Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - West Seattle

5432 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136, USA

(50 reviews)

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We Specialize in Teaching the Art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the West Seattle Community

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Cameron Katrena

Was in town for work and Bob and Chris welcomes me into the gym to train. Everybody was super nice and welcoming. The class had white belts up to brown (not including the coach who was a belt belt) so it was a diverse skillset. We did drilling, positional rolls, and rolling. I had a great time and would love to come back next time I'm in town.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Christopher Mallada

I can’t say enough great things about Zoo BJJ in West Seattle! From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by how clean and well-maintained the gym is. It’s clear that the owner takes great pride in creating an inviting environment for everyone. The standout, though, is the instructor and owner Bob. Their knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is absolutely top-notch. They take the time to break down techniques in a way that’s easy to understand, whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced practitioner. What I truly appreciated was their patience and personalized attention—they genuinely care about your growth and progress. It’s rare to find a place that combines professionalism, cleanliness, and such an encouraging atmosphere. If you’re looking for a BJJ gym in West Seattle, I wholeheartedly recommend Zoo BJJ!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Cristie Boone

Positive, supportive environment, with wonderful teachers for the kids!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
OracleLife

I dropped in here while on trip visiting my daughter here in west Seattle. Dini was an amazing instructor. Highly detailed and thoughtful to deliver precise technical instruction. Bravo! 👏👏👏. I highly recommend this academy.

Instructors Classes Location
Posted 1 year ago
Alex Brost

Quality instruction, with a great training space!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Reid

White belt: I took the time to try a couple gyms before I decided on Zoo. Bob has cultivated a friendly (and family friendly), welcoming atmosphere for people of all skill levels. I recommend Zoo BJJ to anyone interested in a training program for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Michael Gonzalez

Recently resumed training and really enjoying this gym. Instructor is great, training partners are great, and the vibe/atmosphere is very conducive to learning and maintaining safety of you and your partner.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Claudia Monroy

Our 7 year old son loves going to Zoo BJJ. I, as a parent, love the fact that my son is learning discipline, agility and gaining a lifelong skill that will give him confidence. Bob (owner and coach) is patient and kind with kids. I cannot reccomend this Jiu Jitsu gym enough.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Darren Curtis

I've been having an excellent experience as a novice at Zoo BJJ. Robert is a great teacher and it is a good environment for learning. I like that we are exposed to both new and experience partners in the classes.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Vansouk Panyathong

I brought my shy son to Zoo BJJ a year ago and I’m so glad I did. This class has brought out his confidence and I’ve seen such positive changes in him. Bob is an amazing instructor, he is calm, fun, and has a great way of keeping the students focused and in check.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Ean Horton

This place has been great. I read post after post on reddit about joining BJJ and how intimidating it can be, but it's best to just get in there and do it. Well I couldn't be more pleased with the experience I have had so far. I can't endorse Bob (owner/instructor) enough. The guy is great with people and has made me feel comfortable from day one. Awesome environment. 5 Stars all day

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Joel Hackett

Quality teaching in a friendly environment. Zoo bjj is an excellent place to start or continue learning jiu jitsu.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
travis stanley-jones

Bob and the members make Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu one of the best gym's I have had the good fortune of being a part of.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Shaun W

Bob creates a safe and welcoming environment for all. Good teaching and classes are structured to follow weekly themes which is helpful for learning. Class sizes are smaller so you get dedicated and individualized instruction. Friendly crew to train and roll with. Highly recommended!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Rasyidah Conley

If you're looking for a safe, friendly and welcoming gym to kickstart your BJJ journey, look no further. Bob is such a wonderful instructor who made me feel really welcomed and at ease when I did my trial class. I ended up joining and it's been a great learning experience. 10/10!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Court Heeter

I have trained at a couple BJJ Academies in Seattle and, by far, Zoo has been the absolute best. Bob’s teaching style and training methods are great for beginners and those who have experience. He has created a humble, hardworking atmosphere that makes everyone feel comfortable and wanting more. I appreciate everyone on the Zoo team. Court H.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
William Ona

This gym is run really well and Bob really knows what he is doing. I have felt myself improve a lot since I joined. Definitely check it out!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Max Schoen

Bob is a great instructor and the culture at Zoo is great. Good for beginners and beyond, plus relatively affordable compared to other gyms in Seattle.

