Putting our 10‑year‑old daughter in BJJ at Combat Arts Academy has been life‑changing. In just six months, we've watched her grow stronger, more confident, and more resilient. She carries herself differently now with calm, courage, and self‑belief. The confidence she's building on the mat shows up everywhere else too. The coaches are phenomenal with kids -firm, encouraging, and deeply respectful. They teach more than self‑defense: they teach discipline, mental toughness, and how to stand tall without aggression. As a parent, knowing my daughter is learning to protect herself while being empowered and supported means everything. If you're looking for BJJ that builds strong skills and strong kids, Combat Arts Academy is truly special. Dawa' read more

Love this gym! My son has grown so much, become disciplined and loves going to class (he is 5.5 years old). Can't recommend highly enough.

I've been training jiu jitsu for about four years and came to CAA as a drop in because I'm from out of town. This place is definitely special, and I don't say this lightly. This is actually the first female owned gym I've ever been to, and it's sad we don't see more of this in the jiu jitsu world. Sonia definitely sets a positive culture here and cultivates an environment that's safe for everyone. As a woman I felt pretty good in this gym, and as a visitor I felt welcomed and immediately felt like I belonged here. That's such an important aspect of jiu jitsu is feeling like you belong. I think the students here are also great and the instruction here is also great. read more

Incredible place. After listening to too much Joe Rogan I called the first BJJ gym I could find, which happened to be this one. They were patient with me and coached me through my first martial arts experience, and I loved every minute of it. A great fit for both beginners and competitors. read more

My Goal is to have fun training in Muay Thai in a positive environment in Seattle before going to Thailand. I live to challenge myself while having fun. Pros: Clean, spacious facility. Dedicated, knowledgeable coaches who consistently give feedback, answer questions. Lots of guest educators from all over. Cons: Volatile, creepy behavior from fellow male attendees. I was yelled at by two different men for freezing during a drill. Another guy followed me to my car asking invasive personal questions after class. Men avoided pairing with me to the extent of stalling the entire class. Some had wretched body odor, I never responded to it. Not once did any of them say hi or exchange names. The other women were cool, things only happened when I was the solo girl. If you are femme be prepared to be treated like a carnival freak then ignored by management for requesting decency. The veneer of community, baby changing tables, and woman owned status are hollow virtue signals. As a Black woman I was singled out, mistreated for existing where not welcome. Despite my experience, it will vary for others. read more

I came for a trial class and had an awesome experience. I was pretty nervous but everyone was friendly and welcoming and the owner REALLY knows her stuff! The group classes didn't work for my schedule but I did a few one on one training and really loved it and learned a lot. Seems like a great community and I'd strongly recommend for anyone interested in trying out martial arts. read more

Honestly, I have zero complaints about this incredible woman-owned gym. At 36, I finally decided it was time to try to learn a few tools to find the ground in moments when overwhelmed by powerlessness, after trying out a few gyms in the area I landed at CAA. Sonia has gone above and beyond building a safe community for just that, hiring thoughtful, gentle and patient staff with an unparalleled understanding of consent culture. **trauma-informed staff alert** Jaime and Joseph lead the introductory Muy Thai series and both create an atmosphere that brings me back and is challenging without being overbearing or threatening. I laugh my way through each class, always leaving drenched and with homework that was uniquely catered to my learning level and needs. If you're seeking a place that feels like community and is facilitated by folks that are dedicated to you reaching your goals-this is it. Run, don't walk. You won't regret it. read more

This school is so solid. They do many things, which I've had the pleasure of watching, however I mainly come from the Muay Thai side of things. When I was preparing myself to fight, they chipped in and gave me the community support that I needed to get ready to fight out of state. Sonia even grabbed a pair of gloves and hit the bags with my daughter as I trained in the ring. I've also volunteered to help them in a Muay Thai show and got to be a part of that experience for their gym. Sonia has poured her heart into making amazing community events in her gym, including an all women's show. The owner of this gym is a woman (Sonia.) She's involved in every aspect of the gym as well as a competitor herself. She's a pillar for the community in so many ways. She's built her gym from very little and a lot of business challenges into two successful locations and has empowered a wonderful team of coaches around her. From kids classes to all adult disciplines, these guys are doing it right. I'd recommend that any family in the West Seattle area go check them out. There is something for you on a recreational or a competitive level, and there is path for your child as well. read more

