Good judo & great atmosphere. There is high level advanced training offered for more experienced judoka, but their beginners program might be the best in Southern California. Highly attentive instructors and detailed instruction for practitioners of all levels. Highly recommended! read more

Hollywood Judo Dojo - An Adult Perspective- I want to be clear about my background going in. I currently have around 15ish hours of hands-on class time at Hollywood Judo Dojo. I started over the age of 25, in decent shape, with prior experience in informal grappling and informal striking from my Navy years and training with my brothers (one of whom served in the Army). While none of that was formal or belt-based, it gave me a solid understanding of physical contact, balance, and pressure before stepping into a formal structured judo environment. Before committing here, I tried several other dojos. They were solid, but most were clearly geared toward kids, and adult classes often lacked enough adult bodies to train consistently. That's where Hollywood Judo Dojo immediately stood out--there's a strong adult training presence, with partners of different sizes, strengths, and experience levels, which makes training far more effective. Another thing I appreciate is the variety in adult classes. Different instructors emphasize different aspects of judo--some classes are more free-flowing, others slow things down to explain risk and injury mechanics, and others lean toward competition. Rather than feeling disjointed, it creates a well-rounded training experience. The other black and brown belts outside main instructors are respectful and generous with their knowledge. Across all classes, safety and partner care are consistently emphasized. That culture matters, especially for adults starting later who want to train consistently and longterm without unnecessary injuries. Instruction also focuses on fundamentals first, with no rush to flashy techniques. You're taught how and why things work before moving on. Progress here feels earned. Belts are not handed out casually, and the standard is clear. The overall vibe is chill, professional, and respectful, which says a lot about the dojo's culture. From a practical standpoint, the price is excellent compared to other martial arts schools (200$+ average ) especially considering the quality of instruction, training partners, and facility. The dojo is also conveniently located near the metro train, which is a nice bonus. Even with limited mat time so far, I've learned a lot. For adults--especially those starting later or coming from informal/mixed striking or grappling backgrounds--Hollywood Judo Dojo is a great , legitimate place to train. read more

My review is mainly focused on the little kids class because my son is in it. We started attending Hollywood Judo in 2019. My son gets shy sometimes and got struck with first day jitters. He couldn't help crying from being nervous on the very first day and that was my fault because I didn't prepare him mentally and emotionally for what was to come. The instructors were very warm and welcoming but my sons emotions already got the best of him. So i decided to take him home and wait a week so I could build his confidence up. The following week he was still a tiny bit hesitant but agreed to give it a try. He was the smallest child at the time so he got one on one instruction about the basics. My son is easy to coach and eager to please. He enjoyed the exercise, got intrigued by the moves written on the walls, and was extremely encouraged by his instructor. He's been looking forward to every lesson ever since. The tiny kids class is small with maybe 6 kids at the most when everyone shows up. I have been trying to increase the class by posting the promotional flyer every where I can nearby. The other reviews have already mentioned that the instructors are not compensated for teaching but I do not see that affecting the way they instruct the class at all. They do care about how the kids progress and how they do in competition as well - for those that do compete. I do feel the instructors have gotten close with the kids and the parents and I do have tremendous respect and admiration for their dedication to these kids and judo. I especially appreciate their commitment to the kids because they do not live anywhere close to the dojo at all and that says a lot considering LA traffic. Having said that, I wish there were more sessions than just the twice a week classes that are currently available to the kids but I understand. They recently started back with exercises and line throwing in the parking lot of the dojo to continue practicing but in an open air space. We are looking forward to coming back ourselves but we are just not comfortable with the current COVID statistics. When we begin feeling that the situation has become safe, we will be back for sure because my son will be a Hollywood Judo lifer unless the current instructors leave. read more

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I've been attending the dojo for several years now and nothing in LA can compete. The prices are outrageously low for martial arts training (because it's a nonprofit, no one's getting rich here) and you get instructed by world renowned judoka (head Sensei Philippe was a member of the Swedish National team for over a decade). All the instructors bring something different to the table in terms of expertise and teaching style, so going often to different classes really rounds out your judo game. Lots of bjj guys come here to get better at takedowns and end up talking about how much they for their ground game as well. Whether you're looking to challenge yourself, compete, learn self defense, or just get some exercise with a great community, this is the dojo. read more

Hollywood Dojo is one of the oldest judo schools in southern California, dating back to 1932. It has a very long history and has produced several US national Judo champions, and has always had great instruction. read more

