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 (Thu). Trial classes are free.
At Imperial Ground, adult memberships are €85/month on the 12-month membership, our standard rate. Prefer no commitment? The same access is €120/month, cancellable at the end of any billing period.
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. We usually confirm your trial class within 24 hours.
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 8612373.
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 follow a structured curriculum and run Mondays and Wednesdays at 19:00 (90 minutes) and Fridays at 18:00 (60 minutes). See the program page for the full breakdown.
Yes. Imperial Ground runs a women-only class on Thursdays at 18:00, taught by Coach Anke. It is welcoming to absolute beginners. Women are also welcome in the regular Foundation classes.
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.
João Macedo is a 1st-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the Alliance lineage, with more than 14 years on the mats.
João Macedo (1st-degree 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 taught in German. The coaches also speak English and Portuguese, so a question after class or a quick explanation mid-drill can happen in whichever of the three you are comfortable with.
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.
A documented curriculum with public belt-promotion criteria, a written code of conduct with a published sanctions system, a dedicated women's class taught by a female coach, and a head coach who is a 1st-degree black belt with more than 14 years of experience.
Römerstraße 6, 40476 Düsseldorf, in the Derendorf district. The training space is in the rear courtyard (Hinterhof), first floor on the right (1. OG rechts).
Römerstraße 6 is in Derendorf. Take the 705 or 707 tram to Essener Straße, then walk about 3 minutes. By S-Bahn, take the S1, S6 or S11 to Düsseldorf-Derendorf, then walk about 17 minutes.
Yes, the facility includes 4 sanitary rooms with showers and changing space.
BJJ is generally considered safer than most striking martial arts because there are no strikes to the head. 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 €85/month adult membership runs for 12 months and is the standard rate. The €120/month plan gives identical access with no commitment and can be cancelled at the end of any billing period.
Yes. Imperial Ground Martial Arts UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is registered in the commercial register under HRB 113552 at the Amtsgericht Düsseldorf. The academy has been open since August 2026. Full legal details are in the Impressum.
Email info@imperialground.com or phone +49 173 8612373. The Google Business Profile is at ★ Find us on Google.