Yamasaki Academy offers the highest level of technique, discipline, student safety and expert instruction in the Washington, DC area. As the Yamasaki Academy has grown, each location is home to American-born Black Belts, certified in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and passionate about sharing all that they’ve learned with their students.
The Yamasaki Academy has an excellent staff with many years of teaching and competition experience, including Mario Yamasaki, a 4th Degree Black Belt, Fernando Yamasaki, a 6th Degree Black Belt and Francisco Neto, a 4rd Degree Black Belt. All three instructors are from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) emphasizes getting an opponent to the ground in order to use ground fighting techniques and submission holds involving joint-locks and chokeholds. Once two fighters are on the ground, physical strength can be offset or enhanced by an experienced grappler who knows how to use mechanical advantage instead of brute strength.
Yamasaki Academy’s complete Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program incorporates expert instructions in traditional and new techniques, live sparring, competition training and strength/conditioning. Designed to utilize a vigorous exercise program, the intense classes condition students for competition while the instructors work with individuals on their own unique goals, ensuring that each students progresses at his or her own level.
Students have the choice between beginning and advanced classed, depending on each individual’s athletic abilities, martial arts background and level of fitness. A typical class will last 1.5 hours, and it will include a 20-minute warm up, 40 minutes of instruction and 30 minutes of live sparring. The instruction comes from a black belt instructor, who teaches various techniques, submissions, takedowns, sweeps, reversals and escapes. During the sparring period, students will practice and execute the techniques learned during that class and previous classes.
Not only is Jiu-Jitsu a proven self-defense system, but it also aids in weight loss, increased cardiovascular health, enhanced self-confidence, discipline and diet.
The Kids’ Jiu-Jitsu classes at Yamasaki Academy aim to create extra support for the parents by teaching children discipline, self-control, improved self-esteem and the ability to focus better on tasks.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a non-striking self-defense martial art system that steers children away from using brute strength and toward using their minds. This martial art style is considered to be one of the best self-defenses for kids and adults since it is applied in response to physical aggression, which will not lead to violence.
The belt and stripe ranking helps teach kids that they must earn things and achieve their goals through hard work. Through this, students earn their way up in belts based on attendance, attitude and skill level.
Head Instructors Master Fernando Yamasaki and Francisco Neto use their expertise in Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Wrestling in the kid’s Jiu-Jitsu classes.
Instructor: Sergio Cabrera
Kids’ Muay Thai Instructor: Mark Pham
Commonly known as Thai Boxing, Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand that originated from the ancient battlefield tactics of the Thai army. Thai rulers have attached great importance to the training of their soldiers in the skills of hand-to-hand fighting.
This is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking, which includes punches, kicks, elbows, knees and stand-up grappling (or clinching). The sophisticated Muay Thai training methods at Yamasaki Academy help students develop devastating power, speed and superb cardiovascular endurance in a safe setting.
Each Academy location offers advanced and all-levels classes that will last one to one and a half hours. Individual classes cover Pads & Conditioning, Fundamentals & Clinching, and Sparring.
Instructor: Maurice Allan
Sportjudo is a nationally known judo club located in North Springfield, Virginia. Our focus is on sport judo–big throws, submission techniques, and pins. We regularly compete in local, regional and national tournaments. A number of our members have won national trophies and several have competed in international tournaments.
Judo is a formidable (and fun) style of self-defense and sport for students from six to sixty. We welcome newcomers! We’ve got classes for all ages and skill levels. Competition is encouraged, but not required. Nobody is too weak or too out of shape to join. We provide beginners with training in the basics and progress students at a pace comfortable to them. As skill and endurance improve students are phased into advanced drills and live judo grappling. We recognize that different ages and different body types adjust at a different pace and work with each student to maximize their potential and ensure safety.
To learn more and see our schedule, please visit www.sportjudo.org
The Yamasaki Academy’s Strength and Conditioning Class will change the way you experience workouts.
These small, hour-long classes utilize techniques and drills that are designed for professional fighters and guaranteed to get you into the best shape of your life. Every major muscle group in your body will be targeted as you cycle through the stations in the class, and the instructor will be there to provide each student with a personalized experience.
From the instructor, Elaine Yamasaki:
“In my class, students perform a circuit of 10 to 15 exercises, using jump rope, the TRX Suspension Trainer, Kettlebells, balls, hand weights and machines. This class helps to improve cardiovascular and muscular endurance, flexibility and muscular strength and toning.”
All students are welcome, regardless of fitness level, whether you want to lose weight, tone up or regain energy.
All programs are offered at our main location in Rockville, MD, as well as the locations in surrounding towns.
Potomac, MD
Gaithersburg, MD
Washington, DC
Springfield, VA
Leesburg, VA
Woodbridge, VA
Culpeper, VA
Somers Point, NJ
Newark, DE
