Wow, it's been one whole month since I started! Just a mere…read morefour months earlier to beginning this journey, I was in a hospital bed undergoing surgery for Stage IV Colon Cancer which through God's Blessings it was defeated. MKG MARTIAL ARTS SEATTLE has become my newest chapter. Everyone is so incredibly friendly and fun to practice with along with professional coaches and staff members who are there to tailor your own experiences at a pace that will be a fit best for you. The first step is commitment. Not just the commitment to practicing, but the commitment to not simply breeze through it and passively participate and go through the motions. Commit to 100% focus every time you practice. Commit to the knowledge it will be tiring and exhausting, and there is no easy way to actually practice. Getting better at something involves straying outside of your comfort zone. It will involve no small amount of struggle. You will feel uncomfortable and lacking in your abilities when you attempt to climb higher and higher. So, commit to all of this. If I can make the attempt after what I have been through in just the past year alone, imagine what you can achieve from MKG SEATTLE! Enough chit-chat for now and make that commitment to yourself....you will be glad that you did!

**This review is for the MAX10 Program**…read more I got excited when I purchased a deal from Bloomspot for a 5 week MAX 10 fitness program. I have been in a fitness rut so I figured this would be a great way for me to get back in shape. Right from the beginning, I like how thorough the trainers are. During orientation, they measure and weigh each student and go through basic Muay Thai movements. I thought I was in decent shape but when I saw my weight and body fat results, WOW that was a rude awakening! They also go over nutrition in a realistic manner (no fad diets!) and provide feedback during class. My first week was ROUGH. I don't mean that in a bad way but it made me realize I had to change certain habits in order to improve, such as getting in the habit of having enough sleep and eating breakfast. My biggest regret was missing out on a few classes (due to a cold) and I totally paid for it during the next session I attended. I highly suggest that if you enter this program, it is best that you try to not skip classes for the best results. So how are classes like? One instructor is assigned to a different day of the week so you don't know what to expect when you come into class. For the 9 am sessions the Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes are martial arts based while on Tuesday and Thursdays the classes are focused on cardio and strength training exercises. I personally love the martial arts classes more than the cardio and strength training but both classes go hand in hand. Now that its week 5, I have seen improvements in my strength and stamina, especially when it involves jump roping, burpees and push ups. I also do see some muscle development all around which I personally think is a lot better than trying to meet my weight loss goal of 10 lbs in 5 weeks. Although these have been an intense five weeks, I personally feel that it was not long enough, which is why I decided to sign up for the full 10 weeks. The cost of the program might seem a bit high but when you do the math and consider what you get out of the program, it's actually a great deal! Besides having classes 5 days a week, you're also assigned a coach to monitor your progress as well as having different instructors every day of the week and you get your own punching gloves to keep. You definitely get your moneys worth at MKG! I plan on updating my review at the end of the full 10 weeks. Thanks to the MAX 10 program, I'm considering of signing up for either their cage fitness or martial arts classes! TIP: Once you sign up for classes, you should like their page on Facebook so you get updates regarding seminars and special classes that are held usually on the weekends. I attended a foam roller workshop not too long ago and it was wonderful. So definitely keep that in mind!

Clean, good instruction, chill environment, chill people. Must check out if you're rolling in…read moreSeattle.

