just because this is tge best hapanese dojo I have ever found. The best. History and technique.

Super disappointed. This place is great if you're a favorite. Onboarding sucks and depends on the attitude of the person you're dealing with that day. This place has potential which is why I gave it a second star. Will not be following up with an update. read more

Having never set foot in any martial art studio in my entire life, doing extensive research, and talking to a few people, I decided to be brave and take a trial class at Ballard JJ. Maybe it's the adrenaline, the flood of endorphins, the sense of empowerment I have leaving the gym, or all of the above, but I am completely hooked. It definitely helps that this gym is incredibly open and inviting. They are welcoming to all newcomers and don't ignore you if you're struggling with something. Considering that on some popular days there is a large array of black, brown, purple, blue, and white belts all together, the team mentality is a "what can you learn from me, and what can I learn from you." There's no arrogance, just a sense of support. I've now rolled with all different types of belts and there is a respect cultivated from the curiosity of learning Jiu-Jitsu. The professors all bring something different to the table and while I will sadly be relocating for work, I know I'll look for a gym that, like here, has many teachers who can provide their students with their own tricks and techniques. Being petite, I feel like I'm given tailored instruction to ensure success and not in a condescending "you're a girl" kind of way, but a "if you do this technique a little differently, your can use your size and build to your advantage." Another thing that I appreciate about this gym is that one of my main fears was stepping into a class with no women. Not only are there some amazing women who train here, the supportive nature of the gym is that everyone rolls with everyone. They cultivate a culture of inclusivity. Thank you for providing me with an amazing first step in my BJJ journey. You all rock. read more

I won't spend any characters convincing you to take up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. If you're here, you're considering it or you've already trained, and in that case, you know. Instead, I'll focus on why Ballard is a great place to train. First, there's really not enough that I can say about the black belts at this school. Head Professor Micah is magic to watch. No, really, you will watch him and you will say "how did he...??" He also happens to be an incredible instructor. If a technique isn't working for you, he can come over and say "adjust your pinky toe" and voila! The technique works. Professor David Stegman is a long-time black belt from Texas, and he is brutal. He teaches a lot, and is also an incredible instructor. Someone might correct me, but I think there are nine (NINE) other black belts who train regularly at this school. Each one of them challenges you in a new way. The black belts aren't the only high level training partners, though. You will train with killer brown, purple, and blue belts, and some white belts who will make you wish you had come up as a collegiate wrestler. At the end of the day, the folks here are genuinely invested in the development of your game, and the expectation of upper belts is that you return the favor. Everyone trains with everyone. Importantly, the leadership at this gym supports women training, and not in a condescending way. We train with giant dudes, with little dudes, with giant women, with little women. We are not treated differently than men who train, and certainly we are not treated as if we take this any less seriously. I have enjoyed seminars and open mats at other schools, but this gym is home. read more

I've been training here for about a year and it's a blast! The instructors are really laid back, the place is clean, and everyone is friendly and helpful. I tried a few different ground fighting schools around central a north Seattle before I landed here. Most of those places were more about training UFC wannabes than making sure that all the students that came in learned something and had fun doing it. At least one school looked like it treated the less skilled students as little more than fodder for the higher level students to beat up on. Gracie Barra Ballard offers a free intro class and for a while Micah, the guy who runs the school, was offering free training, up to three classes a week, for people that are currently unemployed. He might still be doing it! read more

My son is 8. He's been with Ballard Gracie Barra for about a year. He's become completely devoted to jujitsu now that he's been with this place. It's a great place for kids! The students are very good to one another, encouraging and kind. It's amazing to see the camaraderie among them. True sportsman behavior. It's the result of the excellent example given by the adults. Even the adult students who walk in for the adult class after the kids class ends are very encouraging and friendly to the kids, cheering them by name as they watch them spar. The instructors are kind, soft spoken, disciplined, encouraging, and the right kind of tough. They listen to the students. They pay attention. I cannot recommend this place enough. It's a wonderful after-school sport for kids to learn good life skills and character. read more

I started training bjj at Ballard Jiu Jitsu (formerly Gracie Barra Ballard) a year ago and have come to completely love the sport and even more the school and people here. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, and they genuinely care about teaching and helping people improve. I can't recommend it enough. read more

Professor Zack and Professor Stegman have 30 years of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You can be guaranteed that your kid will be learning from the best. My son loves jiu-jitsu because it allows him to control a larger and stronger individual without ever having to hit them. Jiu-jitsu is a mental and physical workout that he loves. read more

