Sterling, Virginia · Loudoun County
Welcome toDisciple MMA Academy
Discover the Warrior Within
We believe in the power of martial arts to transform lives. Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or are an experienced fighter, our doors are open to all.
Why Disciple
A gym that acts like a family.
Come for the training, stay for the room. People here look after each other on the mat and off it.
Diverse training programs
Multiple disciplines under one roof.
Expert coaches
Decades of combined experience. We still train with the people we coach.
Every level on the mat
From your first class to the fight team, everyone trains in the same room. You’ll always have someone to push you.
A facility built for it
Modern equipment and spacious mats in the heart of Northern Virginia, minutes from Ashburn, Leesburg and Dulles.
New here
Your first month, step by step.
Signing up takes a couple of minutes. Here is what happens after that.
Sign up
The 30-day trial is $99 and covers every discipline we teach. Pay online and you are on the mat at the next class. Prefer to talk first? Give us a ring.
Your first session
Turn up fifteen minutes early in athletic attire. Shoes off at the mat edge. A coach will introduce themselves and put you with a partner who knows it is your first day.
Then keep training
A month is long enough to sample every discipline we teach and work out which nights suit you. When it ends, we’ll work with you to find the membership that suits you best.
Reviews
Straight from Google.
Best MMA academy in the DMV.
No ego, no macho nonsense, just good training.
Takes the sport seriously while still maintaining a chill atmosphere.
Our network
Disciple Affiliates
Two sides of the same family — our academy network, and the jiu-jitsu program that trains here at the Sterling HQ.
30-day trial
Give it thirty days.
One payment, a full month of classes. Long enough to learn the warm-up, meet the room and find the class you keep coming back to.
Programs
Tradition, taught like it's still useful.
Striking, grappling and everything in between — a complete martial arts curriculum for kids, beginners, hobbyists and competitors across Loudoun County.
Disciplines
One roof, multiple disciplines.
Mixed Martial Arts
The full sport, put together. Stand-up, takedowns, cage work and ground control, drilled live at whatever intensity you're ready for.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Leverage over strength. Positional control, escapes and submissions, taught in the gi and no-gi from your first day.
Muay Thai
Eight limbs — punches, kicks, elbows, knees and the clinch. Pads, bags and technical sparring at whatever pace you’re ready for.
Boxing
American-style boxing with a heavy emphasis on footwork, conditioning and clean technique.
Kids Classes
Confidence, focus and self-defense in a structured, family-friendly room. Skills that show up at school, not just on the mat.
Competition Team
For members testing themselves in the cage or on the competition mat. Camp structure, sparring rounds, corner support and a coach supporting you throughout your preparation.
30-day trial
Try it for a month.
One payment, thirty days of classes across every discipline.
Schedule
Classes, seven days a week.
Live calendar
See what's running today.
The live calendar shows every class at the Sterling gym. Once your trial is set up, drop into any class on it — come to whatever you like, as often as you like.
Coaches
Our coaching staff.
Deep backgrounds across wrestling, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and boxing — coaches who still train alongside the people they coach.
Scott Howard
Ajarn is the senior teaching rank in Muay Thai, held above Kru — a master instructor responsible for the standard the rest of the room is held to.
Kevin Breeden
Training since 2005, with a competitive record across jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and MMA. A first-degree black belt under Toney Waldecker — himself a sixth-degree black belt under Relson Gracie — which puts his lineage one step from the family that founded the art. Strong from both top and bottom, and known for coaching the details, whether you walked in last week or you’re preparing to compete.
Mike Pendlebury
Training since 2020 and competing in Muay Thai, MMA and jiu-jitsu — his entire career under Disciple. Captain of the Disciple competition team, and has cornered in every discipline.
Neil Johnson
Two decades on the mats and an elite wrestling background — Virginia State Champion and D1 national qualifier at George Mason, then a pro career including Bellator. Specializes in wrestling for MMA.
Estefano Altamirano
Estefano is a native of Peru, where he began his training before moving to the United States. A dedicated competitor on the local circuit, he has also tested himself against top talent through national promotions such as Fight 2 Win. Estefano brings a unique skill set to the coaching staff, with a methodical approach to breaking down positions that makes even complex techniques easy for students to understand.
Anthony Cordero
Kru Paul Sitcharing
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What people usually want to know before they walk in. If yours is not covered, ring us or send the form.
I have never trained before — is that a problem?
What do I need to bring?
What does the $99 trial include?
What ages do you teach?
Which discipline should I start with?
Do I have to buy gear?
Where are you, and where do I park?
What happens when the month is up?
Contact
Come and see us.
Ready to go? Start your 30-day trial ↗ and skip the back-and-forth. Otherwise, tell us what you'd like to try and we'll get back to you with a class time that fits — usually same day.
Reach us directly