Rough Hands BJJ

Rough Hands BJJ provides martial arts instruction and submission grappling at 3048 Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. The 6,000-square-foot training center features three training floors, a weight room, and shower facilities for members. The academy was co-founded in 2017 by head coach Jesse Walker and youth program director Shelby York. Walker has coached since 2007 and holds a black belt under sixth-degree black belt Chris Haueter, alongside a Krav Maga black belt and SafeSport certification. The coaching staff includes Derek Jones, a second-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Bruce Shepherd, and Joshua Chavez, a brown belt who served ten years in the United States Coast Guard as a federal law enforcement officer. Instructional programs include adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for participants ages 17 and older, the Core Game beginner curriculum, SafeFall instruction, and the SHIELD women's self-defense series. Youth martial arts training is divided into BJJ First Steps for ages 4 to 6, Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for ages 7 to 12, and Teens Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for ages 13 to 16. Private instruction and group training sessions are also available.