Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy of Tacoma

I came in from out of town after the holidays and new year (2015) from West Virginia for military travel at McChord AFB here in Tacoma WA. The instructor, staff, and students all showed excellent drive and desire to learn Jiu Jitsu and they did it in a safe, fun, and competitive environment. I wasn’t sure what to expect being someone from out of town for a few days, but everyone in the building was the epitome of professional and friendly to a guy who just wanted to get on the mats for a good roll. Ive been to schools where, as a new guy, they throw the best guys at me to smash me and make me feel like nothing rather than treating me as one of their own. Here at BJJ Tacoma i was treated as equal, regardless of past experience or affiliation. I was accepted immediately and just became part of the class seamlessly. Theres a lot to be said about an academy, instructor, and students who welcome whoever walks in the door as someone who just wants to train Jiu Jitsu. It makes for an environment where someone can learn, train, and compete in an otherwise uncomfortable situation because of being an outsider. I recommend that anyone in the area long term or short term check out BJJ Tacoma. Regardless if you’re looking to roll or learn and perfect more techniques, these guys are top notch and full of nothing but class. I’m glad i found them while i was here. Professor Mike, Dave, Steve, and everyone else there were nothing but professional and above all love jiu jitsu… and it shows. Thank you guys for everything.

I came up from SoCal to hang out and see some friends in Des Moine and Seattle last weekend. I was looking for a place to get in some training while I’m up there and I found bjj of Tackoma on Unilocal.I messaged professor Michael about coming into their Saturday open mat and he informed me to come on in. Michael and all his students made feel at home and were really friendly. You definitely get a family feel to this place. The training is also very good. I got to roll with a few Purple belts and a blue and they were all very technical and challenging. I would definitely recommend this school if you live in Tacoma and are looking for a good Bjj school. I’ll definitely revisit them the next time I’m visiting the northwest again. OSS!!!

Im passing through Tacoma, staying with a friend for a couple of weeks and was looking for a school that was accepting of somone without a Gi. Not only did professor Michael Proctor and the rest of the crew welcome me with open arms but they really do care. They truly want me to learn the art and get better with every class. If its not professor Proctor breaking down a move its your classmate working with you to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Indepth and genuine explanation of the moves makes it easy for all levels to grasp concepts. A true team feel even though I’m just passing through, I really feel like this is my home gym and I’ve known these great people my whole life. Thank you so much professor and everyone at Tacoma bjj, much love.

My dad has trained with Michael Proctor for a few years now. They have been trying to get me into the art ever since my dad started. Finally, when I went to college, I decided I needed a new hobby so I decided to train jiu jitsu [In the town I went to school]. When summer came along, Michael Proctor and his team took me in with open arms. Since joining his academy, I have come to find a second jiujitsu home where I am always welcome. Some specific notables for this gym?
1. The techniques are very… technical, as they should be. Michael Proctor really does know the art. He knows how important the little details are and he instills that knowledge in our training every day. Also — a side note with Michael and his techniques: If Michael sees one person needing help on specific escapes, positions, or submissions, he will cater the class’ curriculum for that person. He does this for everyone, not only his shining stars.
2. VERY CLEAN FACILITIES. Michael makes sure the mats are always clean. I wouldn’t be surprised if he told me that he mops the mat multiple times after just one training session. He takes a lot of pride in the team’s hygiene, emphasising the importance of handwashing, shoe-​wearing, and gi-​washing.
3. The energy in the room is always positive. It is not uncommon for the class to start off with a few jokes. Michael keeps it light and it makes a fun environment to train in. People feel like family when they come in because they are treated as family.
I highly recommend this gym to anyone who has a bellybutton.

