I started Judo at the Compound about a year ago. The gym is great, the instructor is top-notch,…read moreand the whole experience is low-pressure and fun. Everyone is nice-- there's a range of ages and skill levels and we're all having fun learning together.

Great atmosphere. Friendly instructors and students. Really appreciate how clean the space is as…read morewell.

I've been traveling out of town and this is one of the best BJJ gyms I've visited so far. There's a…read morevery healthy culture and community at Groundworks. The instructors (Chris and the two Seans) teach a very modern approach to BJJ. Instead of just showing a position, practicing it a few times, and then sparring, they have us play games to really drill in the position and how it connects to the overall picture. I have found this style to be extremely beneficial as a beginner who is still trying to understand the fundamentals. One of my favorite things about the gym is the strong sense of community. On Thursdays we go out to a Mexican restaurant after class and travel to other gyms. Whether you are new to BJJ or have been practicing for a while you'll be sure to find an awesome community and phenomenal training here at Groundworks. OSS!

This is an excellent place to train. I dropped in for an open mat and met a lot of people across…read moreall belt levels. Everyone was super friendly, welcoming and more than willing to teach me some new tricks. The gym owners themselves were very warm-hearted people and offered to roll with me as well which was tremendously helpful. Facilities were super clean and plenty of mat space for a bit crew to roll. Would give this place an 11 out of 10 and recommend to anyone looking for a place to train while visiting DC or even begin their jiu jitsu journey.

Coach Lima was one of the best parts of my experience at Kaizen…read more He's super level-headed, honest, and actually takes the time to help you improve, no matter your skill level. You can tell he genuinely cares about the people in the gym and isn't just going through the motions. I really respect people who are straightforward, patient, and helpful. and he checks all those boxes. If you're training here, you're in good hands with him.

Kaizen MMA has been apart of my life since 2020, and it has changed me for the better. It helped me…read moregain confidence for myself, during a time where I was lacking such. This place challenged me, and ultimately made me a better fighter and better person both mentally and especially physically. The MMA/Kickboxing classes are top notch, and I've made many friends during my time there. If you want good exercise and good teaching (shoutout coach Jay, Eduardo, and sensei nima!) this is the place to be at. I'll never forget kaizen and all it's done for me. Highly recommend! 10/10

Just wanted to say thanks for the time. Tried the trial sessions here and they were very skillful,…read morekind and respectful. Spoke to them the other day and we decided it wasn't the right fit for me based on my over the top personality. A great gym nonetheless, thanks Carlos and staff. Best of luck yall at ADCC. OSS.

It will be almost a year since our oldest son started jiu jitsu at Native. Logan has always been…read morequiet and sweet in nature. He already encountered enough situations in the first grade where we decided he needed to learn abilities to stand up for himself and develop self confidence. We wanted him to learn and experience what it means to be a part of a team, how to strengthen yourself from within, never get discouraged, learn from each other, how it's ok to stand up for yourself, etc. Native has become part of our daily lives now and we couldn't be happier with the impact on Logan's development physically and mentally. Logan takes regular classes, competition classes and private lessons and he loves every minute of it. He looks forward to his time at Native. Can't wait until we get our youngest to start! Native's culture of family, discipline and respect is exceptional. We LOVE each Coach, Mariely, and all the Family and kids who train at Native. When you're at Native, it's not just about your kid. It's about ALL of our Native kids inside and outside the mats. This is something that another Parent friend shared with me at Logan's first competition, that I will never forget! GO NATIVE!

Should start off with admitting that I'm a Jiu-Jitsu addict. Further, I'm a small framed…read more30-something male. So visiting other academies can be intimidating. When traveling to Gaithersburg for work, I saw there was an academy reasonably close to where I was staying. Professor Noel was incredibly hospitable and encouraging for me to attend the classes. The academy itself is very clean throughout. The drilling or fundamentals classes were great in that they're both a good working and emphasizing drilling technique to perfection (drillers make killers as the saying goes). The advanced class that I attended immediately applied to something I've struggled with. With the requisite rolling, I found the students calm and technical with their sparring habits. Finally, the students themselves - across the belts - were friendly and inviting. I would definitely visit again as well as recommend Foundry Jiu-Jitsu as a place to train if you live in the area.

