Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy
35744 Ford Rd, Westland, MI 48185, USA
Are you interested in learning Jiu-Jitsu? If so, look no further. A Caio Terra Affiliate, Westside Jiu-Jitsu Academy is in Westland, MI.
35744 Ford Rd, Westland, MI 48185, USA
Are you interested in learning Jiu-Jitsu? If so, look no further. A Caio Terra Affiliate, Westside Jiu-Jitsu Academy is in Westland, MI.
I have two kids training at Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy for about a year now, and it’s been an amazing experience. The coaches are professional, patient, and truly care about every student. I’ve noticed a big improvement in my kids’ confidence, discipline, and fitness. The atmosphere is positive and family-friendly, and everyone treats the parents and kids with great respect. I highly recommend this academy to any family looking for a great place to learn Jiu Jitsu and build strong character. 💪👏
Posted 10 months agoCoach Ken is the man! We would routinely train together coming up and now I see him and his team doing amazing things! This gym is amazing for beginners and super friendly and welcoming! 10/10
Posted 11 months agoWestside Jiu-Jitsu is a great place to learn. The environment is nice. The staff is very friendly. The instructors are the best in their field. They love their work and strive to help the team. I just started training in this beautiful place and now I really feel like I am part of this family.thank you westside jiu-jitsu
Posted 12 months agoWestside has Amazing Coaches and staff dedicated to help you have growth in not just BJJ but as an overall person in general. At first I was a tiny bit anxious going in there for the first time but I quickly realized everyone in there was willing to lend a helping hand and made me feel welcome. I would definitely recommend WestsideBJJ to anyone looking to start BJJ or looking for a new gym. It’s definitely worth it!
Posted 1 year agoAfter 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. I was thoroughly impressed at how she could handle girls much larger than herself with little physical effort relying simply on technique and strategy. From that point I had been eyeballing this school in which she trains/teaches/manages alongside her husband/owner of Westside Jiujitsu [ Ken Short. During the last couple of months of 2024, I had been struggling to find the motivation and excitement to continue with my jiujitsu journey. I had been training for a little over two years already and I felt something was missing. My strong passion to compete had left and ultimately my willingness to come to class consistently soon followed. A much as I didn’t want to admit it then, I had hit a stale point in my training. Not to mention both of my daughters, who started training with me, didn’t want to continue with their journeys anymore. I knew then something had to change otherwise I would just be another statistic that stopped training at White Belt. In Jan of 2025, I hit some very pivotal moments in my life. One being my finally decision to switch schools in hopes to reignite my, as well as my daughters, interest in continuing our BJJ journeys. I figured a change of environment may do the trick…and I was right 100%! Not only did it spark me to want to compete again, BOTH of my daughters decided to train again. Four months later, of consistent hard work and dedication, I won my first ever IBJJF Gold Medal as a 40+ year old female White Belt. I am extremely grateful for both of my coaches Tabatha and Ken Short for taking me in with warm welcoming arms. Taking the time to learn/fine tune what I already knew, as well help close some of the holes in my BJJ basics, that ultimately resulted in me winning my first IBJJF gold medal. Key points that led to me making my final decision to become a permanent member of the Westside Jiujitsu Family: - The school has an amazing structured teaching style that I find makes it easier for lower ranking student to pick up/retain the lessons being taught. - Everyone is super friendly and welcoming. People of all walks of life train together with no judgement of any kind or for any reason. Family feel. - The gym is open 7 days a week with classes in the morning, afternoon and evening to accommodate everyone’s work/school schedule. I now find myself training more frequently than I did before because of this. - Jiujitsu is not the only martial art/self defense skill being taught there. They also teach Judo, which you can also rank up in. As well as Westling, MMA, Kick Boxing and so much more. - They have a fantastic youth and teens program, led by Tabatha herself, along with the help of many skilled students (Lily and Trisha are a couple of my favorites 💗💗) - They provide a Women’s Only Class for the ladies that prefer to roll with women only. - Super clean/disciplined training facility that accommodates the comfortability of both men and women. There are separate changing rooms and bathrooms located on opposite sides of the gym. I can go on and on for days but I am only allowed a limited amount of characters to type. I HIGHLY recommend this school to anyone who wants to learn jiujitsu. Especially for those who want to compete. Both Coaches Tabatha and Ken are active competitors themselves, who lead by example, and can prepare you with everything you need in order to succeed.
