Family-operated North Coast Jiu-Jitsu Club opens in Northfield Plaza

by John Benson

Instructor Kyle Hido said the opening of the martial arts gym, North Coast Jiu-Jitsu Club, in Northfield Plaza is a dream come true for his family.

After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in business, Hido moved back to Northeast Ohio to help his father, Paul, start a new studio. The elder Hido, a St. Peter Chanel High School graduate who grew up in Bedford, had been involved in a Mahoning Valley jiu-jitsu academy.

“While attending Ohio State, I worked with different jiu-jitsu organizations and did a bunch of teaching in Columbus,” said Kyle Hido, 23, who lives in Chagrin Falls. “I found my passion teaching jiu-jitsu. So I put my business education and passion for jiu-jitsu together to open this business.”

The business is a family affair, as Hido’s older brother P.J. often helps out at the studio. Family also entered into the decision to locate North Coast Jiu-Jitsu in Northfield Village.

“We wanted to find sort of a pocket where there weren’t many other jiu-jitsu academies, somewhere we have ties to the community,” Hido said. “Also, we have tons of family in Northfield and Bedford. So we moved into our current space last summer, and after renovations officially opened up earlier this year.”

With students ranging in age from 5 to senior citizens, the studio teaches Gracie or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which Hido said is martial arts based solely on self-defense.

“It’s more about defending ourselves and controlling a situation rather than getting too fancy and trying to punch or kick somebody,” Hido said. “The reason we chose Gracie is not only because it’s what we grew up training, we found it to be the most applicable, realistic, fun and engaging form of martial arts there is.”

North Coast Jiu-Jitsu Club already is interacting with the community. A few weeks ago, the owners held gym class demonstrations at Nordonia High School.

“During each physical education period, students were given an introduction to what jiu-jitsu is, how we teach it at the North Coast Jiu-Jitsu Club and even got to practice a few basic self-defense techniques,” Hido said. “Over the course of the day, we probably met and explained jiu-jitsu to between 200 and 300 students. It was a fun and a fantastic day.”

Community events help dispel misconceptions about martial arts.

“We’re not trying to train the next UFC champion,” Hido said. “The biggest misconception with any martial arts, and jiu-jitsu especially, is that people think if they don’t have any experience, they’re going to come in and on their first day get smacked around by experienced people. That’s not what jiu-jitsu is about.

“Our business model – our culture – is to train people who want to learn self-defense in a safe and a very beginner-friendly environment, where everyone is trained at their own pace. We encourage people seeking a new experience to visit us and learn jiu-jitsu.”

For more information, visit northcoastbjj.com.

Featured image photo caption: North Coast Jiu-Jitsu Club co-owners (l-r) Paul and Kyle Hido opened their studio in Northfield Plaza to be near family.