Home › Maryland › Rockville › Theory Jiu Jitsu
Theory Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 84 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Rockville, 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
- 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 theorybjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 240-571-7185
Hours
| Monday | 6:30–9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6–9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–9:30 pm |
| Friday | 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They strike the perfect balance between structure and fun, using tons of positive reinforcement while maintaining incredible patience with the kids.”
“Recently, I joined the women’s class myself, and I always look forward to it.”
“The level of coaching is exceptional, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced competitor looking to sharpen your skills.”
“We currently go to the beginners class and so far, this has been my experience: The facility itself is clean with plenty of room for their drills/exercises.”
What members say
“Theory Jiu Jitsu is an outstanding academy that truly offers world-class instruction in a welcoming, family-friendly environment.”
“We currently go to the beginners class and so far, this has been my experience: The facility itself is clean with plenty of room for their drills/exercises.”
“If you’re looking for a welcoming, professional, and high-energy environment for your child to learn martial arts, I can’t recommend them enough!”
“The instruction is clear, detailed, and practical, and the atmosphere encourages growth without being intimidating.”
“Having the opportunity to host our birthday party there was a huge perk of being members and a testament to how much our children love the gym.”
“The level of coaching is exceptional, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced competitor looking to sharpen your skills.”
From the reviews
My kids and I came from Virginia Beach to visit, and honestly, this gym left a real impression on us. From the second we walked in, it felt warm, welcoming, and like the kind of place where people genuinely care about each other. It is truly family-oriented, and you can feel that right away.
My son has been training with Lucas Montalvão consistently for 3 years your kid will definitely be taught by the best a world champion as well for adults his jiujitsu skills and knowledge is amazing he’s very experienced high leveled my son has competed in multiple competitions for 3 years and has won many titles and…
Theory Jiu-Jitsu is hands down the best gym to be a part of! ❤️ It truly feels like a family. So welcoming, supportive, and uplifting. The coaches are incredible and I’ve learned so much in such a short time. Whether you’re brand new or experienced, you’ll feel encouraged every step of the way.
Our son has been training jiu-jitsu for a few years. As he became more serious about competing, we noticed he performed well at local tournaments but struggled at larger events.
New to BJJ? Start at Theory Jiu Jitsu
Theory 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 Theory 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 Rockville
Pure Performance Martial Arts & Fitness
4.8 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Native Jiu Jitsu
4.9 ★★★★★ 121 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Yamasaki Academy
4.6 ★★★★★ 47 reviews