Everything you're wondering, answered

When you walk in, sign in at the iPad to your left. DJ or Russell will greet you and walk you through the basics. Take your shoes off before walking on the mats. We have benches, cubbies, bathrooms, showers, and a water refill station. We'll email you a complete beginner guide when you sign up for a free trial.

Wear your own workout clothes — tight-fitting clothing like board shorts, yoga pants, or rashguards works best. No shoes on the mats, so bring flip flops or slides. Bring a water bottle and a towel if you want to shower after class.

No. Ohm practices no-gi jiu jitsu, which means you don't need to buy a traditional gi or any uniform. Wear your own workout clothes when starting out. If you join, most people eventually buy a rashguard and spats, but we never force you to buy our gear.

Yes. Ohm runs an eight-week beginner program designed so you can start at any point — there's no beginning or end. Jump in whenever you'd like, and eight weeks later you'll have covered all the basics.

If you've trained before but it's been a while, you can come to beginner classes at 5:30pm or regular classes at 6:00pm. Beginners can also stay for the 6:00 all-levels class at no extra charge.

Yes — our free trials don't expire. If you don't have your sign-in information anymore, reach out through our contact form or Instagram and we'll get you set up.

'Ohm' rhymes with 'home.' Our name comes from the electrical term that measures resistance — jiu jitsu is a sport based on resistance. Our skull logo has lightning bolt eyes, and we call our members the Omega Team.

Yes — several women train at Ohm, and a few of our founding members are female black belts, so you'll have women at every level to learn from and train with.

It depends on the injury; talk to your doctor first. You can ask DJ and Russell for advice about training with certain injuries. If you get injured while training, it's easy to freeze your account until you're back.

No-gi jiu jitsu is grappling without the traditional gi (kimono). You train in shorts and a rashguard instead of a uniform, which means there's nothing to buy before you start. No-gi is fast-paced, practical, and directly applicable to real situations. Ohm Jiu Jitsu is a no-gi gym.

Yes — Ohm is widely regarded as one of the most beginner-friendly gyms in Birmingham. There are dedicated beginner classes Monday through Thursday at 5:30pm, an 8-week rotating beginner program you can start any time, and a free trial class with no contract.

Memberships are $70 bi-weekly for two classes per week or $80 bi-weekly for unlimited classes. There's no sign-up fee and no contract — memberships renew every two weeks and you can cancel anytime. Your first class is free.

Yes. Jiu jitsu is one of the most demanding full-body workouts you can do — most members come for fitness and stay for the sport. You don't need to be fit to start; the training itself gets you in shape, and instructors manage intensity for newcomers.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most practical martial arts for real-world self-defense because it focuses on control and leverage rather than striking. Ohm's no-gi training is directly applicable, and the gym maintains a controlled, respectful training environment.

Every Friday from 6–8pm, Ohm hosts Birmingham's all-city open mat — free and open to all gyms and anyone who trains jiu jitsu, no membership required. It's one of the things that makes Birmingham's jiu jitsu community unusually connected.