Now 2 months and 20+ classes in, I'm consistently happy I joined the BJJ Combatives program at NAK2 Academy. I've taken classes taught by every instructor -- their instructions are clear and they always put an emphasis on safety and care. The instructors quickly troubleshoot each student's execution of the techniques and provide individualized tips or customizations to accommodate individual strengths or weaknesses (e.g., a less flexible back, etc.). Often, the instructors will demonstrate the technique 1:1, showing how a correct execution should feel -- super helpful. I've trained with many other students so far, and I've experienced that same caring energy and focus on teaching from each of them. The techniques are also available online with great emphasis on detail, which further eases and accelerates learning both before and after class. The sessions are simultaneously challenging, enjoyable, intellectually stimulating, and a great workout. Also big thanks to coach Ben, with whom I've trained the most -- a fantastic teacher! NAK2 is an excellent team to train and learn BJJ with, and I couldn't be more excited about this gym and their classes. read more

Nak2 has been an incredible experience so far. I started the Gracie Combatives course a few months ago, never having done it before, and have left every day smiling. Great place to learn and it is an incredibly welcoming community for someone new. Would highly recommend giving it a shot! read more

What a great gym! I was in town on business and thought I would visit. As a Gracie University student, I have reciprocal privileges at all Certified Training Centers. Barry, Jen and their entire staff were warm and welcoming from the moment I entered. And then for mat time, Barry was gracious to work with me, doing some 1-1 Master Cycle training. How cool to roll with a Gracie Black Belt! I was able to watch them work with their kids class and they did a masterful job. Even the parents paid attention! If you're looking for a martial arts gym, look no further. NAK2 Academy is a gem! read more

I've really enjoyed taking classes everyone is very nice and caring and is a great time.

I absolutely love this gym. It's my first time doing Martial Arts and I was worried I would feel out of place doing BJJ and Muey Thia considering my lack of skills. Barry has fostered a family like atmosphere with all ranges of abilities feeling welcome. There is a welcoming and supportive community at NAK2 gym in Issaquah. I feel so empowered with the skills I am learning. My fitness now has a purpose. So grateful read more

Barry, Jen and team are excellent! Being new to the class of Women Empowered, they are mindful of integrating us well with the experienced students. Barry and Jen and their team of experienced students/assistants are patient in providing helpful pointers to improve my maneuvering. I enjoy and benefit a lot from the class; and always learning new tips even with lessons I have been taught before. Thank you!! read more

Very kind people all around. Been training for a while and was back home for a few weeks and didn't want to lose out. After looking around in the area I figured I'd try it out. I only was able to go to two classes due to holiday scheduling on my part, but both were a lot of fun. They welcomed me in on a free trial even when I explained that I was only going to be there for a very short period of time. They were just happy to have a new person to train with! While I can't speak to much on the different types of classes, the two I went to were very cardio based. Very intense but a total "work at your own pace" environment. The coaching was minimal, but they definitely knew what they were doing. Would highly recommend for beginners and intermediate looking to get in some time on the mat. Thanks guys! read more

Everyone working at NAK2 is so excited to be teaching, and they're so patient and friendly that it's a perfect comfortable environment to learn in. read more

We did the trial and the class was great! Would like to rejoin in the future. Everyone was very friendly and my 5yo son loved it. Just couldn't make the times designated for his age group read more

I love the combination of learning a new sport and the physical training. The owners are very attentive and great at teaching. It's also a good way to meet new people..there's a lot of 'buddy' practice and it's nice to see the more advanced students help us newbies..it makes it feel more like a team sport than individual. I'd point out, that safety is taken serious and there's no hard physical punches or kicks. I find the cost being very reasonable for all the benefits you get from attending. Free tryout are offered, so if you're curious..give it a try. read more

