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Defiance Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 121 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Tacoma, Washington
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
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule defiancebjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 253-533-0667
Hours
| Monday | 9:40–11:45 am, 5:10–8:10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:10–8:10 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:40–11:45 am, 5:10–6:10 pm |
| Thursday | 5:10–8:10 pm |
| Friday | 9:40–11:45 am |
| Saturday | 9:40 am–12:15 pm |
| Sunday | 9:25 am–1:45 pm |
The classes they run
“We have found this studio to be excellent for teaching fundamental skills, instilling discipline, and fostering a sense of accomplishment.”
“Both of my kids (4 and 8) and my husband (a 44-year-old who took almost a decade off of bjj before starting at Defiance) have loved training here!”
“The gym offers all levels of classes from competition to beginner which allows a student to grow as a hobbyist, fitness enthusiast, and/or competitor to their preference.”
“I recommend giving Defiance Jiu Jitsu a try if you’re looking to challenge yourself, learn self-defense, build fitness and confidence while having fun.”
“The gym offers all levels of classes from competition to beginner which allows a student to grow as a hobbyist, fitness enthusiast, and/or competitor to their preference.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Coach Jesse is a great Leader who focuses on form and function, rather than glitz and glam.”
“The gym offers all levels of classes from competition to beginner which allows a student to grow as a hobbyist, fitness enthusiast, and/or competitor to their preference.”
“I walked in, nervous, having never done a martial art before and was met with a friendly team, insightful coaching, and a very high standard of hygiene and facility cleaning.”
“The coaching team provides clear breakdowns of both beginner and advanced techniques and the members of the Academy are welcoming and helpful.”
“2 of my kids have trained at Defiance and we’ve love their approach and coaching styles.”
“The gym offers all levels of classes from competition to beginner which allows a student to grow as a hobbyist, fitness enthusiast, and/or competitor to their preference.”
From the reviews
Coach Jesse cultivates an inclusive and positive culture for learning for all genders and body types at Defiance Jiu Jitsu. The coaching team provides clear breakdowns of both beginner and advanced techniques and the members of the Academy are welcoming and helpful.
Dropped in for a class on a Sunday. The coach and students were very welcoming and a pleasure to roll with. Sometimes showing up to a new gym with a white belt on you become a play toy for the Jiu Jitsu players. I definitely left this place feeling enthusiastic about Jiu Jitsu even after taking a couple months off.
This is absolute best training environment, Jesse and Stu have a pure love of Jiu Jitsu and have every intention to pass that on to their students. All the coaches and students are incredibly patient and willing to take their own time to explain any aspect of training.
My son has been in the 4-6 year old class for about a year now. We absolutely love it! He is not only learning Jiu Jitsu. He is learning leadership, accountability, discipline and all of the other qualities that you want in a young boy. He has ADHD and is often distracted/distracting.
New to BJJ? Start at Defiance Jiu Jitsu
Defiance Jiu Jitsu 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.
Your first BJJ class at Defiance Jiu Jitsu
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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