Home › Washington › Fircrest › Gracie Barra Tacoma
Gracie Barra Tacoma
5 ★★★★★ 94 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Fircrest, Washington
Part of Gracie Barra
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 — 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule graciebarratacoma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 253-544-5410
Hours
| Monday | 12–1:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 4–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12–1:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 4–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 12–1:30 pm, 4–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“He is a physical kid and is learning how to use his physicality appropriately as well as learning basic respect, listening, and communication skills.”
“This is the gym for somebody who wants to work on their discipline, health, and GI Jiu-Jitsu.”
“It is not the gym for someone who wants to learn/practice self defense.”
Other martial arts here
“The jiu jitsu and Muay Thai are high energy classes that are both encouraging and challenging.”
What members say
“Professor Tunz does an amazing job and is one of her favorites.”
“All professors and coaches have been fantastic and everyone (including other students) have been welcoming and helpful to a new person like myself.”
“All professors and coaches have been fantastic and everyone (including other students) have been welcoming and helpful to a new person like myself.”
“They really push the kids to learn the basics and focus on technique.”
“Fantastic instructors, great workout, many time offerings to train, lots of HIGH LEVEL coaches and mentors to help you train.”
“This has been such a great new journey for my son. He loves the coaches and teammates.”
From the reviews
I love this place! Professor Josh is great. He makes it fun to learn. He is also tough and encouraging. The staff I have met is helpful and makes it easy to just show up and train. As soon as my son is old enough to come in I will get him training as well.
Awesome gym. The jiu jitsu and Muay Thai are high energy classes that are both encouraging and challenging. This is a great family gym, even the kids classes are full and active! All of the instructors are very skilled and kind as well as helpful. I highly recommend checking this place out.
Been going to Gracie for 5 weeks now and best decision was joining. Both my sons are learning so much and most importantly is they are having fun while doing so. Professor and coaches are professional, welcoming and you can tell they really care about the kids.
I went here for about a month, and had unrealistic expectations. This is the gym for somebody who wants to work on their discipline, health, and GI Jiu-Jitsu. It is not the gym for someone who wants to learn/practice self defense.
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Tacoma
Gracie Barra 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 Gracie Barra 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.
More BJJ gyms near Fircrest
Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 47 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Defiance Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 121 reviews
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tacoma
4.3 ★★★★☆ 68 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site