BJJ Classes
in Bellevue, WA
The gentle art, taught properly. Positional control, leverage, and problem-solving on the ground. Gi and No-Gi. All levels welcome.
The Gentle Art
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a ground-based grappling system built on leverage, positional dominance, and control — not strength or size. It is a cerebral discipline. Every roll is a problem to solve.
BJJ rewards patience, study, and consistent drilling. Position before submission. Base before movement. The principles are deceptively simple, but the depth takes years to develop — and that's the point. There are no shortcuts.
At Warrior Strength, our BJJ program is led by Professor Roland Gutierrez — a Second-Degree Black Belt under Rick Lucero of the original Dirty Dozen lineage and founder of Journeyman Grappling. His instruction is grounded in decades of real-world application across law enforcement and operational environments. The training here is honest, functional, and built to last.
We offer both Gi and No-Gi BJJ in a respectful, ego-free environment. Students from Redmond, Mercer Island, Kirkland, Issaquah, and Sammamish have found the culture here worth the commute.
Both Gi and No-Gi — Why It Matters
Gi BJJ
Trained in a traditional kimono, Gi BJJ introduces grips on the jacket, collar, and pants as part of the positional game. It is slower and more methodical — developing patience, precision, and grip mechanics. The Gi is considered by many to be the better teacher of fundamentals, because sloppiness is harder to compensate for.
No-Gi BJJ
Trained in shorts and a rash guard with no collar or sleeve grips, No-Gi tends to be faster and more scramble-oriented. The emphasis shifts to underhooks, body control, and transitions. It develops athleticism and adaptability — and more directly translates to MMA and self-defense contexts.
Coached by Practitioners
Our BJJ program is led by coaches who have spent decades on the mats — competing, coaching, and continuing their own development. Professor Roland Gutierrez holds a Second-Degree Black Belt under Rick Lucero — Original Dirty Dozen Lineage and is the founder of Journeyman Grappling.
His background spans law enforcement, Government Protective Services contracting, and private security instruction — environments where the functionality of a technique is tested, not just theorized. That experience shapes how BJJ is taught here: practically, systematically, and with respect for what works under pressure.
Sean Shewey, a BJJ Black Belt with a degree in Exercise Science, further supports instruction with a conditioning-integrated approach that develops athletic longevity alongside technical skill.
Who Trains Here
Complete Beginners
No grappling background required. The fundamentals class breaks down posture, base, guard retention, and basic escapes. You'll learn alongside others at the same stage — there is no expectation to perform above your experience level.
Cross-Trainers
If you train Muay Thai or Boxing and want to develop your ground game, BJJ integrates directly. Understanding the ground changes how you fight on your feet — and gives you options in every phase of a confrontation.
Self-Defense & Competitors
BJJ is one of the most validated systems for real-world self-defense. We also support students who want to compete through dedicated preparation. Both goals are respected and developed within the same curriculum.
What BJJ Develops
Serving the Eastside
Our BJJ program is based in Bellevue, WA and serves practitioners from across the greater Eastside. Whether you're coming from Kirkland, Newcastle, Redmond, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or Sammamish, the schedule is built to work around your week — not the other way around.