Our Story

More Than
A Gym.

McCleary Jiu-Jitsu was built on a shared love for the gentle art, a belief in community, and a commitment to bringing world-class Jiu-Jitsu to Camden County. This is our story.

📷 Sean & Mary Photo Together on the mat
How It Started

Two Paths.
One Mat.

Every great academy has a story. Ours starts with two people who found Jiu-Jitsu for completely different reasons — and ended up building a life around it together.

Mary came to Jiu-Jitsu first. In late 2010, she was living in Waycross, Georgia and looking for a practical self-defense class. What she found was something far bigger — a martial art that would shape the next decade and a half of her life.

Sean's path was different. A boxer by background, he met Mary in Brunswick and started training Jiu-Jitsu because they had begun dating. He showed up on the mat for love — and stayed because of competition. After his very first tournament, he was hooked.

Together, they trained, competed, and grew — until the vision for something bigger became too clear to ignore. McCleary Jiu-Jitsu was born.

"

We want this to be a space where people can learn world-class Jiu-Jitsu in a safe, family environment. A place where you belong from day one.

— Sean McCleary, Head Instructor
Meet Your Coaches

The McClearys.

Sean McCleary
1st Degree Black Belt · 12 Years

Sean McCleary

Under Brian Beaury

A former boxer, Sean brought his competitive fire from the ring to the mat when he began training in 2014. After his very first competition he was hooked. Sean specializes in No-Gi grappling and has competed on some of the most prestigious submission-only stages in the world.

Competition Experience
EBI Grapplefest Submission Underground Sub Hunter Pro Sapateiro
Mary McCleary
2nd Degree Black Belt · 16 Years

Mary McCleary

Under Brian Beaury

Mary began her Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2010 while searching for a self-defense class in Waycross, Georgia. With 16 years of experience she is one of the most seasoned female black belts in the Southeast. A specialist in Gi Jiu-Jitsu, her teaching is defined by technical precision.

Specialization
Gi Jiu-Jitsu 16 Years Experience 2nd Degree Black Belt

Come Train
With Us.

Whether you're brand new to Jiu-Jitsu or looking for a new home gym, we'd love to meet you. Your first class is on us.

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