Martial Arts · Denver, CO
Discipline. Skill. Community.
Iron Lotus is Denver’s home for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and kids martial arts classes. All levels welcome — from complete beginners to competitive grapplers. Come try a class free.
What We Teach
Find your discipline.
Whether you’re walking into a martial arts gym for the first time or you’re a seasoned competitor looking for a serious training environment, Iron Lotus has a program designed for where you are.
BJJ Fundamentals
Beginner Friendly
Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the ground up. We teach position before submission — you learn to control a larger opponent before you ever learn a choke. Gi and no-gi classes available throughout the week.
See schedule →Muay Thai
Striking Art
The art of eight limbs: punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. Our Muay Thai program is built for all levels — from pure beginners to competitive strikers. Pad rounds every class.
See schedule →Kids Martial Arts
Ages 5–14
Age-appropriate martial arts for kids that builds focus, discipline, and confidence — without the intensity of adult classes. Separate beginner and intermediate tracks. 6-month belt progression.
See schedule →Competition Team
Invite Only
An invitation-only competitive track for dedicated BJJ students who want to test their skills on the regional and national grappling circuit. Weekly drilling, sparring, and match-strategy sessions.
See schedule →Your Instructors
Learn from the best.
Every Iron Lotus instructor has competed at a high level in their discipline and trained specifically to coach — not just to demonstrate.
Marcus Ferro
Head Instructor · BJJ Black Belt
15 years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Professor Romulo Barral. Pan-American no-gi silver medalist. Founded Iron Lotus in 2015 to create a serious but welcoming training environment in Denver.
Jana Osei
Muay Thai Coach
8 years of competitive Muay Thai in Thailand and the US amateur circuit. Trained at Fairtex Gym Bangkok for 3 years. Now coaching full-time with a specialty in technique refinement for intermediate strikers.
Sam Rivera
Kids Martial Arts Coach
BJJ purple belt and former elementary school physical education teacher. Sam combines martial arts fundamentals with child development principles to create classes kids actually want to attend.
What Members Say
Built on community.
“I came in knowing nothing about BJJ, completely intimidated. Marcus spent the first month just teaching me to not panic on the ground. Three years later I’m a blue belt and competing regionally. The progression here is real. Iron Lotus changed my life.”
“Jana’s Muay Thai classes are no joke. She breaks technique down in a way I’ve never seen at any other gym — the mechanics behind why a kick works, not just where to put your foot. I’ve been training for 2 years and I’m still learning something every single class.”
“My 8-year-old started Sam’s kids class last year. The transformation in his focus, his confidence, and his attitude at school has been remarkable. Sam somehow makes it feel like playtime while actually teaching real martial arts. We couldn’t be happier.”
Common Questions
What you need to know.
Do I need any experience to start?
Zero experience required. Our BJJ Fundamentals and Muay Thai beginner tracks are designed specifically for people who have never trained before. You'll be grouped with other beginners for your first few months and won't be thrown into advanced sparring before you're ready. Most people show up nervous and leave wanting to come back the next day.
What should I wear to my first class?
For BJJ: athletic shorts and a t-shirt for your trial class. We'll loan you a gi if you want to try it. If you decide to join, you'll need to purchase a gi (we have recommended options). For Muay Thai: athletic shorts and a shirt. Hand wraps and boxing gloves are required — we have loaners for trial classes. For Kids classes: comfortable athletic wear.
How long until I get my first belt?
BJJ belt progression is genuinely slow — that's part of the point. A blue belt typically takes 1.5 to 3 years of consistent training. At Iron Lotus, belts are earned through demonstrated technical knowledge, mat time, and sparring — not time alone. We don't give belts out on schedule; we give them when you've earned them. Kids classes use a separate, faster-paced belt/stripe system appropriate for youth progression.
What is Open Mat Friday?
Every Friday evening from 7–9 PM, the mats are open for unstructured rolling and drilling. No instruction, no curriculum — just training time. Members of all levels come, and visitors from other gyms are welcome with a $15 drop-in. It's the most social, relaxed training of the week and the best way to consolidate what you learned in class.
Your first class is on us.
No membership required to try. Show up, tell them you’re new, and we’ll take care of the rest. Classes run seven days a week.