AJJA is such a good community and family space. I always have a good time when I go. Everyone is so nice and helpful and I still learn a lot even if I just show up and watch the classes.Theres usually enough people both on and off the mats where you dont feel uncomfortable showing up to watch if youre injured or just not feeling up to it and you can still have good discussions about what youre seeing. Ive learned a good deal watching both the kids and the adults classes.Theres a lot of knowledge here. Im just a visitor when I go, but I always feel welcome. I especially love the contrast of how Sensei Elis classes pair with my regular gyms. He focuses a lot on how to make moves work dynamically/in motion and this was one of my biggest hurdles starting out. It made a really big difference for me.

American Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Academy has something for any body at any age. From family friendly training to Olympic level competitive athletes everyone is welcomed with open arms!

Great place, went for my first lesson and hooked. I definitely will be coming back and taking plenty of pictures to show my friends. Plan to have a strong team out and about to represents

We’re an army family and landed in Charleston when we left Shaw AFB in the summer of 2020. Our oldest had taken BJJ for about 7 months when we moved and he knew he wanted to continue learning at our next duty station. When I asked his Sensei back at Shaw for a recommendation, he sang Sensei Eli’s praises right away. Because we moved during the COVID shut downs it took us a couple months to finally check out the dojo, but we were sold during our son’s first class. Eli takes students as young as 4, so our middle son was also able to start training with his big brother. We were pensive about our middle son joining because he is SIGNIFICANTLY far sighted and nearly blind in one eye, but Eli is excellent at making sure our son can see and feel each technique he’a taught. It turns out there is a whole division of judo for blind competitors. Incredible. Our boys have been at AJJA for 6 months now and what started as a 2 day a week hobby has become a 4 day a week passion. We live about an hour from the dojo in traffic, and we happily make the trek as many days a week as the kids want to attend. Our boys know they are safe under the care of Eli and the other students and teachers who assist him. Eli is genuinely happy to see all of his students when they arrive at each class, he pays attention to their strengths and weaknesses, guiding and correcting them as needed, and he’s their greatest encourager. He leads his class without using sarcasm or passivity, he speaks to the kids like they’re humans, and he creates a joyful learning environment. The kids work hard for Eli because they respect and trust him as their teacher. I can’t say enough about the community, the staff, and the content taught at AJJA. Absolutely worth checking out if you’re interested in judo, jiujitsu, or grappling in the low country area.

Great place to train Judo & Ju-Jitsu

My Daughter 10 has been attending for over 6 years and loves it. Its a great place

Amazing experience. I’m visiting my brother in SC from New York and needed a place to train. Everyone is friendly and the quality of the training is great. The gym also didn’t charge me for dropping in and said i can come by anytime. This will be my go to gym when I visit.

My son loves Jiu-Jitsu every summer when he visits with his Dad. I got to sit in at practice today and he seems to be doing great at this facility. Thank you guys for all your work with him!

Great Martial Arts School!Its a nice facility but the people are what set it apart from other schools. They teach and train in a friendly atmosphere where all are welcome, from young kids to old people (like me)! Stop in for training in Judo and/or Jujitsu. Train for fun, for conditioning, for self-defense, or for competition. Youll be glad you did!

Eli is the the Best Instructor I have Ever Met!!! No Question.. This is an Amazing School. I recommend Anybody to give it try. You wont regret it. I met Eli in SC on a work trip; Great Experience!! Thanks!!

Dropped in for a class while I was in town twice now, both times have been fantastic experiences and I will continue to drop in whenever I get the chance. Clean school, great environment, very knowledgeable instruction, and no ego on the mat.

Very welcoming dojo, Sensei Eli is very good with kids. He makes sure kids are learning and having fun at the same time. I am amazed how he can make little kids learn the techniques!

I am 62 needed some work out time. I am not a gym rat. Was looking for something else. BINGO JUDO.I love it. Good work out. Great assistance from all upper belts. Training is geared for safe experience.Highly recommend for all ages.You don’t have to be better than anyone else. Just try to be better than you were yesterday and you have succeeded at judo.

