Team 1 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

I’m writing this review as a visitor to Team 1 BJJ. I train in NJ and was looking for a school to train at while vacationing in Portland. I spoke to Professor Alexey Cruz on the phone and knew Team 1 was the right choice. He said he welcomes Drop-​Ins for a $ 20 fee. Sounded fair to me.
Upon arrival I was impressed by how immaculately kept the facility was… clean, organized, and simple. Everything you need in a BJJ school, workout equipment and all. I was also impressed to see all the stripes on his black belt! Alexey (as I was told to call him) is a 4^th degree black belt of the famous De La Riva. He’s a Brazilian and he speaks perfect English.
Students started coming in and introduced themselves to me. They were extremely friendly and seemed genuinely excited to have me join them. I had the feeling I get at my home gym.
His class started with warm ups, then a stand up takedown drill, then an arm bar drill I’ve never seen before, a few rounds of rolling and open mat after class.
You can tell a lot about an instructor by his students and they were helpful, friendly, and tough as nails. Everyone I rolled with, blue belt to brown belt, was technical and confident and gave me a hell of a roll. The upper beltsman would instruct me, helping me through the roll. What class!
After class Alexey invited me to join the next days afternoon class free of charge. Of course I couldn’t turn him down. I gratefully accepted and had another great class the next day.
All in all this school is full of class act students taught by a classy, friendly, funny, and experienced educator that anyone can benefit from. If I lived in Maine, this would be my school. Oss!