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    BETA Academy

    BETA Academy

    4.3(82 reviews)
    6.7 km

    I was only here for a week, but this place has been amazing. Keep in mind that this location is one…read moreof the few places I would confidently recommend to anyone who is serious about training in Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and overall physical fitness. I'm from Chandler, Arizona, and I train at a different facility back home. Even so, I was surprised by how familiar and welcoming this location felt from the moment I walked in. The atmosphere reminded me of the kind of environment you hope to find in a high-quality gym--serious training, but with great people and positive energy. The people here are solid. Everyone I met was respectful, hardworking, and focused on improving their craft. That kind of environment makes a big difference when you're training, because the culture of a gym can push you to become better every day. The energy in the room is strong. Whether you're a beginner or someone who has been training for years, you feel motivated to work harder. There's a real sense of discipline and camaraderie that makes training enjoyable but also challenging in the best way. Another thing that stood out to me was how clean and organized the facility is. A clean training environment shows professionalism and respect for the athletes who train there. On top of that, the coaches and fighters here are high-ranking professionals. Many of them are top-level athletes and active competitors, which means you're learning from people who truly understand the sport and what it takes to

    I've been training at Beta Academy in Washington, DC for 5 years, and it's one of the best martial…read morearts gyms I've ever been a part of. I primarily train in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and I love that both disciplines are offered with a wide range of class times and skill levels. Before moving to DC and joining Beta, I trained 5 or 6 years at District Martial Arts in Arlington, Urban Boxing in DC and Arlington, Fight Academy in Pasadena, CA, Gracie Barra in Glendale, CA, and Muay Thai USA in Hollywood, CA. Beta Academy stands out among them for its consistency, quality, and community. One of the biggest highlights for me is that they offer classes on Sundays, which is a rare and much-appreciated option. They also have classes specifically designed for those 40 and older (I am 45), which shows their commitment to accessibility and community. The coaching staff is top-notch--many of them actively compete and bring real-world experience to every class. The facility is always clean and well-maintained, which makes a big difference in the overall training experience. The men's restroom has two showers, which I use after every training session. It's a small detail, but incredibly convenient. If you're looking for a serious, supportive, and well-equipped place to train Muay Thai, BJJ, or MMA, I highly recommend Beta Academy

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    BETA Academy
    BETA Academy
    BETA Academy - Getting in shape with BETA

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    Getting in shape with BETA