I cannot say enough positives about this gym - I started just wanting to learn the basics of self defense so I joined the Muay Thai program. Sonia, the owner, was incredibly welcoming, helpful, and encouraging. the class was a great size and I absolutely love the bag classes. The other coaches, Jaime and Joe, are very helpful and take their time if you need a little extra instruction or tips after class. I have since switched to BJJ and absolutely love it. Being up close in someone's space is incredibly uncomfortable for most people and yet with the people here it is somehow fun, challenging, and the best part of my day! read more

Huge shout out to the combat martial arts academy for sending strong capable women to lead the girls in self-defense classes at Camp Long during our two week Girl Scout camp this summer. Their self defense classes were without a doubt one of the highlights of their camp experience! The young women were professional, encouraging, and good role model's for the girls. Thank you so much for supporting the youth in our community. read more

This place has great instructors for both adults and children! Can't wait for businesses to open back up so the family and I can train again! read more

I have a hard time trying new things. Heck, this is the first review I've written after having an account for how long? About ten years ago I went with a friend to where he practiced jiu jitsu to see what it was all about. Yes, I was the only female present, but having that called out and told I was going to be excluded from some exercises "because you're a female" came across as sexism cowardly hiding behind feigned protection. That was the last time I went there or anywhere similar, up until about three weeks ago. From my first interactions with Elite's coaches I've felt and witnessed nothing but respect and professionalism. There is a unique balance of gender compared to other places I've looked into and I don't feel in any way like a token female. I have felt encouraged regardless of my ability instead of blaming my parts for perceived inability. The camaraderie they have fostered across various walks of life is inspiring to see. Instead of having me dive right in, it was decided it would be better to focus on strengthening and conditioning to help better recover from prior injury instead of creating an opportunity for more down the road. I also was not turned away, left with the thought that I'm not cut out for this. This honesty was impressive without offending in any way and now I'm appreciating working toward greater health and strength. Thank you, Elite, for co-holding me accountable to the better version of me I look forward to meeting. read more

Updated Review: 11/2/2013 It's been a year since I left my last review and thought I would update it. What used to be West Seattle Fight and Fitness is now known as Straight Blast Gym - Seattle. I can honestly say that this organization is the BEST run jiu-jitsu organization that I have ever trained in. The people, from Jei the owner of the Seattle gym all the way up through Matt Thornton, are all class acts. A year ago the training at this gym was good, but it is now phenomenal. This school has one of the biggest mats you will see and it is now packed on a regular basis. Not only is the quality of instruction and training as good as it gets, but Jei and Sonia are real professionals. They are constantly improving the school, adding classes, updating the facilities etc. It's an honor to train here and I would recommend it to anyone. Matt read more

I just started going here a few weeks ago so this is a preliminary review, but right now I'm extremely excited about this place. I've trained in BJJ for a couple of years at two other schools, so while I'm not super experienced, I do have something to compare it with. First off, the instructors are really talented, clear and thorough in their explanations, and actually nice and friendly. This is crucial given how technical and detailed jiu-jitsu can be. One of schools I attended briefly down in Sodo was more focused on the discipline and the giant classes of 60 people and all that yes sir no sir train in silence bullshit, but I'm actually an adult and don't need to be in some weird pseudo-military atmosphere in order to understand how to be respectful to the instructors and my training partners, and it was also pretty difficult to learn details of techniques in that kind of setting. Second, the classes are currently very small (4-8 students) since it is a new facility, so it's almost private instruction, which is pretty amazing. This will obviously change soon as things get bigger, but getting in early and taking advantage of the skill level of these folks in small training sessions is fantastic and should not be missed. Third, the facilities are very nice and large, so with more students there will be no problems accommodating every one. They have classes both in the early mornings and evenings, which is great so that when I have evening plans I can still get training in before my day starts. All in all right now I'm just really happy this place opened up, and I'm looking forward to training here for many years to come. read more

