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American Jiu-Jitsu Academy

5 ★★★★★ 14 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Harrod, Ohio

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 8–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule americanjiujitsuacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule

Hours

Monday 11 am–12:30 pm, 6:30–8 pm
Tuesday 5:30–7 am, 5:15–8 pm
Wednesday 5:30–7 am, 5:30–8 pm
Thursday 11 am–12:30 pm, 5:15–8 pm
Friday 5:30–7 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at American Jiu-Jitsu Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ

“The kids classes have the absolute best Coaches anyone could ever ask for.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at American Jiu-Jitsu Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 14 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“Professor Austin does an amazing job at explaining concepts and can explain things at any experience level.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“They have created a great culture at this gym, the students are all very helpful and welcoming to new members.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 11 mentions

“They have created a great culture at this gym, the students are all very helpful and welcoming to new members.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Incredible attention to details and teaches in a way that makes it very simple and easy to understand for everyone.”

From the reviews

I've been training jiu jitsu for over 13 years. Professor Austin Farler is hands down the best jiu-jitsu instructor I've ever met. Incredible attention to details and teaches in a way that makes it very simple and easy to understand for everyone.

★★★★★ — Quinn, Jul 2025

I've been training at AJJA for over a year now. Austin is very knowledgeable and great at working with students of all experience levels. They have created a great culture at this gym, the students are all very helpful and welcoming to new members.

★★★★★ — Nate, Aug 2025

Incredible Jiu Jitsu Instruction at this Academy. Lots of attention to detail. The Professor immediately spends time with new students from day one. The kids classes have the absolute best Coaches anyone could ever ask for. Lots of options for most every schedule or just drop in! Showers are a nice touch.

★★★★★ — Tailspin, Jul 2025

Easily the best decision I have made is joining this gym. The community is incredibly welcoming and supportive, and the environment is both motivating and respectful. Professor Austin is a legit black belt with serious skills, and his passion for teaching shows in every class.

★★★★★ — Wyatt, Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 14 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at American Jiu-Jitsu Academy

American Jiu-Jitsu Academy comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at American Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find American Jiu-Jitsu Academy

9520 Harrod Rd, Harrod, OH45850

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.