No egos, and everyone's welcome. Kids, women, beginners, and seasoned grapplers train side by side, one $60 membership covers every class, and your first class is free.
A lot of people want to try judo or jiu-jitsu but picture a room full of tough guys, high-pressure contracts, and a price tag to match. Snyder Dojo is the opposite.
Owner and instructor Chris Snyder has been grappling his whole life and has spent decades teaching kids and adults in Kalamazoo. Students describe the dojo as smaller, laid-back, and friendly — a place where safety and comfort come first, there's no pressure to compete, and beginners get real one-on-one attention.
Adults and teens 13+
Throws, takedowns, and safe falling — the art Snyder Dojo is known for.
See classesWednesday evenings and Saturday at 4Beginner and advanced BJJ. Control, escapes, and submissions on the ground.
See classesMonday eveningsSubmission grappling in shorts and a rash guard. Fast, technical, practical.
See classesEvery classA comfortable, co-ed room where women train judo and jiu-jitsu without the ego.
See classesAges 3–12
Parents say it best: "Chris is wonderful with the kids." Kids classes run right before the adult classes, so the whole family can train the same night.
Confidence, focus, and self-control — and a whole lot of fun.
See classesAges 5–12, MondayKids no-gi jiu-jitsu and grappling. Ground skills through games and drills.
See classesAges 3–4, Saturday at 9Rolling, balance, and listening skills for little ones. No gi required.
See classesMonth to month, no contracts. Judo, BJJ, no-gi, and kids classes are all included.
$60/month
One person — every class on the schedule
$105/month
Two people from the same family
$140/month
Three or more from the same family
Drop-in classes are $10. Private or small-group lessons are $50. Your first class is free.
Find a time on the schedule that works for you or your kids.
Send a quick message or call (269) 365-3667 so he's ready for you.
Wear comfortable athletic clothes and arrive a few minutes early. Your first class is on us.
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars across 21 Google reviews.
Smaller, laid-back & friendly dojo. As a woman, I feel very comfortable training here, and there's been a pretty good ratio of women to men whenever I've been there. The kids classes are great, and Chris is great with helping beginners and giving them personal one-on-one attention in their first judo class. The prices are insanely reasonable, and the grappling class is practically like having a 2nd BJJ class during the week.
Sensei Chris is wonderful with the little kids. My son attends the Saturday 9 am class. Not only does he have a great time but Judo teaches him self control and improves his listening skills. Highly recommend for toddler age on up.
A friendly and welcoming dojo to people of all skill levels with no pressure to compete. Making sure people are safe and comfortable is a top priority. The instructor, Chris Snyder, has decades of experience with both kids and adults. There is no better dojo to bring your kids to and/or take classes yourself.
You can't beat it for Judo in the kzoo area, and there's some fantastic stuff being taught in MMA, grappling and BJJ. Add in some very reasonable rates and you've got a great place to train. I also bring my boys here for the kid's judo class, and it's really helping them to grow up right.
Beyond being extremely skilled in judo and grappling, Chris Snyder created a fun and well-structured learning environment. I always felt better about myself after every class. … Also, the fees are incredibly reasonable and there are no contracts.
He is a great teacher He know how to teach a beginner from basics very knowledgeable very patient with both kids and adults
Find us at 670 Maple Hill Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Your first class is free.