11791 Fingerboard Rd, Monrovia, MD 21770, USA
Urbana Academy: Your Path to Empowerment through Martial Arts and Self-Defense! We are dedicated to providing a transformative martial arts experience for individuals of all ages and backgrounds, empowering our students to unleash their full potential.
Been training here with my son for the past 3 years. Love the atmosphere and the people that train here. They also get a few folks as special guests which is a real treat.
Posted 1 year ago
I just have to say this is by far the best place around, especially for your children. The instructors literally couldn't be more nice and accommodating.
This academy is a staple of our community. The lessons learned here by our youth and adults alike will last a lifetime. Cesar and all of the instructors are extremely kind and supportive at all levels. I cannot recommend this academy enough. Great teammates here. Very clean and professional gym. Masterclass operation
Instructors are great and they monitor kids so well , make kids practice and achieve their best. Encourage kids to participate in competitions which is very rewarding and helpful for future.
Awesome place to train BJJ! Clean facility and safe/fun training partners. Instructors are friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend! Our family has all trained here for the last ~2 years, and its a fantastic workout for the kids and adults alike.
Great place to train. Classes available at all times with quality leadership under the direct supervision of the owner/head instructor. Large, clean training areas allow parents to safely train at the same time as their children as there are concurrent classes or they can train before work at one of the early morning classes. Helpful and attentive staff members ready to answer all your questions. There are always multiple qualified instructors on the mat with the kids to ensure a safe, technical, and fun learning experience. You will not be disappointed.
The best place for learning jui-jitsu. The masters teach with such great patience to the small kiddos.my kids love coming for their class. Their enthusiasm to get ready for class shows how good the classes are. And very reasonable too. The teaching itself teaches self-defense as well; which so very much needed these days. I would recommend these classes anytime.
High level instruction for all ages and abilities. Could not recommend enough.
There is not a better place to have your kid start doing BJJ. Cesar and his entire team are incredibly professional and know how to have students engaged and growing!
I had an amazing experience at this jiu jitsu gym! The instructors are top-notch, the facility is clean and well-maintained, and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning jiu jitsu. Five stars all the way!
Everyone is amazing and helpful and I have never once felt out of place! Cesar has created the most comfortable gym for all ages and skill levels to learn and grow! I love this place
I have The best of the best experience on my first class Teachers so professional Students so helpful They make you feel it’s like being in family no just a membership or simple academic I’m so glad to be here thanks for you help and support to start with you guys 🙏🏽
Been training for years and moved so I needed a new gym. Long story short Urbana Academy is a great gym for anyone.
The proof is in the pudding! Cesar and his team take pride in the work they put into every class and minute of instruction they offer, and it absolutely shows. Urbana Academy is incredibly results driven and dedicated to their students, and are a staple in the local BJJ scene!!
Urbana Academy has a lot to offer that most martial arts schools don't. This is not a school that's just going to teach you how to win tournaments. They teach personal self defense through Brazilian Jiujitsu that hasn't been watered down from the original Gracie teachings, as well as Muay Thai. Their kids program really keeps the kids focused, with multiple instructors per class so each child gets more personalized attention from the instructors. They have a self defense program designed just for women with women-only classes. All in a very family friendly environment. Best self defense school in the area, hands down!
Urbana Academy's instructors are very professional from a seemingly diverse set of backgrounds. It's a great place to gain confidence and meet other participants with a similar interest and mindset, for both adults and youth. The instructors are knowledgeable and personable willing to lead you on the start of a new journey!
Awesome place, for everyone. Lots of class options for kids and adults. Great instructors.
Awesome MA center with excellent instructors for kids! Student to teacher ratio is great and the kids love learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As for adults, its the same! You don't have to worry about sparring with someone that wants to kill you. Every one is really respectful and encouraging to one another
This place has become a 2nd family! Great instruction and training partners who are more inclined to teach than use the newbies as training dummies. The art of Jui Jitsu can and is overwhelming so a good and safe place to train, learn and improve is extremely important. I Found that at Urbana Academy for myself as well as my 2 teens!
Great school. Hands down the best and friendliest martial arts school in this area.
I started BJJ at Urbana Academy 3 years ago. Great Atmosphere, and Great people. Everybody from Instructors , families and students are great, supportive, and welcoming. Cesar (The owner) treats you like a family, Laura is a great instructor, and I already made so many good friends! I also take women’s self defense class on Sundays Which is all female self defense class. They started offering weekdays women self defense classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Great instructor, and very supportive ladies! I Highly recommend it to all females.
Been training BJJ here for about six months. I started with my 4 year old son, and it had been a great experience. The kids classes are amazing and do a great job of keeping the kids engaged and learning and having fun. You can see the passion that the instructors have for passing on these skills to a new generation and instilling confidence and ethics in them. The adult classes are excellent as well and everyone was very welcoming of the newcomer and ensured that it was an enjoyable atmosphere in which I could learn. Everyone learns from everyone no matter the belt, which is a great mentality in my opinion. After watching me and my son for a couple months, my wife also joined the women's Combatives (BJJ/GJJ focused) classes and has gotten hooked. It's a very empowering class and provides me peace of mind that my wife is learning to defend herself if ever a situation arises. Overall, excellent gym and would recommend it to anyone.
The Muay Thai boxing, Krav Maga, and Brazilian jiu jitsu classes are all high quality and fun. Very friendly and welcoming environment too. The children's classes are also very popular.
Started Muay Thai and Krav Maga with no prior experience. Very welcoming and friendly and learned lots every class. Students of all skill levels allowing you to train at a level you are comfortable with!
Our family have been been members at the UA for a little over a year and love it there. Our kids attend the Krav Maga class and Andrew is great with them! All instructors are very professional and knowledgeable on the art form they instruct, this is not only witnessed by watching but by friends who attend their classes.
I started training at UA one year ago after trying to find a business that offered Krav Maga. My goal was for real world self-defense. Our instructors are very professional, humble, and highly trained. Every class will challenge you and build upon skills you have learned. What I like is how the theory is explained, especially in light of real world situations. Training covers every thing from striking, disarms, take downs, and BJJ for ground control. Best of all, you are going to make friends and build relationships as you grow together. I can't recommend UA enough.
Urbana Academy and the instructors are great. My son just started training here and everyone including the other parents have been very welcoming. I’m excited to have a place I can take my son and know he will learn not only to defend himself but great core values. A highly recommend this place to anyone interested in martial arts as well as being a part of a friendly group of people.
Great classes, great people, great enviroment. It really is awesome.
Great group of supportive people from all backgrounds. Great place to meet new and exciting, caring people. Wonderful instructors who take time to connect.
It is a wonderful club with excellent instructors, a friendly atmosphere and a variety of groups for people with different levels of training!
I have been training at Urbana Academy (UA) for 3.5 years and I am absolutely pleased with my decision to switch from my previous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) school to UA. I love the training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) system that is taught at UA under Master Pedro Sauer (8th Degree GJJ Coral Belt) by way of Instructor Cesar Paredes (GJJ Black Belt). All the instructors are very knowledgeable in GJJ from a technical standpoint. All the instructors provide you with the "Why" in every GJJ technique. Also, GJJ is a Self-Defense Based Martial Arts which provides you with necessary defense skills for "real world" altercations, not just in a tournament style match with rules and a referee to stop the fight for safety concerns. I would recommend anyone interested in learning BJJ or GJJ to stop into to UA for a free class, you will not be disappointed.
For the past two months, my 8 year old son has been studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) at Urbana Academy. The Academy is a special place. For children, Cesar and his team apply an approach that combines fun with discipline. The kids that attend UA enjoy their time learning, but they are held accountable to work within defined limits of respect - it is a healthy blend between the two. The kids look out for each other as do the lead trainers. Friendships form and there is a sense of family. As an educator, I find they do an excellent job of working with the kids and are always evaluating how they can improve their approach to teaching. In the short time my son has been attending training, not only have I seen him grasp and execute the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu, I have also seen a boost in self-confidence and resilience. If you are not familiar with BJJ, it is the perfect form of martial arts for kids to apply toward bullying as it teaches how to control a situation through means other than throwing punches or kicks. Come and check them out.
Really positive experience. Cesar gave a great class. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and working with other students. Highly recommend this place
I have been training Gracie Jiu Jitsu at Urbana Academy for almost four years. They are a wonderful family centered school that teaches self defense to families and individuals of all ages. Cesar and Andrew are knowledgeable, caring, and run an outstanding program.
I have had great experiences with Urbana Academy on two levels. My eight year old son has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) there for almost two years. Being somewhat shy and timid, I was worried that he might struggle to get into martial arts training. Their kid's program is so amazing and he has gotten the instruction and encouragement needed to progress and gain both skill and confidence. The instructor strive keep it fun while teaching BJJ. I highly recommend their kids program. After watching my son for over a year, I decided to enroll in the adults' program with no grappling background. Again, there is a wide array of students and it is easy to fit in. The instruction is great for learning self-defense (specific classes geared for this) and also for learning the amazing art of BJJ. I have had a great experience and plan to stick with it for years.
I've been training here for a year and a half now and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. UA has become like a second family to me and I try to be there every chance I get. The instructors are wise, polite, and skilled. I have had some amazing experiences because of the opportunities offered at the academy and I highly recommend anyone interested in self defense to simply come in for a couple of free introductory sessions. You'll quickly realize why Urbana Academy is the best place to train and why people like me want to be a part of this community for a very long time.
When I first walked in, I loved the gym. The instructors and students were welcoming and the gym was clean and in great shape. Once I started classes, I knew this would be my new home for training.
Very experienced staff that are patient. From day one I felt welcomed and encouraged to try all their classes to find what worked for me. Great group of people from all walks of life.
I love Urbana Academy! I have gone for Krav Maga, with no prior fight training (or even working out training) and they were amazing at making me feel welcome, comfortable, and willing to try despite my general uncoordinated nature. I am motivated to go by how great it is each time. The instructors listen to your needs and challenge you each time, helping you individually and pairing you with an appropriate partner when necessary. I am missing it currently due to other medical issues, but cannot wait to go back! If you are thinking about trying them out, I highly recommend them!
My son absolutely loves this place, the instructors are great with the kids and my son feels like he is learning at each class and wants to continue going routinely. Great program!
This school is simply outstanding. The environment is great, everyone is helpful and friendly. More importantly the quality of instruction is so far above that of your typical martial arts school. The instructors are dedicated, highly trained individuals who are not only experts in their discipline- they are phenomenal teachers. Whether you are brand new, or have been training for years they will engage you to your level and keep you motivated to learn more. I don't have children but I think you can tell a lot about a school by how they handle kids classes. What impressed me the most was that, while the instructors made it fun, they were teaching sound fundamentals of BJJ. All the students were engaged and actually learning, not just having play time like you see at other schools. If you have ever wanted to learn martial arts, or are looking for a school to raise your existing skill level, you must check out Urbana Academy.
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