Ryan Schuster
October 19, 2017 08:46
I don't have enough good things to say about PJJ. Looking to get back into martial arts for fitness and self-defense, I looked at a few schools in Philadelphia, and have no doubt that I picked the best.
This is one of the most inexpensive and no-frills schools, because the emphasis here is on solid instruction. There's no long-term contract required, and the training space itself is unassuming. A previous review is correct--this is more of a club than a school: everyone is incredibly friendly, and you'll get to know your training partners (mostly young adults) well.
Damon Umholtz, the head instructor, is fantastically gifted as both a martial artist and a teacher. He trains WITH his students, and tailors lessons to people's interests. He is always patient and has a knack for explaining even the most complicated techniques in understandable ways.
The curriculum is primarily rooted in the parent art of jiu-jitsu: its modern and traditional forms, and its evolution into judo. Damon teaches with a street self-defense orientation and often draws on aikido and Filipino martial arts as well, which is a rare and valuable perspective. I mainly attended the Wednesday and Sunday gi classes, which generally lasted about two and a half hours: the first hour devoted to judo/submission grappling/self defense, the second to ground-based jiu-jitsu and a half hour of free wrestling/randori at the end. Tuesday/Thursday Muay Thai classes are low-key, fun and a GREAT workout.
So, in short, if you are looking to get into the martial arts for sport, self-defense, fitness, and fun--you owe it to yourself to check out PJJ.