I can't say enough good things about this gym. I started here when I was in college. I was very…read moreimpressed with the team, the instructors and the quality of training and the atmosphe Training with LLoyd Irvin was very beneficial to me as an aspiring martial artist and MMA fighter. After college I moved away and traveled the country learning, training and competing but I ultimately ended up moving back to this area specifically to train here. I learned so much so fast and I enjoyed the process. I have since won multiple jiu-jitsu tournaments and continue to compete into my mid 30s World class training for all ages and fitness levels. Everyone supports and encourages each other in and out of the gym to be the best versions of themselves. I highly recommend stopping by to find out for yourself.

Lloyd Irvin Martial Arts is by far the best martial arts academy around…read more I've been training for over 20 years now and I have never seen a more well structured, organized, disciplined and success performing school. They have a unique way to help people develop in self defense martial arts training while at the same time helping their student gain more confidence and achieve their goals! It is an awesome environment for kids, families, recreational enthusiast and competitors wanting to go pro. I Highly recommend to training here you will definitely learn a lot and grow as a martial artist and a person. :D

I was in town for business and recently started BJJ. I called and asked to pay a day fee to roll…read morefor a session. I was told not to worry about it and to just swing by. Attended the class learned 3 new moves. Instruction was clear well articulated and shown until thorough understanding. I was about 2 mins late given I didn't know exactly where the gym was but I was immediately rotated in. They mentioned they are moving to a new larger gym which is exciting for them as they have a great group of folks training

I've been going here for almost a year now and this place is like having another family. I am…read morecurrently taking the Kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu adult classes and I love it. Coach James is pretty laid back but he's serious when he comes to instructing me and my teammates. I've seen not only my body become stronger and my stamina improve but my skills have definitely gotten better. I've really fallen in love with the sport and a great reason as to why is because of the continuous support from everyone in the gym including coach. We'll have family fight nights and watch the fights together and teammates bring their children along. We also do carpool arrangements to help get each other to different matches, to support the different teammates that are fighting. Coach James is a fair and reasonable guy. Very approachable. Any time I needed support or have had questions for him he has assisted me or partnered me with someone who could sharpen my skills. I'll be coming here for as long as I can. The familial support and the light-heartedness of the gym can't be beat. 1, 2, 3, AMAG!

I've been going here for almost two years now and this place is like having another family. I am…read morecurrently taking the Kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu adult classes and I love it. Coach James is pretty laid back but he's serious when he comes to instructing me and my teammates. I've seen not only my body become stronger and my stamina improve but my skills have definitely gotten better. I've really fallen in love with the sport and a great reason as to why is because of the continuous support from everyone in the gym including coach. We'll have family fight nights and watch the fights together and teammates bring their children along. We also do carpool arrangements to help get each other to different matches, to support the different teammates that are fighting. Coach James is a fair and reasonable guy. Very approachable. Any time I needed support or have had questions for him he has assisted me or partnered me with someone who could sharpen my skills. I'll be coming here for as long as I can. The familial support and the light-heartedness of the gym can't be beat. 1, 2, 3, AMAG!

My son did about 3/4 weeks at the summer camp and had his last day just before school started on…read moreaugust 25th. My son ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIS TIME THERE!! If you have kids (boys especially) that need to build their confidence and maybe need more time bonding with good men who coach, as well as other boys/ teens.... Well this group became like a family to my son. I highly recommend!!!

My niece just joined Grand Tiger Martial Arts and she already loves it. The offer a $70 2 week…read moretrial which includes a free uniform. The staff is very welcoming and loves to answer any questions you have. It is located in a busy parking lot because there are several other businesses around but it is easily accessible. When you arrive the door is normally open, if you are just joining, you go to the front desk and ask for Crystal. She will sign you in, grab a uniform for your child, and collect your payment. Your child can change in the bathrooms in the back and join their class when it starts. We arrived late, but once my niece joined the class, she received a warm welcome by both instructors. Immediately one of the instructors gave her the individual attention needed in order for her to catch up. One of the reasons I chose this location is because they ask parents to grade the students on their behavior at home and based on what they get at home, they are allowed to try for a belt. It definitely helps with listening at home. Once leaving the class, each student has to bow and say bye as they exit. We love our new karate home.

