We're having a great experience at HJA so far. My son is 7 with no martial arts and minimal team sport background. We were nervous to start this. But so far it's been amazing! Their intro class has 3-4 kids and two senseis. Their beginner class has way more kids and more senseis to balance the ratio. Street parking and conveniently located in the beginning of Halawa industrial. Their monthly pricing is so reasonable. If you're on the fence, contact them for an intro class- it's worth it. read more

Excellent training facility! Great vibe! I have trained BJJ for a short time and was looking for a place to start Judo. After searching the underbelly of Reddit and several places online, all positive arrows pointed to Hawaii Judo Academy. They offer a trial class-you can call or sign up on their really user-friendly website. I signed up and attended a class the same day. I absolutely loved the breakdown of instruction during class; I felt the concepts and application were taught very well. They have two floors to their facility and offer jujitsu as well. The schedule is on their website. I highly recommend this training facility! The owner and staff are incredibly welcoming. read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

I was looking for a BJJ gym close to UH Manoa and did not want to go past Aiea (traffic is not so great past 3pm). My colleagues suggested several BJJ gyms, which included this one. The staff and atmosphere here is great. I have a sense of community. If you are looking for a great gym this is it. Lots of mentors and parking (located in the Halawa industrial area). The skill level of the senseis and people here are very good and the people here feel genuine. I recommend this gym for all levels. read more

Hawaii Judo Academy has given my boy more than just physical strength and endurance. The respect and discipline he's learned from being a part of this judo club has been nothing short of amazing. The sensei are very positive, encouraging and really challenge the kids. It's a great place to learn judo and bjj and we are grateful for all the sensei and coaches there! read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

Awesome! New to the academy and already love it. My son is having a good time! Would highly recommend

Great location, great staff. My son enjoys training here. Thank you for always being so welcoming!

Came on a Friday and our daughter did the kids intermediate class. Sensei Taylor and Cory were welcoming and took the time to talk and get to know us. Sensei Joel and the others helping to teach were awesome with providing instruction and extremely patient with correcting the kids. The gym environment is laid-back but still also very structured. Location is easy to find and plenty street parking. We'll be back for more judo training and I plan to do the jiu jitsu classes too. So grateful to find this gym! read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Kids Intermediate class - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

Great open environment. From beginners to seasoned players, Sensei Taylor is always open minded to provide constructive feedback!

Met the guys from HJA at Youth Nationals in Texas. It was obvious from watching their kids compete that they were so fundamentally sound. When I mentioned that I was going to be in the Honolulu area the following week, we were invited to practice. We happily accepted and got to experience their wonderful instruction in person the following week. One of the benefits of having coaches and kids that compete is that they have a very clear picture of what works at different age levels, how to build solid fundamentals, and how to put kids on the path to be successful in wherever their judo takes them. The coach to student ratio was excellent. The practice was very efficient in execution. The technique was taught, and the kids had situational and live sparring. The only thing that I didn't like is that they're 3000 miles from home. Thanks to the coaches and the rest of the HJA family for treating us like part of the family. read more

This academy is a literal hidden gem, tucked away on Halawa Valley Road. The place is just awesome, the atmosphere, the people there, the coaches. I have both my 8yo and 6yo sons going here and they love it, they love the coaches and just have fun every time they go. I would 100% recommend anyone to go and check it out, especially if you have kids and you're looking to put them in something. My 6yo is so much more confident now since he's been going to HJA. He already competed twice and is looking to compete some more in the future. He's more disciplined from what I notice, not saying that he was a handful but there's a fire in him now that wasn't there before and it's just awesome to see, I can't wait to see what else he does in the coming years! read more

