London Kodokan Academy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - BJJ School

Not just a Club, a way of life! I've been training with Kodokan for just over four years, since I was 14yrs and it has been the best 4yrs of my life. It has shaped and developed me to be the person that I am today. Kodokan feels like a second family to me and has been a positive influence on my life. The quality of training is at the highest level, yet it still feels achievable because of the warm and welcoming Club atmosphere. The constant support in and out of the Club sessions has enabled me to develop my practice to a competitive level. If you want to begin your BJJ journey or expand your pre-existing BJJ knowledge, see you on a Kodokan mat soon!
Mar 22nd, 2022

I joined Kodokan BJJ Academy as a complete beginner with no prior martial arts experience whatsoever. I am so glad to have picked Kodokan to start my BJJ journey after few trial classes which is definitely something more than an academy. So, how has my experience been at Kodokan? See my breakdown below. - Academy Administration: Coach Jared is a great teacher and has a wealth of knowledge which is evident in his teaching methods during the class and training sessions. Alexia does an incredible job in organising and welcoming the students and helping them settle in. They are both extremely personable and responsive and make the students feel like part of the family. My key callout is how Alexia and Coach Jared went above and beyond during lockdown period to keep the students engaged organising online classes, setting up individual coaching sessions and arranging separate small group training sessions to keep our BJJ journey going while gyms were closed. - Coach Jared: In my trial classes, I couldn't help but notice how deeply knowledgeable Coach Jared is. His in-class BJJ techniques demos along with the ability to explain technicalities in an articulate fashion and to be able to answer students' questions in a calm and easy-to-understand way is something that really stood out for me. In addition to that, he is very personable and has a great ability to adapt his coaching style to suit your personality and goals. - Culture: The culture of any academy/organization is hugely important in establishing if you vibe or not. Coach Jared and Alexia both do a great job of creating a positive culture and encouraging the students to be part of the Kodokan clan. The academy's motto "Never Venture. Never Win" taken from Sun Tzu's The Art of War is truly evident in the training sessions and Coach Jared's addresses in the assemblies. - Training Partners and Skillsets: Although the academy is still relatively young, it's fantastic to see students from all sorts of backgrounds (mixed gender to encourage diversity) coming to train and with varying skillsets. It's great to train and practice BJJ in a safe environment and learn from high ranking students as well as from junior members. - Tournaments: During my time here, I have noticed a key factor in training sessions and classes is to prepare for competitions. The intensity of the classes increases as the tournament dates approach closer which is a great motivator and gives an opportunity to the students to challenge themselves and offer their best. Coach Jared is really good at encouraging students to bring the best out of them. - Feedback: One thing I really admire about Alexia and Coach Jared is their openness to feedback. They really do take into consideration what students are saying and how to improve things. One prime example of this is how Kodokan has now additional classes over the weekend to offer options to those who are unable to make certain days during weekdays. In conclusion, whether you are a beginner or an experienced BJJ practitioner, Kodokan is a great place to learn and improve your BJJ skills. 5 STARS & HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Mar 11th, 2022

A great Jiu Jitsu school to train at which caters to all levels, run by the very welcoming Jared (head coach) and Alexia. Jared is very knowledgeable about the subject, but most importantly, takes the time to break down techniques and concepts so that they are much easier to understand. He is also more than happy to help you with with techniques where you might be struggling. The environment is very friendly yet still competitive (I have had my fair share of tough rolls)! I strongly recommend to sign up to the free trial lesson and give it a go!
Dec 1st, 2021

Have fallen in with Brazilian jiujitsu because of this club. When I started I had never participated in any type of contact sport before but I was welcomed with open arms and quickly felt right at home. I initially started on the genesis plan but have since moved to the advanced plan. Would 100% recommend.
Aug 18th, 2021

Been training with Jared and the team for nearly a year now, there is a truly fun vibe until the class starts and then it's all business, you can expect to be pushed mentally, physically and emotionally but these challenges will help you grow and develop within yourself and within the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I lost nearly 2 stone of weight within 6 months of training 2-3x a week and it hugely helped my cardio and strength. For those unaware of, the best way I can describe it is a martial art where you look to control your opponent and submit them. There is no striking. I would recommend the sport and Kodokan to anyone interested, Jared is a former Bronze Medalist in the elite world championships, his family based in California run a high level gym so it's safe to say BJJ runs in his blood. The core group is very diverse, all shapes and sizes and extremely welcoming to new comers. Thanks for reading, hope to see you on the Mats Jon R
Jan 23rd, 2022