I have trained with head instructor Michael Proctor since I was a blue belt and left a bad situation with another gym shortly after to continue my training with Michael. Even as a blue belt, I never truly evolved my Jiu-​Jitsu until training with him. It’s one of the many reasons I left my old gym to train under him when he opened his own academy. Michael Proctor’s instruction is not only detailed and thorough, but easy to understand, even for someone who has never grappled or trained in martial arts.
Michael has pride in his instruction and it shows in his teachings as well as the care he puts into his academy. I’ve watched the school grow from a small empty office space with almost no people in attendance, to a well equipped facility full of happy enthusiastic students.
You’ll be hard-​pressed to find a more closely-​knit group of training partners. Everybody is willing to help and learn from each other. New students are welcomed like family with a wide variety of student types from housewives to military as well as professional competitors. Everyone is made to feel comfortable.

I’ve traveled a significant amount and trained at several academies. Professor Proctor is a skilled teacher and practitioner. His students speak volumes about his professionalism and technical skill. Every student I rolled with has excellent technique, didn’t muscle or wildly scramble about. Everyone was extremely helpful and had excellent mat etiquette. If a group of students are a reflection of their instructor they have convinced me that this is the school to train at for technically sound smooth and current jiu jitsu. I cannot thank Professor Proctor enough for inviting me into his school — I only wish I had more time to train here with him and his students. If you are looking to start or are a jitz ronin like me this school is by far one of the best I’ve attended. Thank you Coach!

My husband and 3 kids train here. Excellent instruction; team and family oriented! Also competes at several tournaments, not just local. Highly recommended! Come try it out!

I was visiting Tacoma for the holidays and was looking for a place to train. I am a brown belt in BJJ who has trained for almost 10 years and visited countless gyms throughout my career, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy of Tacoma stands out as one of the premier gyms that I have ever been to. When looking for a BJJ gym I find that it is important to see not only the instructor’s achievements or what he has done for other students, but to see if he can assist you in your goals when you sign up. What is amazing about this gym is that I have seen countless with different goals but they all seem to be very happy with where they train and that went the same for me.
1. Instructor: Professor Mike Proctor was very welcoming from the moment he shook my hand and introduced himself to me. When he was teaching his students, he was genuinely invested in their growth and was giving them personalized instruction when he could. A lot of times «head» instructors just delegate the work but every time I went to class, Professor Proctor was on the mats as well.
2. Students: The group was diverse. I saw women, soldiers, aspiring professional grapplers husbands and wives and A LOT of kids. The people I met seemed genuinely happy to be there because they felt that Brazlian Jiu Jitsu Academy of Tacoma was helping them achieve their goals. EVERY SINGLE ONE of them were very welcoming and made me feel at home.
3. Facilities: The mat space is uninterrupted with and I saw a weight room and a dressing room as well. The mats were very clean.
Overall I give this place 5 stars because there are countless gyms that might have one or the other but not the total package that BJJ Academy of Tacoma provides. If you are in the area I would highly recommend you come in and try a class because that is the only way to make sure you the school is a fit for you. I would say it is a fit for me and it is obviously a fit for many people as well and I am sure you will be a fit as well. I look forward to training there again soon.

This is the place to train BJJ if you are in Tacoma. Unfortunatly this business has been a victim of slander IE Randy and Frank two people with (probably the same person with self esteem issues), That has been posting negitively about this business.

Michael Proctor and the whole Tacoma BJJ family are amazing! I WOULD MAKE SURE TO LOOK AT THE FILTERED REVIEWS — THOSE ARE REAL TEAM MEMBERS WITH REAL FEEDBACK — NOT COMPETITORS BASHING THIS ACADEMY! My husband has been a team member for over two years, and has learned so much! You can tell how much each person cares about one another’s success and Michael’s professionalism shows through his members’ successes. Although I do not personally participate, I have been welcomed like family each time I have visited, from a one-​round MMA tap-​out win by our own David Gines to Michael helping me pick out Fight Soap and gear for my husband while he was deployed to Afghanistan. They are very child friendly and even have classes specifically catered to women! There is no better BJJ association in the Northwest!