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T-Town MMA/Checkmat Tacoma
4.8 ★★★★★ 74 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Tacoma, Washington
Part of Checkmat
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
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule ttownmma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 11 am–12:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 4:45–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am–12:30 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Thursday | 4:45–8 pm |
| Friday | 5–8 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | 9–10:30 am |
The classes they run
“TTown also has a great women's program that creates a fantastic environment for women to either sharpen their skills or try BJJ for the first time!”
“This is a gym that is friendly enough for beginners and serious enough for competitors.”
“I visited Checkmat for their open mat/women's class during my recent travels to the area.”
“TTown also has a great women's program that creates a fantastic environment for women to either sharpen their skills or try BJJ for the first time!”
Other martial arts here
“The team at T-Town MMA welcomed me in for a trial class and it was excellent experience.”
“I‘ve been taking kickboxing classes for a year now and I really enjoy the atmosphere at this gym.”
What members say
“The instructor Justin has a great laid back attitude, smiling and laughing often.”
“TTown also has a great women's program that creates a fantastic environment for women to either sharpen their skills or try BJJ for the first time!”
“Everyone here will make you feel like family while teaching you amazing martial arts skills that can be used at the highest level of competition.”
“Everyone here will make you feel like family while teaching you amazing martial arts skills that can be used at the highest level of competition.”
“With that said, this gym has character, fun and technical instructors, as well as a high-level jiu-jitsu affiliation.”
“TTown also has a great women's program that creates a fantastic environment for women to either sharpen their skills or try BJJ for the first time!”
From the reviews
I have been training at T-Town MMA Checkmat since 2011. Great instructors who really know what they are teaching. Great classes for people of all fitness levels and goals. This school has wonderful connections within the community.
I'm new to BJJ and have only been with T-Town for ~6 months. I wasn't sure I'd stick with it after my trial class, but what made me officially sign up were the people. When I say everyone has been welcoming, I mean every single person. The patience and sincerity in this gym is beyond amazing.
I've been going to this gym for the last three years and I couldn't recommend it more emphatically. Since day one Coach Jimmy has been exceptionally inviting and made me feel like part of the team. The gym is a reflection of the culture that the coaches push of team above self. This is the Miagi-Do and not Cobra Kai.
I've been training here for 9 months, and this place has become my home. The coaches are extremely knowledgeable and also extremely welcoming. From day one I was sure this was the place for me to train, and I'm positive anyone who walks through that door will feel the same way.
New to BJJ? Start at T-Town MMA/Checkmat Tacoma
T-Town MMA/Checkmat 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 T-Town MMA/Checkmat 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. 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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