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Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering Martial Arts

4.9 ★★★★★ 261 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Dayton, 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 tamamartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 937-254-7035

Hours

Monday 10 am–9 pm
Tuesday 10 am–9 pm
Wednesday 10 am–9 pm
Thursday 10 am–9 pm
Friday 10 am–9 pm
Saturday 9 am–2 pm
Sunday Closed

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 Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering Martial Arts, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 15 mentions

“My son has enjoyed his first experiences learning about karate and is very happy he joined the school.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“The kids learn self defense, a variety of martial arts, and confidence as well as build life long friendships and mentoring from the teachers.”

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🌱 Beginners 2 mentions

“Would recommend to anyone, beginners, intermediate, or high level.”

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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 Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering Martial Arts — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai 6 mentions

“My son has been going to Tama for going on a year now doing jiu-jitsuand Muay Thai.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🎽 Karate 2 mentions

“My son has enjoyed his first experiences learning about karate and is very happy he joined the school.”

Other gyms that also teach karate →

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 261 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“Master T is a great instructor with many many years under his belt.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“Master T, his entire staff, and students were all super friendly and welcoming.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 21 mentions

“TAMA is a great school for building confidence discipline and a great workout this combined with the family feeling environment you cant get any where else”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 3 mentions

“The staff is so thorough in explaining technique and form but more than that they are amazing with these kids.”

great workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“TAMA is a great school for building confidence discipline and a great workout this combined with the family feeling environment you cant get any where else”

💵 good value / fair pricing 2 mentions

“They’re super affordable, and they offer many classes on different days/times to allow for flexibility.”

From the reviews

Tama is an incredible school! As a lifelong martial artist i immediately fell in love with the aesthetics of the school. I love all the different disciplines offered. It even has its own Grandmaster who visits and teaches many of the classes every day. My entire family attends classes together.

★★★★★ — John, Nov 2023

Master Taningco and all of the instructors at TAMA have been very helpful on teaching and training my 12 year old son. My son has enjoyed his first experiences learning about karate and is very happy he joined the school. A great place for both kids and adults.

★★★★★ — Chad, Aug 2020

Both our boys are in Muay Thai. Absolutely love the classes, instructors, and the family atmosphere. Everyone was very welcoming.

★★★★★ — Cynthia, Feb 2024

My son has been going to Tama for going on a year now doing jiu-jitsuand Muay Thai. This has been one of the best decisions I have made as a parent. The staff is so thorough in explaining technique and form but more than that they are amazing with these kids.

★★★★★ — Jillian, Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 261 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering Martial Arts

Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering 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.

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 Tama Martial Arts - Dayton Kettering Martial Arts

1753 Woodman Dr, Dayton, OH45420

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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.