Reaction MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Fantastic experience: This is by far the best place in lexington to train, the quality of instruction, professional staff, and fun family-friendly environment is truly a unique experience. Rob Nickerson has been training for over 20 years and the experience shows in the well run classes. It is competitively priced, especially for families, and there are a variety of classes available to fit any schedule.

Fantastic experience: Best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts in the region. Incredible instructors and training partners. Environment is second to none.

Fantastic experience: I have an 11 year old boy and an 8 year old girl that have been going here for 1.5 years. Reaction MMA has a great owner/professor and.wonderful coaches. It is more of a family than a business. This has taught my kids respect, self-discipline, and has really helped with self esteem. Give it a try, you won't regret it!!!!

Fantastic experience: The atmosphere at this school of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts is that of a family! Everyone is there to learn and grow and to do so together.

Fantastic experience: I've been training in bjj for about 4 years and always appreciate visiting gyms that make you feel welcomed and at home. More specifically, I really enjoyed learning more guard techniques, especially since this is a weak part of my game. Yesterday, I attended 3 classes: 2 bjj classes and 1 boxing class, and Professor Rob made me feel very welcomed at all three. Plus, I learned a ton of stuff about boxing in addition to bjj. I plan to drop in every time I'm in area for business.

Fantastic experience: The gold standard for BJJ in Kentucky. Best instruction and class times to fit me and my wife's busy schedules.

Fantastic experience: The very best instructors, teammates, and environment you will find anywhere.

Fantastic experience: My husband and both kids have been training at Reaction for 10+ years now and Professor Rob is without question the best instructor of BJJ around. He genuinely cares about his students and their success. My son has been training since he was 5 and he’s now 16! Watching my children grow stronger physically and mentally has brought me so much pride and joy over the years. Rob and Kristin are an extended part of our family and we wouldn’t have it any other way. If you are looking for a gym where you will learn world class Jiu Jitsu while gaining an n extended family then Reaction MMA is the place for you.

Fantastic experience: Been to many gyms, but this one is unique and the best! I’ve trained there for almost 2 years now, and all I can say is that I am super grateful for the opportunity Professor Rob has given to me! If you are looking for a place to learn self defense, grow as an athlete and a competitor, this is definitely the right place!

Fantastic experience: Hands down the best overall gym I’ve ever been to. Professor Rob & the coaches alike have been nothing but kind, courteous, & professional since the first day I walked through the doors. I highly recommend this place to anyone from any walk of life.

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym and great group of motivated individual’s! Couldn’t ask for anything more.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been at Reaction MMA for over 10 years , the teach by Prof. Rob Nickerson and the coaching staff is top notch . The gym also seems to operate as a family . I would recommend to everyone from kids to adults.

Fantastic experience: If you’re looking for a place to find a new hobby, this is the place to go. You have people from all walks of life who bond through this gym. I have trained here for over 3 years and have grown tremendously as a Jiu Jitsu competitor, but more importantly a person. If you have any reservations about coming I would encourage you to just do a free trial, you won’t regret it!

Fantastic experience: Amazing human beings. Place where people act like they have been outside of there house before, everyone is given respect, the training and competition for someone who wants to improve there life there is no better! Don’t get me wrong there are no push overs you will have to earn every inch but at the end of the day you shake hands,hug,laugh and are excited about coming back. Knowledge will last a lifetime along with the friendships

Fantastic experience: An environment filled with some absolutely wonderful, talented human beings. The people here are passionate and dedicated to sharing their knowledge to help you better yourself! On and off the mats. Reaction MMA is truly like one big family.

Fantastic experience: Professor Rob is amazing along with all of the other coaches! Truly an amazing group of people that want everyone to get better and grow into a big family.

