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KOA Jiu Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 25 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Lakewood, Washington
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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule koabjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 253-777-4203
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 9:45 am–2:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My son wouldn’t be the athlete he is today without their time and devotion they constantly give him and all the kids.”
“Whether you are a brand-new hobbyist or a seasoned competitor, this gym is perfect for you.”
“Confident that anyone who steps foot in these doors will fill right at home with support from all levels to be the best you, on and off the mat!”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The professor is very knowledgeable and the coaches are very helpful and friendly.”
“Confident that anyone who steps foot in these doors will fill right at home with support from all levels to be the best you, on and off the mat!”
“This is a great group of seasoned jiu jitsu practitioners who came together to open a school open and welcoming to everyone.”
“The facility is super clean, and everyone is very respectful.”
From the reviews
KOA Academy is new, but the instructors are not. This is a great group of seasoned jiu jitsu practitioners who came together to open a school open and welcoming to everyone. I trained under Coach Matt for a year and a half at another school and followed him to his new academy because his jiu jitsu is so expert.
Great place to train, very welcoming group of people. I just joined after moving to the area. Many people in the academy have personally come up to me, introduced themselves, and taken the time to get to know me.
A great experience for all ages and communities! There are coaches here who have been training for years and they all bring unique teaching styles. The staff understands that everybody has different goals and learning speeds. Welcome to a community that you won’t find elsewhere.
Koa is a great place to train. Very welcoming to new comers and people who have never trained before like myself. Coach Matt is great and really helps with the fine details of jiu jitsu. I highly recommend starting your journey with Koa.
New to BJJ? Start at KOA Jiu Jitsu Academy
KOA Jiu Jitsu Academy 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 KOA Jiu Jitsu Academy
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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