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Leo Dalla Brazilian Jiu jitsu
4.5 ★★★★★ 13 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Arlington, Virginia
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
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Website & schedule leodalla.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (703) 303-1968
The classes they run
Other martial arts here
What members say
“He provides great instruction as well as a friendly and down to earth atmosphere.”
“Family-like atmosphere with lots of freedom to explore different techniques all while learning from a legend.”
From the reviews
I’ve trained at both the Woodbridge and Ballston location for nearly five years and love training under Dalla. Family-like atmosphere with lots of freedom to explore different techniques all while learning from a legend. I love training here.
The best gym in NOVA.I got to train at Leo Dalla’s for over 2 years. Very knowledgeable and friendly people. Give it a shot if you wanna learn pure Brazilian jiu jitsu and get in shape.
Love this place. Leo Dalla is one of the few pioneers for bjj in america, specifically the east coast. He provides great instruction as well as a friendly and down to earth atmosphere.
I trained with Dalla off and on from 2003 to 2011. Amazing instructor and a great guy! Highly recommend 👌
New to BJJ? Start at Leo Dalla Brazilian Jiu jitsu
Leo Dalla 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 Leo Dalla 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.
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