Fantastic experience: Hands down best place to train in surrounding state, Head coach has real knowledge, they have a winner mentality, great team environment, take martial arts serious and not just a place to workout but also a place to be mentally decompressed. Love love love the place, can’t recommend enough

Fantastic experience: If you are looking for a place to be properly trained and challenged, this is it. Professor Rob continuously pushes himself in order to be the example worth following. Everyone earns their promotions. Come out if this is you.

Fantastic experience: The owners are the real deal. Proud to have been members here for years now. Rob holds a strong standard in community ethics and on promotion. After a few years of watching our boys do it, Mom and daughter are finally sliding in

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality , Value High quality gym and a welcoming atmosphere regardless of your level of experience . I would highly recommend Reaction MMA for anyone who has any interest in learning different aspects of mixed martial arts alongside great teammates and a genuine group of people who enjoy getting better each day.

Fantastic experience: I dropped in to train while visiting from out of town. They were welcoming and cool! Professor Rob is a very good jiu jitsu practitioner.

Fantastic experience: I dropped in to the gym while visiting family. The gym was really welcoming and fun. I would recommend the gym anyone in the area.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality , Value Best Mma school in the state! The owner Rob Nickerson goes out of his way to make sure everyone is up to speed and goes over every little detail. The team will also treat you just like family. Can’t beat it.

Fantastic experience: Joining this gym is the best decision I’ve made. Professor Rob Nickerson is a professional and makes learning technique as easy/effective as possible. There is plenty of space for large classes and often classes are large. There are also several experienced students that are always happy to help you out if and when you need it. I always look forward to coming to class and its my favorite part of the day.

Fantastic experience: I have been member for over 3 years and not only has the instruction from Professor Rob been great, but he pushes you to be the best. The gym has a great environment and I very highly recommend those who are interested to join!

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality , Value Could not be happier that I decided to start training at Reaction MMA. Everyone there has quickly become family & Professor Nickerson is an incredible teacher & motivator. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality , Value Reaction is absolutely the best place to train BJJ. Professor Rob is amazing at coaching while providing an unbeatable environment for adult and youth classes that you won’t find anywhere else. We are forever grateful for the training and friendships our entire family has made at Reaction MMA.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality , Value Amazing place for our son to channel his energy and learn proper and useful techniques to protect himself and others, if needed! Could not ask for more attentive and helpful instructors! Top notch quality for an affordable price!!! We are so happy we found Reaction MMA!!!

Fantastic experience: My son, who is now 12, has been going here for a year and he absolutely loves it. Professor Rob and Kristen were friendly and welcoming from the start and they go to great lengths to foster a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, while teaching a sport that is very physical. I would highly recommend Reaction for young people as it is tough, fun, and really helps with confidence. My son says he loves it because he is comfortable here and can learn without feeling like he is being judged.

Fantastic experience: Professor Nickerson and Coach Chad are highly intelligent individuals who strive to get the absolute best out of the people they train. They are the best coaches/trainers out there no doubt. They are not money driven and truly want to see their trainees get better each and every training session. They are both amazing trainers but more importantly they are amazing people who want to pass on the knowledge they have acquired through years of training to newcomers or other highly experienced fighters/players. If you want to learn how to better protect yourself or how to compete in competitions they are you’re go to trainers/coaches. They are opening a new, larger, high tech facility coming soon so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND coming and learning from the best.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic MMA gym. Been going here for a couple years now and it's still my number one favorite sport and type of exercise. Prof. Rob is an awesome coach and very patient teacher. Give Reaction MMA a try!

Fantastic experience: Hands down best gym to train in Kentucky, great ppl. When I 1st joined I was welcomed and encouraged and pushed. This place is like a family.

Fantastic experience: This place is amazing. Members are supportive and it is a real team atmosphere. Professor Rob Nickerson is not only an expert, but a quality teacher for adults and kids. He and his team have really done an incredible job of helping my son build more confidence. I've even built more confidence and love learning things I never thought I would at my age of 40. If you live anywhere around the Lexington area, or even outside of it, this place is well worth the drive to check out! - Eric

Fantastic experience: Hands down best place to train in Kentucky. Accommodating to anyone regardless of goals. Family oriented and an excellent kids program. Rob Nickerson and his coaching staff are extremely knowledgeable, experienced and helpful. This is a really unique and special place and has made a big impact on my life.