I had a kid a few years ago, and wanted to start working out regularly so I can be a healthy person and live a long life with my son and husband. Going to yoga once or twice a week was nice and relaxing, but wasn't getting me into the shape I wanted. Luckily, I heard about West Seattle Fight and Fitness and the Warrior Woman program. Classes are lead by Strength Coach Joey Cole at West Seattle Fight and Fitness. Twice a week I get my butt kicked, and come back for more. The focus is on strength training, with enough cardio mixed in that I get a well rounded workout. I am getting strong, and improving my life. My overall fitness is improving, my outlook is better, I look better, and I am definitely happier. I have never done strength training before, dead lifting safely, hitting a giant tire with a sledgehammer, and other great stuff. Joey mixes it up, every class is different. I am going to stick with it. Joey is a fun trainer, easy to talk to, and just the right amount of tough that I leave everything I have in the gym. read more

I am super excited about WSFF. If you haven't trained in jiu jitsu before, this is an excellent time to come learn. If you have trained before, ever more the reason to appreciate the black belt instruction, the huge mat space, considerate and smart co-rollers, and personalized technique development and workout plans. White belts train with all levels in class, which is really important for building skills and technique and not just trying to out-strength other white belts who don't know what they are doing. Dave, the black belt, is an excellent instructor, and focuses on the reasons for each step in, say, a guard pass. This is so crucial, because if you simply try to memorize these techniques, you will inevitably find yourself in a situation where you need to modify and can't or where you've forgotten exactly what to do when and whoosh! The window of opportunity is gone. Sonia runs the womens open mat and grappling gals, which is fun and awesome. I honestly didn't know how much more I would get from training with women only, but the difference was immediate and stark. I felt so much more comfortable rolling with women and letting some attack happen just to see how it developed and learn from it, rather than fighting them off. Overall, this school is really phenomenal, and makes me want to train every day. I haven't felt that way with other schools and have given a lot of excuses for why I couldn't train, but at the end of the day I was tired of getting tossed around and feeling like I wasn't improving. Already with WSFF I can feel my game getting stronger and when I leave class, I feel strong and determined, and can't wait to come back again. read more

SBG Seattle is an awesome place to train. I didn't start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu here but I have been training at this gym for the past 4 months and I have felt myself progress immensely in that time. Although I travel from the University of Washington (about an hour bus ride each way), the commute is definitely worth it. The training facility is fantastic and continually improving. The mat space is huge, allowing many people to roll at the same time without running into each other. The changing rooms have a ton of space to store personal items and plenty of seating is provided around the training area so parents and guests can easily and comfortably watch classes. All this space is put to good use as classes are regularly full. SBG Seattle has very dedicated instructors that I feel are invested in my personal progress and will not accept less than my best. Coach Jei and Coach Sonia are devoted to creating a great training atmosphere. They offer detailed instruction and are very willing to share their experience and expertise. I can count on a variety of training partners every time I come in. Everyone here is just as motivated as me to improve. I have yet to encounter somebody who is not willing to answer my questions or practice a technique I have trouble with. TL;DR Great environment, expert instruction, family friendly. Both instructors and students are very approachable and will make you feel comfortable. Would definitely recommend for anyone wanting to get in shape, or learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/striking/self-defense. read more

For years now I have been going to trainers to hopefully get me to a meaningful goal. John Brooks is the one person who is going to get me trained and ready to run the Tough Mudder this coming May. Of this I have no doubt. The extra bonuses about this place are: 1. In my neighborhood. 2. The facilities are inredible. 3. The goals of strength training in addition to the striking classes I will take after the Tough Mudder is done ties right into the goals I have set for myself. Its just win win win here. read more

How does one summarize one's experience at SBG-Seattle? It's really hard to write a review for every type of person out there so I can only explain why I love SBG-Seattle. I am lazy. Straight up lazy. I hate working out. I think fitness gyms are smelly, dank, and, as a female, annoying as hell since a large number of men seem to see the gym as an ideal place to pick up a woman. "Can I work in?" is not a conversation starter! Anyway, back to the point. Working out is not easy for me. I am not and never will be one of those people who brags about workouts being invigorating. With that in mind, you'd think a facility that basically provides personal training would be a turn off. One would think it would be too intimidating. Oddly, not at all. I really love SBG. The coaching staff is patient and they don't make you feel inadequate if you're struggle during training. Though the gym does have a number of students who compete, no one pushes you to compete. There isn't a weird hierarchy where those who compete are treated better than those that don't. As someone who does not currently compete, this is hugely comforting. I think one of the main reasons I love SBG is that it's not uptight, it's a family. People often think martial arts = super strict. This is not the case with SBG. They have rules, they have expectations but they are not slave drivers. You won't find that crazy chick from Biggest Loser in there yelling at people. SBG coaches are all about individual improvement. They encourage you to challenge yourself but always within your means. You feel safe training there and I think having a safe spot is why so many of their students have stayed with them. read more

