About Legion Jiu Jitsu East Nashville

Walking into a martial arts gym for the first time can feel intimidating. We want Legion East Nashville to feel like the opposite of that. Our Jiu Jitsu gym is a place where first-timers train beside competitors, where parents roll while their kids learn, and where everyone on the mat wants to see you do well. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never trained or you’re coming back after years away. You’ll be welcomed, and you’ll be coached from wherever you’re starting.

Head Instructor Douglas Cook has been training Jiu Jitsu and Judo since 2011, and he’ll tell you he owes everything good in his life to his family, his friends, and grappling. That spirit runs through the whole team. Douglas leads nine coaches, from black belts with world and regional championship medals to coaches who started as students on these same mats.

They come from many walks of life. Three served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and bring a patient, steady kind of leadership to every class. Elizabeth Datskou, a recovery and yoga specialist, leads our Women’s program. Jill Ruskin brings years in elementary education to our kids classes. A few of our coaches started training because their own children loved it, and one was born and raised right here in East Nashville. What they all share is a belief that Jiu Jitsu should make your whole life better, not just your game on the mat.

Meet Our Instructors →

Our Kids Jiu Jitsu classes welcome children ages 3 to 12, grouped by age so every child learns at the right pace. Teens and adults can train both Gi and No Gi in our Teen & Adult Jiu Jitsu program, starting with fundamentals classes that make your first weeks feel manageable. Our Women’s Jiu Jitsu program offers a supportive group of women to learn alongside, and our Judo classes round out your game on your feet.

Through the year, Kids Summer Camps and Parents Night Out keep our youngest Legionnaires busy and give parents a well-earned break. Open mat runs throughout the week, so there’s always time for extra rounds when your schedule allows.

Every Legion gym is built on four values, and each one has a place in our logo.

The helmet stands for unity. A legion is a group of people who make each other stronger, on the mats and off them. When one of us is working toward a new belt, a tough season at work, or a busy stretch as a parent, the rest of the team shows up.

The eagle stands for courage, borrowed from the standards carried by the Roman legions. You show it the first time you walk into class, and every time you step back onto the mat after a hard round.

The king stands for devotion. Like chess, Jiu Jitsu rewards patience, study, and years of steady work. Earning each belt is proof of a commitment most people never make.

The grapplers stand for vigor: the energy and resilience that training asks of you. Bring it to the mats and it starts showing up everywhere else, too. These four values are how we train in East Nashville, together as one.