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Kin-Tora Martial Arts and Fitness Center
4.2 ★★★★☆ 11 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Buffalo, New York
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
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule kintorajudo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (716) 871-1260
Hours
| Monday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
| Friday | 5–9 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–3 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
Other martial arts here
“The ppl are wonderful every one ready willing and able to help, great teachers in judo and aikido.”
What members say
“Shihan James is an amazing teacher who both challenges everyone to push past their comfort zone and breaks techniques down to make them more understandable.”
From the reviews
I have attended Kin-Tora's judo club for the past year. I have trained at a few clubs and Kin-Tora is quite special. It is a very warm and welcome environment and the coaching is top notch. Whether you are just starting judo or have been doing it for year, Kin-Tora is amazing.
I was in town and went to train at the club. I knew the club had an excellent reputation from growing up in the area. Great instructors for all levels of judo. I got to work some techniques and mix it up with some experienced fighters. Great training, great people. Highly recommended.
I take aikido at Kin-Tora and it has made Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays the best days of my week. Everyone is kind, understanding, and they work together to help each other improve.
The ppl are wonderful every one ready willing and able to help, great teachers in judo and aikido. Love it.
New to BJJ? Start at Kin-Tora Martial Arts and Fitness Center
Kin-Tora Martial Arts and Fitness 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 Kin-Tora Martial Arts and Fitness 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.
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