I have been training here for about 3 months now and here is my preliminary review…read more 1) Cleanliness - The mats are swept / mopped after classes. I have yet to think about the mats or my partner as anything less than spotless. The other students take pride in their school and keep it as well as themselves clean. 2) Size - This could be my only complaint. The classes attract a lot of people and if it were possible to expand another couple hundred square feet, it would be perfect. As it is, we'll bump into each other on an odd occasion - it's nothing that happens all the time. Just everyonce in a while when sweeping someone. 3) Instruction - Incredible!! Brian Johnson is a Machado Blackbelt under David Meyer & John Will. He has won multiple tournaments (including NAGA, ADCC & Grapplers Quest plus more) and he is the primary teacher for the basics & advanced classes. - One of the reason I chose to train at NWJJA was Brian's Curriculum and his willingness to show & explain it. Basic 24 (Which will soon be turning into the Basic 48) is a set curriculum that students must attend before going to the advanced classes - Giving everyone a base from which to build. - With his new curriculum it is focused into 4 separate days a week. Example: Mon = Guard Attacks I Tue = Guard Attacks II Wed = Guard Attacks III Thu = Guard Attacks IV. This way you are learning new things, but are drilling the same core concept for the whole week. And this is just the GI classes. NWJJA also offers NoGi classes as well as open mats & competition classes. NWJJA offers, what in my opinion, is a great way to learn. Consistantly building on the foundation in a progressive way. 4) Other Students - The atomosphere in NWJJA is relaxed and welcoming. Every single time I have made a mistake or had a question, they were there helping me and explaining how I should do things. I've read that in other schools, some people don't even try to remember names until someone has achieved their blue belt (About a year or 2). Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) has a high drop out rate. It ain't easy and belts aren't handed out as often as some other styles. As such you see a pretty tight group of blue belts and up, because a lot of white belts quit for their own reasons. This hasn't been my experience so far with NWJJA. Blue, Purple & Brown belts train regularly in the basics class and I have never felt ignored. That's my review so far! Also - beginning soon there will be a kids class as well.

Dropped in while visiting my folks in the area. Kindred is a welcoming, relaxed environment with…read moresome tough rolls. As a bigger dude, it was refreshing to get some rolls with some larger guys + higher belts. I also really enjoyed Coach Harry's class--did some eco/CLA style drills and learned a great detail on an anaconda choke. Thank you Kindred for having me!

Coach Jenny is incredible! She's highly skilled in jiu-jitsu and offers a Women's class on Friday…read moreevenings. She explains techniques clearly and answers questions with care, making the material accessible for everyone. The studio is clean, welcoming, and there's plenty of parking. They welcome all gi styles and colors, which adds to the inclusive and relaxed environment. If it's your first time and you don't have a gi, don't worry--come anyway! They have loaner gis available, or you can purchase one at the studio.    Coach Jenny creates an environment where women feel heard, respected, and capable. Everyone I've met has been kind, respectful, and supportive--it's truly a great community to train with.o

I was a member here for several years and originally joined as a continuation from the UW BJJ club…read more Even after I stopped training due to personal circumstances, I kept my membership active to support the school and maintained a student-rate patronage for quite some time. When I recently requested to cancel, I was informed that the most recent charge could not be refunded because of a 15-day notice policy. This was disappointing, especially given that the gym previously placed my membership on a multi-month pause and later resumed billing without any proactive communication. The instruction and community are strong, but my experience with the billing practices and lack of transparency around charges has been frustrating.

Great gym with high level black belts as well as beginners. Welcoming & friendly! Cannot recommend…read moreMarcelo's enough.

Framework BJJ is nestled in a corner on a fairly busy street on Interbay. Coming from northeast…read moreside of Seattle I would say the only tricky thing is pulling into their drive way where they have available parking. If that lot is filled you can also park up top where the recreational park is. As a jiu jitsu journey man I have found what I like and what I try to avoid when I visit a BJJ club. The culture and energy at frameworks is hands down one of the best vibes I've ever experienced. The best part about this school is there are a lot of high level practitioners so you are sure to gain a lot just from the rolls. As mentioned earlier, framework has one of the best welcoming all inclusive vibes that I look for when visiting. They don't have a bro-ey cult vibe that can be associated unfortunately with some schools. Overall, if you want to learn jiu jitsu, whether you've trained for years or have considered it but are hesitant because it can be intimidating, I can assure you that you will feel very welcomed if you visit and train at Framework. I've been doing jiu jitsu for a lil over a decade, visiting and training at many schools so I'm pretty confident with my take over at framework. Thanks for reading!

