Bay Ridge Dojo

Small school with incredible people and generations of students. Generational students means this school is doing it right. Highly recommend checking them out for your martial arts and self-defense interests!

Our six year old son has been attending for almost a year. He loves it and so do we. The instructors are wonderful and they are extremely patient and knowledgeable. He has benefited tremendously from the structure and discipline and he looks forward to going to every class!

The Bay Ridge Dojo is hands down one of the most exceptional martial training centers out there. I first stepped through its doors in 1985, and though life has taken me away from time to time, I’ve always found myself coming back. There’s a reason this dojo has stood the test of time while so many others have fallen by the wayside. The family-like atmosphere combined with a no-nonsense approach to self-defense creates an environment that’s both welcoming and serious about personal growth. What sets BRD apart is its balance between staying true to its core principles while continually evolving to meet the demands of modern self-defense. The training here is grounded in reality, and it’s served me well throughout my career as both a Marine and a Police Officer with the NYPD. This is not a place where you’ll learn flashy, ineffective techniques. At BRD, you’re trained to survive and thrive in any confrontation, whether it’s through de-escalation, tactical maneuvers, or straight-up combat when necessary. The goal is simple: win and go home safe. The instructors are first-class professionals in their respective fields, and each one brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to their teaching. If you’re looking for a martial arts school that will push you, protect you, and make you feel like part of a family, look no further. The Bay Ridge Dojo has been my second home, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

This dojo is fantastic! Their kid’s classes are great for developing confidence and discipline and their adult classes are great for learning effective self defense. Their classes are taught to an individual’s level and their level of instructional expertise is amazing. This place is the real deal and includes stand-up, judo techniques and grappling.

My experience with Bay Ridge Dojo (“BRD”) began in 1988 while attending school in the NYC metropolitan area, and although living hours away I am still training with them 36 years later. Then..and now the training was intense and realistic and the instruction is first rate. Be assured, students earn their rank, BRD is not a belt factory where rank is given merely because a student is enrolled or pays dues. The reward for such disciplined approach is that BRD students experience a real sense of discipline, experience and accomplishment – life saving self-defense skills, but also skills that translate to success in school and the workplace. Over the last three decades I have seen men, women and children train and grow – and witnessed young students utilize the mental, physical and emotional discipline they forged at BRD and develop into successful students and professionals. Over the years, I have trained in various karate and ju jitsu systems …and I can confidently say there is no place like Bay Ridge Dojo. The instructors and students treat each other with love and respect. New students are strangers only once at BRD!