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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma
4.3 ★★★★☆ 68 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Tacoma, Washington
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 8–12) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule gritcitybjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 253-254-6538
Hours
| Monday | 6–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6–9 pm |
| Friday | 6–8 pm |
| Saturday | 12–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My child is 3, a peewee, and it's amazing to see how many kids they can have in a room at one time yet it is so organized, the kids are very self disciplined, and it's quiet.”
“Visited from out of town for a no gi class and it was a great experience.”
“Visited from out of town for a no gi class and it was a great experience.”
“The classes are incredible - interesting, challenging and applicable to the real world.”
“I came in with no grappling experience and had a variety of people at all skill levels who would meet me where I’m at, including the professors and black belts.”
Other martial arts here
“I've been a member here for 6 months or so and in that time he has added more bags, cage panels, new (and amazing) wrestling and striking coaches and more classes.”
What members say
“Professor Michael is an excellent instructor who breaks techniques down clearly and creates a positive learning environment.”
“Great gym with a welcoming team whether you’re brand new to jiu-jitsu or have years of training experience.”
“Dropped in 2 days last week, really nice experience, all the students were very friendly and hard to roll as well.”
“Every coach as well as the professor is always ready and willing to give a helping hand and explain things multiple times if necessary to teach technique the right way.”
“I love taking classes here and more importantly, my children love their classes.”
“Consistent training allowed me to feel comfortable in a competition setting after only a couple of months.”
From the reviews
I started here a little over 6 months ago and it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned having never done any martial arts before starting here. Professor Michael Proctor is a great instructor he also has awesome team of coaches and upper belts.
Fantastic gym, amazing coaches, great team. The owner is constantly improving. I've been a member here for 6 months or so and in that time he has added more bags, cage panels, new (and amazing) wrestling and striking coaches and more classes.
This gym and its staff are incredible. I have received nothing but encouragement and sincerity since signing up. My prerequisites for signing up for a gym were: that it have a clean and professional environment, a community of members who are more than just training partners, and that the instructors were properly…
I’ve been training for a while and am a purple belt, and have trained at several places when out of town for work. I walked into the gym and from the minute I was greeted by Michael I was treated like family. You would have thought I had been training there for years.
New to BJJ? Start at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. 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.
Your first BJJ class at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma
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.
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