Although my personal experiences extend as far as their welcoming jiu jitsu open mat, I cannot sing enough praise about Hawaii Judo Academy. Surprisingly, they have a truly central location on the island that is quite accessible no matter what direction you are coming from. Located just behind Ani's Bakery (ALSO a great snack both pre or post training), there is ample parking on the street and next door in the adjacent parking lot. The BJJ black belts, Chris and Joel, are truly welcoming to any and all visitors to HJA's mat. Just as warm as their welcoming is the wealth of technique they both posses to both demonstrate and teach to all. Having also rolled with the students that do take jiu jitsu classes at HJA, it is of no surprise that they are all extremely talented - to me, a sign of great instruction by the teachers. I have been attending the open mat for a few years now and needless to say it is a mainstay in my weekly schedule. Additionally, it goes without saying that the founder of HJA, Taylor Takata, is an absolute savage. If you are lucky enough to attend an open mat that he's there, do yourself a favor and get a roll in. A truly humbling experience. I do not have personal experience with HJA's judo curriculum, but I do have multiple friends that have their children taking judo classes, and for quite some time as well. I occasionally get to see the end of their classes and it is always filled with hardworking students. HJA is also heavily invested in their competitors, with whom I have had the chance to also train with - again, all absolute savages. If you are looking to train in either discipline, or heck - even both, it'd be a disservice to yourself if you don't check HJA out. They are all very friendly and you can look forward to improving in all aspects of your game. read more

Best decision we've made bringing out son here. The teachers are so attentive and they keep the kids engaged the entire time. Other places we've gone to my son has had to wait in line to do the exercises and 1/2 of the class ends up with him just standing around bored. You won't regret coming here!! read more

Looking for a new Judo or Jiu Jitsu school? Come check out HJA! Its conveniently located in Aiea so it's perfect if you live in Central Oahu. They have lots of parking either on the street or in a parking lot right next to the building. The instructors are very friendly and helpful. I've visited a few times for their jiu jitsu gi open mats and all the students are nice and you can tell they are at a good skill level. They also host a variety of jiu jitsu seminars from time to time. If you're interested in trying out a new martial art or wanted to start training again, contact them! read more

My niece just started Judo 2 months ago, and she absolutely loves it! Would have been great if she started when she was four(she's 8), as they have classes for that age. All of the instructors there are so kind and helpful informative. My brother also trains Jiu-Jitsu there, the instructors are so knowledgeable. read more

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So happy to have been recommended this place for my daughter! We were given a complimentary first practice which helped my daughter learn what she would be doing in her tiny tots class. The instructors are all very good! This really has helped my daughter to strengthen not only her little toddler body but her focus and discipline. She loves learning new exercises and seeing how far she can push herself. The senseis are all knowledgeable and very helpful to get kids to pay attention and do a workout correct/safe. Definitely see my daughter sticking with this academy for her future! Thank you Hawaii Judo and the amazing staff! read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

It is a very good place to train. The people is very nice and cool. They help out a lot on my grappling knowing that I'm over 50yrs old and trying to get back in shape. read more

We looked around for a bit before deciding on Hawaii Judo Academy. Taylor, Joel and the whole crew are just wonderful with the kids. My two boys (8 and 9) look forward to their Judo classes!! They went 3 days a week/ one hour sessions. Super clean Dojo and adheres to CoViD guidelines. Very reasonably priced, with quality instruction time. I noticed a boost in their self-esteem after starting Judo Thank you Hawaii Judo Academy!! read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

My 4 yo had so much fun in the tiny tots class. He's already counting down the days till he can go back! The senseis are attentive, interactive, & great with the kids. They were able to capture the attention of this age group throughout the class, which is saying a lot! You can also feel the family friendly community HJA has created & I 'm incredibly grateful to be a small part of it. read more

You want to learn from the best? This is the place to be. Great facility. Plenty of space. Awesome coaching. Parking is tough during business hours, be careful police came around a couple times to ticket some illegal parking. Such a welcoming environment and coach. I highly recommend. read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

I am so happy one of our friends recommended Hawaii Judo Academy! Our two children, ages 9 & 7, really love and enjoy going to their classes and learning judo! My son had a hard time at first with the conditioning work but he got so much better and stronger and faster within a couple of months. He loves going every week and showing me what he's learned. The senseis are all really nice, have so much background and knowledge in judo, and are patient with the kids. I'd highly recommend checking them out! read more

Great place. Friendly people there. They don't only do Judo, they also got Jiu Jitsu.

