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Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy

Westland, MI

About Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy

Welcome to Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy, where we are dedicated to providing the highest quality Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in a supportive, family-friendly environment. Our mission is to empower students of all ages and skill levels through the art of BJJ, fostering physical fitness, mental resilience, and personal growth.

Academy Interior

Our Philosophy

At Westside Jiu Jitsu Academy, we believe that Jiu-Jitsu is more than just a martial art—it's a way of life. Our approach combines technical excellence with practical application, ensuring that our students develop skills that work both on and off the mats.

Whether you're looking to compete at the highest levels, learn self-defense, or simply get in the best shape of your life, our expert instructors are here to guide you every step of the way.

Family-Friendly
All Skill Levels
Expert Instruction
Supportive Community

Meet Our Instructors

John Smith

John Smith

Head Coach - Black Belt

15+ years of experience competing at the highest levels.

Maria Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguez

Kids Program Director - Brown Belt

Specializes in teaching children of all ages and abilities.

David Chen

David Chen

Competition Coach - Black Belt

Multiple-time IBJJF champion with a focus on competitive training.

Class Schedule

We offer a variety of classes for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Join us at a time that works for your schedule!

Monday
6:00 AM - 7:00 AMFundamentalsAll Levels
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMOpen MatAll Levels
6:00 PM - 7:00 PMFundamentalsBeginners
7:15 PM - 8:30 PMAdvancedIntermediate/Advanced
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 7:00 AMCompetition TrainingIntermediate/Advanced
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMNo-GiAll Levels
6:00 PM - 7:00 PMKids Class (7-12)All Levels
7:15 PM - 8:30 PMNo-GiAll Levels
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 7:00 AMFundamentalsAll Levels
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMOpen MatAll Levels
6:00 PM - 7:00 PMFundamentalsBeginners
7:15 PM - 8:30 PMAdvancedIntermediate/Advanced
Thursday
6:00 AM - 7:00 AMCompetition TrainingIntermediate/Advanced
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMNo-GiAll Levels
6:00 PM - 7:00 PMKids Class (7-12)All Levels
7:15 PM - 8:30 PMNo-GiAll Levels
Friday
6:00 AM - 7:00 AMFundamentalsAll Levels
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMOpen MatAll Levels
6:00 PM - 7:30 PMCompetition TrainingAll Levels
Saturday
10:00 AM - 11:00 AMKids Class (4-6)All Levels
11:15 AM - 12:15 PMKids Class (7-12)All Levels
12:30 PM - 2:00 PMOpen MatAll Levels
Sunday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PMOpen MatAll Levels

Membership Options

Invest in your health, fitness, and self-defense skills with our flexible membership options. Join our community today and start your Jiu-Jitsu journey!

Basic

$149/month

Perfect for beginners looking to start their Jiu-Jitsu journey.

  • Unlimited Fundamental Classes
  • Access to Open Mat Sessions
  • Free Uniform (Gi)
  • Monthly Progress Assessments
Get Started

Premium

$199/month

Our most popular option with full access to all classes and amenities.

  • Unlimited Access to All Classes
  • Access to Open Mat Sessions
  • Free Uniform (Gi) + Rashguard
  • Monthly Progress Assessments
  • Competition Training
  • One Private Lesson Per Month
Join Premium
Most Popular

Family

$299/month

Train together as a family with our comprehensive package.

  • Access for 2 Adults + 2 Children
  • Unlimited Access to All Classes
  • Free Uniforms (Gi) for All Members
  • Monthly Progress Assessments
  • Competition Training
  • Discounted Private Lessons
Join as Family

Other Options

Drop-In Classes

Try a single class for $25 or purchase a 10-class pack for $200.

Learn More →

Private Lessons

One-on-one training sessions starting at $75 per hour.

Book a Session →

What Our Students Say

Hear from our community about how training at our academy has impacted their lives.

Danni Danielle

"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. 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."

Austin Askew

"Westside 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!"

Juan Sanchez

"Amazing training environment and fantastic coaches, if you’re thinking about starting your jiu jitsu journey Westside is the place to do it!! Out of all the other local bjj gyms I’ve trained at this has been the only gym where I really felt like the instructors cared for my success!! Very Grateful to be apart of such an amazing gym."

David Makarem

"Amazing coaching staff and a great atmosphere that fosters growth, humility, and community! I started my jiujitsu journey at Westside in 2022. Everyone in there was willing to lend a helping hand and made me feel welcome. Whenever I am in town and have the chance, I visit and am greeted with the same hospitality. I highly recommend you consider Westside as a benefit to your mental and physical heath!"

Contact Us

Have questions or ready to start your Jiu-Jitsu journey? Get in touch with us today!

Send Us a Message

Our Location

Address

35744 Ford Rd, Westland, MI 48185, USA

Hours

Mon-Fri: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sat: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Sun: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM