Menu Close

Month: March 2025

From Novice to Competitor: Tacoma’s BJJ Journey for All Ages

I still remember the weight of uncertainty that first evening. Standing barefoot at the edge of the mat, dressed in a borrowed gi that smelled faintly of someone else’s journey, watching bodies flow in choreographed chaos across the floor. The blue belt who’d convinced me to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had made it look effortless. Now, witnessing the live training before my first class, nothing about it seemed simple. That was four years ago. What began…

Read more →

Local Legends: How Tacoma’s BJJ Scene is Creating Champion Grapplers

The first time I walked into Tacoma Combat Club, I wasn’t expecting much. It was 2018, raining (obviously), and the converted warehouse on Puyallup Avenue didn’t exactly scream “home of champions.” The faded sign, the rusted door—it all felt like a thousand other martial arts gyms I’d visited. Then Ray Sanchez caught me in the smoothest arm bar I’d ever experienced, and I realized I’d stumbled into something special. “Welcome to Tacoma jiu-jitsu,” he grinned,…

Read more →