Not only do me and my husband enjoy this place, but also my son. Great way for him to burn his energy before starting our day on Saturdays. As a parent with a 3yo, we couldn't find much places who would take our son in at a young age (especially with such a short attention span). I'm glad we found this place. Not only is all the senseis so great, but I love how patient they are (especially my sons class). We joined parent and child class, great way for kids to learn but also great to where parents can help with their kids. Thumbs up. read more

A very welcoming environment and clean facility. Thank you Sensei Taylor for allowing us to use your dojo to train! We appreciate the hospitality! read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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"I should have tried this before!" My 15-year-old daughter just started jui-jitsu class and she loves it. Her favorite part is grappling. "I like the sparring best because everything is faster and there is resistance from your partner, which raises your sense of accomplishment." -Zhen, 15 Sensei Chris and Sensei Joel are patient and low pressure. They take it slow so students learn the why and how of the movements. This is not a testosterone-filled, noisy dojo. Jui-jitsu classes are non-threatening and fun. My daughter's favorite part is sparring, which includes way too much smiling and giggling. If you have a boy with too much energy, bring him to jui-jitsu class. Students are sweat-sokaed and pooped afterwards. If you have an adventurous girl who won't mind close contact with other students, bring her to jui-jitsu class. read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - Saturday Jui-jitsu class. - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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Absolutely love Judo Accademy! My kids enjoy the challenges, and the encouraging atmosphere. They have a gentle way with the kids, while still remaining structured. We've been coming for years, and I don't think that'll change. read more

Hawaii Judo Academy - My one year old trying copy the tiny tot class. They're so family friendly! - Martial Arts Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

I'm 30 years old and I just started Jiu Jitsu a few months ago. I've attended some of the open mats at Hawaii Judo Academy and I've had an absolutely great time. I'm still very much a beginner, but the staff at HJA and and everyone else have all been super kind and patient with me (shoutout to Joel!). My fundamentals are steadily improving, especially my guard. If you're curious about Jiu Jitsu and want to try it out, I'd recommend stopping by the open mats on saturdays! They also have 'grappling fundamentals' classes for beginners- I've posted a link to their schedule below. https://hawaiijudoacademy.com/schedule/ Honestly, I've found that Jiu Jitsu satisfies the mind, body, and soul. It's a killer ab workout, and some of the moves are highly technical. My opponent might move his body a certain way to do a choke or an armbar on me, I'll move my body in a way to counter that, he'll try to do something else, I'll counter that, etc... It's like playing chess with your body. And the community is great. It is such a happy, social environment, and even though I'm from the mainland I feel like I've been welcomed into the warm Hawaii ohana. If you're new, I'd recommend just jumping in like I did! read more

My gosh we LOVE this judo school! Our son was shy at first because he started right when he turned 3 years old. All the sensei were so patient and encouraging. He quickly began to love it and has excelled. He moved up to the next class earlier than usual and that is because of their commitment to each student. He went through a brief period when he refused to go to judo because he did not like the paired exercises. All the sensei strategized ways that would help him feel comfortable while still encouraging him to do his best. Now he's back to loving it and can't wait to go to classes. read more

Best judo school. Professionally run, great teachers, clean facility, many options for different classes and times. The tiny tots class is awesome, my kids love it! read more

First day at HJA was a success! It brought the physical challenge I was hoping for but also included a well taught technical side that kept my mind firing on all cylinders. Todays class offered solid instruction ultimately showing me I have work to do but left me looking forward to the next class. After todays class I signed up and will be back in on Friday! I highly recommend HJA! read more

I was on Oahu for the weekend to visit family and wanted to get some training in. HJA was close to where I was staying, so I contacted them via email regarding dropping in on a jiu jitsu class. I received a response the next day and was good to go. I arrived at the academy about 20 minutes early. There were a lot of parents outside watching their children in Judo class. I asked one of the parents and they were kind enough to direct me. As I entered the door, I was greeted by the email contact: Joel. He was very kind and informative. He brought me upstairs and introduced me to a bunch of students including Sensei Taylor. He talked story with me until BJJ Professor Chris arrived. I signed a waiver and class began. Techniques, positional sparring, then live rounds. Everyone was extremely welcoming and made me feel part of the team. Not only welcoming but extremely tough and technical. I look forward to training with everyone again and hopefully will catch a judo class as well next time. Thank you again HJA for your hospitality and rolls! read more

