Absolute MMA is a mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym with three sites in Melbourne:
- Melbourne CBD: The Basement, 136 Exhibition Street (3000). Gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu.
- Collingwood: 134 Cromwell Street (3066). No-gi jiu-jitsu, MMA and the teen MMA program, with no gi classes.
- St Kilda: 8 Martin Street (3182). The most gi classes, and the only kids' and teens' BJJ program.
A member's review says the gym was founded by Simon Carson, a former professional MMA fighter, and that Lachlan Giles started as a coach at the CBD site before becoming a partner in the St Kilda location; the gym's own pages call Giles a hugely influential figure at Absolute MMA but don't describe his ownership role. Giles is a black belt under John Simon, who promoted him in 2012. His first instructor, Tyrone Crosse, took him from white to purple belt. He won bronze in the absolute division at ADCC 2019, beating Kaynan Duarte, Patrick Gaudio and Mahamed Aly despite giving up around 20 kg to most opponents. He also holds a PhD in physiotherapy. He promoted Craig Jones to black belt in 2016. The same review names Kemal Akagündüz among the regular BJJ coaches; the gym's site doesn't list him on the pages we checked.
Alongside gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, the timetable includes MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, strength and conditioning. Jiu-jitsu classes are grouped by level:
- Beginner and intro: a beginner-friendly introduction to jiu-jitsu program.
- Level 1+, 2+ and 3+: progressively more advanced classes.
- Competitors only and MMA fighters only: closed training groups.
Most classes last 45 minutes to an hour. There are many early-morning and midday options as well as the evening block, and the gym's app calendar lists the live timetable for each site.
Visiting and first class
- Free trial: free trial classes are available to local residents and are booked through the website.
- Visitors: interstate and international visitors can buy one-day or seven-day passes.
- Under 18s: a parent or guardian must complete a consent form first.
Details above were checked on the gym's site, Wikipedia and a member's review in October 2026. Confirm the current schedule with the gym before you go.