Winter Haven Rolls With It

A nervous seven-year-old who walks off the mat standing a little taller than when they walked on leaves an impression that outlasts every belt color in between. It's a quiet transformation, more posture than performance, and it happens on repeat at Carlson Gracie Winter Haven. Tucked along Ave O SW, the gym built its name on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The mats fill with a mix that goes well beyond that, from kids working through homeschool PE to adults who came for fitness and stayed for the community.

The schedule reads like a small ecosystem rather than a single class list. Early mornings bring gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, and midday sessions serve homeschool families. Evenings split between kids' fundamentals, women's self-defense, and adult competition training, while Judo and MMA striking round things out for students chasing a broader skill set. What ties it together is a coaching staff that meets people where they are, whether that's a first-timer nervous about the mat or a longtime student refining a decade-old game. The gym's partnership with the We Defy Foundation, bringing jiu-jitsu training to disabled combat veterans, reflects that same instinct.

That flexibility hasn't gone unnoticed. Carlson Gracie Winter Haven has been named the recipient of their 2026 Best of Florida Award. It's a recognition that lines up with a coaching roster spanning black belts, judo veterans, and specialists in striking and self-defense alike. For a place built around showing up again and again until something finally clicks, it's a fitting nod to the mats in Winter Haven and the families who keep coming back.

Contact Information

Company Name: Carlson Gracie Winter Haven

Phone: 863-210-8728

Email: cgwhllc@gmail.com

Address: 622 Avenue O SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880

Website: carlsongraciepolkcounty.com