I dropped in for a no-GI class the other day to roll with a friend. It was easy to find, parking close by, laid back atmosphere, and the owners were welcoming. I signed a quick release form and jumped in. Sensei Taylor introduced me to the class which was appreciated, being a beginner and female. His teaching style is fun and informative. Look forward to going back!! read more

My daughter (in the Tiny Tots class) has been going here for over a year, and I refuse to move her somewhere else. In actuality, there is no comparison with anywhere else. The times are the most beneficial and available for working parents to be able to participate. The staff are knowledgeable. They put the needs of the children first. I can always keep my eyes on my child, and I've never seen anyone be anything but exemplary with them. If you want to start your child on the path of martial arts and discipline, this is the best place to do so! read more

Great place to take your children for judo lessons. The Sensei's/helpers are very patient, kind, and helpful.

My family is new to Judo, so I reached out to HJA, they called me back right away and made me feel comfortable to bring my kids in. Taylor assessed the best class for them and got them going right away. So far they are loving it, coaches, fellow students, and families are great. Overall it's a very warm team/family environment. The facility is also ideal, the mats are built up off the ground, so it's more forgiving when they fall, there's also a lot of easy parking, and plenty of seating to watch. I would recommend HJA to anyone, I mean, how often can you say that you're being coached by a former Olympian!!! read more

This is the best thing that could have happened to our son. He is building self confidence, discipline, respect and friendships in a safe environment. He has been attending HJA since he was 6 and is now 12. We are so happy to see the young man that he is turning into. He knows the value of hard work In the dojo and that it translates to other facets of his life such as school work, leadership in school, and relationships. He started in the beginner classes and later joined the completion team in order to challenge himself to be better. His peers train hard and they continuously sharpen each other's skills. The quality of instruction is why we continue to keep him In Judo. He is learning from a legitimate Sensei who knows what it takes to be the best versions of themselves. For many judoka at HJA, the end goal may be to win an Olympic medal, and with this proper training it certainly is within reach. However, our focus Is to build him up to be able to handle adversity and to overcome as he goes through life. We know he is developing himself to be a champion in life. read more

Lots of space on the mat. There's an upstairs and downstairs. Pretty good for free rolling. No A/C so you'll be able to feel the burn haha. Street parking was decent but I can see it getting filled up quick. read more

Of course Sensei Taylors credentials speak for themselves, but I was also really impressed by his assistants. Their enthusiasm for judo is contagious and inspiring. Also impressive is there knowledge of all of the grappling arts! Sensei Chris and Sensei Joel are awesome and welcoming!!! Great environment to train and grow as an athlete and person!!! read more

I got the chance to train here while here on a work trip. Excellent judo instruction! Looking forward to the next time I can come back!

Sensei Taylor, a former Olympian, trained my son, Anakin, to help prepare for Kazakhstan Cadet World Judo Tournament. In that short time (1 month) Anakin learned world class gripping techniques, worked one on one with Anakin (Randori), HJA students/judokas also trained very hard as well. I see that all his students pushed hard and are very skilled. My husband and I are so grateful that Sensei Taylor is willing to open HJA to judokas from different clubs, to train together. He is willing to help build Hawaii judokas take it to elite level tournaments. Anakin is looking forward to train with Hawaii Judo Academy. If your looking for a Judo Club to take your child or yourself to an elite level, Sensei Taylor is willing to help you. read more

I am a Jiujitsu practicioner that wanted to learn some Judo, they took me in for a trial class and taught me loads that I will be able to bring to the mats. Very kind and educational people, good sports, and put a high value on athleticism. There's a good amount of experienced Judoka but it is still friendly to beginners read more