Fantastic experience: The atmosphere and environment that has been created by Professor Rob Nickerson is second to none. Here at Reaction MMA there has been nothing but professional encounters and positive influences. If you’re looking for a place to learn self-defense, start your fitness journey, compete in martial arts, or simply pick up a new hobby, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!

Fantastic experience: The most professional gym in the Lexington area. Two actively competing black belts that teach every single class. Professor Rob and Coach Chad get into the tiny details that differ from person to person to really customize every training session. Whether you are into Muay Thai or Boxing, Wrestling, Jiu-jitsu, or Judo the compiled 40+ years of martial arts experience between all the coaches is unmatched anywhere else near Lexington. If you want a great team to learn and grow with stop by!

Fantastic experience: The environment and community at Reaction is respectful, helpful, and everyone wants to see you succeed and will help you do it. Reaction has the BEST instructors that give you an individualized approach and help with your technique while preparing you for competition and scenarios off the mat. Gyms like this are hard to find and impossible to leave once you've made your home here.

Fantastic experience: Professor Nickerson is not only one of the best instructors I have had the pleasure of training but is also a phenomenal person the gym is very Welcoming and all coaching and staff is amazing if your not training at Reaction mma your doing yourself a disservice

Fantastic experience: Unfortunately I’m not able to come in as much as I would like to, but I have been to most gyms in the Central Kentucky area at some point or another and I can say without a doubt that this is the very best one, the coaches and people are super nice and actually care about progress and bringing each other up, the instruction is great and the gym has some pretty awesome features as well such as a large mat for rolling, workout equipment and a boxing ring! Would totally recommend it to anybody wanting to come in and train or compete!

Fantastic experience: I have trained at alot of places in Kentucky and none compare to Reaction. The coaches truly care about their students and they pour ALL their time into you. My favorite place to go !!

Fantastic experience: Love this place and the Professor who runs it. Teaching is top notch and the atmosphere is awesome. Great coaches and members who make you feel at home.

Fantastic experience: I dropped in before the 3rd 2017 of July while visiting family in Lexington. They welcomed me to their gym and I got some good rolls in. There was just a few of folks there, but it was fun and the guys I rolled with had very good technique. Since it was a holiday weekend, I didn't get a lesson, but look forward to dropping in again if I'm up there. Great experience. Update from this past year on the 4th of July 2018... I went up to Lexington again to visit family, and I had a chance to drop into a class and get a lesson from Professor Rob Nickerson III. I have not been in the Jiu-Jitsu game for long, but Professor Nickerson has amazing teaching skills, technic, and teaches in a very practical fashion. Again, the Reaction MMA family there welcomed me, and I had another awesome experience. If I lived there that would be where I would train.

Fantastic experience: Reaction MMA is awesome and the best training environment I've ever had the privilege of being a part of. Professor Nickerson is an amazing coach and teacher. He explains each technique in detail.