I think it is a mcdojo because you get a belt every month and ot takes 3 through 10 years to get a…read moreblack belt but you got it In 2?

Black belt Academy is amazing. The staff is friendly and helpful. My daughter is really shy and…read moreshe is very comfortable with the staff. They are welcoming and focus on the kids. Black belt academy has helped to build my daughters confidence and she look forward to going each day. I would recommend Black belt academy to any parent looking to send their child to a place that is safe, fun and a great learning experience.

We've been attending Black Belt Academy for seven years. We started when my first born was 5 years…read moreold.Black Belt Academy has been a consistency in our life ever since. We've done Before and After School program, virtual class during Covid, and summer camps. My kids have a great time, are active and learn about discipline, respect, and hard work. The staff is top notch. It's easy to see that the environment there is positive, and everyone loves what they do; no easy feat when dealing with children. Master Robert is a gem. He takes a vested interest in every student, listens, and corrects any issues. He also recruited the dream team of Jr. Master Nick, Assistant Instructor Sam, Alex, and Christy. The facility is always clean, the staff greets you upon arrival, I trust them with safely transporting my children to and from school. The price is fair and my son put it perfectly when he said "Black Belt feels like a second home".

We were looking for a great martial arts program for our 4 year old…read more We tried three different studios in the area and this one is by far the best. The kids are having fun while learning so much - listening skills, discipline, being respectful while getting a great work out. We are very happy we have found the crew of Master J. Our son really enjoys his Saturday mornings there!

We cannot say enough good things about Taekwondo Masters. From the moment our son started, we knew…read morewe had found a special place. Master Jun and his entire team are incredibly knowledgeable and possess a unique ability to teach high-level skills while keeping the classes engaging and fun. Beyond the physical kicks and forms, the discipline and focus our son has developed are remarkable. It's not just about martial arts here; it's about character building. Master Jun leads with such patience and expertise that the kids naturally want to give their best effort. If you're looking for a school that balances top-tier instruction with a supportive, high-energy environment, this is it!

I have been studying Shaolin Kempo at Potomac Kempo - Fairlington for about seven months now. I…read morelove it. I studied MMA at another gym but never felt like I mattered. People did not speak. No one knew my name. My questions often fell on deaf ears. At Potomac Kempo - Fairlington it is the exact opposite. Sensei Cassie is the best. She greets everyone by name. My dojo mates always greet each other and we make sure you know you were missed if you miss a few classes and have returned. If i have a question, anyone who knows the answer will help. Our black belts set the tone of helping, answering questions, helping one another learn, and just being good people. I have about 18 years of experience working with kids. I have seen some horrible teachers. But Sensei Cassie? Her patience is phenomenal. She is great at teaching them to control their bodies, listen to and follow directions, and at the end of classes, often discusses the finer points of character. Just the thing a parent needs to ADD to the parenting already being done. If I had any little kids in the family in the area, they would be at Potomac Kempo studying. This is more than a place to come work out. It is a place to come relieve stress, gain a sense of accomplishment as you earn higher belts and do exercises you have never done before, meet good people, and just have fun.