Women's Boot Camp is awesome-- it's low tech (no expensive/complicated workout equipment, perfect for us Neo-Luddites), the focus is on strengthening your body and improving your fitness. The trainers are very positive, and the atmosphere is friendly and supportive. read more

Combat Arts Academy - Trainers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Dave is the man! And the way he teaches is amazing! everything is starting to click! Big ups for Jei and Sonia for the Studio! I must say this is one of the biggest Martial arts studio i have seen! read more

I'm not much for the big box gyms...basically if I have to primp BEFORE my work out, or put up with the judging eyes of the super skinnies on the elliptical or the jacked tools in the weight room...I'm not into it and no way can you get me to pay even $25 a month to do it. You get what you pay for, y'all. We get the support and motivation of a small tight-knit group, plus individual attention from knowledgeable coaches. This rings true for all the programs at SBGi (I'm in Warrior Woman and my husband is in Jiu Jitsu; they also offer striking, boxing, yoga - which is also great with DARCY!! - and a Saturday morning fit kick cardio, and kids' programs). I have been doing Warrior Woman since day one - strength training for women, with coaches from Varta Fitness: Joey Cole and Joel Mitchell. I've worked with both strength coaches, and they are both awesome. I also do yoga one night a week with Darcy - she's fantastic, not about weird and funky moves that no one in a normal state of fitness would be able to contort their bodies into - great class. I will say, right now the yoga room has been REALLY cold, and I do wish it was offered twice a week instead of once a week - I'm hoping that will change as the gym grows! I reviewed Varta Fitness already and said pretty much the same things I'll say here: the focus is on proper form and health, getting strong, and doing so in a fun environment with supportive women and coaches who understand where each of us is coming from. Although we have different backgrounds and different fitness levels, there is no reason we can't train together - getting strong and healthy is our goal. When I moved here from Arizona, I was worried I wouldn't find a gym as good as the little boutique gym I found while living down there. Bottom line: I was wrong. It's not just about losing weight and getting strong, it's about doing it RIGHT. Learning how to move with the right form to maximize strength and minimize injury. I had a unilateral knee injury from a few years ago that I was constantly told to "not push it" and "don't lift as much because that side will always be weak." SO NOT TRUE! Working with Joel and Joey, I've not only gained a ton of strength on BOTH sides, but I've significantly improved performance on the injured side - and it keeps getting better. A normal injury shouldn't debilitate a person forever - find the right coach for you! These guys are definitely my type of coaches! read more

SBG is more than a gym. It is a family. My whole family trains here we love it and we love the coaches. I have gained strength and confidence that can never be obtained at a traditional gym. You will see the motto "one tribe one vibe" inside, that is the life blood of the coaching and the mind set of all of students. Your mind and body will thank you for coming in and training here. read more

Combat Arts Academy - Trainers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am a very, VERY active student in this gym who trains about 4-5 days a week in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Muay Thai. I have been apart of the gym's community for almost a year-and-a-half now... and it is safe to say that everybody who joins this gym is like 2nd family to me. Being a part of this gym... has taught me that dedication, hard work and loyalty really pays off. I have reached so many of my fitness goals, including losing almost 20 pounds of body weight since I have joined. We are all pushing each other to reach our fitness goals. All of the instructors are pushing you to your limits. Everyone cares about each other... and there's nothing more I could ask for from a community where you are doing not just what is best for YOUR body... but also in self-defense. The world is getting scarier each day, and I cannot emphasize how important it is that STAYING FIT and learning even just a little bit of SELF-DEFENSE will make you feel more confident and protected against the evils of this world. Still having back-and-forth thoughts? Stop... and just give any our programs that interest you (or your children) a try. It may very well be the best decision you have made in your life because I know for a fact that joining this gym was definitely a decision I have not regretted at all :) Join the family!!!!!!! read more

