Coach Shannon is super impressive. He taught my daughter her first lesson with empathy and grace…read moreeven though she was initially scared to be on the mat. By the end of the lesson she was having the time of her life and committed to train on a regular basis.

I have been attending True Arts open mats the last couple of weeks. I can say I am really impressed…read moreon the professionalism and knowledge of the True Art team. If you are looking for an great traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu work out, look not further. I highly recommend a visit!!

Great school for beginners and experienced grapplers. Friendly atmosphere and professional way of…read moreteaching on any level. Nice locker room and clean bathroom.

I started taking a jiu jitsu self defense course at CWRU with Mark Stefanac from Relson Gracie Jiu…read moreJitsu and, confession...I got totally hooked. Mark offered to let us try out some classes at his school in Willoughby and, from the very first time I went, I felt completely welcome and at home. The other students were happy to practice with me and to provide little bits of advice here and there so that I could learn without it seeming overwhelming. Saturday morning the school runs a women's self defense course, which is free and immensely practical. The beauty of jiu jitsu is that you don't have to be strong - you just have to be smart. This martial art (used by the Samurai and subsequently developed in Brazil by the Gracie brothers - very interesting history) uses leverage and physics so that 100lbs girl in our class was able to beat a 200lbs guy. What I really appreciate about Mark and Ron's school is how welcoming they are. They really care about making a difference in Cleveland through jiu jitsu. They have the free women's self defense course, a fantastic kids program, and they are building a brand new facility so that their regular students will have more space to practice, locker rooms, an area where their kids can play while they take classes, and so much more. If you are interested in trying a martial art, I definitely recommend trying jiu jitsu and, moreover, trying Mark and Ron's school because you can come here knowing that you will be able to learn and practice in a welcoming environment in which everyone is focused on learning *safely* rather than trying to prove that they know more than you. Very glad that I had the opportunity to train here for a few months before I go back to Buffalo and, because of this school, I will definitely be looking for a place to train in Buffalo.

I cannot say enough good things about this place. The instructors are great. The atmosphere is warm…read moreand welcoming. These people go above and beyond just teaching self-defense. They offer after-school pick-up, kids nights out, and just had an awesome Halloween party. My granddaughter is gaining confidence and mental discipline as well as learning self-defense. I never anticipated the amount of kindness and patience they show their students! Our entire family loves this place. A+ Gold Star!!!!!

They offer Minna Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Kid's classes, family classes, tournament classes, and…read morenow yoga. The staff is great, and the owner is teaching classes at least a couple times a week, as well as assisting. He stays very involved and is very personable, getting to know all of the clients/students. The whole staff treats you like family, and you learn a lot of self defense techniques. Such a great place.

East Coast Martial Arts has a program for everyone. BJJ, Karate, Muai Thai/Kick Boxing, MMAFit,…read moreect. Excellent staff!

I train at another gym about 45 minutes away from Team East Coast but frequently attend open mats…read moreand other events at Team East Coast. The training environment I've seen at East Coast is truly remarkable, I highly recommend checking this place out if you want some of the best jiu-jitsu in the area.

I'm a 3 month white belt. Here's my take:…read more Ohio BJJ & Self Defense Academy is an amazing place to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, wrestling, boxing and MMA. It is a Pedro Sauer affiliate, with several of the instructors students of Master Sauer himself. Under the leadership of Tony Rinaldi, students are taught extremely technical, fundamental concepts of BJJ, with a focus on technique. There are 9 other black belt instructors who either teach or assist with classes, so everyone gets careful instruction and attention to ensure that lessons, drills and rolling (sparring) is done properly and safely. Ohio BJJ offers classes 7 days a week, and several classes each day to fit any schedule. Each class has a large number of students, which offers a variety of ages, skill levels, body types and both male and female students to give a lot of experience against different partners. The gym members themselves are all laid back and helpful. This isn't your 'tough guy' type of gym, it feels like more of a club atmosphere. New members are quickly welcomed and made to feel a part of the team. There are no real formalities, uniform requirements, or strict rules to memorize, just straight up pure BJJ. Oh, and forget about testing fees, and required advancement ceremonies. When you've proven yourself and earned a stripe or new belt, it is awarded to you by the instructor on the spot. Advancement is not just given after a period of time either. Every stripe is merit based, and when it is placed on your belt you know that you've proven yourself. If you are experienced with martial arts or looking to just get started, this is the place to go, hands down.

I have been training here for 3+ years now and can't recommend this school enough. Joe and Lisa…read morehave created a great BJJ academy with top notch teaching and a welcoming atmosphere. There are 15 opportunities for adults to attend class with just about as many chances for open mat. Many kids classes available as well. There's a number of schools within 30 minutes of North Canton, but there's no other I'd rather be a part of.

From the owner: Authentic Gracie Jiu Jitsu and practical self defense in North Canton. Offering classes for…read morechildren and adults.

This place is amazing. Started with my husband joining, then my daughter and now me. It's a great…read moreenvironment for people of all ages and fitness levels. Coach Ed does great with the kids and so do his junior coaches when it comes to teaching such a dynamic sport. I'm happy that my daughter is starting to gain more confidence in herself also! Highly recommended coming in, watching a class and deciding if its the right fit for you.

From the owner: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai Kick Boxing at its finest.read more