We are
Pinnacle
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in North Phoenix. Your first class is free.
- 4139 W. Bell Rd Suite 12 · Phoenix, AZ 85053
- Gi & No-Gi Adults · Women · Kids
- 6 Days Mornings, midday & evenings
Come as you are.
Do your best.
Pinnacle BJJ is a gym where you come as you are and do your best. Our community provides an atmosphere of building confidence, maintaining positive attitudes, and supporting the application of this art.
We sit on West Bell Road in Deer Valley, minutes from Glendale and Peoria, with mats open to adults, women and kids. Every class is led by a credentialed instructor — no rotating volunteers, no guesswork.
- 2021
- Founded on W. Bell Rd
- Ares BJJ
- Affiliation & lineage
- 17
- Classes every week
- Free
- Your first session
Three doors,
one mat
Whichever one you walk through, you start in fundamentals and you start with a coach who knows your name. Every program begins with a free class.
Adult BJJ
Fundamentals through all-levels — thirty minutes of technique, then live rounds at your own intensity.
- Who
- 16 and up
- Focus
- Gi & No-Gi
- Days
- Mon – Sat
- Times
- 6:30 AM · 11 AM · 6 PM
- Led by
- Prof. Alef Brito
Women’s BJJ
A women-only room built for real self-defense — staying calm and in control under pressure.
- Who
- Women, all levels
- Focus
- Self-defense
- Days
- Fridays
- Times
- 5:00 – 6:00 PM
- Led by
- Coach Jessica Lang
Kids BJJ
Confidence, discipline and a way to handle themselves that follows them off the mat.
- Who
- Kids & youth
- Focus
- Confidence & control
- Days
- Mon – Thu
- Times
- 5:00 – 6:00 PM
- Led by
- Lang & Abril
Fundamentals run every evening at 6 PM, all-levels at 6:30, plus 6:30 AM and 11 AM classes through the week.
Full class schedule
Tony Nolan
Founder · 1st Degree Black BeltPinnacle exists because Professor Nolan built it. A first-degree black belt who also founded Pinnacle Ares Glendale, his influence is clearest in the students he brought up — among them Coach Albert Abril, who has trained under him since his very first class.
In January 2023 he suffered a severe stroke with significant lasting effects. His resolve never moved. Most Saturdays he is still here, working through physiotherapy with his wife Tracy on the same mats you’ll train on.
Alef Brito
Head Instructor · Black BeltBorn in Caxias, Maranhão, Professor Brito found Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at eleven and committed to it at fifteen. He earned his black belt in 2018 under Wellyton Menezes, Rildo Paiva and Marcos Santana, competing through every coloured belt division on the IBJJF circuit before moving to the United States in 2022 to pursue the art full time.
He is still competing at the top of the sport: double gold at the 2025 IBJJF Pans (Middleweight and Open Class), silver at the 2025 World Master, and in 2026 his first World Championship — Middleweight gold at the IBJJF World Master in Las Vegas, with silver in Open Class.
He teaches the majority of the adult classes on our schedule — gi and no-gi, fundamentals through all-levels.
Never let winning go to your head. Never let losing go to your heart.
Every class on our schedule is led by a credentialed instructor — a physician, a fire captain and coaches who came up through this room.
Meet all our instructorsPinnacle has helped me gain the confidence and strength to do the things I thought I could never do.Kerry Brown IIDisabled Navy veteran · husband · father of two
Jiu Jitsu that gives
something back
Pinnacle partners with the We Defy Foundation, which puts disabled combat veterans onto the mats through funded training. Some of the best training partners in this building came to us that way.
Four things we hold
every member to
Not decoration. These are the actual terms of training here, and they get enforced — on white belts and black belts alike.
To teach the beauty of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a catalyst for personal growth and building community bonds.
Our mission · Pinnacle BJJ, est. 2021
-
Respect
- Refer to instructors as Professor or Coach
- Be on time
- Be respectful of your teammates and the gym
- Be a good training partner
-
Hard Work
- Give your best effort
- Drill with purpose
- Come prepared to learn and practice
-
Kindness
- Be nice
- Speak with consideration
- Practice self-control
- Keep it playful to avoid injuries
-
Humility
- It’s ok to tap
- Don’t be a bully
- Be considerate of new members
- Listen and learn. Practice gratitude
“It’s ok to tap” is written into our house rules. So is “don’t be a bully.” Both get enforced from day one.
Our mission & valuesReady to step
onto the mats?
Train in a focused, welcoming academy built to help you develop real skill, confidence and discipline.
- First class free
- Nothing to sign at the door
- Black-belt led
- 623-272-2918