Elite Seattle has an amazing atmosphere especially for beginners. My wife has never done anything "sporty" and the entire gym has been incredibly welcoming and encouraging. If you have ever considered learning Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai kickboxing then your search ends here. I have never experienced an environment that is so welcoming to newcomers, so flexible with lessons and so openly encouraging to beginners. I have taken martial arts in varying forms for years, my cousin is a 4 times world champion and I grew up with many popular UFC fighters in Hawaii. This was the first time beginners weren't just thrown into a sink or swim environment. I give amazing credit for the Women's only classes on Sundays which are a truly enlightening experience just to even watch. I have recommended multiple women in my office try it and any beginner (especially women) really needs to visit Sonia and sign up. read more

Old, woefully out of shape, and in need of a healthy change in life I stumbled into West Seattle Fight & Fitness. I have tried traditional gyms in the past but never stuck with them as I am not the worlds most motivated person. When left to my own devices I slack... Well there is no slack at WSFF! I signed up for the Taekwondo with instructor (or is it master?) Sonia. For the first few weeks my body rejected the gym. My aching muscles begged me not to go. Undeterred I pressed on with motivation by the instructors and students. I cannot speak highly enough of the instructors at WSFF. They are inspiring to say the least. Each one brings a set of unique skills to the mat so you are constantly learning. They encourage, motivate and if necessary push you. It's only been about 3 months for me and already my health and conditioning has dramatically improved. My energy levels are much higher and I'm wondering why I never did this years ago. If you are thinking about making a change in your life and want to get in shape physically and mentally I strongly suggest coming into West Seattle Fight & Fitness. -Mark read more

Things I have learned at this gym: 1. I am strong. 2. I don't quit. (I really thought I was a quitter my whole life.) 3. I love love love the ladies (and gentlemen) I work out with. 4. Joey Cole won't give up on me. Even if I cry when I can't figure out how to do a clean. 5. I want muscles. Like lots of them. And I want to flex them and show them off. 6. A gym isn't just a place to go to see really good looking fit people strutting around. Its a community. A place to go when your whole life feels like chaos. People to cheer for you when you reach your goals. And people to encourage you when you fail. I am so thankful for my gym. And if you want to experience this awesomeness join us!! read more

My son attends regular classes here and he loves it! All the coaches really push these kids to grow and improve, and they do it with such a great balance of humor and discipline!! They keep the kids safe and engaged and hold them accountable to themselves and each other. Having seen multiple dojos and martial arts instructors over the years, I was a little worried about the atmosphere at this gym, and I have to say, I've never seen better. I can't speak to the adult classes, but if you've got kids interested in muay thai or Brazilian jiu jitsu (or they are interested in martial arts but don't know or care what discipline), send them here!! You won't be dissapointed! read more

I'm a 40 yr old father of 3. My entire family is part of the community at this gym. We find tremendous value because of the quality and personal attention given by the coaches at SBG. Our children have developed awesome life skills in addition to personal confidence and physical fitness through their Growing Gorillas program. Coach Jei and Coach Sonia have taken the time to get to know each of our kids so well we consider them part of the extended family. In my opinion this attention to the details of their personalities are the reasons behind my daughter's increased physical confidence, my son's respectful & positive attitude, and my oldest son's increased courage and confidence. I admit, I wasn't thrilled about rolling around on the floor at 40 years of age. I was in good enough shape (round is a shape). I realize now after 3 months of personal participation that my level of fitness has drastically improved since I started. Throughout this time I have felt encouraged and never felt like the old man out. This gym is not a gym. This gym is a tribe and community. If you want to be supported in your very personal goals for family and/or fitness this is the place to be. read more

SBG Seattle isn't just a gym, its a wonderful community. I've been a member to more gyms than I can count, but haven ever felt the same vibe I get when I go to SBG. Jei & Sonia are such great people and really care about seeing their students grow and get better at the sport. Not to mention the mass amount of mat space that they have created and continue to add on to. I also love how they continue to improve and add things to the gym to make it even better for everyone. This is one of my favorite places to be. If you have been searching for a gym to actually "belong" to I highly encourage you to check this place out. You won't be disappointed! read more