I have a black belt from Potomac Kempo, and I have witnessed a rapid deterioration at this school…read moreover the past few years, with very troubling developments at this dojo. Here are some highlights of what has gone wrong. 1. Martial arts skills no longer seem to matter. The most shining example is the new instructor hired at this dojo last year. She is really, really bad at martial arts. At another karate school, she might be a yellow belt at best (the instructor of one such school said as much), but at Potomac Kempo, she was promoted to black belt and then full-time instructor. It's a slap in the face to every student who takes martial arts seriously. 2. Along with numerous other students, I have witnessed this woman crying monthly, weekly, and even daily over the years--about everything from her personal problems to her poor kempo skills. Deceptively, all the crying masks a whole lot of spite, and all the tears are a vehicle to bring forth endless lies and dumb drama. She once made a brazen attempt to ban a student in good standing from another Potomac Kempo dojo, and went about her scheme by doing what she does best: crying and lying. Said student had triggered her venom by unfriending her on Facebook (!!!!!). Instead of reprimanding her, Potomac Kempo offered her a job as a full-time instructor at this dojo shortly thereafter. Not surprisingly, the falsehoods and vitriol have continued to ensnare students and infest the school. 3. Potomac Kempo's shortcomings go beyond just a bad hire. One problem is the volunteer instructor program that runs across all dojos. At this school, you have to pay to become a volunteer instructor. Yes, YOU PAY Potomac Kempo to WORK FOR Potomac Kempo. It's a deal many fine martial artists simply won't accept. In turn, it has attracted more than a few "instructors" whose skills are mediocre at best. Every student can get better, and some who volunteer bring respect and humility, and make vast improvements through the experience. But for certain others, they puff themselves up with false pride and a sense of entitlement. The new hire at this dojo personifies the worst of both: As a volunteer instructor, she made a habit of disrespecting dojo rules and etiquette and other students, believing that she had the "status" to do so. It is quite a bad look for students to behave this way but it's much, much, more outrageous when so-called instructors do so. Sadly, this has occurred with regularity in the past few years. Instead of insisting that all behave professionally, Potomac Kempo coddles the offenders. Hiring the worst offender as a full-time instructor has sent the unmistakable message that this dojo, and the school in general, will elevate bad martial arts, and even worse character. 4. Martial arts is ultimately about becoming a better person. If all you want is fitness, you could get yourself a beefy trainer at a gym. At a dojo, time-honored values like honor, courage, and loyalty should matter. Potomac Kempo does not impart or emphasize these values. A while ago, I stuck my neck out to defend the school's reputation. I would've preferred never to have been involved, but the situation was serious and action was required. Though the chief instructor at another dojo has offered his appreciation for my intervention, the management for this dojo has enabled and empowered those who, lacking any common sense or business judgment, have sought retaliation. 5. I used to enjoy training at this dojo. I have attended class here many times, trained with its students and instructors, and participated in school-wide belt tests, seminars, and other events with many of them. A former instructor here was Sensei Dan, and I regularly came here and sought him out when I had trouble mastering new material. He was simply fantastic. How times have changed. 6. For a long time, my friends and I at this school paid our dues, went to class, stayed committed to our training, made sure to be welcoming to new students and helpful to lower ranks, and cared about our dojos. We didn't agree with everything the school did, but overall, we enjoyed being students here. Looking back on the past 2-3 years, it feels as if we blinked and the school went downhill and became barely recognizable.

This gym has stolen hundreds of dollars from me. I stopped going to this gym for many months and…read moretried to go inside and speak to staff to cancle my membership. After many many times going during there open staff hours 4-8pm and no staff being available I kept calling and calling and finally got somone on the phone. This staff member then told me he would fill out a cancelation forms and request a refund for me and my wife. Many months go by and I'm still being charged every single month. I continue to stop by 4-8 pm and every time I do no staff member is present in the building. There 3rd party billing company told me I have to do it with them directly. This was January of 2025 I started this mess and its still going on today. How is this possible. Now because I trusted the employee over the phone I have lost hundreds more dollars. Credit card company won't block and tell me I have to contact the merchant which there is never staff present in first place. Southern MD please make this right. Keevin van cleave

It's actually called Southern Maryland Martial Arts and Fitness. They just added the gym. Great…read moreplace! Mr. Gray and all the other instructors are fantastic. My son has been going there since 2006. Highly recommend them.