About Yamasaki Academy Woodbridge
About us
WHO WE ARE.
HOW WE GOT HERE.
Yamasaki Academy Woodbridge opened its doors in March of 2011 offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA training. We have grown to become one of the largest gyms of our kind in the area.
Coach Joe Cunningham first began teaching BJJ classes at the American Martial Arts Center in the Merchant Plaza shopping center in 2010. When AMAC closed its doors, Coach Joe decided to go big and lease a space on Minnieville Rd offering BJJ and MMA training with Yamasaki Academy professional fighter Francisco Salguero. We added a Muay Thai program soon after. Back then our space was broken up into small offices and our mat space was limited.
Once we were cleared to tear down the walls, we were able to triple the mat space and add more classes. This helped us grow our kids classes and gave us room for beginners classes and conditioning classes. Soon after, we had to close the doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were unsure if we would make it through. But thanks to the generosity of our students we were able to keep our doors open and survive. We even added new programs such as our firearms training classes.
In April of 2023 we moved into our current location which is DOUBLE the size of our original space making us one of the largest and most state-of-the-art training gyms in the area. We have a full size MMA cage with boxing style ropes, a gymnastics style elevated floor, 7 different heavy bags for training, and tons of other amenities that other gyms just don’t have. We are constantly re-investing back into the Academy and our students.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Our first MMA class in April of 2011 was on pieced together mats in a tiny area of the gym.
NEW PROGRAMS
We are constantly adding new programs such as our Firearms training classes.
PROVEN SUCCESS
We are always measuring how well we are doing by the success of our students.
Train
The Gym
Facilities
We have a 6000 sq ft facility located inside the Market at Opitz Crossing shopping center at 1940 Daniel Stuart Sq in Woodbridge, VA.
We are one of the largest and best equipped gyms in the NOVA area! Our grappling training area is on an elevated floor system that absorbs impact and can take a beating. The striking area is matted with 2 inch tatami style mats and has lots of bags and equipment. We also have a 30 ft, full size MMA cage for additional training area that is covered in 1 inch mats with a canvas and has Muay Thai style ropes.
We have individual bag stands with three 6′ x 14″ bags, one 4′ x 14″ bag, two wrecking ball style heavy bags, and one large 7′ x 24″ bag.
We also provide students Thai pads, belly pads, suitcase pads, and mitts for the Muay Thai classes as well as equipment for conditioning classes.
Our gym has two HUGE locker rooms with lockers, cubbies, open closets, benches. We even have a firearms locker!