Overall straight blast gym was a good experience, but I have been trying to cancel my membership for the last month because i'm moving and it has been an awful process. i've called several times and my calls are never returned. i sent in a membership cancellation form and continue to get charged. this has tainted my experience of sbg. read more

I was so stoked to hear about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school open up here around West Seattle. A small guy like me just had a hard time trying to adjust with the bureaucracies of such other Taekwondo or Karate schools, here I'm actually treated more than just a means to a financial end. The atmosphere is really friendly and it helps to build such connections to one another to allow for technical improvement. After a few months training here and some self determination on changing my lifestyle habits, I've seen much improvements to my ground game, self defense, and discipline. This is Jiu Jitsu on a collective team level where everybody's success matters, there are no favorites amongst the class as other gyms. Everybody is treated with equity and have equal opportunities to make themselves better on a competitive level and as martial artists. read more

I'm new to BJJ, and have been training with Jei and Sonia for about 4 months. The studio is very close to my house, and I couldn't resist signing up for such a nearby, fun, community-building regular exercise routine. Sometimes when I get home from a long day of work I have to push myself to go to class, but I always feel much better once I'm there. Jei's classes are just so much fun! Don't misunderstand, they're also rigorous and challenging. And the rolling (sparing) is a great cardiovascular workout. I imaging continuing here for a long time. I also signed up my kids for the childrens' class (mine are ages 6, 6, and 11), and they love it. I've noticed my 6 year old boy is now more disciplined about keeping his room clean (Sonia integrates home-behavior into the program) and my 6 year old girl is more courageous with physical challenges than she used to be, which is awesome! At first, our 11 year old boy was too "cool" to join in, but after watching the kids class for a couple weeks he was sold and decided to join, and now he loves it too! They also have Tae Kwon Do, yoga, boxing, personal training, and a warrior woman fitness program, all of which look great although I haven't tried them personally yet. Right now I'm just enjoying the BJJ. read more

"If you want to know how to fight and protect yourself, jiu jitsu is the best path to take." - Laki Meafou This isn't just a gym for your body, Elite gym has provided me with a better understanding of my body and mind. Since I have been a student at Elite, I have gained confidence, strength, flexibility, humility, and discipline. I cannot say enough good things about Sonia and her team! Thank you immensely for making me an upgraded version of myself. read more

I started at SBG Seattle knowing that I would leave after a few months to return to school in a different state. I walked in and introduced myself to Jei. Although, I wouldn't be able to train at SBG long term, Jei understood my reasoning. He said, "If wait, you may never start". From that point, I felt like we were on the same page. I've trained No-GI BJJ and Muay Thai at other places, and I thought I would train BJJ and Boxing at SBG. After my introductory class with Sonia, it became clear that I had not been really training BJJ. I was excited to start training BJJ. I started in the foundations class. Other schools might toss you in the deep end from day one. I'm a larger guy, and this was the worst experience I've had with BJJ, because I would rely on strength and athleticism. My skill never progressed. The foundations class at SBG nurtured my excitement for training BJJ, and it prepared me for the advanced class. I could feel myself getting better week to week. When I joined the advanced class I was confident that I would not hurt myself or my training partner. As others mentioned, the gym is clean and has plenty of space. They have a prowler, battling ropes, a truck tire, a squat rack and plenty of mat space. It's easy to see by looking at the gym, that this is a place where athletes train. However, the greatest asset that this gym has to offer is the people that train here. It didn't take long to be accepted as part of the training community. I have never been surrounded by so many people committed to helping their training partners improve. I believe that it's Jei and Sonia's infectious passion for martial arts that fosters this unique culture. The perfect time to start training is today. Show up on the first day and do what you can! Be patient with yourself and show up for the next session! read more

