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Great Lakes Martial Arts
5 ★★★★★ 7 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Bay Village, Ohio
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule greatlakesmartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (440) 899-0121
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5:30–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 6–8 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Rob is a great teacher and focuses on having the kids be respectful as well as learning how to protect themselves.”
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What members say
“Rob is a great teacher and focuses on having the kids be respectful as well as learning how to protect themselves.”
From the reviews
Impressive school! My son has come a long way in the areas of respect and focus! The instructors are patient with his hyper activity and great with teaching the kids on their level. We were so impressed that his brother started Hapkido as well and just recently, so did their mom!
Great martial arts school! Very knowledgeable teachers that take time to be sure you understand. The adult and children's classes are both great! Highly recommend this school if you're looking for quality instruction.
My son has been going for three years and still finds it exciting...What a great place for your child to find discipline and integrity.
This is a great place to send your son or daughter. Rob is a great teacher and focuses on having the kids be respectful as well as learning how to protect themselves. Highly recommend.
New to BJJ? Start at Great Lakes Martial Arts
Great Lakes Martial Arts 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 Great Lakes Martial Arts
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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