Instructors Classes Pricing Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Hilary Reeves

Love Zoo BJJ for our daughter! She's learned so much and loves going to class every week.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Alyson Shumays

Both of my kids really enjoy their classes, and are learning and growing so much. Highly recommend the kids classes at Zoo BJJ!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Andrew Nell

Zoo Seattle is a fantastic gym for Jiu Jitsu. Bob is an excellent instructor who makes sure students get the attention they need to learn or improve. The atmosphere is relaxed, and Bob and the staff are great at teaching all ages and skill levels. New students are welcomed by the instructors and other students and everyone supports newer people learning and improving in a safe and well run operation. Whether you are looking for a great place for your child to learn, or if you want to start or continue your own Jiu Jitsu journey, check out Zoo!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Andy Kane

I couldn't have asked for a better BJJ school to open up in the neighborhood. Bob creates a great environment to learn, practice, and repeat with no ego. Awesome place to either continue on your BJJ journey or to take the first step.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Baker Family

As a brand new student to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I have been thoroughly impressed by how Bob welcomes his new students. Bob creates a very warm environment to walk into, and this translates to how the rest of the students treat new folks as well. With smaller class sizes, and specific instruction provided to each student of varying levels, this gym seems like a perfect fit for all skill types. Looking forward to continuing my practice for a long time to come at Zoo BJJ!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Rory LaVigne

I've had my nine year old son taking his first shot at Jiu Jitsu for the past month and Bob is a hands down wonderful instructor for the kids. His approach is calm, encouraging, and instructive, that allows for growth and step by step progression right away. He is just giving more firepower for my son to beat me up more though.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Alonzo L

This place is great. The teacher is knowledgeable and its a small class making so you get more one on one instruction. Also it’s close to where I live. On Tuesday mornings there are stand up techniques which is important to learn in a real fight situation.

Instructors Facility Classes Location
Posted 3 years ago
Andy Choi

Laid back environment, great instruction, friendly rolls

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Brandon Bjelland

Bob sweats the details and works to make everyone comfortable. He does a great job of tailoring every class to the students who show up while also maintaining a throughline from class to class. I always appreciate the atmosphere of the room: laid back but also focused.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Jacob Foster

I've had the pleasure to train under Bob Brown since he opened the first Zoo BJJ gym in Montana in 2015. For new students looking for somewhere to train, Bob teaches an in-depth fundamentals curriculum, which helped me build a strong foundation for my grappling game and to this day is critical to my continued learning. For existing practitioners looking at new gyms, Bob is a dedicated student of Jiu-Jitsu. His curiosity and growth-mindset leaves room in the gym for experimentation which in turn creates an environment where everyone improves together. Bob is a great coach and an even better person. You cannot go wrong training with Bob at Zoo BJJ Seattle.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Chris Boon

Zoo BJJ is the first martial arts school that I’ve join. Bob, the owner and instructor, is a fantastic teacher who is patient and an all around gentleman. I feel that our community is lucky to have him here in West Seattle.

Instructors Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Kathryn Eriksson

Bob Brown is an excellent coach and after 6 plus years of training Jiu Jitsu with him, he has become a good friend as well. He lead me to my purple belt IBJJF world championship this last fall 2022. Thanks Bob!

Instructors
Posted 3 years ago
Rob Domenech

Bob Brown is an outstanding BJJ instructor. His calm demeanor and easygoing style create a warm, welcoming, inspirational training environment for students of all ages and backgrounds. I am 57 years old and have trained in the grappling arts since I was 12. Six years ago, I walked onto the mat at ZooBJJ and have been learning there ever since. Of the many positive aspects of training under Bob, two things stand out to me - the high student retention rate and his students' humble, friendly personalities. Whether you are just beginning your BJJ journey or have trained for decades, I highly recommend ZooBJJ!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Lauren Wolfe

Robert Brown is a fantastic teacher and creates a welcoming environment where it easy and fun to learn. I’ve gone from no experience to brown belt under Robert and highly recommend Zoo BJJ!

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
William Ward

Bob Brown builds an environment in his gym that is truly welcoming. I've been training for over 4 years now, and can say one of the biggest factors for if you're going to stick with a new habit as difficult as BJJ, you need a good environment. Highly recommend this guy and his gym!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Ellie V

My fiancé loves taking classes with Bob at Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitzu. The class sizes are small and he feels like he gets great instruction. I’m looking forward to sitting in on a class!

Instructors Classes
Posted 3 years ago
Iain Lawn

I've been part of several BJJ and MMA gyms over the years as I moved from state to state for work, and I'm glad I found a home at Zoo BJJ here in Seattle. The coaching here really stands out compared to other gyms. It is often difficult to find coaches that are truly thoughtful in their approach and give tailored input to their students. Our head coach, Bob Brown, possesses a unique skillset in this area that separates him from other coaches. Whether you're an advanced belt or a white belt, I would highly recommend Zoo BJJ to anyone.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
rebecca rasch

Bob is a highly skilled, patient and inspiring BJJ instructor.

Instructors
Posted 3 years ago