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6 Practical Martial Arts Gyms In Columbus That Emphasize Real World Defense Skills

The world is dark and full of terrors— be one of them.

I don’t have to remind any of you of the type of world we live in, television and social media does enough to hammer away those dangers. When humans discovered how marketable fear could be we just ran with it. You can’t go a day, hour, or minute without being reminded of the existence of terrorism, hatred, and general human depravity.

I won’t spend my time accusing any source of fearmongering, the fears being paraded 24/7 are just as real as the sensationalist profiteering that jeers them forward. What I will do is make the modest suggestion that we take these fears back, at least in portion. One way to do this is to rest easy in the confidence that if something does happen, you’ll be as prepared as possible to survive it. That can happen in several steps and in several ways, my suggestion is that you start by learning how to defend yourself and to do it now.

Columbus has a bunch of martial arts studios of varying backgrounds and for various purposes.

Today, in particular, we’re going to focus on schools centered around self-defense and effective use for the average novice walking in off the street. We’re looking for practicality over raw athleticism and many times that just comes down to type and style of practice. So if you’ve ever felt the need to sharpen your resolve and prepare yourself for a life or death confrontation, here are the best places to go to get you ready for a physical encounter.

Ronin Training Center

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Ronin Training Center offers several martial art and defense styles to learn, most notably Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Krav Maga. Though BJJ can be rather technical, it’s none the less very useful, even in its early stages of study. While Krav Maga, an Israeli military defense system, remains fairly simple but stresses the necessary aggression for surviving a conflict. Both are fairly effective and Ronin Training Center offers solid instructors and a supportive learning environment.
Ronin Training Center
Where: 1012 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212

Master Tran’s Martial Arts Academy

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Grandmaster Tran’s teachings pull from various Korean and Thai martial art styles but mainly utilizes Hapkido as its base. Hapkido is a defensive style employed by police forces throughout Korea. It emphasizes joint locks, throws, kicks, and punches to disable and defeat would be assailants. Grandmaster Tran teaches a diverse group of students from kids to adults and he insists on personally overseeing each class to ensure consistency.
Master Tran’s Martial Arts Academy
Where: 4973 E Dublin Granville Rd, Westerville, OH 43081

Central Ohio Martial Arts

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Founded and operated by Master Laura Clements, this martial arts school has been teaching traditional and non-traditional martial arts since 1999. Though they offer many martial art styles, perhaps the most practical would be Gongkwon Yusul, a mixed martial arts style that puts as much effort into its ground game as its striking. Master Laura has built a strong sense of community around her school while also producing some very effective practitioners.
Central Ohio Martial Arts Acadamy
Where: 4264 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214

Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy

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This martial arts studio has the distinct pleasure of being one of the oldest BJJ schools in the whole United States. Though it’s generally a grappling and ground based fighting style, it’s nonetheless one of the more important ones out there. The majority of aggressors in any given situation are not going to be trained practitioners themselves. This means that inevitably you and your attacker’s limbs will be slamming into and grabbing at each other. You might as well know what you’re doing when you get there and why not learn at one of the oldest schools around?
Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy
Where: 6821 Flags Center Dr, Columbus, OH 43229

Ohio Muay Thai With Master Lek

Though Muay Thai is far from what anyone would consider a “defensive” style, it’s still more than important that schools specializing in this striking system be listed for their effectiveness. You won’t see any grappling, no wrist locks or shoulder tosses. What you will get is some very aggressive distance and clinch fighting that will have you ending the confrontation before it begins. Muay Thai spouts off devastating power in a relatively simplistic system of fighting. Master Lek in Bexley happens to be one of the original Muay Thai masters in Ohio, having taught many other instructors in the area. You won’t find a website, but if you want super authentic, very oldskool Thai fundamentals, stop in at his gym in Bexley.
Where: 2978 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43209

Short North Muay Thai

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Short North Muay Thai takes a more modern, fitness oriented take on traditional Thai boxing. They have a young, tough, but nonetheless tight knit community that focuses on pushing each other to their physical limits. This can be a little daunting for your average beginner but you’ll notice your results, not just physically, but in technique and confidence as well. In order to become a full fledged gym member, you must first complete a three-week beginners course to adjust yourself. This school doesn’t mess around when it comes producing skill, and it doesn’t expect you to either.
Short North Muay Thai
Where: 855 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212