I've been training at Hollywood Judo for just over a year now. Unlike most other dojos which tend to lean heavier in amount of kids, Hollywood has a fair amount of adults of all sizes, experiences and cultures. We have people who train BJJ, aikido, wrestling etc. If you're an adult and you find that your dojo lacks in amount of training partners or people similar to your size then Hollywood would be a great place to train for you. I recently moved farther away and still commute an hour to here for this reason. The dojo also caters towards both recreational and competitive judokas. There is no pressure to compete and different black belts will work with you to attain your goals at your own pace, you just need to ask. People are willing to help it's a good mix of casual yet traditional atmosphere. In response to the 1 star review left by Daniel. It seems he might be a bit unfamiliar with judo and martial arts in general. Judo as intended by the founder is non profit and meant to benefit every one. That is why if you look at all the dojos in the area the monthly rate is usually around $40-70 a month. Most of the money goes towards upkeep of the dojo, non of the instructors get paid, and they all are either retired or have day jobs and teach for the love of the art. And if he's trained in other martial arts he should know that training with people with other grappling experience is actually a luxury and beneficial to your growth as a judoka and grappler. Many top level judokas cross train in other grappling arts and many effective moves are shared among different grappling arts. In regards to the gi. $50 is a actually very cheap for a gi. If you go on amazon or any martial arts website and look at what most beginners wear, they start at ~$70. The gi will shrink overtime so obviously it will not fit properly initially. In response to the "impersonal atmosphere", the turnover rate for martial arts is so high, no one will remember you unless you show up consistently. Most people stop showing up after a month. Everyone is very helpful and friendly at the dojo, so if no one talks to you it's probably cause you're just not very pleasurable to be around. Almost every class they emphasize people to wash their Gi's after every practice, and people have been called out before for not washing their gi's. The dojo also has ample parking, showers, large mat area and sprung wood floors that makes falling a lot easier and less painful for beginners, most dojo's would not be able to have this. read more

I've been at Hollywood Judo for about six months now, and joining is the best decision I've made in a long time. Judo is a terrific workout and stress reliever that also helps you develop self-discipline. This dojo combines these qualities of judo with a great atmosphere. The instructors are all top notch and some of the nicest and most encouraging people you'll ever meet. The beginners class is will challenge you to improve while still letting you go at your own pace. The members are friendly and supportive, coming from all different backgrounds. it's a very international kind of place with members from five continents. There are people who have been doing judo all their lives, and people who started their first martial art at 25, like me. The facilities are clean, kept, and include a workout area off the mat. There is free and plentiful parking in the lot of the Japanese Cultural Center where the dojo is located. The membership fees are almost unbelievably reasonable ($40/month, plus $50/year for USJF membership and $20 donation to the Cultural Center). Best of all, for me at least, is that Hollywood Judo is a very comfortable place to be if you're a woman. Judo is a full contact sport, but it's never awkward here. Everyone is respectful, yet you don't feel like you're being treated differently because you're a woman, which is a rare balance to find. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. read more

I've started coming here a year ago with no judo experience and so far I've had a lot of fun learning the techniques. This place is very technical and safe with everyone having a great time. I would recommend this dojo to anyone interested in judo. read more

I've trained at 3 different dojos in Washington state, at the Kodokan (Judo HQ) in Tokyo, and for a little while at the Venice dojo. There have been different dojos I stopped by for day visits. Having experienced a lot of locations, I can truly say that the Hollywood Judo dojo is a great place to train. Everyone is very nice, fun, and supportive. The black belts that help instruct at Hollywood Dojo donate their time and services without compensation. There are many skilled judo practitioners and students of every level that make sparring exciting and enjoyable. The dojo is very active in tournaments and events. It makes me feel very lucky to be a member here. There is also a good amount of exercise equipment available. read more

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Normally, I don't like to leave bad reviews but I feel I should warn the people who have little to no experience with martial arts, and are not athletes. Beginners, don't go here. The rate is $40 per month and I guess you get what you pay for, especially in the quality of the instructors, who aren't real Judo people anyway, they studied a lot of different martial arts and added some Judo moves to their repertoire. They also charged me $50 for a gi jacket that doesn't fit. Impersonal atmosphere, no one knows who you are or cares if you show up. I'd like to mention one particular instructor, let's call him "Oshi Lugosi", who makes lame jokes, and gets in a huff, and belittles you if you don't laugh. Some people might be uncomfortable telling him to piss off since he feels entitled to throw you and tug on your uniform. Most new students are stuck with this guy. He also doesn't like to wash his uniform. read more

like Moto said, instructors here are dedicated to beginners. there are zero egos in this dojo, people always lending a hand. small class (about 8-10 on a given night) so the super newbies get private instruction from black belts. the mat, like Moto said, is not tatami, softer. so you can be even more confident to train and not worry about hurting yourself. anybody's welcome to train, and it's cheap! $30 a month plus $20 going to the Japanese cultural institute as a yearly membership (the dojo is in the institutes grounds) read more

Dojo has been ramping up on the competitive scene as of the last few years. Great coaching and train with national level competitors.

I'm coming back to judo after 4 years. I was at the intermediate level. I watched a class and loved the atmosphere. It's a fun learning environment and challenging. I'm definitely coming to Hollywood Judo to work out. Hollywood Judo is great for any level from beginner to competitor. They train the beginners separately which is great. Competitors will be challenged by great players. I do wish there was more newaza. read more

Tough, and reasonably competitive. Great instruction.

Good parking lot, clean facilities, good teachers, and low price. Can't ask for more.