I had the opportunity to be a part of the Warrior Woman Bootcamp through SBGi and cannot say enough wonderful things about the program. I started with very little confidence in myself and was very nervous about working out again. As a former athlete I hadn't really found anything that I could consistently do for exercise that I enjoyed. After only a few sessions with our instructor Joey and the wonderful group of women I was actually excited to get up at 5:30 in the morning to work-out. I've noticed HUGE improvements in my strength and stamina (ex. my first max squat was 95#, within 6 months I was up to 155#) as well as how I look at my body. While I definitely feel more confident and beautiful in a bikini, I also really care about myself. I don't eat healthy food because I want to look good, but because I want to get stronger and faster! A lot of women will understand, this is a massive difference in body perspective! The group of women are encouraging, kind and fun! No one whines about their bodies or about the work out, everyone works hard and takes care of each other. Joey is highly educated and very in tune to what each member needs. Also, if you're curious (like I was), he's an exceptionally "non-creepy" male coach. Another unique and amazing aspect of SBGi is their sense of community. It really is a big family with celebrations, victories and lots of love. Don't expect to check in and check out with this group as this is not your typical gym. They have community drives and events and training seminars all the time. I recommend this gym to anyone whether you're just starting, training for something specific, or just trying to stay on track. Unfortunately I only got to stay with the group for 6 months because I moved out of the area, but believe me, if I'm ever within a half hour drive time I am so coming back! I highly recommend SBGi! DO IT! read more

Dropped in on one of the grappling classes and had a blast. I've been doing jiu jitsu for many years and live in New York, but was in West Seattle on vacation. The class I attended was the Sunday noon grappling class with Roland. I was impressed by the mat space, the locker room facilities, and most impressed by the fitness level of the students who happened to be there that day. Roland's warm-ups were intense, but no one quit. The instruction was very detailed and I like Roland's style of teaching, which included a demonstration of each particular technique on several students instead of just performing the technique several times using the same student "uke" -- the latter is what is typically done in my experience. Had the opportunity to get in a few rounds of sparring at the end, when this particular Sunday class transitioned to an open mat. Roland and his students are smooth and very skilled. 10/10 would do again. read more

Just wanted to update... I've amended my rating after reflection & recent interactions. This place can really help. I see them help to increase members confidence as well as health & fitness. I've had some things come up lately that have caused me to miss class, then slack off. They both Sonia & Joseph reached out. I had no doubt that Sonia would and was so touched when Joseph did with his own story he told me. He didn't have to, yet he cared. It just proves over & over the heart the trainers & owners have. I will forever be thankful for this. Also, reading the fb messages members, trainers & owners post is great. The success stories, the sore muscles, the excitement & thanks that are posted are inspiring & I love reading them. I don't have kids but watching the classes they have with them blows me away. How nurturing they are with kids & how much the kids get out if it. I honestly wish I'd have had this opportunity as a kid. I can guarantee my confidence level would be gianormous! One unusual thing I wanted to note is they ask questions. How do we help you? What can WE change or add to make this a better experience for you. When asked that, I (jokingly) said oh, a massage & hot tub. I hadn't fully realized how serious they were about that question. Next thing you know, we are told they have a Denise, LMP, coming in offering massages at a discounted rate for members. I jumped right on that and got 90 min of bliss. She worked things I didn't realize could get tight. She was also great at gauging your mood. Great place, give it a try as you will be welcomed with open arms & nurtured. read more

Why I Joined SBG 1. Need for a lifestyle change from all kinds of vices. 2. Decrease anxiety from stressful work and life situations learn new coping skills, 3. Curb depression. Rain, rain, go away 4. Strong sense of community. You'll see. 5. Skilled and talented coaches in ALL programs. 6. Women only classes offered-I never thought I would lift more than a fork to my mouth but now I'm lifting heavy weights I never thought I could get off the ground. Coach Joey knows his stuff. You will not be disappointed. Shout out to Coach Jei, Coach Sonia and Coach Lee and Yoga Master Darcy. 7. Increase physical strength, agility, endurance, stamina. Duh. Also, these translate in so many different life settings... 8. Consistency and Accountability-I thought no one would notice I was slacking in attendance but I was wrong. 9. Confidence and Courage to push yourself mentally, physically and emotionally because deep down you know you got this even though work sucked, you're tired and you could have easily stayed home to live the couch life. You got this! 10. Three letters, one word. F - U -N. FUN. read more

I joined SBG in January 2016 and I am having a blast. The adult BJJ classes are well organized and FUN! Coach AJ delivers great lessons. The Sunday morning women's only class is my favorite. Coach Sonia gives us a place to learn grappling and self-defense in a comfortable setting. I travel quite a bit to get to this gym, and I think it's completely worth it. One tribe, one vibe. read more