    Northeast Taekwondo - Junior Black Belt test

    Northeast Taekwondo

    4.6(12 reviews)
    5.2 kmBrookland

    If you care about the safety of your child, do not patronize this business. If you wish to trust…read moreyour child with a staff that accepts accountability for accidents if/when they arise, then do not waste your time here. Long story, short, I witnessed my son being kicked and punched several times by another student, and it was never acknowledged or addressed by the staff. When I attempted to make the instructors (and management) aware of this, the response was lackluster at best. Let me paint the full picture of my dismay... My experience with this business is a classic case of what happens when you don't heed red flags when you should. Let me start by stating how excited I was to learn about Northeast Taekwondo about a year and a half ago. A few of my son's friends (slightly older) had attended and it is very close to our house and school. So after reading the Yelp reviews, I called and spoke to someone who advised me that the 3 year old group was full, and that he would put us on the wait list for when my son got closer to 5 (which was this September). I received a call about a year later, advising me that a spot had opened up, but when I confirmed my son's age (4 at this point), he said that he made a mistake and that we should expect another call in late August or so. Despite the confusion, we were content, having already enrolled my son in Aikido classes across town. So come early September, since I had not heard from the company, I got proactive and attempted to reach them by phone several times (5-6 times). I left a few messages, and never received a call back. I am a stickler about businesses returning customer inquiries in a timely fashion, so once I did not hear back, I wrote them off as unworthy of my business. A few weeks later, I finally received a call back advising me of open slots and an orientation happening on 9/25. When I advised Mr. O'Kelly of the un-returned calls, he never acknowledged the oversight or apologized; he simply implied that it was my fault by stating that it was best that I email in the future. Despite these small deals, I decided to still attend the orientation; mainly because of how close the facility is to our home and the kids' school. Right now we travel 30 minutes across town during rush hour, and I was looking to cut down on the commute. I also was excited about the prospects of starting my 3 year old out too. Anyway, we arrived for the orientation, and no one explained that the parents were supposed to sit, while the kids were to gather and participate out on the mats. The staff member who greeted us with the contract saw my son sitting next to me and never suggested he join the group. After a few minutes, when I saw other kids his age participating in street clothes I asked about it and only then was I advised that he should join in. This placed him in the back of class, where the instructors paid little attention to what was going on. My son ended up lined up next to an unruly child who was running around, being wild and disrupting the class. The instructors spent a lot of time trying to reel him in, but as their attention went back to the older, more skilled kids in the front of the room, they totally missed this child practice-punching and kicking my son. My son calmly asked him to stop, and after doing it a few more times, the unruly child found other ways to get in trouble. But never once did the instructors notice what happened, and address it. Another staff member was discussing payment with us in the back of the room, and when I stood up to address the punching and kicking, he basically ignored me. Because, the other child had ran to the front of the room, and left my son alone, I allowed my son to finish the lesson. So this was about 20-30 minutes in. The kids continued to do group technique drills and individual strikes on instructors with mats. It was then that I noticed that little to no attention was being paid to the kids in the middle and back of the room, and especially not the kids who were struggling. My son's form or lack of focus at times was never noticed or corrected and I just felt like his needs had fallen through the cracks since he was not either acting bad or overachieving. My husband and I walked away from the experience knowing that we would not be back, especially since our experience at DC Aikido has been the exact opposite. That said, I felt it necessary to bring these issues to the attention of the business owner, who was not present at orientation. So, I emailed him (per his request) and in as nice a way as possible, I voiced my concerns. Mr. O'Kelly simply stated that "it's not ideal for everyone." He never acknowledged/addressed the real issues at hand - namely the safety of my child, the negligence of his staff, and the promise to do better in the future. So, my family and I will steer way clear of Northeast Taekwondo and instead spend our time and money patronizing DC Aikido as we have for the past year.

    I went with my sister yesterday for the Tiny Tigers class. For kids between 2 and 4. My nephew is…read morein the class and the 3 instructors teaching it are totally amazing with these kids. I can't believe the things they have them doing. The class is 30 minutes and the amount of work they do in that time is really cool. I would defiantly recommend anyone to take there tiny tiger there and get enrolled. Learning discipline at a young age is always good.

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    Northeast Taekwondo - Tiny Tigers

    Tiny Tigers

    Northeast Taekwondo - Three year old at Tiny Tiger class

    Three year old at Tiny Tiger class

    Northeast Taekwondo

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    Capital MMA & Elite Fitness - Every Wednesday at 10:30 -- all are welcome to this free session. Membership is NOT required!

    Capital MMA & Elite Fitness

    5.0(3 reviews)
    1.1 km

    Both my 6 year old and my 8 year old daughters take jiu jitsu at capital mma in Takoma park. Coach…read moreJoe, coach Pete and coach Miguel do an excellent job of both connecting with the kids and teaching them good technique in a way that's fun. They break down the movement patterns into easily digestible components that the kids can understand and do a great job of managing my 6 year olds moderately hyper behavior with a firm yet nurturing demeanor. I would highly recommend capital mma to anyone who is looking to get their kids involved in a martial art! -Jacob physical therapist at DCVAMC and Takoma park dad

    Can't say enough good things about Jay and Lamonte (the two blackbelts) and the community here as a…read morewhole. I train in BJJ, so my experience is primarily around that, but there is also a ton more here, including no-gi grappling, kick-boxing, and judo. And since Jay has a wrestling background, and Lamonte is a judo blackbelt (as well as a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt), you get a lot of stand-up/to-the-ground work here that I think may be missing at other schools. Really cool, supportive people here, very friendly to new-comers, mutuality and respect is emphasized, which I think is just as important as the technical stuff. They also have a really active youth program, and the kids seem to be having a ton of fun while they learn.

