Our Story

The original Foundry opened in 2001 as one of the very first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies outside of Brazil. The Gaithersburg, Maryland location opened in 2010 and quickly attracted some of the top BJJ talent in the world and today proudly serves as home base for more than a dozen top 10 world-ranked athletes, world and pan champions as well as extremely talented hobbyists from 6 to 70 years of age.

A timeline of brazilian jiu jitsu lineage with black-and-white photos and names of martial artists connected by arrows.
A timeline of brazilian jiu jitsu lineage with black-and-white photos and names of martial artists connected by arrows.

Our Philosophy

What sets the instruction at The Foundry apart from other Jiu Jitsu gyms is our continued focus on technical prowess over strength - a mentality passed down through our highly regarded lineage that goes all the way back to the Mitsuyo Maeda, who originally taught Jiu Jitsu to the renowned Gracie family.

We welcome students from all walks of life and believe each one of them has the power and potential to access the level of excellence needed to achieve their goals - whatever they may be.

It is our approach and environment that defines the experience at The Foundry and is what allows world-class instruction to be absorbed and applied by our students.

Schedule your trial today and see The Foundry Experience for yourself!

A group of martial artists in martial arts uniforms and belts, standing in a gym with a red and gray mat, black padded walls, framed portraits, and traditional swords hanging on the wall behind them.
A group of martial artists in martial arts uniforms and belts, standing in a gym with a red and gray mat, black padded walls, framed portraits, and traditional swords hanging on the wall behind them.