HomeOhioCanfield › Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio

Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio

5 ★★★★★ 102 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Canfield, Ohio

BJJ gym Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team

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
  • 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
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule msjjo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (330) 953-7159

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 12 mentions

“Kids classes are amazing, they have enough time for instruction, live grappling and time to have a fun game at the end of class.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“And the guys in the room were super welcoming and ready to compete had alot of tough rolls, and no one made me feel like an outsider to this gym.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“I’m pretty new to kickboxing and Michael made sure I felt comfortable and did some extra one on one work with me.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“You won't find a better gym for your children to learn self defense!”

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🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“The gym is super welcoming to beginners, with respectful and supportive teammates, and Master Mike is truly knowledgeable, who knows his stuff.”

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Other martial arts here

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

🥊 Muay Thai

“To 2-0 in MMa, 1-0 in Muay Thai.”

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🏟️ MMA 6 mentions

“I’m an MMA practitioner and coach, and I’ve been traveling to Youngstown for years—this gym and their coach genuinely impressed me.”

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🦵 Kickboxing 2 mentions

“I’m pretty new to kickboxing and Michael made sure I felt comfortable and did some extra one on one work with me.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🤼 Judo

“I started with BJJ and now enjoy MMA, judo, and kickboxing.”

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🤸 Wrestling

“Under Mario sperry I've went from an 0-0 mma fighter with no jiu jitsu , wrestling, and striking .”

Other gyms that also teach wrestling →

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 102 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 3 mentions

“Dropped in for a class while visiting family, Mike was a great instructor and an even better person.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 15 mentions

“And the guys in the room were super welcoming and ready to compete had alot of tough rolls, and no one made me feel like an outsider to this gym.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 15 mentions

“And the guys in the room were super welcoming and ready to compete had alot of tough rolls, and no one made me feel like an outsider to this gym.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“Mike is an all around great guy who not only teaches great technique, but also is so involved in my only personal career .”

active competition team 2 mentions

“And the guys in the room were super welcoming and ready to compete had alot of tough rolls, and no one made me feel like an outsider to this gym.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 5 mentions

“The space is clean, well laid out, with a full MMA cage and plenty of mat space dedicated to BJJ and grappling.”

From the reviews

Training here for over a year has been amazing experience. The gym is super welcoming to beginners, with respectful and supportive teammates, and Master Mike is truly knowledgeable, who knows his stuff. The vibe is laid-back and fun, with plenty of good banter, but they never let you slack off.

★★★★★ — Reque, Aug 2025

Sorry i can only give 5 stars deserves way more. An awesome gym!!! Dropped in on an out of town trip for 2 classes, 1 with Jimmy and 1 with Mike with no drop in fee. Both of these guys are top class instructors with experience to back it up. Facilities were great nice mat room for drilling and rolling afterwards.

★★★★★ — Timothy, Aug 2023

Great gym! I was visiting relatives in town and wanted to get a roll in and called around the area to see about dropping in to train. I called four gyms that didn't answer the phone, didn't return my call, or told me they didn't do drop in training sessions.

★★★★★ — Gabriel, Jun 2024

If you’re in the Youngstown area and looking for a solid place to train, this facility is absolutely worth checking out! I’m an MMA practitioner and coach, and I’ve been traveling to Youngstown for years—this gym and their coach genuinely impressed me.

★★★★★ — Jose, Jan 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 102 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio

Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio

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.

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 Mario Sperry Jiu-Jitsu of Ohio

64 Cardinal Dr Ste B, Canfield, OH44406

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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.