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True Art Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 78 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Fairlawn, 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 (ages 6) — 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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule trueartbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (330) 983-9199
Hours
| Monday | 12–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 12–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 5–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My son is so dedicated because of the passion of his coach.”
“Shannon is an incredible instructor and as a woman I appreciate that the environment he creates is safe and welcoming.”
“He gives extra one on one help where needed if he sees someone having trouble, and controls his class with excellence.”
“The community is incredibly welcoming and supportive—everyone from beginners to advanced practitioners feels like part of the family.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Shannon is an incredible instructor and as a woman I appreciate that the environment he creates is safe and welcoming.”
“The community is incredibly welcoming and supportive—everyone from beginners to advanced practitioners feels like part of the family.”
“The gym is full of friendly people who have no issue helping anyone grow their skill set, no matter where they are at in their training.”
“Coach Shannon’s adaptable coaching style stands out—he meets you where you are and helps you grow at your own pace without ever sacrificing technique or intensity.”
“I only trained here for a short time from October 2020 to March 2021 but enjoyed the facility, Professor Shannon’s leadership, and all of the men and women that train there.”
“It’s a pleasure to watch my son be taught technique, discipline, humility and endurance and to be on my own journey in the adult class.”
From the reviews
I was coming to spend a month visiting the area and I did not want to lose a month of training. I did a google search and found True Art. I was a bit hesitant to go to a school away from my "home school" but I am truly glad I found them. Professor Shannon has built an amazing community.
I trained at Tru Art Jiu Jitsu for two weeks while in town for a business trip and can tell you that the owner and head coach Shannon is a very knowledgeable instructor with an ability to pick out your weaknesses and give you valuable feedback.
I've been coming to this gym since 2020. Shannon is an incredible instructor and as a woman I appreciate that the environment he creates is safe and welcoming. I'm a very competitive person and love the competition style training that is offered here.
If you’re debating either taking your child here or enrolling yourself, stop debating and just do it. There is no better martial art to learn and no better place in the area to learn it from. Shannon shows tough love to all the kids.
New to BJJ? Start at True Art Jiu Jitsu
True Art Jiu Jitsu 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 True Art Jiu Jitsu
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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site