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Dropped in for a No-Gi class while in Buffalo where I’ll be traveling now for work. Facility, staff, and instructors were great. They made me feel welcomed and got some good rounds in. Look forward to coming back next time I’m in town.
-Traveling Brown Belt from Philly
I was in town for work and Michael welcomed me to join any session that worked for my 42 year old white belt self which happened to be a 6:30am intro session on a cold November morning. Gym was very clean, spacious and well appointed with timers, cubbies, seating and changing space. I love their appreciation for foot hygiene! Great location with lots of windows and a big parking lot--super easy to find and convenient to Buffalo. Greg was the instructor for this session and he spent a lot of time with a thorough warm-up and individualized attention during reps. He even got involved in the gauntlet-style positional grappling which I seldom see black belts risk their noses and lips with us white belts! I hope to come back in the future... thanks again for the hospitality!
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Great Professor (Mike) and Coach Joao... Very welcoming and glad I was able to make class. My 67th school to train at and it was like I had trained here all the time. Tough rolls and all around good peeps... Not to mention a really nicely laid out facility. Being Born and raised in Buffalo and being home visiting it had that warm Buffalo welcome. Look forward to training here again.
I participated and competed in various martial arts in my life. Everything from Tae Kwon Do, Kempo, and Karate in my younger years and even trained in Muay Thai for two years in my late 20s. I was always a heavier set build and I thought I have experienced what I could out of martial arts regarding weight loss while pushing my body and confidence to the limits. That is, until, I took my first class of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Lake Effect Martial Arts (LEMA).
When I joined the LEMA family, I was the heaviest I been in my life and pushing an obese weight of 290lbs at the height of 6’0. I was extremely intimidated and embarrassed to start training in a martial art once again knowing how heavy I was, let alone a martial art I have absolutely no familiarity! However, due to the amazing culture and leadership of the academy, I felt right as if I was training on the mats there for months. Everyone is extremely helpful, friendly and always willing to assist (Professors and students); does not matter if your tall, short, heavy, skinny, everyone is training together on their jiu-jitsu journey. You’re not alone at LEMA or just “another number” at a gym, and the inviting family-like culture demonstrates the second-to-none leadership from the professors.
In only 5 ½ months I have shed 50lbs and counting! Along with the weight loss, I am the most flexible and mobile I have been in my life and this is including my earlier martial arts years. Jiu-Jitsu is very challenging and will push your mind and body to the limits, but, you’re not on this journey alone.
Regardless of what someone’s goals are: lose weight, get in better shape, compete or learn self-defense with arguably the most efficient martial arts in the world, there is no other place to train other than Lake Effect. I am grateful for taking the leap into the world of Jiu-Jitsu and looking forward to conquering more goals with the Lake Effect team!
Joining this gym was like joining a family. Very welcoming! Professors and coaches are true professional. Can't wait to continue my journey with this team.
Absolutely the best martial arts school i have ever had a privelage to visit. Excellent family atmosphere, top of the line instructors and an amazing student base. Everyone was extremely helpful and took time to explain how the techniques worked. I highly recommend this school no mat bullies no spazes just a nurturing environment to bring out the absolute best in oneself. I cannot stress enough the amount of time and care the professors take with their students. For anyone thinking about training there really is no better academy in western New York.
Lake Effect Martial Arts is the best place in WNY if you are interested in: learning or training jiu jitsu, learning self-defense techniques, trying to get your kid into a positive hobby/sport (or "bully-proofing"), or if you're looking to improve your MMA game strategies. This state of the art gym is a bright, clean facility unlike others in the area. The coaches have trained and competed jiu jitsu all over the world. They take the gentle art seriously, they are each very dedicated to learning and improving their skills, and teaching the most cutting edge techniques to their students. These guys are patient, articulate, professional and encouraging as coaches - they want to help people to be their best on and off the mats. Check them out!
I’ve dropped in a few places and the first half an hour of class is always awkward. You don’t know anyone, you don’t know where the lockers are etc. This is the most welcoming place you can find. There are just good guys there. They shake your hand, they like and want to help to white belts- great place to spend your time, can't wait to come back.
Awesome place to train, great environment with supportive teammates that makes the academy feel like an extension of your family.
Relocating to a new city brings many exciting opportunities. Still, it can also pose challenges—especially when maintaining important parts of your lifestyle, such as martial arts training. Finding new martial arts schools can be difficult if you’ve trained for years in one place. For those moving to a major city like New York, where the […]
Like any sport or martial art, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can come with injuries. Here are some tips to avoid them: Tap out early. One of the studies above mentioned that the main reason why arm bars caused so many injuries was because competitors resisted it and didn’t tap out early enough. Know high risk positions. This will […]
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10 Essential Features To Have A Successful Jiu-Jitsu Academy Running a BJJ academy is not an easy task. The owner really needs to be passionate about their job in order for the academy to be a success. Here are my top 10 features for a BJJ academy to be deemed a success. They are in […]
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Our Boxing program is growing leaps and bounds, contact us to schedule your free trial class today. When you’re feeling tense and frustrated, a good workout can help. Fitness boxing, which is a form of exercise that has roots in traditional boxing, offers a safe outlet for your emotions — not to mention an awesome […]
We have been proudly affiliated with Checkmat BJJ for many years. Let us tell you a little more about this long-standing relationship. In just 13 years since being founded, they have created numerous world champions within their affiliate academies. Here is what you need to know about Checkmat BJJ, including everything from their founding to […]
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or BJJ is a martial art based on grappling and ground fighting, focusing on the skill of controlling one’s opponent through techniques that force him or her to submit. It prides itself in being known as the “gentle art”, allowing a smaller, weaker person to use leverage and submissions (chokes, locks) to defend himself […]
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Life: Finding Harmony in the Struggle Introduction Life is an unpredictable journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and setbacks. Similarly, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that embodies the essence of life through its rigorous training, dynamic experiences, and valuable life lessons. In this blog, we will explore the remarkable […]
Why is BJJ a better martial arts for kids? It’s important to note that there is no definitive “best” martial art for children, as different martial arts offer various benefits and suit different preferences and goals. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is certainly one option to consider, but whether it’s better than other martial arts depends on […]
Humans are emotional; we can choose from angry, happy, sad, scared and frustrated. Our emotions are healthy responses to the stimuli that helped our ancestors survive the trials and tribulations of a harsher and ruthless environment. Emotions can still help us cope with unexpected danger, but they also make us wrong decisions. We must learn […]