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Caio Terra Academy - Alexandria BJJ
5 ★★★★★ 210 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Alexandria, Virginia
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
- 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 — 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 alexandriabjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (571) 275-0995
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:10 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6:10 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | 11:30 AM–1 PM |
The classes they run
“My son is very shy, and we’ve tried many sports with him, but Caio Terra Academy of Alexandria is the first place where he genuinely looks forward to practice.”
“There are kids, teens, and adult classes, so the whole family can train!”
“Watching her learn, grow, and even celebrate her first tournament win has been such a rewarding experience for our family.”
“Not only has he learned valuable self-defense skills, but his confidence, discipline, and focus have improved so much.”
“Coach/Professor Vu is an exceptional teacher who excels at breaking down techniques in a way that's easy for beginners to understand.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Our son has enjoyed here, and we are excited to continue our Jiu Jitsu journey with such amazing coaches who go above and beyond for their students.”
“It’s clear that this school is family-run and everyone genuinely cares about the students, creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.”
“I truly cannot say enough about the gym, about Coach Vu and his family, and the other coaches that make each class a smooth and fun learning environment.”
“Coach/Professor Vu is an exceptional teacher who excels at breaking down techniques in a way that's easy for beginners to understand.”
“Watching her learn, grow, and even celebrate her first tournament win has been such a rewarding experience for our family.”
“The facility is super clean and the atmosphere is very family-friendly.”
From the reviews
I wanted to take a moment to send this review, to help other parents to discover the single best BJJ gym in the Alexandria, VA area. Coach Vu is phenomenal. He exudes confidence, professionalism, and the highest degree of patience when instructing 4-6 year olds.
Caio Terra Academy-Alexandria Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been an incredible experience for our son's Mitchell (10yrs old) and Noah (6yrs old) thus far! Coach Vu Tran and his staff have a wealth of experience and create an environment where learning is BJJ fun!
We’ve been training at Caio Terra Jiu Jitsu in Alexandria for about a year now, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience! Our 9-year-old son has learned so much both on and off the mat.
I started my jiu jitsu journey back in August of 2023. I was looking for places that I could learn BJJ because I had no prior experience or knowledge, and CTA was/is extremely welcoming to me and was a kid friendly environment which is important because sometimes after work I must bring my kids with me.
New to BJJ? Start at Caio Terra Academy - Alexandria BJJ
Caio Terra Academy - Alexandria BJJ 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 Caio Terra Academy - Alexandria BJJ
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.
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