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Northwest Jiu Jitsu Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 49 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Seattle, 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
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule nwjja.net — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (206) 440-8856
Hours
| Monday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Friday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I started taking my youngest son here with the kids program and then my eldest got intrigued.”
“As a former high school wrestler, I found the transition into BJJ to be very intuitive, it feels like an extension of my wrestling background.”
“Mike who runs the kids lessons does a great job and Brian who runs the dojo is a world class instructor and competitor.”
“But Brian helped with everything along the way and has even gone out of his way to do private sessions with me to make sure I always feel 100% comfortable.”
“Not only does it host BJJ but, you could also learn self-defense training like Muay Thai, or Submission Wrestling.”
“Would feel comfortable here as a beginner or experienced competitor.”
Other martial arts here
“Not only does it host BJJ but, you could also learn self-defense training like Muay Thai, or Submission Wrestling.”
“As a former high school wrestler, I found the transition into BJJ to be very intuitive, it feels like an extension of my wrestling background.”
What members say
“Coach Mike does an amazing job with the kids-- not only teaching BJJ, but also life skills [self esteem, self control, respect, conscientiousness].”
“If you’re experienced and are looking to take your game to the next level and join a welcoming and badass community, this is the place.”
“The community at the gym is friendly and everyone is super helpful, Brian has really created a great environment for everyone to learn from each other.”
“The coach for the evening, Joseph, was very thorough and added some really amazing details for my game.”
“Clean mats with a nice strength/conditioning area.”
“He is a inspirational person that has succeeded at the highest level of competition and is willing to share his experience and knowledge with us to make us better.”
From the reviews
I can't say enough great things about this gym and about Prof. Brian Johnson. I was hesitant to start BJJ for lots of reasons. But Brian helped with everything along the way and has even gone out of his way to do private sessions with me to make sure I always feel 100% comfortable.
Like quite a few NWJJA students, I came from a long martial arts background before I got ‘bitten’ by the Jiu-Jitsu bug around 2004 or 2005-ish. Back then there wasn’t a lot of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to be found in the greater Seattle area, and I actually found Brian through another school (MKG Seattle), where he taught a…
The oldest BJJ gym in Seattle. One of the cleanest. A hidden gem. Technical teaching, wonderful people and peaceful atmosphere. Grab a beer next door after class.
At this point I have been to about five different BJJ schools and NWJJA is definitely my home base. Brian is a guy who clearly only has BJJ in his life. His passion and mastery is obvious.
New to BJJ? Start at Northwest Jiu Jitsu Academy
Northwest 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 Northwest 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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