Business Details
23 Years
experience
Your Premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Seattle
Founded in 2003 by Professor James Foster, Foster Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has grown from a small grappling program within a Karate school to the most comprehensive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the Seattle area. Our mission centers on empowering students to exceed personal expectations through the transformative principles of BJJ, fostering confidence, discipline, and community. With a state-of-the-art facility serving Seattle, Kent, and surrounding counties, we offer expert instruction for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced competitors. Our team of certified black belt instructors, including multiple world champions, delivers structured programs emphasizing technical mastery, live sparring, and mental resilience. We prioritize a welcoming environment where students develop physical fitness, self-defense skills, and lifelong relationships.Our curriculum balances traditional BJJ fundamentals with modern competition techniques, ensuring practical application for real-world scenarios. With over two decades of experience, we remain committed to advancing the art while maintaining accessibility for diverse age groups and fitness levels. Our facility features climate-controlled training spaces, dedicated areas for adult and children's classes, and equipment designed for optimal safety and performance. Through flexible scheduling and personalized private lessons, we accommodate both casual participants and serious athletes seeking competitive excellence.
Services
Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
No-Gi Submission Grappling
Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Competition Training
Private Lessons
Open Mat Sessions
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- 20+ years of BJJ instruction experience with world champion instructors
- State-of-the-art facility with dedicated adult/children training zones
- Comprehensive curriculum for self-defense and competitive applications
- Supportive community fostering personal growth and technical development
- Flexible 7-day class schedule accommodating all skill levels
What people say
Rewarding decision
Feels like home
Improved physical and mental health
Best activity for growth
Supportive environment
Services
Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Structured adult BJJ classes develop technical proficiency through drills, live sparring, and situational training. Our program builds self-defense capabilities, physical fitness, and mental discipline using traditional techniques adapted for modern application. Students progress through a systematic curriculum emphasizing leverage-based techniques accessible to all body types.
Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Age-appropriate BJJ instruction fosters confidence, discipline, and coordination in children. Our curriculum combines foundational techniques with character development through engaging, family-friendly training environments. Classes focus on safe skill acquisition while promoting respect and teamwork among young practitioners.
Competition Training
Specialized competition preparation develops tournament-ready skills through scenario-based drilling and rule-compliant strategy development. Our program emphasizes match psychology, point-system navigation, and submission techniques aligned with international competition standards. Students train under experienced world-champion instructors with proven competitive track records.
Private Lessons
Customized one-on-one instruction accelerates technical mastery and addresses individual learning goals. Sessions focus on personalized strategy development, weakness correction, and tailored conditioning programs. Ideal for students seeking rapid skill advancement or specialized competition preparation in a focused environment.
No-Gi Submission Grappling
Intensive no-gi training develops close-quarters control and submission techniques without traditional uniform reliance. Our program emphasizes positional dominance, transition efficiency, and pressure-based grappling applicable to both self-defense and sport contexts. Classes maintain technical rigor while adapting to modern grappling competition formats.
People
James Foster
Owner and Head Coach
5th-degree black belt with 20+ years of instruction experience. 3x Master World Champion. Founder of Foster Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2003. Specializes in technical curriculum development and competitive strategy training for all skill levels.
Rick Geist
Coach
3rd-degree black belt with extensive competition experience. Focuses on fundamentals instruction and student progression through practical technique application. Contributes to curriculum development for adult and youth programs.
Michelle Wagner
Coach
4th-degree black belt emphasizing women's self-defense programs and advanced technique refinement. Provides mentorship for female students and contributes to instructor training initiatives across multiple locations.
Matt Ness
Coach
Black belt specializing in competition preparation and strength conditioning. Develops specialized training regimens for tournament athletes while maintaining foundational instruction for new students entering the program.
Jason Tracy
Coach
1st-degree black belt focusing on youth development programs and community outreach initiatives. Coordinates beginner classes and transitional programs for students advancing from fundamentals to regular training sessions.
Questions
Do you offer beginner-friendly BJJ classes?
Yes, we provide fundamentals classes multiple times weekly specifically designed for beginners with no prior martial arts experience.
What age groups do you accommodate?
We offer programs for children aged 5+ and adults of all ages, including specialized senior-friendly training options.
Are private BJJ lessons available?
Yes, personalized private lessons focus on individual skill development and tailored training strategies for specific goals.
Do you teach Gracie Jiu-Jitsu specifically?
While we teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques, our curriculum differs from the Gracie system's structured approach.
What belt progression system do you use?
Adults follow the standard BJJ system (White to Black), while children progress through age-appropriate colored belts.
Is prior fitness required to start training?
No, our program accommodates all fitness levels with gradual progression and technique-focused instruction.
