Snowblind BJJ

604 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112, USA

5.0 (34 reviews)

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Gi No-Gi

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Adults Classes Open Mat

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&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Snowblind BJJ delivers a unique ju-jitsu curriculum that is focused not on learning &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;moves&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;, but instead the biomechanics that make those moves effective

https://snowblindbjj.net/

(206) 569-8542

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Reviews

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Carl Sibley

Niamh, the instructor, is really good at explaining not just the “how” but the “why” of every move. I am completely new to jiu jitsu and I took the 1-month First Steps course. It was exactly what I was looking for, very beginner friendly.
Posted 1 year ago
Jack Weiner

Traveling from San Diego I always bring my gi and rashguard just in case because you never know when you have a little bit of time to meet people who love the same hobby as you but somewhere new. I had the fortunate chance to drop in on a class here with Niamh last week and their instruction and the overall vibe of the class and community at Snowblind is extremely welcoming and friendly to all levels from beginner to whatever blue belt at 2 years makes me. I had a great time meeting everyone at this gym and it was a very cozy little spot to spend a couple hours while I was in Seattle visiting friends.
Posted 1 year ago
Andrey Dravinski

Super friendly and accommodating Jiu Jitsu studio. Came here after not practicing for many years and the instructors were super welcoming and patient with me, especially with me being so out of shape. It's a super chill and laid back place. Definitely recommend if you're looking to dip your toe into BJJ and want a laid back place to get started.
Posted 1 year ago
Kelly Kennedy

I can't say enough positive things about Snowblind BJJ! If you want to level up your jiu jitsu while making awesome friends, Snowblind is the place to be. The school has a super warm and welcoming culture paired with extremely high-quality instruction that's driven by a deep understanding of concepts and biomechanics (not rote memorization). Niamh teaches by first helping students build a strong foundation in the basic movements and concepts, and then progressively layering on more complexity as appropriate. She has a way of breaking down even confusing and complex-looking positions and movements so they make sense, follow simple rules, and are achievable. She's a skilled and sensitive coach with a real talent for giving each student the feedback they need to get to overcome challenges and get to the next level. I feel incredibly lucky I get to train at Snowblind and learn from her.
Posted 1 year ago
Danny Feldscher

Snowblind and Niamh, the instructor, are both great. Would highly recommend coming here. 1) The space and culture feel very safe and inclusive. This is very actively cultivated, and I can tell it's a priority for Niamh that people feel safe and comfortable, rather than a standard anti-discrimination line. As a visibly trans person I feel comfortable and supported, and I would highly recommend it for other queer people specifically. 2) It was also accessible to start as an absolute beginner at BJJ. Niamh instructs clearly and responds helpfully to questions, and then she or higher belts help you out when you're trying it out. There's a very good balance and pattern in a class, with instruction, then hands on practice, then incrementing what we started, practicing that, and so on. The overall teaching strategy emphasizes teaching the mechanics of things and why they work, rather than the steps. This teaching framework is helping me place new moves in a context to understand them better, but also if I do forget the specifics of a move, I have a better idea of how to reconstruct it. 3) BJJ is fun! The people here are great!
Posted 1 year ago
Adelaide Auslander

Great instructors, willing to adapt their knowledge to help amputees learn as well. Niamh and Mike are wonderful people and very friendly.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
jhay-tea (JT)

I've been training BJJ since 2010, been to many different gyms and by far, Niamh is one of the most technical, conceptual, and inspirational instructors I've had the honor - and fun! - to train with. Whether you're new to the sport, new to the area, back from an injury or time away, you'll find yourself warmly welcomed and accepted as you are. Try it out, you'll see what I mean!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Akash Thakkar

I've been lucky to train at quite a few BJJ gyms across the country as well as in Seattle, and can safely say that Snowblind is easily my favorite of them all. Not only is Niamh a truly excellent instructor, but she has created a methodology that actually causes every lesson to stick. I actually feel like I'm regularly "getting it" for the first time in my BJJ training journey. The class structure at Snowblind is very thoughtfully designed. Most classes start with a high-quality lesson in stand-up, which many BJJ gyms tend to ignore. Then from there, we dive into the topic of the month, with each week building on the previous ones. The classes focus a lot on drills, experimentation, biomechanics, and play, which has made my learning really skyrocket. I much prefer this style of instruction over the maximum-intensity-at-all-costs formats that I've experienced at so many other gyms. It's easy to be consistent at Snowblind, because I'm free to go as intense as I like without judgement. The community is also wonderful. Everyone I've met at Snowblind is a true joy to roll and train with, and I'm never worried about anyone causing any sort of injury or being uncontrolled, even if the roll is intense. They are also all great training partners - always willing to meet you where you're at to help you experiment, learn, and test your skills. I'm truly grateful to have found Snowblind! Please come check it out, whether you're a beginner or even if you're more advanced and you've found that your BJJ progress has stalled. I'm sure you'll have a good time!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Aubrey