This is a Gracie Jiu-jitsu Certified Training Center. I am so impressed with the online program which accompanies my enrollment in the Academy. I study the weeks lesson online and that's exactly what is taught in class. It's hands on, partnering with other students but no actual sparing for beginners (me). We're just hammering down the techniques each session. There are advanced practioners roaming the floor to observe, correct and demonstrate technique as needed. I'm advancing in my practice weekly in a safe and supportive manner. I don't know how far I'll go at 71, but I'm aiming to be the best I can be at jiu-jitsu. With GracieUniversity.com online and NAK2 Academy mirroring the Gracie way, I feel I have the best opportunity to learn Jiu-jitsu. Thank you Barry, Jenny and all supporting staff. read more

My kiddo has a lot of energy and loves to move. We joined NAK2 academy to provide a focus, both mentally and physically. Though Thing1 is one of the youngest and smallest kiddos in the class, I've been impressed with the care and professionalism of the instructors as well as the kindness of the other kiddos. After the first week I was informed by Thing1 that they "need to go to Jiu Jitsu every single day as much as possible all the time." After a month, my kiddo is still hooked and looking forward to learning more. Thing1 still has a lot of energy, and has acquired a lot more focus as well as confidence with other kids. The whole family will likely join in one day - Thing2 already wants to get rolling. read more

I have had such a great experience at NAK2. I have wanted to learn self defense for a long time, finally made the time for it, and am so glad I chose NAK2. Barry and Jen are amazing instructors, as is the whole team, and I walk away from every Women's Empowerment class feeling more confident and excited for the next one. read more

I can't say enough nice things about Barry and his team. I was intimidated by the prospect of learning Muay Thai, but they did a great job of welcoming me in. I've learned so much in a short amount of time and find myself looking forward to going each week. read more

Our 6 y.o. loves NAK2 and the Gracie Bullyproof program. It has a nice balance between fun and learning, and Barry who teaches each class is just an outstanding instructor. We especially like Barry's and Gracie Jiu-jitsu's approach, which to help kids develop the ability and confidence to defend themselves against bullies without turning them into one. For example, the first principle is to avoid the fight at all costs, and they learn verbal techiques to establish control before using force when being harassed. There's also a focus on personal developement, and kids discuss responsibility, jobs at home, how to live healthly, etc. You also get access to online videos to practice together at home, and the membership is flexible and convenient enough for busy families. We're so happy with the program and would recommend it highly to anyone looking to introduce their kids to martial arts. read more

I go here and i honestly this is the perfect to learn Muy Thai the environment is super welcoming and friendly and the people here are really nice. And they don't discriminate against me because i'm a frog, they treat me like everyone else, there is also there is no pressure to show up to classes. Overall it's great place to learn read more

I started with the 10 day free trial and had signed up by the 3rd class I had taken. The classes they offer are great, the instructors are amazing and the environment is awesome! read more

I LOVE training at the school and being a part of this community!!!! I'll definitely sign my children up for classes when they are old enough! The teachers are super skilled, friendly and welcoming. The gym is clean and the vibe is truly stellar. Something I particularly love about this studio is the sense of community that I feel among the students, staff, and parents who observe classes. In my humble opinion, this fact is a testament to the leadership of NAK2. Barry and Jen, have done an excellent job of building a business that is professional, welcoming, and centered around creating a culture of learning that is welcoming and inclusive for everyone. I've been training here for a little over a month and I'm feeling exponentially stronger, and empowered by my new skills and new friends! read more

I started my class here for Mauy Thai class that I've never had any experience before. But since I've joined them I've learned so much about Mauy Thai. They have such a great team to teach me. Great coaches and great friends! They make Mauy thai so much fun! read more

Awesome academy! Very detailed oriented and patient with their students. Will defiantly recommend it for anyone who's looking to study Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. read more

