Veteran-Owned Jiu Jitsu Academy in Beckley, WV
Led by a Black Belt, Built on Brotherhood
Friends helping friends improve on the mat
Our goal is to give students the knowledge, skill, and composure to not only survive, but to prevail, whether on the mat in a tournament, in the cage, or in the street. We do it in a spirit of brotherhood, with friends helping friends improve their Jiu Jitsu and their lives.
Meet Head Coach Chris McKinney
Chris McKinney is the owner, head coach, and professor at Arte Suave, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, a professional MMA fighter, and a United States Army veteran. He earned his black belt under Steve Hall and Bryan Atterson and now teaches every aspect of the art, including gi, no gi, self-defense, and competition. Before earning his black belt, he competed in BJJ tournaments at multiple belt levels, including a brown belt run during the early stages of his MMA career.
Chris built an 8 and 2 amateur MMA record with most wins by submission and TKO, an 87.5 percent finish rate, and every finished bout ending before the final round. He turned pro in 2017, fights primarily at bantamweight, and is a National Fighting Championship Bantamweight Champion, with cage appearances including Ruckus in the Cage in 2015, an NFC title defense in 2017, and Showdown in the Cage in 2019. He has been featured in interviews and podcasts about his martial arts journey and overcoming a tough upbringing, and he turns all of that experience into clear, practical instruction.
our coaching Team
Every class at Arte Suave is led by coaches who have tested their skills at the highest levels of competition. They bring that experience to every student, from a nervous first-timer to a competitor chasing gold.
sarah faust
Chris McKinney
sarah faust
Chris McKinney
Our Beckley Training Facility
Our academy at 321 South Fayette Street is built for serious training and a comfortable experience from the moment you arrive. Extensive mat space gives Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, and MMA classes room to move, so you're never crowded during drilling or live rounds.
We keep our space clean and our mats cleaned between sessions, because a safe, healthy room matters as much as good coaching. Locker rooms, dressing rooms, and restrooms make it easy to train before work, over lunch, or at the end of the day, and free parking on site means getting here is never a hassle.
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Extensive Mat Space: Room for Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, and MMA classes without the crowding.
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Dedicated Boxing Area: A separate space for striking, boxing, and MMA training.
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Locker and Dressing Rooms: Change, store your gear, and head straight to work or home after class.
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Free On-Site Parking: Pull right up to the academy with no meters and no hassle.
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Extensive Mat Space
Room for Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, and MMA classes without the crowding.
Dedicated Boxing Area
A separate space for striking, boxing, and MMA training.
Locker and Dressing Rooms
Change, store your gear, and head straight to work or home after class.
Free On-Site Parking
Pull right up to the academy with no meters and no hassle.
Get to Know Arte Suave
Curious about who we are, where our Jiu Jitsu comes from, and what training here is really like? Here are answers to the questions we hear most about our academy, our coaches, and our team in Beckley.
What does "Arte Suave" mean?
Arte Suave is Portuguese for "the gentle art," a traditional nickname for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The name reflects how the art uses leverage, timing, and technique rather than size or strength, which is exactly how we teach it.
Who is the head coach at Arte Suave?
Chris McKinney is the owner, head coach, and professor at Arte Suave. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, a professional MMA fighter, a National Fighting Championship Bantamweight Champion, and a United States Army veteran.
Who else coaches at the academy?
Sarah Faust is an instructor at Arte Suave and the 2025 IBJJF Masters Brown Belt World Champion. She is also a UFC BJJ competitor, a multiple-time Toro Cup Champion, and a former Made Men and Titans of the Cage Featherweight Champion.
Is Arte Suave veteran owned?
Yes. Arte Suave is owned and operated by U.S. Army veteran Chris McKinney. The discipline, teamwork, and sense of brotherhood from his service shape the culture on our mats every day.
What is your Jiu Jitsu lineage?
Learn MoreOur lineage traces back to Royler Gracie, who promoted Saulo Ribeiro to black belt in 1995. Saulo's first American black belt, Chris Blanke, carried that system forward, and Chris McKinney earned his black belt through this tradition under Bryan Atterson. Today, Arte Suave is affiliated with Chris Blanke and Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu.
Do I have to want to compete to train here?
Not at all. Our coaches compete at a high level, but most of our students train for fitness, self-defense, confidence, and the community. Competition is always an option, never a requirement.
What is the culture like at Arte Suave?
Our academy is built on brotherhood, with friends helping friends improve their Jiu Jitsu and their lives. Beginners are welcomed, experienced students help newer teammates, and everyone leaves their ego at the door.
Where is Arte Suave located?
We're at 321 South Fayette Street in Beckley, WV 25801. Our facility has extensive mat space, a boxing area, locker rooms, dressing rooms, restrooms, and free parking on site.
Ready for Your First Class?
Pick any class on the schedule, sign your waiver online, and show up 15 minutes early in comfortable athletic clothes. No experience, no gi, no problem. Coach Chris will take care of the rest.
