Adults · All Levels · No Experience Needed
ADULT BRAZILIANJIU-JITSU INPASADENA, TX
United BJJ Team teaches adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 4024 Strawberry Rd in Pasadena, Texas, under black belt Professor Carlos Henriquez. Gi and no-gi classes run seven days a week, from 6:00 AM before work to 8:45 PM after it. No experience and no fitness prerequisite — and your first class is free.
/ 01 — The Basics
What Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling martial art in which you control an opponent on the ground and finish with joint locks or chokes rather than strikes. It was developed in Brazil from Japanese judo and jiu-jitsu in the early twentieth century. Because it is built on leverage and positioning instead of speed or size, a smaller trained person can reliably control a larger untrained one — which is the whole premise of the art.
What does a BJJ class actually look like?
A class runs about an hour. It opens with a warm-up, moves to a demonstrated technique that everyone drills with a partner, and closes with live rolling — controlled sparring at whatever intensity the two partners agree on. There is no striking at any point, which is why people train it at full resistance several times a week without accumulating damage.
How is BJJ different from judo, wrestling or MMA?
Judo focuses on throwing an opponent from standing. Wrestling focuses on takedowns and pinning. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on what happens after both people are already on the ground, and on finishing with submissions. MMA is a competition format that combines striking with all of the above rather than a martial art in its own right.
How long does it take to get good at BJJ?
Most people feel competent enough to defend themselves in a rolling round within six months to a year of training two or three times a week. Belt progression is slower than in most martial arts: blue belt typically takes one to two years and black belt around ten. That slow scale is deliberate — a BJJ belt reflects demonstrated skill under resistance.
/ 02 — Gi or No-Gi
Gi vs No-Gi
Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is trained in a traditional kimono you are allowed to grip; no-gi is trained in shorts and a rash guard with no cloth to grab. United BJJ Team runs both every week, and most members train both — you do not have to choose.
| Aspect | Gi | No-Gi |
|---|---|---|
| What you wear | Traditional kimono (gi) and belt | Shorts and a rash guard |
| Grips | Collar, sleeves, lapels and pants | Body only — underhooks, wrists, necks |
| Pace | Slower and more methodical | Faster and more scrambly |
| Best for | Technical detail, patience, classical BJJ | Athleticism, MMA and wrestling crossover |
| At United BJJ | Tue & Thu, plus Sat competition class | Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun |
/ 03 — Programs
Four Ways to Train
Fundamentals
Start Here
The entry point for every new adult. You learn the positions, the escapes and the handful of submissions that everything else is built on, at a pace that assumes you have never grappled before. It is also a genuinely hard workout, which most people are not expecting.
Advanced
Once You Have the Base
Deeper technical work, chained sequences and more live rolling. You move here once the fundamentals are automatic — not on a schedule, but when Professor Carlos says you are ready. Most members keep training both classes indefinitely.
No-Gi
Submission Grappling
Grappling without the kimono — faster, more scrambly, and the format closest to wrestling and MMA. Runs four days a week including a Sunday afternoon class and three lunchtime sessions.
Competition
If You Want to Test It
Saturday competition class for members preparing for tournaments. Competing is optional and most members never do it — but it sharpens training with concrete goals and reveals the holes that comfortable rolling hides.
/ 04 — Schedule
Adult Class Times
Adult classes run every day of the week at United BJJ Team, 4024 Strawberry Rd, Pasadena, TX 77504. Times below are Central.
| Day | Class | Time | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Adult NogiNo new trials | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | 1h |
| Mon | Adult Nogi | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | 1h |
| Mon | Adult Nogi | 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM | 1h 30m |
| Tue | Nogi DrillsNo new trials | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM | 1h |
| Tue | Adults BJJ | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | 1h |
| Tue | Adults BJJ | 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM | 1h |
| Wed | Adult Nogi | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | 1h |
| Wed | Adult Nogi | 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM | 1h 30m |
| Thu | Adults BJJNo new trials | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM | 1h |
| Thu | Adults BJJ | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | 1h |
| Thu | Judo | 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM | 1h 15m |
| Thu | Adults BJJ | 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM | 1h 30m |
| Fri | Adult Nogi | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | 1h |
| Fri | DrillingNo new trials | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 1h |
| Sat | Competition ClassNo new trials | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 1h 30m |
Looking for children's classes? See the kids BJJ page for ages 2–12, or the Judo page for Thursday evening throws.
/ 05 — Your First Class
What Actually Happens
- 01
Text ahead
Send a message to (832) 419-5960 saying which class you want to try. You will get a reply confirming someone is expecting you.
- 02
Wear shorts and a t-shirt
No zippers or pockets, and no shoes on the mat. You do not need a gi for a first visit — borrow the experience before you buy the kimono.
- 03
Arrive ten minutes early
Enough time to meet Professor Carlos, sign a waiver and get introduced to the group before the warm-up starts.
- 04
Train at your own pace
Warm-up, technique, drilling, then live rolling at the end — which you are welcome to sit out on day one. Nobody expects anything from you.
/ 06 — FAQ
Adult Questions
No. Most people who walk into United BJJ Team have never trained a martial art before. Every class is structured so a complete beginner can follow along from the first session, and you will be paired with training partners who know you are new.
No. Adults start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at United BJJ Team in their 30s, 40s and 50s. BJJ is built on leverage and technique rather than speed or strength, which is exactly why it suits people who are not 22 years old. You control the intensity of your own training.
No — you get in shape by training. There is no fitness prerequisite. Classes begin with a warm-up you can scale to your own level, and conditioning comes as a by-product of the technique work rather than something you have to arrive with.
Gi BJJ is trained in a traditional kimono, and you can grip your partner's collar, sleeves and lapels, which makes the game more methodical and grip-dependent. No-gi is trained in shorts and a rash guard with no cloth to grab, so it moves faster and relies more on body control and underhooks. United BJJ Team runs both every week and most members train both.
You arrive about ten minutes early, meet Professor Carlos, and are introduced to the group. The class opens with a warm-up, then a technique of the day is demonstrated and drilled with a partner. Live rolling comes at the end, and you are welcome to sit that part out on your first day. The whole class runs about an hour.
Athletic shorts with no zippers or pockets, and a t-shirt or rash guard. No shoes on the mat. If you already own a gi, bring it for the gi classes, but it is not required for a first visit.
Adult classes run seven days a week. Gi classes are Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 PM and in the evening, plus a 6:00 AM Thursday class. No-gi runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:00 PM, Monday and Wednesday evenings, and Sunday at 2:00 PM. There is a competition class on Saturday at 11:00 AM.
Yes. The first class is free with no commitment and no membership required. Text (832) 419-5960 to say which class you are coming to.
/ 07 — Get Started
First Class Is Free
No commitment, no membership, no sales pitch. Text Professor Carlos, pick a class from the schedule above, and come see whether it is for you.
Text (832) 419-5960"Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a dad just trying to be healthy, United BJJ has been a blessing. Prof. Carlos treats every student with respect. The facilities are probably the best in Houston."