Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo, Wrestling in University Place
- Price
- from $115 a month
- First visit
- Free trial
- Beginners
- Beginners welcome
Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy trains as Atos Tacoma, and two of its classes come from neighboring arts. Judo for Jiu Jitsu meets on Sunday mornings, led by coach Cedric. Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu is a no-gi class on Friday mornings, coached by Mike Andrews, who began wrestling in the 5th grade and over the past 20 years has coached middle school and high school wrestling in the South Sound.
Head professor Noa Moke received a black belt in 2012 and trains under the guidance of Andre Galvao and the Atos association. Professor Vic was awarded his black belt by Andre Galvao in 2019. A group of coaches covers the 6 am, noon and kids classes, among them brown belt Trevor Elkington and purple belt Kerry Harris.
Adult jiu jitsu at Legend runs in three slots: 6 am, noon and evening. The adult class is for ages 18 and up, for all experience levels, and covers both gi and no-gi. A basics adult class meets at noon on Tuesday and Thursday, a no-gi class runs on Thursday morning and evening, and a competition class meets on Wednesday evening.
Open mats, for ages 11 and up, are open practice time without a set lesson and come with an unlimited membership or a drop-in. The academy also runs a women-only self-defense class as one way to get started. The training space has a lounge area and a weightlifting room. Beginners can start at any time, and the first class is free. Gis are sold through the academy online and in the gym. Kids from age 3 and teens have their own classes. Drop-ins are for people who already have jiu jitsu experience.
- Judo for Jiu Jitsu on Sundays, Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu on Fridays
- Adult classes at 6 am, at noon and in the evening
- Little Legends class for ages 3 to 4
Kids and juniors at Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy
Little Legends (ages 3 to 4) is a class tailored, in the academy's words, to “our littlest martial artists.” Kids jiu jitsu for ages 5 to 10 meets Monday to Friday, in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and in the early evening on Tuesday and Thursday. Kids learn “the fundamentals of jiu jitsu, elements of self-defense, jiu jitsu drills, as well as more advanced techniques when appropriate,” in gi and no-gi.
Teens (ages 11 to 17) have their own class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, where they “learn the essential elements of jiu jitsu, improve their athleticism, and learn a martial artist's way.” Teens can also use the open mats. Coach Chris Ganigan works with kids and teens, and coach Darrin Fiskum with the kids classes.
Classes at Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy
| Class | Who | Ages | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult jiu jitsu (gi, no-gi) | adults | 18+ | Basics, mixed levels |
| Teen jiu jitsu (gi, no-gi) | teens | 11-17 | |
| Kids jiu jitsu (gi, no-gi) | kids | 5-10 | |
| Little Legends | kids | 3-4 | |
| Judo for Jiu Jitsu | adults | not listed | all levels |
| Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu (no-gi) | adults | not listed | all levels |
| Competition class | competition | not listed | adults |
When classes meet
Days and part of day as of November 2026. Exact times are on the school's schedule.
Instructors at Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy
What training at Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy costs
| Plan | Price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Unlimited | $170 | month |
| Teens unlimited (ages 11-17) | $150 | month |
| Little Legends, ages 3-4 | $115 | month |
| Kids, ages 5-10 | $150 | month |
| Adult punch card, expires in 4 months | $200 | 10 classes |
| Youth punch card, expires in 4 months | $180 | 10 classes |
| Family rate for three family members in the same household; each additional member $50 | $350 | not stated |
| Drop-in, for those with jiu jitsu experience | $25 | class |
Prices as of November 2026, from the school's website.
Facts from legendjiujitsu.com, checked November 2026. Something out of date? Send a correction.