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Ballard Grappling Club

5 ★★★★★ 10 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Seattle, Washington

BJJ gym Beginners welcome No-gi New

Plan your first class

  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule ballardgrapplingclub.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 206-569-4520

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 6–8:30 pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 6–8:30 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 10:30 am–12 pm
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Ballard Grappling Club, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🩳 No-Gi

“Ballard Grappling Club has provides great jiu-jitsu instruction (both gi and no gi) at an affordable price.”

All gyms that run no-gi →

🥋 Gi

“Ballard Grappling Club has provides great jiu-jitsu instruction (both gi and no gi) at an affordable price.”

All gyms that run gi →

🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“The environment is friendly and constructive - good for both beginners and advanced students.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Ballard Grappling Club — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 10 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“The environment is friendly and constructive - good for both beginners and advanced students.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 3 mentions

“The environment is friendly and constructive - good for both beginners and advanced students.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“Vong's teaching style is approachable, effective, and fun blending a mix of techniques, drills, and live rolling.”

From the reviews

Had a great class at Ballard Grappling Club! There was plenty of space and a good mix of people at different levels. The class was split into two groups, one for beginners and one for more advanced people. This made it easier to learn things more appropriate for my own level.

★★★★★ — Justin, Jun 2026

Cool BJJ gym with fun vibes and great instruction. Good mix of new students and more advanced people. Vong is helpful and takes the time to help you understand the details.

★★★★★ — Charlie, Jun 2026

Ballard Grappling Club has provides great jiu-jitsu instruction (both gi and no gi) at an affordable price. Vong is very technical and able to offer individualized coaching due to smaller class sizes. The environment is friendly and constructive - good for both beginners and advanced students.

★★★★★ — Eric, Jun 2026

Nice and spacious gym! Class was fun and had a good mix of beginners and advanced people. The class was split into two levels so it was super easy for me to follow along. Instructor was friendly and attentive to everyone in class.

★★★★★ — Hoa, Jun 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 10 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Ballard Grappling Club

Ballard Grappling Club comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Ballard Grappling Club

Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Ballard Grappling Club

4027 NW Leary Wy, Seattle, WA98107

Get directions Instagram

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.