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.

Joshua is one of the best Martial Arts instructors i've met. He has decades of experience in both…read moreMuay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, and is a fantastic teacher no matter what level of experience you're at! College park MMA is easily one of the best places you can pick to learn, whether you're just starting out, or experienced in the sport.

I am probably the last person who would have thought I would do any sort of MMA. If someone told me…read moreI should do this a couple of weeks ago, I would have got a great laugh and stuffed myself silly with chocolate. Recently, I was in the market for trying something new because Groupon adventures add interest to my life. This was one of them. 1st day of instruction went something like this: We show up, do some basic movements, pair up, practice, and somewhere in between we switch partners and I am paired with a 200lb wrestler. HAH! After getting shaken around a bit, still scared out of my mind and questioning my choices up to that point, I got a great workout, a load of information, and some very useful self-defense moves. Bless these guys for going easy on me because I do not have any sort of muscle definition. I bet if I come here often enough I can one day overtake them because BJJ is more so about skill than it is about strength. The instructor Josh was very patient with us. We came in with no experience and he was able to skillfully show us how to do BJJ even if it took a couple of times. Can't say this type of workout is for everyone since it's a full contact sport but, was very fun and an incredible workout. Would highly recommend this place to anyone, amateur or pro who wants to improve their skill because the skills you learn are definitely useful. Keep in mind this place is not aesthetically pleasing and not the cleanest because people keep sweating profusely but, it's still a great learning experience with awesome people who know their craft so, that's why I gave it 5 stars. Definitely, check out their site for schedules and such because there's more info on there. Give it a chance if you're up for the challenge!

Very good school! The teachers Griff & Kenneth) seem nice and patient. They're real good on…read moretechniques.

I enrolled my kids more than 3 years ago now and I am more than satisfied with their progress under…read morethe mentorship of Coach Ken and the cultivating family environment among all members of the gym. I recommend you go, try a lesson and you will not regret it.

Took my 5- and 8-year-old to Six Blades Jiu Jitsu Nova for a free trial. The environment is…read moreno-nonsense and clearly built around serious training-- which as an Army veteran is something I personally respect and felt at home in, especially given the military-style banter. That said, I didn't find the tone ideal for younger kids. There was language and phrasing ("kick his ass!") that I didn't feel was appropriate for children, and I was disappointed by comments made toward boys being beaten by girls ("You'll walk home if you lose to a girl")--not exactly the message I want either of my kids internalizing. The instructors are absolutely skilled and committed, but they treat the kids like mini adults, which may work for some families, but not ours. We ended up going with another gym that's more youth-focused, closer to home, and offers more affordable memberships with military and family discounts. I think Six Blades would be great for adult students or older teens looking for high-level instruction, but it just wasn't the right fit for our young kids. Edited for further context: For further context, what the owner describes as "jovial" banter included quotes from coaches during the kids' training session: * "Kick his ass!" * "Whoop his ass!" * "You better not lose to a girl!" * "If you lose to a girl, you're walking home!" * "Pay attention, dammit!" "Banter" implies the kids could respond with witty comebacks--but what would they realistically say to grown men in a position of authority? They simply complied. That said, I truly appreciate the owner's openness to constructive feedback. It makes me feel more confident in my decision as a parent. For now, we'll stick with the more "budget" and kid-friendly option -- at least until my children are old enough to clap back at demeaning and misogynistic comments with confidence and humor that comes with maturity.

My son has been training at Six Blades three times a week for seven months. He's had the best…read moreexperience! The instructors are extremely skilled at jiu-jitsu and are natural teachers. The kids children's classes are full of super sweet kids and friendly parents. The community is very welcoming and I'm so grateful to have found it.

Overall: I didn't know Jiu-jitsu gym was a thing. My little…read morebrother wanted to do karate for the longest time since other kids were also doing it. I never had the time to take him. My boyfriend was going to this gym and recommended it to me. With covid going on, I was scared of taking my brother to such activities. However, I was worried for nothing. This gym takes such great precautions with the pandemic. My brother loves coming here and looks forward to it every week. I personally never took a class here, but I would observe on the sidelines when taking my brother. I really recommend this gym and jiu-jitsu practice in general. I have much respect for this gym. The coach: He is a great teacher and especially with kids. He explains moves very well for kids to understand. He teaches discipline and yet still makes it fun for them. The coach offers private classes, which we have been doing until kid's classes open back up. My brother really enjoys his sessions with the coach and other members of the gym. My brother was awkward at first, but as classes went by, he became more comfortable. My brother would talk about his coach and what moves he taught him--shares stories about his new friends and uncles. Pandemic Precautions: Everyone wears masks during sessions. The coach would also sanitize in between sessions. There is hand sanitizer available. They are also temperature checks among arrival. Parking/Locations: The parking is limited in front of the gym. There are many spots to park though. There is additional parking at other Buisness's. Its located in a Neighborhood with lots of mini shops and studios. The gym: It is pretty spacious for private sessions, in regards to big classes. The gym max occupancy would seem to be about fifteen people. The is a bathroom available. Mats are laid out very spaciously. Classes are about an hour. Scheduling classes are very flexible. The gym is closed on Sundays.

It was a amazing experience I enjoyed my time there I learn how to defend myself and I had fun.read more

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 took a beginner class with my boyfriend last month. Greg is an excellent teacher and the vibe is…read morevery welcoming and invigorating! The classes are tough, but you learn a lot. Hoping I can take more classes in the future, but it's pretty far from me unfortunately!

There's no better BJJ gym in the DMV and arguably in the US. The only other schools that produce…read morethis level of fighter are B Team and New Wave. If you want an atmosphere full of dedicated, focused people- this is the place. I switched from another local gym and my game has improved significantly in a fraction of the time. Greg is a wizard and an amazing coach/ person.

I had a very disappointing experience with Ground Control. They increased the price unexpectedly…read moreand then charged me $179 for April even though I had already canceled my subscription on March 30. The training quality does not match the high fees they are charging. It feels unfair to bill students like this, especially when many of us are on tight budgets. Overall, this place feels like a trap -- easy to sign up, but very difficult to get out of without being charged extra. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for transparent pricing or quality training.

Great gym with a friendly staff and a good community. Really enjoyed training here despite 3 months…read moreof BJJ training. Would definitely recommend to anyone considering jiu jitsu!

I've been training Muay Thai for over 20 years and I just want to take a moment to say something…read moreabout Kru Chon -- he is by far the nicest, most caring person I've trained with. The guy genuinely invests in his students and builds real relationships. That means a lot. His fighting pedigree speaks for itself, and his focus on traditional Muay Thai is something I really respect. You can feel the authenticity in every class. The gym has an amazing vibe. Everyone at Little Giant is welcoming and professional, zero egos -- and the place is always spotless. That culture starts with Kru Chon and you feel it the moment you walk in. I truly appreciate this community and the people in it.

I initially became interested in Muay Thai as a way to improve conditioning, reaction time, and…read moresituational awareness, with the goal of developing better balance and composure in real-world situations. Over the past three months, I have completed approximately 20 private lessons and quickly realized how much there is to learn. The training has been both humbling and rewarding. I train primarily with Kru Chon and have also had one-on-one sessions with Coach Nate and Kru Roger. All three have been extremely patient, engaging, and supportive throughout the learning process. I would highly recommend this gym to anyone interested in Muay Thai training.