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Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 139 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Westland, Michigan
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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule westsidejja.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (734) 895-3979
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 5:30 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–1 PM |
The classes they run
“On my first day, I was so shy and now I have been improving so much because Tabatha inspired me so much and now I’m a coach for kids class.”
“Tabatha runs an incredible women's program that is perfect for both beginners and more advanced students.”
“My strong passion to compete had left and ultimately my willingness to come to class consistently soon followed.”
“- Jiujitsu is not the only martial art/self defense skill being taught there.”
“The academy has well developed youth and adult programs accessible to all skill levels, and I'll happily enroll my future kids here.”
Other martial arts here
“As well as Westling, MMA, Kick Boxing and so much more.”
“As well as Westling, MMA, Kick Boxing and so much more.”
“Also offers other training programs (judo, wrestling, strength and conditioning, etc) to well round your grappling.”
“Also offers other training programs (judo, wrestling, strength and conditioning, etc) to well round your grappling.”
What members say
“On my first day, I was so shy and now I have been improving so much because Tabatha inspired me so much and now I’m a coach for kids class.”
“These guys are amazing, my almost 4 year old goes here for jiu jitsu and it always feels like family inside of the building.”
“I was thoroughly impressed at how she could handle girls much larger than herself with little physical effort relying simply on technique and strategy.”
“Also offers other training programs (judo, wrestling, strength and conditioning, etc) to well round your grappling.”
“I’ve noticed a big improvement in my kids’ confidence, discipline, and fitness.”
“My strong passion to compete had left and ultimately my willingness to come to class consistently soon followed.”
From the reviews
After cross training with Coach Tabatha Watkins during an all girls meetup my very first month of training in 2022, I instantly fell in love with her coaching style and her skill set in general.
This is a great place to train. Coaches John and Larry have great knowledge in their field and are patient with the students. The students are very humble and skilled, great to work with. Its a very clean and organized gym, they also have a free trial one can do before signing up. Staff is very nice.
Westside Jiu Jitsu is an awesome place to train. Ken is a great teacher, the gym is always clean, and the atmosphere is fun and welcoming. There’s a solid variety of classes and training is available seven days a week, which makes it easy to stay consistent! Highly recommend!
Dropped in for a NoGi class this evening. Super welcoming group. High level instruction with all the small details and enough drilling to make it stick. Great group of training partners. Tough but safe rolls. I’ll definitely be back.
New to BJJ? Start at Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy
Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy 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.
Your first BJJ class at Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy
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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