Going to Caio Terra Sterling has been one of the best decisions for our child. After trying larger…read moregyms, we wanted a place where they would get more individual attention. We found the class size and coach-to-student ratio here allowed the coaches to really watch each student, give corrections, and help them get better at their techniques. You can tell the coaches care about the students.

I'm transferring my review from 2019, since I'm deleting that duplicate one…read more Although, all good things to say still since then :) I typically don't write reviews for martial arts gyms I go to, but this place was special. I was tired of the gym with overly aggressive classmates that would crush my ribs, being confused with a non-systematic approach to working from the fundamental techniques, and a culture that did not feel welcoming. It was hard for me to commute to the previous martial arts gym, so I had been referred from a friend to take a trial the class. Inside I met the head instructor Youness, he's a great guy who's very welcoming and has very strong values for a healthy martial arts community. He guided me towards steps to achieve the goals I wanted to tackle, answered any question without any BS, built an environment where people don't crush your ribs in your first few classes, and worked on the core fundamentals. It's a reasonable price to start since they just opened last year and are basically like private lessons (I'll take full advantage while it's like this). I highly recommend Youness's gym and for it to be a Caio Terra Affiliate because it's a regarded gym that doesn't just promote anyone.

Friday night open mat was fun! I was passing through for work. Decided to stay near the airport…read morethe night before an early morning flight. I caked to ask if I could drop in the 3hrs evening open mat. The Prof answered the call & welcomed me to join his students. Both Gi & NoGi were welcome and there's no Gi color requirement. Those were my only concerns. I was able to roll for most of the 3hrs until people started resting. Only about 7 people showed up but as a Purple Belt I was glad to roll with their Brown Belt a few times, both Gi & NoGi, as well as a few tough Blue & White Belts. Everyone was friendly and considerate rolling partners. I definitely recommend that you drop in if you can.

my 9 year is having a great time at GB Leesburg. Professor Charles and the other coaches do a…read moregreat job keeping the kids engaged!

Good people, training hard. This is an awesome dojo! These are folks that like to train and like…read moreeach other. If you're looking for a lifelong martial art and a place with an exceptionally good vibe, check out Potomac Aikikai.

Great group of people who train sincerely. Beautiful space to practice in with good energy. Highly…read morerecommend it p.

I enjoy learning from the excellent staff . I feel challenged but encouraged . My balance has…read moreimproved 75 percent . Bonnie Bowers

This is an outstanding school and I am extremely happy I found it…read more My health is really what drove me to try this place out. As I got older, I started developing back problems. I did a ton of research on ways to strengthen my core, and Kung Fu repeatedly came up as a recommendation. Reviews like the ones here helped guide me to the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute. I was hesitant to take on Kung Fu as a middle aged adult. I had always considered martial arts as a younger person's sport and didn't want to be the older new guy in a sea of 12-15 year olds. My experiences at JGSI have totally eliminated that misconception. The classes are diverse in age and experience levels. The instructors are patient and adjust their teachings to the individual they're working with. The other students are warm, welcoming and extremely supportive. The classes themselves are challenging, but rewarding. They focus on concentration, stability, meditation, and strength with styles rooted in both traditional Northern and Southern forms. The school is well rounded and teaches multiple styles and solid technique, as well as real life applications of the forms. They also stay true to the culture of Kung Fu and support the history and tradition that has made this art form so great. It doesn't matter if you are looking for self-defense or exercise, discipline or focus, you can find each of those and more at the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute.

I had the impulse today (not for the first time), to thank Frank for his patience. I decided to…read morewrite this long overdue review instead. To begin with, Phantom has a culture that is friendly, competitive, safe, and welcoming to every level of skill and experience. I started two years ago as a 36 year old woman, with no previous martial arts background. I never felt dismissed or ignored. Frank paid as much attention to me on day one as he would to any other member. I have never been afraid I was going to get injured on the mats, or that my partner would be a bully, because that is not the culture that Frank has developed. I am small, but I can train knowing my partner and I will play games based on good positions rather than just size and strength. Members greet each other and make small talk before class. There is no visible drama. Frank's instructions when demonstrating are clear and precise. His lesson plans are clearly thought out, and often build on previous units. I appreciate that he is punctual, and that he doesn't waste our time with filler stuff like conditioning or a prolonged warmup. It is all dense learning and drilling, followed by training. Additionally, I have never met a business owner who was so generous with their time. He regularly stays late after class to monitor and assist students who want to continue to drill and train. He has given me additional assistance and instruction whenever I have asked. I'm not special in this regard. I believe he is genuinely invested in his students development, and will match the time you are willing to put in with his own. Finally, this is one of the cleanest gyms I've ever been to. The mats are sanitized at least twice a day. The bathrooms are clean. The atmosphere is modern. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to give it a try.

My husband has been going here for over a year and loves it. He says there's professional trainers,…read morestructured (and open/sparring too) training and is an overall a high quality academy. Recommend for anyone - not sure of the age limits but it looks like they have all types of weight classes. Go in and ask for "Frank" the owner and he will get you set up!

Coaches with huge egos. Do you want to learn jiu jitsu or join a cult ? They like to yell at their…read morestudents and make cringe jokes. Honestly any other gym has been a better experience than this one. The coaches have favorites and won't progress you if he doesn't like you.

Nothing fancy, pretty basic, some equipment, and a decent amount of room for their different MMA…read moreclasses (including two large matted areas for you to flip on, be pushed on, and fight/dance it up!) If you're unsure about it all, breathe in, breathe out, and woosaa - 1st timers get 2 free weeks of whichever class they want to pop into. Try them all if you want. They even have classes for kids. I once knew nothing about the many different forms of martial arts and I honestly have nothing to compare Fairfax Jiu Jitsu to, but I strongly believe it is the people who can make or break any kind of establishment. Needless to say, it is everyone here, from Dave (one of the managers) to the students in the [I'm not telling you what I took!] class, that make this place amazing. Classes will challenge you, you will learn, and you'll enjoy it all. I think I found my 2nd family. Try it out, let them know you saw my review, and that you're ready for some ass kickery!

signed up for my first Krav maga class on a Saturday morning. Showed up about 10 mins early and no…read moreone was there. waited until 1005, and no one showed up or communicated that the gym would not be open and class was cancelled. cool. Went to another gym in Herndon and was able to start immediately.

I've been going to Silverback for a couple of years now and it's the best self defense gym with…read moredifferent class options (Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, & more) multiple times and days. You're definitely going to find something that works for you! The gym is a warehouse with plenty of parking around it. Just make sure you don't park anywhere that says do not block (you would think people know, but you'd be surprised ). The owner, Sean, is very kind and helps walk you through all of the options that you have for classes. You can tell he really cares about all of his students and is easy to talk to. Additionally, everyone else in the gym is extremely welcoming and friendly. They make sure that you feel like you are part of a team even if it's your first class. If you are looking to switch gyms or try something new, this is the best place to try it!

If you are serious about staying fit and doing resistance training but don't want to spend your…read morelife in the gym, this is the place for you. I had read about ARX training and was interested in trying this method. This was the only gym in Northern Virginia that I could find that specifically offered this training with this specialized equipment. The gym owner Jancel Conroy is extremely knowledgeable about the equipment and about this method of resistance training. It is a great workout and a great value. I highly recommend this gym!

Ive been out of the military for 8 years and unfortunately came out of the Army with bad knees…read more I've been coming to this gym for 6 months, working on a full body program, including working my knees, and I can honestly say that even with high intensity workouts, my knees always feel good. Jancel is very knowledgeable about the human body and coaches you on the exact way to perform each movement. He knows his stuff!! I can't recommend this gym enough.