I've been looking for a good place to train Muay Thai for awhile and I had visited a few places in my area. When I came across Nak2, I saw many great reviews all touching on key things I was looking for in a gym: great/caring instructors,clean and fully equipped facility with punching bags, mats, showers, etc. and awesome people. Issaquah is quite a distance away from my area, but I really wanted to meet Barry and Jen and check out the facility for myself. When I arrived, I was greeted by Barry. He was very kind and professional. He gave me a tour of the facility and it was super clean! Training was what I expected. Great instruction, cool people to train with, and fun. We ended training with a game of dodgeball which I found hilarious, but it really tested our abilities to dodge. Barry told me they don't usually play and I had a feeling they did it just for me to make me feel welcomed. When training came to an end, we all started to clean the place up as well as our pads and gloves. I had a girl come out of nowhere to help me clean up. I was SUPER surprised at how kind she and everyone there I met, was. I think that's a testament to the kind of instructors who run and own the gym. I've not gone back since traffic is always horrible when it gets close to class time, taking me about an hour to get there, but I'll never forget my experience. I found another place to train closer to home, but if I ever find myself living closer to Issaquah, you better believe I'll be going back. Thank you Coach Barry and please tell your students they are a great example of some fine human beings! Take care and I wish you all the best. read more

Barry and Jenn are amazing! We just discovered Gracie jujitsu and called them up because they are the closest certified training center. They were so helpful to get us the information to attend super seminar with the Gracie brothers. Both were very attentive throughout the workshop. My family and I just might be hooked. read more

NAK2 Academy - Boot Camps Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

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Currently in Women Empowered program and I am very satisfied, I also attended Gracie Combatives and liked it a LOT. Barry and Jen are amazing instructors, classes are always interesting and engaged! NAK2 is a great school and highly recommended! read more

My son has been attending NAK2's Bullyproof class for the last three years, and I am very grateful to Barry for raising body awareness, self esteem and self respect in my son. Great choice of classes and even greater patience and kindness in instructors. read more

I've been searching for months for a school like this for my son. Everything I've found has been either too big/loud of a class, too long of a drive, too specialized for a specific martial art, taught by a teenager, or a "belt factory" type place all about the testing ($$$). Barry is a super coach & teacher! My son warmed up to him immediately, which was quite unique for my typically shy and reserved kid. I liked the variety of activities in class, along with strong fundamentals of BJJ & Muay Thai that are brought down to a kid's level. It seemed truly about helping the kids develop a love of the sport at an early age. The studio is really nice, clean, and organized. The location is also perfect because it's right off the freeway (with easy HOV lane on 90 the entire way). So, so happy we found Nak! read more

I am shocked by how many people leave this rip off school such a high review. They may be the nicest people on the planet but blue belt instructors in BJJ and "Kru" of Muay Thai that don't have have little to no experience in the ring is a joke. There are so many other BJJ schools under Gracie Barra, Carlson Gracie, and more in the WA area with multiple BLACK BELT instructors that charge less money for more training opportunities. Real Muay Thai and Kickboxing = the instructors/Kru have years of fighting experience and/or are current fighters AND have their own fighters. When the instructors have little to no experience fighting in the ring and use video only of them doing pad work as "proof" on their website...that's a joke and an insult to real Kru in Muay Thai. Some Thai Arjan obviously ripped these people off to give them fake Kru titles. Wake up and go spend your money to instructors that deserve it! AND Charge less for better instruction AND more training opportunities. read more

This is a review for the Gracie jiujitsu courses only. I do not attend the Muay Thai courses currently, but look forward to joining later. My rating does not reflect my experience with other jiujitsu gyms because this if my first attempt at learning jiujitsu. I love being part of this jiujitsu community! I have been attending 2-3 times a week for about 6 months. I joined to learn how to defend myself. The instructors, Barry and Jen, make a great team. I like having a male and female perspective at every session. They spend countless hours continuing to hone their own skills while training others. Their instruction is consistent and clear, and they are infinitely patient with all levels of ability. They work hard to communicate and demonstrate moves effectively. I learn something new no matter how many times I see the same combination demonstrated. I feel safe at all times to explore what I don't know and practice what I do. Barry and Jen cultivate a safe space for all levels. They teach mutual respect while encouraging conscientious proactive communication to limit injuries. I enjoy the camaraderie I experience with some partners but feel comfortable practicing with anyone. That says a lot about the gym culture that Barry and Jen continue to cultivate. Barry and Jen work hard to keep the gym and bathrooms remarkably clean. I appreciate their attention to hygiene. I appreciate that they offer beginning jiujitsu 5 days a week, which means it is easier to make it to 3 classes a week more often than not. I can't imagine attending a different Gracie jiujitsu gym in the Issaquah area. read more