One of the very few places I miss in Montgomery County, MD. I have practiced judo and Brazilian jiu…read morejitsu in my teens before coming to the US, but since my skills were getting rusty, I tried several schools and The Foundry was the best fit for my skill level. I was not trying on to getting back to competing again, but to feel that empowerment and camaraderie among who practice this martial art. Perfect for every skill level. Great and knowledgeable instructors. Wonderful introduction for children to teach them discipline, respect, and being gentle with self and others. I highly recommend this for everyone who wants to be in tournaments, self-defense and fitness.

I trained here years ago in high school. The workouts are intense and the lessons truly prepared me…read morefor real life situations. I only stopped going because I moved away for college. But their Krav Maga lessons prepared me to defend myself on campus when I really needed it.

These guys have wheat trainers in several disciplines including krav, jujitsu, muai tai, boxing,…read morekali and others. One thing that makes the collective Jim unique-is that you will frequently see instructors from one discipline taking classes in other disciplines. Likewise with students. This allows people to better respond to self-defense situation by knowing "what else is out there" as well-it allows you to train with different instructors and different teaching styles. Not to mention the weight lifting area is expansive --with nearly 2500 ft.² of weights.

Bethesda Strongman is a strength training and fitness gym located inside the Ascend Institute of…read moreMartial Arts (which is another great spot if you'd like to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Muay Thai). BS is owned and operated by local strongman and former CrossFit gym owner Steve Michael - an incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and generally strong dude. Steve's approach combines the best of old-school, no-nonsense training methods with a friendly, laid-back sense of humor. His training style is encouraging and fun without being intimidating at all, and his classes are a diverse mix of all ages/genders/body types/fitness levels with a common desire to get stronger and get in better shape. In summary, I HIGHLY recommend this as an alternative to your typical group strength training classes (like CrossFit) where you don't get a lot of individual attention, and the focus is just on cranking out a bajillion reps until oblivion and without proper form. Direct website for BS is: https://www.facebook.com/bethesdastrongman/

Steve is an awesome coach! I was doing CrossFit for half a year under his guidance. I was totally…read morenew to crossfit, and coach Steve was helping a lot with my technique, but without being too intrusive as some coaches are. Steve also always ready to help you with diet questions. Pricing is very affordable compared to other gyms I think. It's always fun to work out with these people, even if you are such a weakling as me :) I did actually a lot of progress during that half year, got some muscles, but dropped out due to work schedule...

This place is amazing. I tried my first class here and immediately loved it…read more From the start, everyone made me feel welcomed and comfortable. The environment is friendly, supportive, and perfect for beginners, which made starting jiu-jitsu feel way less intimidating than I expected. Huge shoutout to Professor Hani, Professor Sean, Coach Alex, and Amber for being patient, kind, and genuinely helpful. It really feels like a family here and everyone takes the time to support you as you learn. They also offer classes for all ages and levels, including kids, adults, beginners, and more advanced students. And for all the ladies who are interested in an all-women's class, they also have that available at this location. If you are thinking about trying jiujitsu, this is a great place to start. Your first class is free and they make it very easy to get started, just call ahead before coming in.

My daughter has been enrolled here for almost 2 years and she and I really love the location and…read morethe people. She has no prior martial arts experience. The professors and coaches all have made meaningful connections with her and built a wonderful community of people, even sometimes having events and potlucks for that purpose, which we've enjoyed. They prioritize safety and I often hear them correcting and redirecting, explaining to the participants what their safety concern is. They model such an excellent camaraderie that it permeates the other students as well and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. My daughter has had some really amazing experiences here like special seminars, competitions, and once they even helped her attend a special women's class at another Gracie Barra location. She always enjoys her time in class, even the really hard ones, and has made some great friends. They've been accommodating of our schedule when we've needed to pause her membership and have a very easy process for that if needed. I highly recommend GB Great Falls.