Home › Maryland › North Bethesda › Native Jiu Jitsu
Native Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 121 Google reviews · BJJ gym in North Bethesda, Maryland
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
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule nativejiujitsuacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 240-234-3294
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 am, 12–1 pm, 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6–7 am, 4–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–7 am, 12–1 pm, 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6–7 am, 4–9 pm |
| Friday | 6–7 am, 12–1 pm, 4:30–9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“especially my daughter, a place where you learn to respect others and where everyone respects each other, a great place to make new friends and learn new culture.”
“Also- This is an especially welcoming and safe environment for women whether you join the regular classes or women’s only classes.”
“Having a trustworthy, caring coach is absolutely crucial here, and Carlos, Gabe (and many of the other teen and adult Native students who often help out) are doing a great job.”
“They do Gi / NoGi / wrestling and have a great crew of women ; all of whom have just started within the past year.”
“The kids won a few medals, thanks to their BJJ skills, but mainly because the coaches go out of their way to coach and support the kids during the fights in competitions.”
“Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned practitioner, whether you're 5 or 65, there is a spot for you at Native.”
Other martial arts here
“They do Gi / NoGi / wrestling and have a great crew of women ; all of whom have just started within the past year.”
What members say
“That sense of community and humility runs deep in everything they do and many of the advanced students are great instructors in their own right.”
“The gym is incredibly welcoming- any worries you have about not knowing how to start or not knowing what you’re doing will disappear as soon as you come for your first day.”
“The gym is incredibly welcoming- any worries you have about not knowing how to start or not knowing what you’re doing will disappear as soon as you come for your first day.”
“Classes are structured and taught with a level of detail that shows how much Carlos and the coaching team care about quality and progression.”
“Our daughters love this coach and he responds to this with all his love and teaches them the real meaning of life, respect and love for others.”
“At the same time, the competitive spirit is also curated, our kids have participated in some BJJ competitions across the East Coast in the past months.”
From the reviews
An absolute wonderful place for both adults and children to learn confidence, discipline, respect, and over all love. It’s a welcoming environment with wonderful instructors who not only have the necessary and outstanding training to teach but the patience and wisdom to teach different types of learning styles.
We are all Native Brazilian Jiu-jitsu! Now in a brand new location! And we're stronger and more united than ever, because Native is much more than a gym. It's a Family united in the purpose of strengthening values and principles. Spreading Love, Jiu-Jitsu and Trust.
This gym is amazing! A truly international, welcoming environment teaching effective techniques. Good for those of all skill levels, including older dudes (like me) and kids. My two daughters have picked up invaluable skills as well as respect.
Our two kids (10 and 7) started practicing BJJ at Native in March 2023 with Coach Carlos and Gabe and they absolutely love it. Native is really all you can wish for your kids when learning a martial art -- solid BJJ techniques, a respectful and kind teaching environment and a friendly community among other families.
New to BJJ? Start at Native Jiu Jitsu
Native Jiu Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 Native 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 North Bethesda
Pure Performance Martial Arts & Fitness
4.8 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Theory Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 84 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Yamasaki Academy
4.6 ★★★★★ 47 reviews