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Ararat Martial Arts & Fitness Center

4.9 ★★★★★ 132 Google reviews · Judo dojo in Warrensville Heights, Ohio

Free trial Kids & teens Private lessons Newaza Competition

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most dojos welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth judo classes (ages 4–14) — 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
  • Newaza newaza (groundwork) classes — judo's mat game of pins, holds, and controls, and a natural bridge to Brazilian jiu-jitsu
  • Competition a competition team for members who want to test themselves in shiai (tournaments)
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule araratmartialartscenter.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (440) 541-1002

Hours

Monday 4:30–9 PM
Tuesday 6–9 PM
Wednesday 4:30–8:30 PM
Thursday 5:30–9 PM
Friday 5–8:30 PM
Saturday 9:30 AM–1:30 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-mat times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Judo classes on the schedule at Ararat Martial Arts & Fitness Center, confirmed in members' own reviews and the dojo's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Judo 29 mentions

“What makes Ararat especially valuable is that not only children, but also adults can train here, creating a great and motivating atmosphere for the whole family.”

All dojos that run kids judo →

🏆 Competition (Shiai) 2 mentions

“The coaches are world class competitors who bring years of experience to the mats.”

All dojos that run competition (shiai) →

👤 Private Lessons 2 mentions

“We tried multiple places, and this is the only one where classes are small, kids get true one-on-one attention, and discipline is taught in a positive, fun way.”

All dojos that run private lessons →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“Great place for kids and adults to learn self-defense skills, judo, jiu-jitsu, boxing and general fitness.”

All dojos that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

Judo dojos are often multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Ararat Martial Arts & Fitness Center — mined from their reviews and the dojo's own info.

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

“Great place for kids and adults to learn self-defense skills, judo, jiu-jitsu, boxing and general fitness.”

Other dojos that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu →

🏟️ MMA

“This is a great place for the kids to learn the fundamentals of Judo and MMA.”

Other dojos that also teach mma →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“Great place for kids and adults to learn self-defense skills, judo, jiu-jitsu, boxing and general fitness.”

Other dojos that also teach self-defense →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the dojo's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, wrestling, or sambo alongside your judo, confirm the current schedule with the dojo.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 132 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“We also use the after-school care, and we are incredibly grateful for Coach Ghazar and his amazing team.”

🤝 respectful, no-ego dojo 10 mentions

“What makes Ararat especially valuable is that not only children, but also adults can train here, creating a great and motivating atmosphere for the whole family.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 3 mentions

“He understands the emotional wellbeing of each person and that is why he pays attention to detail and has an individual approach per person.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“It has been such a great experience for my child. His confidence has been boosted, he is more respectful and has learned the value of hard work and discipline.”

🏆 active competition team 2 mentions

“The coaches are world class competitors who bring years of experience to the mats.”

💵 good value / fair pricing 2 mentions

“The classes are a full hour, which makes the drive completely worth it.”

From the reviews

Great place for kids and adults to learn self-defense skills, judo, jiu-jitsu, boxing and general fitness. Flexible hours, great location, knowledgeable coaches, kids camp, after school program. I love that adults can train with personal trainer while kids become judo strong💪.

★★★★★ — Denis, Dec 2023

Great place for kids of all ages to learn and perfect judo skills. Awesome coaches!

★★★★★ — Yelena, Oct 2018

The best judo school for children and adults in Cleveland. Excellent teachers, attentive attitude to students, a serious attitude to the educational process. My son is delighted with the classes, looking forward to the next training session. Thanks to coach Gazar for his work!

★★★★★ — Natalie, Jun 2019

Fantastic. I love how coach gazar is with the kids. He did great at making my daughter feel welcome. He also did a great job making it fun with all sorts of training games!

★★★★★ — Lindsey, Apr 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 132 reviews →

Your first judo class at Ararat Martial Arts & Fitness Center

Nervous about walking into a judo dojo for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good sensei expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, learning to fall safely (ukemi), then drilling a throw or two and some groundwork with a partner — not hard randori. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a judogi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many dojos lend a loaner judogi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own judogi. Live randori eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the sensei. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Judo is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your sensei, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Ararat Martial Arts & Fitness Center

4509 Taylor Ln, Warrensville Heights, OH44128

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this dojo? Claim your listing — it's free.