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    Capital MMA & Elite Fitness - Royce Gracie plus five black belts = phenomenal Memorial Day seminar.

    Royce Gracie plus five black belts = phenomenal Memorial Day seminar.

    Capital MMA & Elite Fitness - The lineage of Capital MMA!! Oss!

    The lineage of Capital MMA!! Oss!

    Capital MMA & Elite Fitness - After a great day of training, the kids lined up for this epic photo!!!

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    After a great day of training, the kids lined up for this epic photo!!!

    N-Flux - N-Flux Krav Maga photoshoot for Runner's World

    N-Flux

    4.9(24 reviews)
    9.0 kmDowntown

    I came to N-Flux to find a hobby and ended up finding a passion and a home away from home. Yes,…read moreit's a gym, and the new facility in the bottom level of 1722 I Street will blow your mind with all the new equipment and toys (no more stripper poles, just tons of mats, gloves, pads and other goodies). But more importantly, this place is a community. N-Flux has the best instructors and classes you will find anywhere in DC if you're interested in taking Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, and all sorts of other martial arts and combat sports. Chris and Colleen are the best instructors I've ever seen. They don't just want you to get skills, they teach concepts, conditioning, and character. Part of the training is how to be a good classmate, and experienced students help newer students and welcome new people. As a result, you're not just coming for a workout, you walk away welcomed and encouraged to be the best you can be -in everything. The classes are challenging in the best way, even their Yoga classes (and I hated yoga before I took N-Flux yoga with the amazing Scott and Maicie!). Chris and Colleen are tough and push you to be your best. Since starting, I've lost 25 pounds, gained 25 new friends, and according to my work colleagues, "am the happiest I've ever been." This place is way more than a gym and you won't know what you're missing until you come try it for yourself.

    If you are into Krav Maga, then this is the place for you. It is a small studio on the top floor of…read morea small building that is only accessible by way of a small elevator. But once inside it does not feel small at all. As a matter of fact you forget everything other than the class as even the beginner classes are intense. You come here to learn to fight and defend yourself. It's intense, it hard, and sometimes it hurts. But if you want to sweat, get a hell of a workout and kick some ass, then this is the place to be.

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    N-Flux - SPARology

    SPARology

    N-Flux - Krav Maga turn in drill

    Krav Maga turn in drill

    N-Flux

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    Capoeira Barro Vermelho - Mestre Bomba teaching us capoeira music

    Capoeira Barro Vermelho

    4.8(15 reviews)
    5.8 kmColumbia Heights

    Teacher is good on what he does, but not to great with beginners, no warm ups, sometimes he forgot…read moresome kids and focus on the ones they know more! Probably for adults it's great school but a real beginners he needs more patience. My kid was there and he missed two sessions and until now we haven't received a call or email on why he is not coming to class! Unprofessional business. Good luck.

    After recently getting into capoeira, I have taken a few capoeira classes here. It is a lot of fun,…read morethe instructor is really knowledgeable and has been teaching capoeira in Brazil for years and now is teaching in DC. I had not done any martial arts before so this was a good way to start and I like that it is not full contact (no gloves, helmets, or pads needed) Capoeira isn't as commonplace as yoga or kickboxing here in DC but it is a really great cardio workout, and helps a lot with flexibility. Plus it incorporates the music and culture of Brazil so it is not just one-dimensional. They have classes here on Saturdays (kids' capoeira classes) and on Sundays (adult capoeira classes) and they also have classes at All Souls Church on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm. I like that there are many days and times to choose from so it fits any schedule. Finally the rates are very reasonable especially if you buy an unlimited monthly pass.

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    Capoeira Barro Vermelho - Mestre Bomba and a student, Vermelha, capoeira on the beach.

    Mestre Bomba and a student, Vermelha, capoeira on the beach.

    Capoeira Barro Vermelho - Learning capoeira muaic

    Learning capoeira muaic

    Capoeira Barro Vermelho - Capoeira for kids

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    Capoeira for kids

    Defend Yourself - martialarts - Updated May 2026

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