Posted 1 year agoI’ve only been training here for a couple months and compared to other gyms I’ve tried, Westside Jiu Jitsu is the best by far! Tabitha and Ken are amazing coaches who make you feel welcome. I’ve learned a lot in such little time and I always look forward to coming to the classes. Anyone looking to try out bjj, I definitely recommend Westside!
I’ve had an amazing experience at Westside Jiu Jitsu! The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, and the service is top-notch. A huge thanks to Tabitha and Ken for creating such a fun and supportive environment. They truly make learning Jiu Jitsu an enjoyable and positive experience. Highly recommend this gym to anyone looking to train!
Positive atmosphere and great coaching. I love this place
Jiu Jitsu is an incredibly intimidating sport to try out as a novice for anyone, but for someone like myself -- a woman who is generally more on the reserved side, and was taking my first ever martial arts class at the age of 39 -- I had a lot of anxiety going in. But despite the initial apprehension, it's something I've always wanted to try, and I'm so glad I did. Tabitha, the women's coach, is very passionate about teaching and empowering women, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for them. Her women's only class was a wonderful way for me and many others to ease into the practice in a less intimidating environment. I've found that the studio in general provides a , supportive, family friendly atmosphere. All of my coaches and training partners have been great so far, and they offer so many classes that it's easy to fit them into a constantly shifting schedule. BJJ has been a personally rewarding experience as well, after getting past the first few awkward weeks 🙂. I've already surpassed what I thought I would be physically capable of.
Amazing gym for beginners and serious athletes alike. I was nervous to try BJJ as a woman with no prior martial arts experience, but coach Tabatha does a wonderful job of pushing you to be your best while making sure you’re comfortable. Lots of seasonal events and supplementary classes as well.
Clean gym, great coaches and training partners! Highly recommend!
Definitely the best place around the metro Detroit area to train! Professor Ken is a modern day Samurai who embodies the martial artist way! Highly recommend checking it out!
Great place to learn bjj, Coach Ken is a very detailed teacher and very dedicated to his students.
The member and instructors are amazing, and the facility is so nice. I could not ask for a nicer place to train. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a place to call their jiu jitsu home!
Great gym with a very friendly and welcoming environment. I’ve been training here for almost a year and throughout this year I’ve learned so much. The women only classes are a great asset, if you aren’t comfortable yet to be in a mixed class then womens only would be your best option! The kids classes are very structured and taught by experienced staff. The adult classes are very educational and welcoming. I highly recommend this gym to anybody considering starting jiujitsu!
Great coaching and great team members. Great place to feel welcome and train at the same time, highly recommend.
Great place. My son and I both go. I am a little older now and it has really changed my perspective of what I am capable of in a positive way.
Great family atmosphere and the training is top tier. Great instruction and training partners. I could not recommend enough!!
Nice clean sunny gym, nice people, Ken is great. In my opinion the best bjj school in the Detroit area.
Not only a great place to learn Jiu Jitsu but a great place to meet great people. Ken, Tabitha and all the coaches are truly the best.
Westside Jiu Jitsu is a great place to learn and train. They offer several class times a day which makes training here very convenient. Westside offers excellent training in an awesome environment. I would highly recommend training here.
The best environment around to learn jiu Jitsu. Very knowledgeable instructors, a full schedule of classes, a clean gym. Look no further than Westside.
A great academy with a great culture welcoming to newbies and veterans alike.
Nice people. Great instructors. Like a family. Wish I’d taken up this way of life 40 years ago.
Westside has amazing coaches and is an excellent place to train BJJ!
I initially sought out a gym to learn how to wrestle as an adult, and have fallen in love with the Jui Jitsu classes. The coaches are amazing and know their stuff, and everyone in the class is really cool and helpful. Especially to the beginners. Can’t recommend it highly enough
Trained for a little over 2 years. Great facility, Great atmosphere, Great Training partners.
Great environment and great people! Instructors are friendly and are looking to help at all times!
Westside has a great teammates, instruction and culture! Very happy to be apart of the team
Amazing staff, friendly environment great place to get to know new people and really push your self to be the best version of yourself.
Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy is an outstanding place to study jiu jitsu (and wrestling, judo, etc). Ken and Tabitha are not only wonderful instructors but they are also wonderful people. I have really enjoyed working, studying, and training with them! The culture and the students are second to none. The school is welcoming and filled with great people. The Caio Terra curriculum is a game changer. If you’re looking to start BJJ or you’ve been in the game for years, you will love Westside BJJ!
