Home › Michigan › Ann Arbor › Japanese Martial Arts Center
Japanese Martial Arts Center
5 ★★★★★ 52 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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
- 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 japanesemartialartscenter.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (734) 720-0330
Hours
| Monday | 7:30–8 AM, 12–1 PM, 5–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:30–8 AM, 5–8 PM |
| Thursday | 12–1 PM, 5–8 PM |
| Friday | 7:30–8 AM, 5–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They have helped build my son’s confidence and physical strength, and he has also found a great group of new friends.”
“Most students are serious adults and the environment is really not bad at all for our teenager.”
Other martial arts here
“I started judo at 49 years old and the instructors have helped me realize my potential physically and mentally.”
What members say
“The instructors were not only kind but also remarkably patient, creating a welcoming environment.”
“The students are friendly and positive to work with, and everyone helps each other to learn and excel.”
“The instructors at JMAC not only can do the techniques taught with great expertise, but they know how to transfer that knowledge onto you with ease.”
“It's a very nice environment with clean mats and it looks like what you'd expect a modern dojo to look like.”
“Sensei Suino and his instructors manage to harmonize eastern formality and discipline with a western sensibility that stresses the fulfillment of individual potential.”
From the reviews
I have been in and around martial arts for many years...decades. JMAC is the best dojo one can imagine. The senseis are quite literally the best in the world. Training is challenging, yet safe and fun. The program is systematic, yet engaging and innovative.
My son wanted to learn Iaido this year. We did not know anything about it. His grandpa was a paratrooper and a green beret and encouraged him to learn martial arts and particularly jujutsu. JMAC is a true Japanese dojo. We did not know what good exercise one gets with Iaido. It' fantastic.
JMAC is an amazing place for training in martial arts. I have trained at JMAC since 2006. The people and environment encourage learning and development, both in the martial arts and at a personal level. The instructors are experts in their arts, and are very proficient at teaching.
This place is fantastic. My son is enrolled in the kids Judo and I haven’t seen a smile that big on him in a while. The staff are all very knowledgeable and my son’s sensei are some of the best teachers I have ever seen.
New to BJJ? Start at Japanese Martial Arts Center
Japanese Martial Arts Center 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 Japanese Martial Arts Center
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.
More BJJ gyms near Ann Arbor
URSA Academy - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Ann Arbor
4.7 ★★★★★ 161 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Ann Arbor BJJ
4.6 ★★★★★ 29 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site