“I am so thrilled we found Defiance for our littlest one. All of the coaches are great and have their own unique style of teaching and engaging with the kids; all prioritize teaching respect, instilling a strong work ethic and developing a sense of agency. I am also grateful that it is affordable and offers classes that are convenient for working parents. Can’t say enough great things about Defiance! Thank you for all that you do for our kids, families and community.”
— Cassie A.
“Love Defiance BJJ! My son has been going there for over a year, transferred from another school. Not only does he learn but they also have fun. Great positive environment yet just the right amount of structure.”
— Bo R.
“My review can be summarized as such... Great Gym, but an even greater group of individuals! I had the pleasure to train with this gym for many years. I have been in the jui jitsu and MMA community for a long time, and am very familiar with the different gyms in the area... Defiance is on an EXTREMELY short list of recommendations. If you are in the local area, and interested in Jui Jitsu... as a hobby, work out, self defense, competition (any reason at all) - do yourself a favor and check them out. The facility is clean, mats are clean, everyone welcomes you (beginners and pros - and this is a great gym for kids and females to train). For different reasons I had to move on, but I wanted to share my experiences. The owners, coaches, and athletes are all ‘top notch’ - plan a visit and you will see why.”
— Nicholas C.
“If you’re looking for solid instruction from an ethical team in the Tacoma area this is your place. The instructors are great and you couldn’t ask for a better group of students to train with. I enjoy every session.”
“Awesome place to come and train. Great professor and coaches with solid lineage. They offer classes for both adults and children. Atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. This is a growing academy with top performing athletes. Not commercialized like some bigger names in the city. This academy gives you the feeling of family right away.
Not to mention, home to some of the best female practitioners. Come and check it out.”
“More than a gym! It’s been really great to become part of a close-knit community in my hometown. The support from coaches and teammates at Defiance is just as valuable as the training. I’m very grateful to have wandered in here!”
— Kevin R.
“I’ve been attending classes here for about 1.5 years, and I love it. The coaches are knowledgeable, there are partners of various sizes and skill levels, and the scheduling of classes accommodates a variety of work schedules. I also thuroughly enjoy that we train in various disciplines of grappling, such as wrestling and judo when working takedowns, alongside traditional groundwork found in BJJ.”
— Tyler D.
“Defiance Jiu Jitsu has been really awesome for our kids. The coaches are very professional and seem to really enjoy their work. They are very talented teachers and are good at handling conflict with children and they treat everyone fairly. My kids are always excited to show people the new techniques they learn in jiu jitsu and practice them at home. They are proud of themselves and are building confidence and self esteem. We look forward to going every time! I highly recommend Defiance Jiu Jitsu.”
— Michael H.
“I’ve been to many different BJJ schools in the area, and this one is by far the best. Great atmosphere. Great teachers. And a great schedule of classes for anyone with a difficult work/life balance, you’ll be able to find everything you need here.”
— Beau L.
“This is a great gym! I was in town for the week and looking to drop in to train— I couldn’t have picked a better dojo. As a female I was treated with respect and kindness from all the men in the class as well as Coach Jesse. I will definitely be back next time I’m in town!”
— Jolynne H.
“Being good at Bjj and being good at teaching Bjj are two separate skills. The Defiance instructors are both. The school is clean and the atmosphere is friendly. If you’re interested in starting Bjj or just need a great school to train at, this is the place. Highly recommended.”
“I started training at Defiance after five years of aging not so gracefully. Stu and Jesse work with you where you are and have created a warm and supportive environment where it is easy to learn. Starting training in a combat sport can be intimidating, but the coaches and other team members do a great job at welcoming everyone and building you up, rather than trying to tear you down.”