Striking, wrestling,judo, jiu-jitsu great classes awesome people
Great instructors and lots of one on one time for the kiddos! My daughter was instantly hooked! Update: I am hooked now! They offer Jiu Jitsu, judo, striking/kick boxing, strength training and conditioning, wrestling, and most of all, a sense of community!
Highly recommend this gym to any & everyone! They offer an insane amount of classes between Jiu Jitsu, woman’s ONLY Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, strength & conditioning you’re bound to find something you like! Love my westside fam. 🩷
This place has everything you need to become a well-rounded martial artist!
Westside was great! Was traveling through on business and was excited to see a CTA affiliate in the area. Everyone was very welcoming and the instruction was on point. Greetings from CTA Phoenix!!
Great instruction, love the family feel, and so awesome to have a women's program! Everyone is very welcoming, helpful, and encouraging.
Been training almost 3 years along with my 3 daughters very family oriented and every body there wants to help each other the coaches here will help you reach your goals and much more joining this gym will not only change your life for the better it will be like joining a family this is a no ego environment with world class coaching
Best gym in the area great coaches great environment
West side is an amazing place, not only to train jiujitsu at but to also make friends and bonds. The women’s class is super fun and the no extra stress of being close to a man is nice, especially while I’m learning, and now that I have been training there for a couple months, there’s no awkwardness, everyone is super friendly and welcoming, everyone is more than welcome to help each other out no matter your status or age. It’s really nice to go to a place where I don’t have to run on a treadmill to get results. I am a more confident and strong person because of west side.
This gym is pure class. Excellent coaches, supportive training partners, truly a wonderful place to transform and improve yourself.
Amazing class I'm Mohamad from kids class and the coaches are super nice I recommend here
It's an amazing place with brilliant coaches and the best people to roll around with and make friends. I would highly recommend checking them out
I tried jiu-jitsu. I love it. I want to continue. The staff is amazing and helpful. Keep up the great work. I want to try the mixed classes
Knowledgeable and patient instructors! Also a very clean facility
Have both of my sons signed up here for just over 2 months and they love it. We initially started with just our youngest as our oldest is a bit more timid but after he watched a few classes he wanted to join too and both absolutely love it. Coach Tabitha, Ken and all the rest of the coaches do a great job with the kids and you can't beat the value for the price. I would absolutely recommend this academy to anyone looking for some where to train.
I highly recommend this Academy! Super clean gym and highly dedicated coaches.
Amazing people to train with and great opportunities to learn something new and very beneficial.
I initially hesitated to try jiu jitsu, fearing the intensity of a full contact martial art, but the talented coaches at this school have a true passion for teaching and building a supportive community, which made me feel at ease as a total beginner. The team here is great. The more advanced students are incredibly skilled and dedicated to improving, but they are also patient and eager to help newcomers like me learn proper techniques and grow our abilities. Regardless of your experience level, you'll find an open and encouraging environment full of people excited to train together. The knowledgeable coaches foster an atmosphere that is both challenging and nurturing for students at every level. I've learned so much in my short time training here, and I'm genuinely excited to continue developing new skills under the guidance of this school's instructors and community of martial artists.
Great Gym, offering a variety of classes. Top notch coaches, great training partners. Amazing atmosphere. I would highly recommend stopping in and checking it out!
Great group of people with high level instruction and classes to meet anyone's schedule.
This is the Jiujitsu school that you want yourself and your kids to train at: challenging but clear instruction, good-willed training partners, and a consistent experience. Don't wait!
It was amazing Tabatha & Ken are wonderful ❤️
My son. First day today I was nervous but he looks like he doing good very nice people
I HIGHLY recommend 313 BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU in Westland MI. All the coaches are super nice, patient, they get on the mats to interact while teaching names of the moves etc. Without a doubt you know 100% this group cares and they are in teaching for the love of the sport. Our previous JIU JITSU experience almost deterred our daughter from returning but shes back, so comfortable and loving it because the atmosphere is great. Anyone looking for a reputable place please make 313 BJJ in Westland MI your first and last stop❤️
I did my very first class this morning, and I have to say… I’ve never been more welcomed with open arms, than 313 BJJ. Everyone was so friendly, and I already got to learn some techniques! Coach Ken is amazing, and he guides you through everything! I will DEFINITELY be coming back here! Everyone has their own story here, yet there is no judgement whatsoever! I love it, so much! Thank you, Coach Ken and everyone at 313, for an AMAZING first impression! I can’t wait to train with all of you more!!
Highly recommend this gym for BJJ felt welcomed when I came in on a Saturday for an open mat session. Everyone there was very friendly and welcoming. Also nice and very clean facility. Black belt instructor (Ken) is full of knowledge and willing to work with you to get better and push you to become a better grappler. Awesome place to have in the community in Westland. 🤙🏻 (OSS)
AMAZING gym to be a part of. The instructors are patient and are more than happy to explain whatever you need, as many times as you need. There is absolutely no ego in this gym which makes this place a genuine rarity. They treat everybody with the dignity and respect they deserve. If you’re nervous or on the fence about picking up bjj, do yourself a favor and pay them a visit. You may be pleasantly surprised. In addition, they keep the gym clean and sanitary. No funky smells or dirty mats. If I got to go back and start over, I would choose this place all over again.
I want to try jiu jitsu but I am nervous
Great coaches and great people! They welcome everyone at any skill level. I can’t wait to enroll my son when he is old enough!
If you want to get good at jiu jitsu this is definitely the place to do it. All you gotta do is show up. Great environment great coaches. Everyone here is really cool and down to earth. I’ve trained other places and this is definitely my home.
Awesome school! Great teachers and students. Check out the AM classes. Best way to start the day!
Great place, friendly atmosphere, great people
Excellent gym I would recommend to anybody in the area. Extremely welcoming, solid technique, and good training partners. Check it out!
My son (7) is training here, and it’s been fantastic! The coaches are knowledgeable, kind and unbelievably patient, I couldn’t ask for a better experience for my son. Would absolutely recommend for kids! If I wasn’t scared of embarrassing myself, I’d sign up for classes too 🙄😉
313 the best BJJ in Michigan
I can’t express my gratitude enough to the coaches at 313 West. It’s more than just training or a workout. It feels like family, like you belong there from day one. Highly recommend to anybody looking to change their daily routine, to belong somewhere and to learn self defense useful in real world situations. There is no better place to learn from!
My daughter (6) and I (father, 30) have been students here for almost two months now. There's a few reasons that I love this school and a few more reasons why I think BJJ is great for beginners and children. It's great for coordination, strength, endurance, and building respect and focus. In soccer, or even gymnastics, there was an air of chaos when my kid was training. But here, in a safe environment (BJJ is no punching, no kicking) my kid is learning to quietly follow instruction, improve her form and movements, and make friends. I, meanwhile, started as a 30 year old guy with no prior sports or martial arts training. The coaches are patient, encouraging, and cautious. The focus has always been on learning effective technique while preventing injury. Am I a badass now? No, of course not. But I no longer feel like I'm going to die after fighting for 60 seconds. I don't struggle to get through the warm up exercises any more. And while my daughter and I have both been humbled and bettered by our training, we've had a ton of fun doing it. It's a hard workout with good people. 🤙
Up until a couple of months ago I had zero experience in any sort of martial art. Coach Ken and his crew welcomed me into his studio with open arms and a lot of patience. There is a lot of experience at this gym, but also a lot of newcomers. 313 West provides a family atmosphere and I won’t go anywhere else. Love this place, keep up the great work!
I had the opportunity to chat with the owners. I'm impressed with the experience they have and you can tell they are committed to helping their students grow in the art of Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and kick boxing. The gym was very clean too which is always a plus 👍 I looking forward to rolling here!
Great people make this a great place to train! Would highly recommend to anyone interested BJJ
My family participated in the women’s self defense class - it is open to all females 5 and up. The instructor was great, she was patient . I would recommend that you go see for yourself
The instructors know their stuff, and are great to work with. The students are all good folks who work to make each other better. The facilities are kept very clean, too. Highly recommended!
313 west is an awesome gym! It doesn’t matter if you are veteran of the art or a beginner the instructors here will work with you and help you become your best! The gym has great facilities for both men and women and i can’t wait to be back on the mat! I’d give this place a 10/10 and the coaches a 20/10
Ask for Ken the owner. Sign up today ! If, your looking for martial arts training. Great place for Adults, teens and kids to get in a physical activity program. They offer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Women’s Self Self Defense, Judo and Personal Training. Excellent 👍 Place 🥋 Highly Recommended ! Great Instructors and Team ! Keith & Evonne Owner of EK Fashion 7942 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn MI
Went this morning for Zumba, did BJJ instead. Lady there beat me up, highly recommend. 5/5
Excellent instructors. The academy offers a professional , team and family oriented atmosphere. The venue is clean and well maintained! They offer classes all week and several times a day. Love training here and would recommend it to everybody!
More BJJ in Michigan
Find more academies and competitions in the area.