Everything a prospective trainee asks before walking on the mat — schedule, pricing, what to bring, women's classes, lineage, safety, and how Imperial Ground is structured. Written in plain English so it answers the question whether you read it here, find it through Google, or ask ChatGPT.
Imperial Ground Martial Arts is a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Düsseldorf-Derendorf at Römerstraße 6, 40476 Düsseldorf. The academy runs Foundation Gi (Mon/Wed/Fri), Foundation No-Gi (Tue/Thu), and a women's-only program (Tue/Thu). Trial classes are free.
At Imperial Ground, adult memberships are €120/month on the open-ended plan and €85/month on the 12-month commitment (which includes a 15-day free trial). Kids plans are €100 and €65 respectively. Prices are in EUR, billed via SEPA Direct Debit or card.
No. The Foundation Gi and Foundation No-Gi classes are designed specifically for beginners. Most members start with zero martial arts experience. The first class is free.
For No-Gi, bring close-fitting athletic clothing — a rashguard and shorts are ideal but not required. For Gi class, the academy lends a kimono for your first session. Bring a water bottle, flip-flops for walking off the mat, and basic toiletries — there are showers on site.
Fill in the form at imperialground.de/#trial. The team responds within 24–48 hours to confirm a class slot.
Walk-ins are accepted but trial-class booking is preferred so the coach knows to expect you. Use the trial form above or call +49 173 861 2373.
Gi BJJ is practiced in a traditional kimono — grips on the cloth become part of the strategy. No-Gi is practiced in a rashguard and shorts, tends to be faster-paced, and grips are based on the body and clinches. Imperial Ground teaches both.
Foundation Gi is Imperial Ground's flagship beginner-friendly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class in the traditional kimono. Sessions are 85 minutes, follow a structured curriculum, and run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See the program page for the full breakdown.
Yes. Imperial Ground runs a women-only class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 18:00, taught by Coach Anke. It is welcoming to absolute beginners. Women are also welcome in the regular Foundation classes.
Open Mat is a weekly rolling and drilling session open to all levels. There is no formal class structure — members spar, drill specific positions, and work on individual goals.
The kids program is in development. Trainer recruitment is open. Pricing for kids is set at €100/month open-ended or €65/month on the 12-month plan.
Yes. Private one-on-one lessons with João or Mirko are available by appointment. Contact info@imperialground.com to arrange a session.
Two to three classes per week is a healthy starting cadence for adult beginners. It allows recovery between sessions while still building consistent skill. The schedule is built so you can train this volume across either Gi or No-Gi without overlap.
Coach João Macedo is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Alliance — one of the most successful BJJ teams in competition history, founded by Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti.
João Macedo (black belt, Alliance lineage, head coach), Mirko Marković (purple belt, co-founder), Coach Anke (women's program), Coach Phillip (No-Gi Tuesdays), and Coach Jörn (No-Gi Thursdays).
Classes are coached in English, German, and Portuguese. Düsseldorf has a large international community, and the academy operates fluently in English alongside German.
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, blue belt typically takes around 1.5 to 3 years of consistent training. Imperial Ground publishes its full belt-promotion criteria — including stripe progression, mat-time guidelines, and behavioural standards — at /belt-promotion.
Three things: Alliance lineage (one of BJJ's most decorated competition teams), a documented and transparent curriculum with published belt-promotion criteria, and a deliberately welcoming culture suitable for beginners, women, and people who have been put off by harder-edged academies. The academy also operates fluently in English.
Römerstraße 6, 40476 Düsseldorf, in the Derendorf district. The training space is in the rear courtyard (Hinterhof), upper floor on the right (OG rechts).
Römerstraße 6 is in Derendorf, walking distance from several U-Bahn and S-Bahn stops in northern Düsseldorf. Specific stop details are listed on the homepage location section.
Yes — the facility includes 4 sanitary rooms with showers and changing space.
BJJ is safer than most striking martial arts because there are no head impacts. The risks come from joint locks and overzealous training partners. The Code of Conduct, structured Foundation curriculum, and coach-supervised rolls are designed to keep training safe — particularly for beginners.
The €120/month adult plan is open-ended and can be cancelled at the end of any billing period. The €85/month plan is a 12-month commitment with a 15-day free trial period at the start.
Yes. The legal entity is Imperial Ground Martial Arts UG (haftungsbeschränkt), HRB registration pending at Amtsgericht Düsseldorf. Stammkapital is paid in and operations launch June 2026.
Email info@imperialground.com or phone +49 173 861 2373. The Google Business Profile is at share.google/p7rfZHNYN6oouA3Us.