Judo throws and takedowns in Stratford.
Beginner-friendly Judo for kids, youth and adults, trained in the gi on Sundays. You learn to fall safely first, then throws, takedowns and grips that sharpen your standing game and complement jiu-jitsu beautifully. No experience needed, no ego on the mats, and your first class is free.
Book a Free Intro Class →What a Judo class actually looks like.
Every class runs the same shape, so you always know what's happening and never feel out of your depth. A light warm-up that folds in breakfalls, a throw of the day broken down step by step and drilled with a partner, then controlled practice where you try it out at a safe, measured pace.
You're paired with a friendly training partner and a coach walks the room the whole time. There's no throwing you in the deep end on day one, and nobody goes full speed until they're ready for it.
How does Judo fit with jiu-jitsu, and is it safe?
Safety comes first, always. Before you learn a single throw, you learn breakfalls: how to hit the mat and get straight back up without getting hurt. That skill is the foundation of everything else, and it's the first thing we teach every beginner.
Judo is the perfect complement to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ is strong on the ground, while Judo owns the takedown, so the two fit together like two halves of the same puzzle. Whether you've never trained a day in your life or you already roll in the gi and want a sharper standing game, this is the room for you. Beginners and cross-trainers are equally welcome.
What you'll learn.
Judo builds the standing game, the part of grappling that decides who ends up on top. The format is the same every session, so the learning compounds week over week.
- Safe breakfalls first: how to fall and land without getting hurt
- Throws and takedowns: the standing game that starts every match
- Grip fighting and off-balancing, so you set up throws that actually land
- Ground control (newaza) that overlaps directly with jiu-jitsu
- The same format every class: warm-up and breakfalls, throw of the day, controlled practice
When Judo runs.
Judo runs on Sundays in the gi, for kids, youth and adults. The full up-to-date timetable, with exact times, lives on the schedule page.
See the full schedule →What to bring on day one.
Just athletic clothes, a t-shirt and shorts or leggings, plus a water bottle and a pair of flip-flops for walking off the mats. We provide a loaner gi for your free class, so there's nothing to buy before you start. Come with clean feet and cut nails, and get to the mats a few minutes early so a coach can say hi and walk you through your first breakfalls.
Judo in the heart of Stratford.
We're on Downie Street in Stratford, and we're proud to train families from across Perth County: St. Marys, Mitchell, Sebringville, Tavistock and Listowel. Free parking on-site, so getting to class is easy.
Good questions, honest answers.
Not the way we teach it. Breakfalls come before anything else, so you learn how to fall safely and get right back up before you ever take a throw. We build up slowly and never rush anyone past what they're ready for.
None at all. Most people who step on the mat have never trained before. You'll learn the fundamentals step by step alongside others doing the same, and nobody expects you to know anything on day one.
Yes. Judo is open to ages 6 and up, so kids, youth and adults all train on Sundays. It's a great first martial art for building coordination, confidence and safe falling skills.
They fit together perfectly. Judo owns the standing game, the throws and takedowns, while jiu-jitsu is strongest on the ground. Judo pairs naturally with BJJ Basics, and many members cross-train in both.
Start on the mat.
One free class. No pressure, no contract, no experience needed. The hardest part is walking through the door, and we make that part easy.
Book a Free Intro Class →