Home › Maryland › Bethesda › Groundworks Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Groundworks Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 169 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Bethesda, Maryland
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 (ages 7–12) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- 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 groundworksbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (240) 905-4300
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Not only are they great teachers for adults, they are even better with the kids!”
“Whether you're a complete beginner (like me) or an advanced practitioner, there's always something new to learn.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The instructors and community are amazing—they get great instruction in an inclusive and supportive environment.”
“Did a drop in class here while I was in the area and this was one of the most welcoming gyms I’ve had the opportunity to train at.”
“They focus not only on technique but also on building a supportive and positive atmosphere where everyone, regardless of skill level, feels welcome and motivated.”
“I had the privilege of Instructor Sean Diviney leading the class with extremely practical and effective drills that really put techniques I had overlooked into perspective.”
“Classes were really good and entertaining, the place is clean, people are nice, it’s pretty much all you can ask.”
“They focus not only on technique but also on building a supportive and positive atmosphere where everyone, regardless of skill level, feels welcome and motivated.”
From the reviews
I’ve trained at Groundworks for 1.5+ years and love it there. It’s a friendly, fun, and welcoming environment with a wide range of students of various ages and abilities. The coaches are all very knowledgeable, excellent teachers that focus both on teaching techniques and the concepts behind those techniques.
I moved here from Japan for work and have been training at this gym. It’s an excellent BJJ gym with three black belt instructors and several other coaches. Everyone is friendly, supportive, and takes the time to teach carefully.
I came into ground works looking for a membership. I was met by Instructor Chris Chi. I explained my situation and without hesitation I was welcomed into the gym. He told me to go get my things and come back to train right then and there.
I’ve been training at Groundworks for a couple of months now, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best BJJ gyms around! The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable, and have a passion for teaching that truly shows.
New to BJJ? Start at Groundworks Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Groundworks Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 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 Groundworks Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
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 Bethesda
JTR Jujutsu International
4.9 ★★★★★ 83 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Theory Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 84 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Pure Performance Martial Arts & Fitness
4.8 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site