Bellingham BJJ

This gym/academy is by far the best jiu jitsu instruction in Bellingham Washington. I have been in various states with various academies and this has way more personal one on one attention from world class jiu jitsu instructors. Dave Porter is as high level as it gets. Jeff Shaw is super technical with great instruction. Couldn’t give a higher rating. Super inviting for all levels. “You don’t see the mousetrap chasing the mouse” -Pedro Sauer

As a US. Marine Corps Veteran, Exercise Physiologist and Functional Medicine Health Coach for over two decades, I am always on a relentless quest to find the best practitioners to support and guide me in every genre. From day one as a White Belt stepping into my first Jiu Jitsu class, Jeff Shaw made me feel welcome and included. He supported me as a coach in numerous successful grappling competitions and executed every class I took with him with an extremely accessible teaching style that was simple yet precise. His excellent attention to detail in regards to lesson plans serve all of his students at every level. Additionally, he takes the time to address lifestyle modifications, exercise, and ways strengthen the mental state that reinforces the larger practice of the art. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, training with him is a must!
Thanks Jeff Shaw and Bellingham BJJ!
Elijah Sacra

So, this is the story of how I came to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Bellingham BJJ:

In 2015, I was mugged at gunpoint. There's nothing like it for making a person make an instant review of their personal safety plans. In my case, and despite taking MANY women's self-defense workshops in college and after, I didn't have much of a plan besides "welp, let's hope I get out of this."

A good friend of mine, Jeff Shaw, suggested that I start training BJJ, which he'd been doing for about four and a half years. I thought it sounded violent and way too close contact, but he was into it, and I was into him, so I heard him out. And didn't start training, but I *did* start dating that guy.

In 2016, I moved to North Carolina (where he lived and where I had a cool new job) and continued not to learn jiu-jitsu because, well, he *really* liked it and what if I didn't? Awkward. The problem was that it wasn't just Jeff. He had all of these cool friends who were all different -- chefs and cops and teachers and coders and retirees and scientists and musicians -- and they all trained BJJ and they were so friendly, so confident, so upfront about who they were and what they needed out of life. And, eventually, I just couldn't resist trying out this thing that all of these people loved.

It was OK. I liked it, I guess. The gym was awesome and, wow, did I get stronger without even noticing it. But I was really busy and the cool job was also a stressful job, and then that guy asked me to marry him, so we had a wedding to plan. So I quit as a three-stripe white belt but kept hanging around these great people.

And a year later, my cool job had turned into another cool job, which led us to Bellingham, Washington. Jeff had his brown belt, and I missed training, and we had a very clear idea about what kind of training environment we both needed: Inclusive. Friendly. Passionate about technique but open to people (like me) who aren't trying to win world championships but want to be safer, stronger and smarter.

And that's how Bellingham BJJ started -- with Jeff building a training environment and curriculum that respects both jiujitsu and the people who train it. Our friend David Porter, a ridiculously skilled and fun black belt under Pedro Sauer, took a trip out to Bellingham and fell in love with our quirky town, too, and he moved out to help teach.

And, y'all, whatever your goals are, I would love to see you on the mats sometime. If you're looking for a meaningful challenge, you can find it here. If you're looking for happy training or effective self-defense, that's here, too.

And if you're looking for a space that's inclusive and focused on supporting everybody and every body, please come check us out so we can welcome you to the fold.