Learning BJJ at Gracie Barra Ballard has been an amazingly rewarding experience for my 2 children and me since we first bowed onto the hallowed blue mats this past summer. My elementary school / Pre-K aged children absolutely love attending their classes with Professor Zack (Black Belt) 3 times a week. His instruction is detailed, patient, and good-humored. The kids in the class (several Pre-K kids to numerous elementary and middle school children) are all good-natured and welcomed my children into training. My daughter is the only girl in the class but this has never been an issue. My son has 3 other Pre-K boys to train with as well as adult teaching assistants (including another Black Belt, Professor Chauncey) who work with Professor Zack to ensure a great student to instructor ratio at all times for everyone in the class. My kids voluntarily told me that if we keep only one activity, it's going to be BJJ at Gracie Barra Ballard! As for me, I am a new 2-stripe White Belt and I attend MWF Fundamentals classes during the middle of the day. While the number of students in the class is relatively small (it sometimes feels like a personal tutorial!), there is still a good distribution across the belts. And the instruction is superb! Every class is led by one of the numerous Black Belts (Professors Micah, Matt & Zack in particular). Their attention to detail and technique has been tremendously helpful to my learning and development in BJJ. After each class, there is an optional training hour, for which I always stay. There is usually a bevy of colored belts, especially Black Belts, who come by to help us newbies train. I can't speak for other BJJ schools. But at Gracie Barra Ballard, I, as a White Belt, regularly roll with at least 3-4 different Black Belts per day. To me, it is an absolute privilege to be exposed to so many skilled practitioners. They adjust the level of intensity to make sure I learn how to defend, fight for position, and attempt submissions. I've never been "rag-dolled," even though, if they wanted to, they definitely would be able to do so. To date, I've rolled with at least 8 different Black Belts during my mid-day class. Not to mention a whole host of other colored belts. I've heard that the evening classes have many more upper belts who train.... Training at Gracie Barra Ballard has been one of the best decisions that we've made as a family. My kids and I train in BJJ 6 days a week and we LOVE it here at Gracie Barra Ballard! read more

My son just started there, but my husband and I were both so impressed with the lessons that we saw! We are both black belts in another martial arts and have been looking for the right fit for our son for a long time. Zach, the teacher for the kid's class, was so kind, self effacing, humble and clearly talented that we were sold just on him. The kids in the class were welcoming and really looked out for each other and my son. Then the parents showed up...that when the rubber really meets the road. In a rare Seattle sighting, parents INTRODUCED THEMSELVES TO US! They SHOOK OUR HANDS! They LOOKED US IN THE EYE! They SMILED! It was as if we had been transported to a different place! A place where people care about each other and how they are treated. We signed our son up immediately and my husband is signing up too...We'll happily shake your hand and smile at you if you come by the dojo. read more

I found this place a little under two months ago... and I have nothing but good things to say about it....or, more appropriately, them. Ballard BJJ is first and foremost a family comprised of caring, humble individuals who are genuinely excited to help new and experienced souls alike. I still remember standing in front of the door to Ballard BJJ, almost too afraid to even go in. Having never had any previous martial arts experience I wasn't too sure what to except. Would there be a bunch of totally ripped dudes choking each other out on a mat? Would it be too official and upscale for me? I had no idea. I pulled open the door and was thoroughly surprised by what I saw. The entire place consisted of one room, dominated by a massive blue mat, men in gi's grappling all over its surface. My brain freaked out, trying to convince my body to turn around and walk out the door. Too late. My feet carried me toward a couch that sat just off the mat. It was awkward. I felt so ridiculous standing there not knowing what to do or who to talk to or where to stand. And then Micah showed up. "Are you Micah? I sent you an email yesterday." The ice was broken. We shook hands and everything fell into place from there. I have been going to Ballard BJJ for just over a month, and am quickly coming to think of it as a second family. Darren, Michelle, Micah, and Abel (the professors of Ballard BJJ) are the friendliest and most genuine people you could ever hope to meet. Not only is Ballard BJJ a community of righteously awesome people, it is also home to a panel of wicked black belts. The school's motto is "Leave your ego at the door" and everyone who practices at Ballard BJJ lives that motto. Not a shred of ego or pride to be found in the whole place. In short, it is an amazing hole-in-the-wall little place, filled to bursting with love and camaraderie. read more

BJJ is a growing sport/martial art that's sweeping across the world. These days you could find a school around your corner. But Gracie Barra Ballard is a special place. We all come from different parts around town, some of us live in Greenwood or Ballard, Magnolia or Interbay, while others could be coming all the way from West Seattle or Shoreline. But we all share a commonality, Gracie Barra Ballard is home. Over at our school we really focus a lot on technique. We really emphasize the little details on skill vs. utilizing strength, and our head instructor Micah really defines that. Just watching him rolling with an opponent is amazing, he's like a wizard, he's moves from one position to the next position but I can't figure how he did what he did without moving at all. No strength, no speed, all technique to the very last detail. What makes this place special is simple: the people. From white belts to black belts we all train, learn technique, sweat, grind, etc. And we get better because we push each other to the next level. We're not cliquish group, we welcome anyone wants to learn this. Personally, I get my butt whooped here everyday, but I continue to do it because I love the grind, I know that losing more makes winning more rewarding, and my peers get me there by pushing me. If I'm not working, eating, or sleeping then I'm usually here. This is where I want to be. read more

I recently moved to Ballard and wanted to check out the local school. I've watched the UFC forever and I was really excited that a local place teaches Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Unfortnately, I've stopped in on three separate occasions and the owner/lead instructor is never there. After talking with some of the people who train there and at the other Gracie gym I get the impression that the owner Micah is a nice guy but very flaky when it comes to teaching. I was told by a student that trains at the downtown location that if you're serious about training/competing and progressing that I should consider other options. read more

I was hooked from the first day and will stay with it till my wheels fall off. Don't come here if you want an easy path, because if you stick with it you'll be swimming in deep waters; Jiu-Jitsu is hard. But each little success brings great reward because you know you earned it. The instruction at Gracie Barra Ballard is highly detailed and comes with a lot of support for anyone new. It's a great community and I would hate to think what life would be like without it. If you've never trained in martial arts and you're curious, or you tried some other martial art and it didn't work for you, come check out GB Ballard - you likely either won't like it or you'll become totally addicted, there doesn't seem to be much in-between. read more