Ssen Gym
Ssen Gym (쎈짐) is one of South Korea’s pioneering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts academies, founded in Daegu in 2001.
Over more than two decades, the gym has grown into one of Korea’s most recognizable grappling organizations, establishing multiple affiliated branches throughout the country while producing numerous professional MMA athletes and high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors.
Originally built on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ssen Gym has evolved into a complete MMA academy where striking, wrestling, and submission grappling are integrated into a modern competition system. The academy has developed fighters who have competed across Korea’s top promotions while maintaining a strong emphasis on technical fundamentals and disciplined training.
Today, Ssen Gym remains highly respected for its structured coaching, long-standing BJJ lineage, and ability to develop athletes from beginners to professional competitors. Its influence extends beyond Daegu through a network of affiliated academies operating under the Ssen Gym name across South Korea.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach / Director
Jae Hoon Lee (이재훈)
Jae Hoon Lee is one of South Korea’s most influential Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors and the founder of Ssen Gym. Widely recognized as one of the country’s early pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Lee established Ssen Gym as one of Korea’s first organized BJJ lineages and has spent more than two decades developing competitors at every level of the sport.
Throughout his coaching career, Lee has produced numerous professional MMA fighters, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors, and instructors who have gone on to establish affiliated academies throughout South Korea. His coaching philosophy emphasizes technical precision, positional fundamentals, and long-term athlete development rather than short-term competitive success.
Under his leadership, Ssen Gym has become known for producing well-rounded mixed martial artists with particularly strong grappling foundations, while continuing to play a significant role in the growth of Korean Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Team History
Founded in 2001, Ssen Gym emerged during the formative years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in South Korea. At a time when BJJ was still relatively unknown domestically, Jae Hoon Lee established the academy as one of the country’s earliest dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools, helping introduce systematic grappling instruction to a new generation of Korean martial artists.
As mixed martial arts gained popularity throughout Korea, Ssen Gym expanded beyond traditional BJJ training by incorporating striking and wrestling into a comprehensive MMA curriculum. This transition allowed the academy to become a consistent producer of professional fighters competing in organizations such as ROAD FC, AFC, Black Combat, ZFN, and other regional promotions.
Over the years, Ssen Gym has also developed into a multi-location organization, establishing affiliated branches in cities including Gyeongsan, Gumi, Asan, Gwangju, Seongseo, and other regions. The expansion reflects both the academy’s successful instructor development program and its influence within Korea’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community.
The gym’s alumni include UFC featherweight Jeong Yeong Lee (“The Korean Tiger”), along with numerous professional MMA competitors who have represented Ssen Gym across Korea’s regional and national promotions. The academy continues to balance recreational martial arts instruction with elite athlete development, maintaining its reputation as one of South Korea’s foundational Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA institutions.