Our two daughters absolutely love attending the "Gracie Bullyproof" program at NAK2 Academy; BJJ has become their favorite after school sporting activity and Barry is by far their favorite coach they have ever had. He is a truly gifted instructor and is amazing with kids. You can tell by the smiles, laughter and camaraderie that the other kids in the program love the class too. Class begins with calisthenics, and stretching, before they circle up for instruction. Barry, or one of the other well trained coaches, starts off with a practical discussion about the training topic of the day before breaking down the technique step by step, always seeking participants from the class to demonstrate the technique. After several go-arounds with students to ensure they all understand the move, the kids get to partner up with each other to practice what they just learned amongst themselves. After several minutes of sparring, they swap partners. Afterwards, they circle up again and Barry teaches the next step of the technique, so on and so forth. Barry often teaches the technique, and the counter to the move so the students can think of both applying the move and defending against it. Depending on the day or the week, they'll focus on control, escapes or submissions, with an emphasis on self-defense against bullying, or being attacked by a larger individual. The focus of the instruction is to avoid a fight if possible, but be able to confidently defend yourself if a physical altercation is inevitable by controlling the assailant, breaking their will to continue fight, and only applying a submission with the minimal force required until they give up/tap, without the use of violence (striking). The program also teaches character development including following directions, staying focused, having a positive attitude, learning from your mistakes and being gracious in defeat. Barry and the other coaches are amazing. Their enthusiasm and love for teaching shows. The last 5 minutes of class are set aside for a friendly game of dodgeball, which seems to be one of the highlights of the class. We highly recommend the "Gracie Bullyproof" program at NAK2 Academy. read more

Super friendly gym that focuses on technique and safety. Coach Barry and Jen are very patient and easy to get along with. A great place to help people of all fitness and skill level to develop a great lifestyle. read more

I started my BJJ Combatives lessons in March 2016. The instructors are super friendly and professional at teaching everyone. The atmosphere is fun and kind. Students are kind with each other too. When I practice with others I was not worried about safety at all. Overall I think this is a good place to learn BJJ and muey thai(although I haven't tried, I saw the students being happy after classes). I have recommended this place to my friends and family. read more

I have been attending the morning boot camp. I had gotten out of the habit of working out and had close to no motivation. Barry and Jen brought out ,grit and determination in me, I had no idea I had! The workouts are consistently challenging and always changing. I am back on track and it feels great! read more

We have zero experience with any kind of martial art. This made us nervous to start. We started at NAK2 Academy because I like the Gracie Bully Proof system, but decided that my wife and I would take the class to follow. All four of us are really enjoying every part of learning. We have only been going for a month but I see this being a long term commitment for us. The instructors Barry and Jen are great. Watching Barry with the kids and both Barry and Jen in the adult classes it shows how much knowledge they have and how good they are at teaching that knowledge. read more

For those who don't know: Muay Thai is Thai kickboxing. It is, in my opinion, the best combat sport to learn if you're interested in increasing your conditioning a LOT, learning an excellent skill, and meeting awesome people. Alos, Muay Thai is addictive. So, be prepared for that. I've gone to three other Muay Thai gyms in the area and this is, by far, the best. I did Muay Thai for a year at a another gym before coming here. I've been here for two months and have learned more than I ever did in that one year at the other gym. This is the best gym because... Reason #1: The instructors actually care about making sure that you learn the proper technique in a safe way. Barry and Jen are a good team (obviously, they're married) and really try to hone in on what to tweak to make you a better fighter. They have invested extra hands-on time with me to make sure that I kick juuuuuust right. I really appreciate their focus and dedication. They take teaching seriously and have a goal to help their students progress. I've been to other schools where teachers just let students do things half right and over time, end up with a gym where 3/4 of the students aren't quite in control of their punches, kicks, knees and elbows. That's a really scary scenario when it comes time to spar and it is not the case at this gym. The instructors know your level and don't let you do anything you're not ready for. Reason #2: There are great Muay Thai classes 6 days a week and there are Jiu Jitsu-options 6 days a week (I haven't taken Jiu Jitsu here so can't speak to it). Two days a week they have an extension Muay Thai class for high-level students to learn more. The classes are varied, meaning that the instructors do a good job of prescribing techniques, doing free rounds, drill rounds and sparring here. Reason #3: There are no egos here. There are people here who have done Muay Thai for years and have fought before and there are people who just started. The experienced people are really friendly and always willing to help. The instructors foster this good attitude. There are many more reasons but this review is long enough. Seriously, just go to Nak2. You won't hate it. read more