Fantastic experience: Love Reaction MMA. Great coaching. Great environment. Too much fun. Always something to learn. Always a challenge. Check it out. I travel a bit. When I travel, I train at other gyms which also gives me a means for comparison. I'm convinced that Reaction MMA is the best overall that I have seen. I'm fortunate that this is my home gym. The training is excellent. Taught from a self defense perspective as opposed to a tournament perspective. Sound. Methodical. Professor Rob systematically teaches the art, rotating through the basics in a year. He will tailor the classes to the level of the students present. He coaches important details. And, he preaches the importance of repetition to perfect the techniques. Professor Rob even created specific classes that are short sessions available for strict drilling of the most fundamental techniques. Making sure that we have the opportunity to get the reps that we need for sound development. Additionally, Professor Rob is almost always available and open for questions. It is rare that he isn't at the gym. And side coaching is a regular thing from the upper level belts as well as Rob. Reaction MMA is a very welcoming environment. Professor Rob works to know everyone and coach everyone on an individual basis. It is a family friendly environment. I even have several children that are regularly taking classes. The whole team works together to be better. Bad attitudes aren't tolerated. You can't have students that are so focused on themselves that they are willing to sacrifice their teammates. Over-aggressive behavior is addressed quickly. While money is important to any business, it is not the focus of Professor Rob. You won't get a better value. You don't get nickel and dimed for everything. No required patch or gi purchases. No payments for belt promotions. Special pricing is available for the first month to help the individual determine if they want to make a longer term commitment. Professor Rob wants to make sure that the right people are choosing the right gym culture for the right reasons. And this is a martial art that requires a significant commitment for mastery. Special pricing is also available for families. This gym is not a belt factory. Progression is an individual journey established between coach and participant. There is no list of check boxes. If you are looking for a gym that will move you along to progressive belts along a specified path as long as you pay, this gym won't work for you. The belt factory format works well for gyms that care more about dangling the next belt to keep their students paying to progress. Advancement is an individual journey for everyone. Attendance of and payment for seminars is not a requirement for advancement. Seminars addressing specific techniques are occasionally offered by Professor Rob or visiting Professors. While not required, these seminars are helpful for advancement because the individual can get direct coaching and significant repetitions . Rob's pricing for his seminars seems to be much less than others. Winning or participation in tournaments also is not a requirement for advancement. Participation in tournaments does offer significant experience for the individual which may contribute to advancement. Not every gym is the same. And I'm sure that we all have our own preferences. But Reaction MMA is truly a great place for my family and me.

Fantastic experience: Highly skilled instructors who are more than willing to help anyone! The warm and positive atmosphere is second to none. It is a big family of people who constantly encourage and support one another. Highly recommend!!

Fantastic experience: Reaction MMA is by far the best MMA gym in the region. The owner/instructor is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Jorge Gurgel and has been boxing since he was 12 years old. What separates Reaction MMA from other gyms is not only does the coach care about your development on and off the mat, so do your teammates. We genuinely care about each individual at our school and what goes on in their lives. Reaction completely changed my life, I didn't play football or baseball or any other sports growing up but I was always drawn to mixed martial arts. I was a huge fan of the UFC and always wanted to try it. Then finally I built up the courage to find a school to train at, then found out about Rob and the rest is history. Not only does it keep me in shape but it's taught me to deal with life in a different manner, to face adversity, and more importantly to give me the confidence to know that I can defend myself if I'm ever put in a situation where I need to. I've been training at Reaction MMA for 7 years and I can honestly say it's the best life decision I've ever made. I have made the best friends I could ever ask for because of Reaction. Friends that will last a lifetime! Come check us out and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed, the family environment at this gym is unparalleled!

Fantastic experience: Reaction is the best martial arts gym I've been too! The coaching is unbeatable, and the workout equipment is very nice. You won't find a better place to train MMA or workout and become better physically fit.

Fantastic experience: Great environment and atmosphere to be in. For a person with no experience, all of the people are welcoming and will coach you up. Great place to get a workout in and learn excellent MMA, BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai, and Wrestling. Best instructor around in the Lexington/Nicholasville area!

Fantastic experience: The atmosphere of this place is nothing but positive. Everyone encourages and lifts each other up. It is a great facility to learn and grow not only in a fitness aspect, but also as an individual. An extraordinary place to be a part of, and always leave feeling great!

Fantastic experience: As a former student I have to say Reaction is hands down the best MMA/BJJ school in KY. Sadly, life happens, and I had to step away, but if you're looking for a family friendly environment and coaches/professors who are complete class acts, this is where you need to be. I look forward to eventually making my way back to Reaction.