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Bendu Academy - MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wrestling
5 ★★★★★ 243 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Cincinnati, Ohio
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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule benduacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 513-234-5626
Hours
| Monday | 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 11 am–1 pm, 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 10 am–1:30 pm |
The classes they run
“The instruction had a strong focus on reinforcing fundamentals and understanding the reactions you should expect from your opponent.”
“The kids program is just as informative and broken down to the skill levels of each student for replication and application.”
“The instructors did an excellent job explaining not only the techniques but also the concepts behind them, making the classes valuable for all skill levels.”
Other martial arts here
“I’ve been training Jiu Jitsu since 2005, and would have no hesitation recommending this academy as your GO TO for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or wrestling.”
“I highly recommend at least giving this gym a shot if you are interested in training BJJ, Kickboxing, or MMA.”
“I highly recommend at least giving this gym a shot if you are interested in training BJJ, Kickboxing, or MMA.”
“I’ve been training Jiu Jitsu since 2005, and would have no hesitation recommending this academy as your GO TO for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or wrestling.”
What members say
“Blayne is the best coach I could ask for I was immediately welcomed into this gym from a previous bad experience at another and now I feel like I’m at home.”
“The team was super welcoming and we got to work right off the rip, I talk to coach Blayne about my goals in the sport and we attack them and still going .”
“The team was super welcoming and we got to work right off the rip, I talk to coach Blayne about my goals in the sport and we attack them and still going .”
“The instructors did an excellent job explaining not only the techniques but also the concepts behind them, making the classes valuable for all skill levels.”
“The gym was clean, the space was well kept, and everyone there was extremely welcoming.”
“The instruction had a strong focus on reinforcing fundamentals and understanding the reactions you should expect from your opponent.”
From the reviews
Outstanding Jiu Jitsu academy—highly recommended. I dropped in while traveling and was immediately impressed by the welcoming atmosphere, professionalism, and quality of instruction at Bendu Jiu Jitsu.
Bendu is a fantastic gym for both beginners and experienced people. Blayne is a great coach who is passionate about training and the gym has a warm, welcoming energy right when you walk in.
Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Wrestling, MMA. You name it, Bendu Academy probably teaches it! 🙌 With a team of highly skilled instructors who care deeply about both their craft and the people they train, it’s a place where growth happens daily. Thank you for this opportunity! I enjoyed the classes I’ve taken here so much.
CLEAN, WELL RAN AND INCLUSIVE. The facility in Northside itself is very nice and well taken care of. The coaches are very good and practice what they demonstrate.
New to BJJ? Start at Bendu Academy - MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wrestling
Bendu Academy - MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wrestling 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.
Your first BJJ class at Bendu Academy - MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wrestling
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 when you call. 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.
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