Home › District of Columbia › Washington › BETA Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai & MMA
BETA Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai & MMA
4.9 ★★★★★ 360 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Washington, District of Columbia
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 5) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule betaacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 202-538-0422
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Friday | 1–9 pm |
| Saturday | 8:30 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–1 pm |
The classes they run
“I really appreciate the way BETA starts you off in the Basics program for the first 1-2 months.”
“When I win the lottery, I'm donating a larger space 2 BETA, so they can inspire more kids!”
“Everyone is super friendly, Nakapan is highly skilled, i came in on the dot with no gi or equipment, he gave me a spare one to borrow.”
“I'd definitely recommend going to the Open mat sessions to fine tune the skills learned during class.”
“There is a wide range of training partners here, offering a pace for everyone from beginners to those looking for a tougher round.”
Other martial arts here
“I'm so grateful I found Beta Academy - I joined the gym with many years of Boxing and Muay Thai experience but minimal experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when I moved to DC.”
“Even though I was there specifically for Kudo, it was clear that BETA Academy is a high quality MMA gym with a great atmosphere.”
“I'm so grateful I found Beta Academy - I joined the gym with many years of Boxing and Muay Thai experience but minimal experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when I moved to DC.”
“Other gyms in DC that provide Muay Thai seems to be glorified kickboxing from my experience as opposed to actual Muay Thai.”
What members say
“* (**experience recommended for the Friday 1pm, if no experience, no worries, just get your feet wet with a trial class instead)”
“Both the coaches and professors have been so supportive and patient, and the women's community is just wonderful here at Beta.”
“The class structure was excellent — we drilled techniques first and then rolled, which made it easier to learn without feeling overwhelmed.”
“Best Muay Thai gym in the DMV, very good competition and lots of class times to choose from.”
“BETA is a great gym for fostering lifelong friendships, mentee/mentorships, and learning how to navigate the martial arts world while still being successful in work and life.”
“Both the coaches and professors have been so supportive and patient, and the women's community is just wonderful here at Beta.”
From the reviews
Wish I found this amazing academy earlier. It's a child and parent's dream come true! Safe, peaceful, nurturing, supportive space to empower the entire family. Coaches are great! The students have the utmost respect 4 their coaches, which is most helpful when the coaches remind them 2 be respectful and neat.
I have spent around 4 years training at BETA across 9 years since starting BJJ. I received my blue and purple belt from BETA's owner, Nakapan. I have trained at several gyms in several states around the US and will easily say that BETA over the last decade has maintained some of the strongest positive and empowering…
I have been coming to BETA to train Muay Thai for the past 7 months. I was hooked after my first class and wanted to keep coming back. I really appreciate the way BETA starts you off in the Basics program for the first 1-2 months.
I had my first class at Beta Academy DC today and it was an outstanding experience. As a complete beginner to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the instructors were incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and welcoming.
New to BJJ? Start at BETA Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai & MMA
BETA Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai & MMA comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first BJJ class at BETA Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai & MMA
Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
More BJJ gyms near Washington
Vortex Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 301 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Estilo Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 107 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Highstyle Jiu Jitsu
4.7 ★★★★★ 118 reviews