A great place to keep your children busy and off the streets. I was looking for something to keep my 15yr old busy since wrestling season was over. If you let teenagers go these days without keeping them going in something positive they will find something negative to do or the wrong crowd to hang out with. I love this place! Eli took my son in as if he were family. We can never have too many positive people in our childrens lives these days. Eli and Al are very dedicated, hard working, and truly have a love and passion for this and it shows. Thank you both for not only being positive roll models but also instilling respect and honor with everyone; children, adults, and those in between! It is also very affordable

Just left AJJA with my son, David. He enjoyed his first class, saying that he liked the children & he liked learning some new things, but didnt want to go back because It was too tough... When I said thats part of training, he said I know but he hurt my neck. When I said who, he said the big one & pointed at the instructor Eli. Im certain it was not his intention to harm David, but David said his neck hurts from a lock he put him in after he threw him. Perhaps have a little more concern over how advanced a technique you are using on an absolute beginner that is only 6 years old. I know I dont have to tell an experienced martial artist this, but half of learning those techniques is being put in them yourself & how best to handle them to limit the chance of injury. Thanks for inviting us to join, Im working on convincing David to give it a second chance... I will say that outside of that, Eli did very well with David & was patient with him.-Update: David is fine & said he wants to try going back, but would like to try going to another place, too.

I came from a gym in another part of the state and just tried them out for a day while I was in town. The class was great, Eli was an awesome instructor and all the people there were extremely welcoming and friendly.. even while trying to choke you out

Very awesome dojo, very family oriented. Eli broke down the moves in a way that was easy to understand. Definitely want wait to return.

Great place for instruction, wonderful people. It is all new for us, my son enjoyed the class immediately. Eli is a skilful educator, he knows perfectly how to combine physical demands with knowledge, in a friendly, safe and funny way.

Awesome place, great guys! Best place to train in the area in my opinion. They are hard working but still keep the great brotherhood mentality.

Great instruction with a great family atmosphere! Instruction is challenging and fun at the same time.

Great instructors and excellent community, both for competitive and recreational practice of Judo and Jiu-Jitsu.

Excellent, friendly gym. Eli is an outstanding instructor and its a very welcoming gym. Highly recommend.

Eli is a fantastic teacher. I had never practiced before, but he and everyone else were very welcoming and taught me much.

I come from California and jujitsu is amazing there however the jujitsu here is way better and a fraction of the cost. And they have world-renowned judo champions teaching there. $75 Unlimited access Monday through Saturday. They have no gi jujitsu, with gi Jujitsu and judo. Monday and Wednesday is Jujitsu 730pm- about 9pm. Tuesday-Thursday is judo, with the same times. Friday is open mat noon-130pm. I have never met a better group of guys and girls training here. Being a part of military I’m really going to be sad that I’m going to have to leave this place. I would do anything to stay there and train. Heads up one more cost that you may pay is a $50 insurance fee it is something that’s a part of an organization that you must pay in order to train, however that fee will follow you to any organization that is covered under the USJA. United States judo association. So you will not have to worry about the fee until next year of course. However, if you stay with organization like the USJA you can buy a life membership which is around $300, so if you train for more than two years they practically pays for itself.

Im from out of town and a bjj brown belt, they were very welcoming and Eli is a great instructor. Im very happy and would highly recommend.

Great place with awesome and down to earth martial artists, you are going to get everything you put in at this place. Their head instructor is a judo National Champion

Great place with top notch instructors. I had such a good time tonight rolling with all the guys here. Eli is the head jiu jitsu instructor and he was really helpful and encouraging to a newbie (and out of towner) like myself. If you are in Summerville and thinking about trying out Judo or Jiu Jitsu do yourself a favor and get in here and see for yourself. If you are looking for a place for your kids this is definitely it. A huge class where all the kids were learning and having fun. Thanks guys!

Rob and lisa are the bomb! Experienced and caring

Awesome experience

Looks like a great place!

Great place to train!