An amazing Gracie certified Jiu-Jitsu school with great instructors and friendly students! I visited NAK2 Academy when I was in town for a few weeks and I couldn't have been treated better! Barry and Jen were both welcoming to me and within a few minutes of arriving they had me incorporated in like any other student. Not only were Barry and Jen super friendly, but their knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu is truly impressive and it was a pleasure to learn from them. As for the fellow students, they were more than happy to bring me into the fold and let me train with them and I immediately felt right at home. I highly recommend NAK2 Academy for everyone, especially those who are new to Jiu-Jitsu because you won't find a more welcoming and friendly place to start your journey! read more

I started out in Karate at the age of 8 years old. Then graduated into MMA when I was 15. So at 31 years old now, I have trained on, and off for 16 years at MMA, boxing, and jiu jitsu gyms in Las Vegas, and Washington. Nak2 is the most unique oasis for all walks of life. Its a real welcoming community with a mixture of skilled striking/Muay Thai veterans, newbies, and young children. The owners of this family owned business have created a welcoming community where everyone looks out for the best interest of their training partners. I could not recommend Nak2 enough, and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to learn solid Muay Thai technique, while having some good laughs with these folks along the way. read more

Good gym. It is a family business, which I'm really drawn too. I'm very turned off by gyms who feel like just another fitness club and who could care less who steps onto their mats. I trained at a gym this morning and even made myself known to the instructor after class. He never told me his name and he never asked me my name. It's the little things that really make the most difference and you really get all the little things that matter at Nak2. Jen and Barry are very personable, knowledgeable, good people who care a lot about Muay Thai and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and most of all, about their students. The facility is clean, safe, and has zero tolerance for ego. The community at Nak2 is very friendly and welcoming, which I think is fostered by the instructors they have as role models. They have great classes for all levels and fitness goals. Definitely check them out. read more

I've always wanted to learn martial arts and decided to take up Muay Thai. I'm so glad I did and was a little disappointed that I haven't found this place sooner! It's a cool school because I really appreciate that we got to try out a free class first before committing. I thought that was important because I was afraid I might not like it (never a fan of going to the gym with so many people or strangers). People are friendly here, especially the instructors: Barry and Jenny! They're very skilled and you can tell they love what they do. They teach us how to practice Muay Thai safely with other fellow students. Classes are divided into two groups usually so even though we are completely new to this, we never felt alone, because they accommodate all skill levels. Also, Barry won't partner you up with people you're not comfortable with and I love that. Class hours work out wonderfully with our work schedule. My partner and I are able to attend several times a week. We always leave class feeling like we got an intense yet good workout. I also appreciate that the gym is very clean (I've never met anyone who is more of a germaphobe than me!) and gear and mats get cleaned daily. Would highly recommend this gym! read more

As a mental health therapist I have long wondered how martial arts could engage and encourage clients as a form of healthy self care. This past month Barry opened up Nak2 Academy to a group I was running. Not only did he open up the doors to Nak2, Barry personally taught an abbreviated four-week version of Gracie Combatives to give the group an introduction into the world of martial arts. What initially began as a brainstorm between Barry and myself resulted in a full-blown experience for the group. Barry was incredibly gracious and charitable with his time as this was all "off the clock" for him. I have personally experienced Barry's expertise and guidance as I took up Muay Thai one year ago and it was encouraging watching how his teaching translates across various forms and age groups. A gifted teacher who takes pride in a clean, well-run Academy full of hospitable and caring members. Thanks Nak2! read more