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Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - West Seattle
5 ★★★★★ 66 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Seattle, 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
- 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
- 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule zoobjjsea.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 406-540-3718
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 am, 5–5:50 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am–12 pm, 5–5:50 pm, 6–7 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7 am, 5–5:50 pm, 6–8 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–12 pm, 5–5:50 pm, 6–7 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 8–11 am |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I, as a parent, love the fact that my son is learning discipline, agility and gaining a lifelong skill that will give him confidence.”
“As a woman BJJ has been an empowering and emotional hobby that I’m so grateful to have in my life.”
“Come get a work out, learn self defense, discipline and gain new friends.”
“They take the time to break down techniques in a way that’s easy to understand, whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced practitioner.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Bob is an amazing instructor, he is calm, fun, and has a great way of keeping the students focused and in check.”
“His calm demeanor and easygoing style create a warm, welcoming, inspirational training environment for students of all ages and backgrounds.”
“His calm demeanor and easygoing style create a warm, welcoming, inspirational training environment for students of all ages and backgrounds.”
“They take the time to break down techniques in a way that’s easy to understand, whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced practitioner.”
“I, as a parent, love the fact that my son is learning discipline, agility and gaining a lifelong skill that will give him confidence.”
“The gym is very clean and has the proper equipment so I can incorporate strength training into my routine.”
From the reviews
I've had the pleasure to train under Bob Brown since he opened the first Zoo BJJ gym in Montana in 2015. For new students looking for somewhere to train, Bob teaches an in-depth fundamentals curriculum, which helped me build a strong foundation for my grappling game and to this day is critical to my continued learning.
Bob Brown is an outstanding BJJ instructor. His calm demeanor and easygoing style create a warm, welcoming, inspirational training environment for students of all ages and backgrounds. I am 57 years old and have trained in the grappling arts since I was 12.
ZOO BJJ in West Seattle was the first gym I walked into when I started my bjj journey almost a year ago. I stayed for many reasons. The owner, Bob was very welcoming. Communication in setting up a trial class was extremely easy. Bob is very knowledgeable and instructs in a manner that makes concepts easy to grasp.
Zoo Seattle is a fantastic gym for Jiu Jitsu. Bob is an excellent instructor who makes sure students get the attention they need to learn or improve. The atmosphere is relaxed, and Bob and the staff are great at teaching all ages and skill levels.
New to BJJ? Start at Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - West Seattle
Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - West Seattle 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 Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - West Seattle
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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