Bob Brown
Bob Brown is the founder of Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Seattle. He received his black belt in 2016 and has been training and competing all over the world for 20+ years. Bob is currently an IBJJF certified 2nd Degree Black Belt.
Bob began training martial arts in 2000 while a student at the University of Illinois. Over the years, Bob has trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Jeet Kune Do under Jack McVicker, a world-class 4th degree black belt under Wellington "Megaton" Dias and instructor in Bruce Lee’s art of Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts (Kali) under legendary instructors Dan Inosanto and Paul Vunak.
In 2008 Bob moved to New York City where he trained under Renzo Gracie black belts Aaron Milam and Jin Yung at Workshop. Bob has traveled the world, training and competing in places that include Brazil, Japan, Italy, Panama, Costa Rica, Tahiti, and South Korea. In 2015 Bob then moved to Missoula, MT and opened a BJJ academy (Zoo BJJ - Missoula) that is still in operation today.
Most recently Bob moved to Seattle, WA in 2022 and is excited about growing the city’s best facility for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in both Finance and Spanish from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Saint Louis University.
Chris Lum
Chris started training Jiu Jitsu in 2004 while pursuing his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Training in New York, Chris started learning from Keith Wittenstein, Jason Yang, John Danaher, and Master Renzo Gracie. In 2008, Chris moved to Seattle and continued his training as part of Gracie Barra and Praxis. Around 2015 Chris started coaching more regularly and has coached at many different schools in the Seattle area and was head coach of Burien BJJ from 2022-2024. Chris earned his black belt under Professor Bob Brown in 2023.
With over 20 years experience in grappling Chris enjoys studying all areas of Jiu Jitsu including Wrestling, Judo, MMA, Self Defense, Gi, No-Gi, and sport. Chris has experience competing at white through brown belt in gi and no gi and plans to compete at black belt in the future. Chris has coached his students at all levels of competition at various tournaments around the United States.
Dini Pineda
Dini Pineda started training Jiu Jitsu in 2019. She started coaching in 2022, as one of the assistant coaches under Chris Lum at Burien BJJ from 2022-2024. She received her brown belt from Professor Lum in October 2024.
Dini enjoys competing as often as her schedule as a working parent allows. She has competed both locally, and in tournaments around the country. She won gold in her division at IBJJF Master's Worlds as a blue belt in 2022, and as a purple belt in 2024.
Dini was happy to join the Zoo team in October 2024. She loves learning and sharing knowledge of the art of jiu jitsu, and strives to foster a safe and productive learning environment for new students as well as experienced practitioners.
Lindsi Griggs
Lindsi Griggs began training jiu jitsu in 2020 and promptly connected with the challenges and benefits of pursuing the art. They received their purple belt from Professor Chris Lum in 2023.
Beginning in 2022, Lindsi headed up the Youth Jiu Jitsu program at Burien BJJ where they formed a curriculum and an approach to coaching that aims to support the personal development of their students through mutual respect and engagement while encouraging each student to hold themselves to a high standard as training partners, practitioners and humans.
Lindsi began teaching the youth jiu jitsu classes at Zoo BJJ Seattle in 2024 and continues to grow and evolve their coaching practices while enthusiastically introducing students to the value of learning and training jiu jitsu.
Lindsi has competed locally and nationally. They were a "2023 Top Ranked Athlete" in both gi and no gi at the largest local tournament - The Revolution. As a blue belt, they took bronze at the 2022 IBJJF World Masters Championship, gold at the 2023 IBJJF Pan American Championship, and bronze at the 2023 IBJJF World Championship.