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Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy

5 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Silver Spring, Maryland

BJJ gym Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team

Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.

Plan your first class

  • 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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule brazubjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 240-970-5971

Hours

Monday 6:30–9 pm
Tuesday 7–9 pm
Wednesday 6:30–9 pm
Thursday 7–9 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 10 am–12 pm
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🏆 Competition Team 5 mentions

“The instructor is a gifted and dedicate teacher and accomplished competitor at the highest levels of BJJ.”

All gyms that run competition team →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“Brazu academy is a great place for beginner, intermediate and advanced students to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 6 mentions

“As a beginner I couldn’t imagine a more welcoming environment, the genuine care and assistance of fellow students has kept me coming back.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 19 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“It's a welcoming environment for students of all skill levels with an amazing instructor to match.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 15 mentions

“As a beginner I couldn’t imagine a more welcoming environment, the genuine care and assistance of fellow students has kept me coming back.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 14 mentions

“As a beginner I couldn’t imagine a more welcoming environment, the genuine care and assistance of fellow students has kept me coming back.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“He doesn’t just teach techniques and sequences, but works individually with students to correct errors and highlight details.”

active competition team 8 mentions

“Weather you want to learn jiu-jitsu for personal defense, fitness or competition, there is always someone taking you to the right path.”

From the reviews

Fantastic, welcoming atmosphere. The gym culture couldn’t be better, facilitating learning and enjoyment of BJJ. On top of that Prof Doug is a world-class instructor and his love for this art is infectious!

★★★★★ — Matt, Jan 2019

Easily the best martial arts academy I have ever trained at, and I have trained in close to a dozen places ranging from high school wrestling programs, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, boxing, vale tudo, and BJJ. The instructor is a gifted and dedicate teacher and accomplished competitor at the highest levels of BJJ.

★★★★★ — Christopher, Oct 2018

Brazu academy is a great place for beginner, intermediate and advanced students to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense. Professor Douglas is extremely experienced BJJ competitor and practitioner and an excellent teacher.

★★★★★ — David, Dec 2018

I have trained at many different grappling gyms and Brazu Academy has been the best place for my development. Doug Barros is a long time competitor and instructor. He emphasizes real world scenarios and brazilian jiu jitsu fundamentals. The students at Brazu are awesome and excel at old school pressure based bjj.

★★★★★ — Mitchell, Jan 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 19 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy

Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy

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.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Brazu Jiu Jitsu Academy

13852 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD20904

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.