I've trained Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at many different places since 2006 and Snowblind stands out as the gym where I feel I've learned the most in the shortest amount of time thanks to Niamh's very high level of technique, personalized instruction, and passion for the art. As a purple belt at the time of this review, with a brown belt in judo, it hasn't always been easy to find instructors capable of teaching at a higher level, who can really look at your game and coach you towards improvement if you feel you've plateaued, but Niamh does exactly that. Additionally, Snowblind is an explicitly queer/trans inclusive space, which makes it a lot more comfortable and friendly for me and others in that demographic, while also thereby discouraging attendance by anyone who's not gonna be cool with that. There's no machismo here, and you are welcomed as you are. Currently the classes are largely white and blue belts, so this is an excellent place to start learning jiujitsu, but also a great place if you have a lot of experience and feel like you need someone to coach you through a transition from wherever you're at into more advanced technique. 5/5 stars, would be strangled here again. 🤙🏻

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Michael Crampon

Great overall vibe and high quality instruction.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Casey WS

Having tried brazilian jiu jitsu elsewhere, I can say that snowblind BJJ is the best experience I've had so far. I like the instructor's teaching style best - which focuses on learning things from a lower level, and the theory behind it. Not just memorizing "moves" you are supposed to pull against someone that would never work in reality. The instructor Niamh has created a very inclusive and supportive environment. I didn't realize this was important to me, but having experienced it - it makes it a lot easier to learn something physically demanding, like jiu jitsu.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Mahmoud Jaber

I recently joined Snowblind BJJ and it has been a great experience. Niamh is a knowledgeable, meticulous and unassuming instructor. Everyone is very welcoming and helpful, which makes for an inclusive community.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Mira Gross

I love training here! The instructor and community provide an environment that is both supportive and top notch.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Samantha Corey

Wonderful instructor. Niamh's teaching technique makes it easy to follow. Both the instructor and everyone attending are patient and help out to make sure it feels like everyone understands what they are doing, which is wonderful as this is my first martial art I've ever started learning. Very trans and LGBT friendly environment! Highly recommend.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Cat Lee Ball

Classes are mostly trans folks! Niamh is a really good instructor. This is my first time doing any kind of martial arts and it's a good workout! Niamh teaches you neat biomechanics of how to leverage people around in smart ways.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Ryan Konop

Had a great time training at Snowblind BJJ while I was visiting. They were kind enough to allow me to drop in to a class and it was a fantastic experience. The instructor Niamh has a teaching method that makes the techniques clear and gives real insight into the positions covered. All the other students were welcoming and wonderful to train with. Will definitely be stopping by if I am in town again in the future.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Akhil Thirukovela

The class always starts with standup and niamh teaches us different takedown techniques from wrestling, judo etc. and once we are on the floor teaches us the BJJ 🤙 which is very practical, Niamh teaches a very technique oriented class and has great understanding of how our arms, legs rotate and turn to leverage them to gain a dominant position. I enjoy training bjj here 😁

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Alison

The instructor has learned from world class competitors and still managed put their own spin on age-old jiu jitsu technique. They are respected by many around the country! You will be that much better in street self defense and also to compete if that is your path. This studio is a very unique opportunity for anyone who is lucky enough to be in the area. It is beautiful and seems clean as well.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Alyse Dunn

Great jiu jitsu school! I'm a blue belt. I trained here for a couple of weeks while I was in town, visiting from New York City. I loved it here! The instructor Niamh was really knowledgeable, articulate, and great about making sure that everyone got a great lesson regardless if if they'd been training for 2 months or 2 years. The overall vibe of this school is satisfying rigorous, while also being collaborative and fun. Definitely not a weird bro environment like you'll find at some schools. I felt comfortable training here as a Black woman, and will definitely come train here again the next time I'm in Seattle.

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Vince Deede

Niamh dropped in at my home gym and was a super insightful grappling partner. I’m excited to drop in soon 🤙

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Joseph Acker

I trained with Niamh before they were a blackbelt and attended classes taught by them after they were promoted. A great training partner and an excellent instructor, Niamh's knowledge is evident and conveyed in a way that makes jiu-jitsu easy to understand.

Instructors
Posted 3 years ago
Ada

Love training here! Niamh is a great teacher, good with beginners and also people coming from other martial arts backgrounds. I'm so excited to have this Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in the neighborhood!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Aaron Stone

I can’t say enough good things about Snowblind BJJ. It’s a fun and welcoming atmosphere, and the instructor Niamh is knowledgeable, patient, and focuses on the principles of WHY and not just how. Would recommend to anyone looking to take up the sport.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Jayek Shore

Niamh is a great, dedicated instructor with tons of experience. Absolutely recommend for practitioners of all levels!

Instructors
Posted 3 years ago
Mal H

Wonderful instructor that is knowledgeable and thorough, with a welcoming and safe environment. Highly recommend.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Kyle Herman

Will definitely keep going back.

Instructors Facility Location Pricing Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Kieran Walsh

Wonderful instructor and wonderful studio. As a beginner coming into it all was very welcoming and warming. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Kitt DeNamur

Being an LGBTQ+ person their studio made me feel safe learning with out fear of being harmed. I look forward to taking Lessons from them in the future.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Robert Johnson

This school is fantastic, I have not seen the quality of education they provide anywhere else. if you wanna be an absolute beast at grappling I highly reccomend! They don't teach you "moves" but rather the absolute fundamentals and you'll dance around anyone else who hasn't gone here

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago