Snowblind BJJ

“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. 🤙🏻”

“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!”

“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.”

“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!”

“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.”