk to Chad about it.
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Do I have to compete?
No. Most of our members never compete. Competition is available through the Saturday morning class if you want it, and it is genuinely optional if you do not.
Is there a contract?
No. Memberships are month to month. Cancelling requires thirty days notice.
What is Team Kroyler Gracie?
Kroyler Gracie is a grandson of Helio Gracie, who created Brazilian jiu jitsu. Black Lion trains under his instruction, which means the jiu jitsu taught here traces directly back to the family that developed the art. Head instructor Chad Pomeroy is one of only six certified black belts under Kroyler Gracie.
How far is Black Lion from Grand Rapids?
About ten minutes. We are at 701 68th St in Byron Center, just south of Grand Rapids, and we draw students from Wyoming, Cutlerville, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Caledonia, and Kentwood.
How much does jiu jitsu cost in Grand Rapids?
Adult memberships in the Grand Rapids area generally run $100 to $140 per month. Black Lion is $140 per month for adults, $85 for kids ages 7 to 12, and $75 for the Cub class, with no contract and the first two weeks free.