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U A Jiu Jitsu
- Confidence
- Feel
- Learn
“I've been training for about three months and have been very happy with how encouraging, welcoming and helpful the instructors and other students have been.”
Best Self-Defense Classes in Columbus, OH
24 schools listed · 4 in Columbus · 18 open weekends · 23 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 16, 2026
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Western Lotus Athletics & Martial Club
- Train
- Learn
- Sifu
“A great place to learn wing chun instructor Reyes is an excellent teacher and very knowledgeable a great place to not only train but to also get in shape I highly recommend WLA.”
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Budo Martial Arts Academy
- Respect
- Confidence
- Learning
“I've been going to Budo Martial Arts Academy for around two years and always feel that I'm getting my questions answered and challenged to be better in situations of danger not of being aggressive but if I have no other choice I can be confident and ...”
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Team Perry American Karate/Tkd
- Son
- Discipline
- Fun
“Team Perry Karate is about learning Karate and so much more such as discipline, fitness, respect, honor, integrity and commitment; something that many of our young people desperately need in today's society.”
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Gracie Ohio Jiu-Jitsu Academy
“With 7 fundamental classes a week taught by multiple black belts and tons of advanced classes and open mats this is the perfect place for both beginners and experienced Jiu Jitsu practitioners.”
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Endeavor Defense & Fitness
“A piece of serenity falls over me when I can bring my stress in, leave it on the floor/bag, and be told how to complete the work with better technique to keep injuries away.”
Short self-defense courses listed for Columbus, OH are spread across the 24 cards on this page. Who each course is aimed at, where it runs and how often it repeats comes from the school itself, with ratings drawn from public reviews.
Area overview: Columbus, OH
4 of the 24 schools we list are based in Columbus; the other 20 serve Columbus from towns including Westerville (10 mi), Gahanna (8 mi) and Reynoldsburg (9 mi). The schools on this page are rated from 4.0 to 5.0 across 864 reviews; 5 have 50 or more reviews and 23 are rated 4.5 or higher. When students and parents rate these schools on specific qualities, they most often praise professionalism (94%), quality (86%) and communication (75%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "atmosphere", "knowledge" and "confidence". 17 are open on Saturdays and 5 on Sundays. 1 has a BBB rating of A or A+. Domain records put 13 websites of the schools on this page at ten or more years old; the oldest dates from 2003. We have a website on file for 23 of the schools on this page; 18 publish a contact page; 17 list a public email and 5 take bookings online. We count these figures across the schools on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the school before you enroll.
Which course providers listed for Columbus describe their courses online?
23 of the 24 cards carry a website link. Look for a real outline, who teaches, and who the course is for. Stock photography of a woman throwing a man in a white studio is not an outline, and schools that keep their content vague are often selling the same session to every audience.
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Ohio Combat Sports Academy
- Mats
- Competitors
- Train
“Awesome atmosphere where first day students, world champions, and every skill level in between share the mats in a positive, encouraging learning environment.”
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Grove City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
- Black Belt
- Muay Thai
- Environment
“If you're searching for a good place to train that is family friendly with morally upstanding leadership and true martial artists then look no further, this is the place for you!”
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Elevate Martial Arts
“I can't recommend this place enough, my child has grown so much during her time here and we look forward to helping her toward her goal of becoming a black belt.”
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Mat Lab Brazilian Jiujitsu
- Judo
- Environment
- Learn
“I learned so much in my two classes there that I couldn't wait to get home to tell my son, who I started my Jiu Jitsu journey with about 2 years ago, all about it.”
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Ruffhouse Jiu Jitsu Columbus
- Lifestyle
- Passion
- Team
“I've known Chris for 20 years, and have watched him evolve from an enthusiastic and talented MMA/Jiu-Jitsu student & competitor, to what I consider to be the best BJJ instructor in Ohio!”
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Dynamic Self Defense- New Albany
- Plan
- Knowledge
- Learned
“The lessons not only include teaching how to defend oneself, but also how to recognize bullying and how to defuse a confrontation before needing to use the skills being taught in class.”
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Buckeye Self Defense
- Train
- Learning
- Seminar
“Came to a free women's self defense learning class held by Scott and really enjoyed the time and the learning the basics of how to protect myself but also understanding a little knowledge of how the human body itself is a weapon and how to use it aga...”
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Super System BJJ
- Mat
- Jiu Jitsu
- Train
“Great instruction and a good group of guys to work with.”
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The Kazoku Dojo
- Needs
- Son
- Skills
“My oldest son is learning so many skills that he could need in the future to defend himself (unfortunate to say, but with the way the world is these are skills that he'll most likely need to use some day).”
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Columbus Self-Defense
- Learned
- Strategies
- Information
“Not only has it made me more confident in my fighting and self-defense capabilities, but it has also improved my overall energy level, balance, self-awareness, hand-eye coordination and reflexes just to name a few.”
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Dragon E's Black Belt Academy
- Tae Kwon do
“The instruction is outstanding on every level, from technique, to "form" to board breaking and above all the respect that is instilled in each student – to not only respect their instructors and parents, but to respect their peers, the class and Tae ...”
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Apex Martial Arts
- Taekwondo
“Been going here for over 5 years and it has been one of the greatest experiences I've had.”
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Tamarack TKD Martial Arts Studio
“Shelley and Jeff really care about everyone in the classes.”
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Triple Threat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
“I trained under them for four years and they helped me build I very solid foundation in jiu jitsu.”
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Notorious Jiu-Jitsu
- Learning
“Attentive, well-informed, patient, works well with kids.”
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Summit Martial Arts
- Fear
- Knowledge
- Learn
“The instructors are highly experienced and top quality - they are also patient, encouraging and have built a culture that feels more like a family than a gym.”
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4point Base BJJ
- Train
“Whether it's your first class or you've been practicing for years, Mike brings years of experience, enthusiasim, and patience that keeps you wanting to return and learn.”
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Empower Martial Arts
- Krav
- Confidence
- Healthy
“The instructors help the parent(s) and child maintain confidence that the child can accomplish the goals of the class despite the child's current behavioral challenges.”
Self-Defense Training Services in Columbus, OH Cost Estimates
Minimum cost
$187
Maximum cost
$561
National Average
$287
Avg Per Hour Rates
$75
$250
$387
Fair price range is based on 542 cost profiles
Why these companies made our list
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