I've been with Framework BJJ Seattle for nearly 5 years. It truly is a family ("Frame-ily")…read moreatmosphere amongst the training partners. What an amazing vibe! There's no ego. There's no politics. There's just good-natured, intense-as-you-need-to-be, technique-focused, wholesome training. The flexible class schedule throughout the week is also a HUGE plus. Early morning classes? Check. Midday classes? Got you covered. Evening Classes? Absolutely! Weekend classes and open mats? Oss! Gi and No-gi? Definitely - both available multiple times per week, I should add. And, we also have a Women's & Non-Binary class! And if you are a beginner, the Foundations program devised by the seasoned instructors is the best that I've seen throughout my 8+ years of training in the US and in Asia. The curriculum covers what you need to know so that you can learn to handle live sparring at your own pace. Regardless of whether you are a newbie or a grizzled mat monster (or something in between), Framework is a professionally-operated, technically-sound, members-oriented, welcoming BJJ dojo that is sure to have what you are looking for! Come get some!

Been doing BJJ for about 4 year. Was in the area visiting close friends. I dropped in and did a no…read moreGi class. The other student were very welcoming and helpful. The professor was very knowledgeable and lead the class well. if I lived in the area, I would definitely go to this gym. By the way, I am 65 years old.

Had a chance to take a drop in class over the 4th of July and had a great time. The instructor,…read moreCody, was methodical and precise, the academy was clean, open, and airy, and the studio was welcoming. I live in Stockton, but suggest VG to any locals looking to study BJJ. Looking forward to returning in November for a few open mats over Tday.

Professor Joao is the best in the business. I moved from California and I loved my gym and my…read moreprofessor there. I didn't think I could find a better one. I did. If you are looking for a true master of his craft, a born teacher, and an inspirational jiu jitsu expert that cares as much about his student's progress as he does about their health and safety, you have found the best in the business. This dude is the real deal.

Bonnie and Joao are welcoming, enthusiastic, patient and caring. As are the other students…read moreyou'll meet. Expert instruction with an eye to helping you with your personal needs in both Jiu Jitsu and Yoga, no matter your condition, experience or age. There's also a strong sense of family here. Not just encouraging entire family units to participate and be involved but that individuals become part of the community too. In my time as a student, I've found that my only road blocks are the ones I keep placing in front of myself.

Me and my 9 year old daughter have been going here for a little over a year now and both love it…read more Solid training atmosphere and instructors, family friendly, and a great crew of students. The head instructor (Professor Mark) is a seasoned competitor and great instructor. The other black belts (Professor Brett & Professor Nick) really round out the teaching staff. There are plenty of day/evening options for adult classes to meet my schedule have a good balance between higher-level belts and white belts. The kids classes are amazing, my daughter has learned a ton, made some friends, and has a noted boost in her confidence/athleticism. I've been training martial arts on and off for over 30 years and decided to focus on BJJ a couple years ago. Since then I have been looking for a BJJ gym to call "home" & found it here. Seattle has a lot of good martial arts, but Grace Barra Edmonds is probably the most well-rounded BJJ gyms catering to everyone from those who want to compete, to those who are looking for activity/fitness/self-defense, all while being family friendly with their huge kids program. Highly recommend!

I attended Gracie Barra Edmonds Soft Opening on February 22. They had a great warm up session lead…read moreby the head instructor/Professor Mark, an open mat, and a Lion Dance to bring good luck and fortune to the facility. As soon as you enter through the business door you'll find yourself in a building with multiple suites. Just a few steps down will be Gracie Barra (not to be confused with Barre next door). You're welcomed by everyone there. Most importantly, the program director, Coach Jason. He's there to help with getting everything started. From memberships to making sure you're well informed of classes, as well as lessons. Coach Brett is an amazing instructor, he'll describe every bit of detail about the move so that you'll leave every class literally mind-blown! Professor Mark is the lead instructor and is there every day the school has a class. From being four years old to an older guy/gal ready to retire (or ready for their mid-life crisis ), professor Mark will guide you each step of the way. You may come into class feeling scared, intimidated, and maybe you'll even regret signing up. But at the end of the class, I guarantee you, you'll be feeling accomplished, eager for the next class, along with brand new people who you'll eventually call family.