What members say.

An outstanding training facility with world class instructors who all have extensive competition experience in high level tournaments. The gym is well-built, well-equipped, and always clean. The students are a true community and everyone wants to make everyone else better. Coach Adam and team work tirelessly to help each athlete develop as a practitioner and competitor. The in-house gear is some of the best I’ve ever seen and worn. And don’t skimp on the collab candles. They make my office smell great.

Coach Adam and Coach Emma have poured their hearts into making Black Cat a safe, competitive, and fun place for all. From the clean, spunky space to their kind members, the way they have crafted a welcoming and cutting-edge environment says everything about this place. I was a broken down blue belt and while I was only here for a few months during traveling, they did everything they could to welcome me and give me the boost I needed. Their instruction is clear and classes are fun with a lot of sparring. I’ll miss this place and it’s definitely THE spot in NOVA. Thank you Black Cat!!!

Training at Black Cat has been an amazing experience. The gym has a rare balance between tough training partners who compete at the highest levels of the sport and a friendly, safe atmosphere that welcomes people new to grappling. Instruction from Adam and the rest of the coaching staff is world-class. They stay current with modern techniques and systems while grounding their approach in fundamental grappling concepts. It’s a great place to train and grow.

Black Cat is a wonderful studio with smart and knowledgable instructors. It has been a safe haven for both my husband and son to hone their craft & have fun doing so. Forever grateful to Adam, Emma & Frank for supporting a regimen of towel roll squats and sleep-jitsu.

It’s difficult to find an instructor that has real high level black belt competition matches gi and no gi that also has the desire to teach. Adam is exactly that, he has fought the biggest names in the world and teaches well thought out classes that will improve your game. The gym is full of students across a wide range of size, age, and skill level so no matter who you are you’ll find good training here.

Started my son here in October 2023 bringing about a year of experience with him. Coaches Emma and Frank are great with the kids and my son enjoys the fact that the instruction is focused and builds on previous lessons each class and the size is kept to a level so that things get overwhelming and feel crowded and each kid can get on the spot correction as needed. It’s a good mix of experience and new kids and has been fun to watch as they all improve month over month. Will be starting my daughter in the program this summer as well.

Been training here almost a year now! Love the schedule, the instruction, and the fact it's off the highway for me is super convenient regardless whether I'm home or at work an average commute to catch a class here is 20-30 min. Adam Benayoun's ability to instruct whether you are a beginner 1st day or a seasoned Jiu-Jitsu practitioner will always have you walking away with a new piece to add to your game. Very much recommended and excited to see this place grow!

I’ve been training here for a few months and it’s just simply the best. I love the coaches and staff, everybody is so nice and welcoming, I’ve never had a bad experience. Coaches Adam and Ryan are such great people and can offer so much in-depth instruction and personalized attention to really help hone in on specific aspects on your training. I’m proud to be a member of the Black Cat gym and community and look forward to continuing my training and Jiu Jitsu journey here!

I've been training at Black Cat Jiu Jitsu for a year and it's been an amazing experience. The instructors are skilled and supportive, and the community is welcoming. Whether you're new or experienced, there's always something to learn. Highly recommend this gym!

Coach Adam is very detailed oriented and will perfectly detect the smallest things, so you can better improve your BJJ. He not only pays attention to each individual student and their jiu jitsu, but makes connections to get to know the person themselves. The whole community at Black Cat is very welcoming and skilled. I love it here for the amazing coaches and teammates, the way they teach, and specifically- the women’s only class!

Amazing place, clean and well organized gym with amazing coaches to go with it. Adam Benayoun provides in depth instruction that has provided me and my peers to success in bettering ourselves and winning competitions. This is a great place to train and pave your way to the path of victory!

Black Cat Jiu jitsu is the premier BJJ gym in the DMV and on the East Coast. Adam’s in-depth instruction, combined with a room full of talented training partners, creates an exceptional learning environment. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a competitor, this is the place for you. I drive over an hour to train here—and it’s absolutely worth it.

Don’t wait to get to Black Cat Jiu Jitsu. Adam’s teaching style is thorough and presented in a manner that promotes deep learning. You quickly realize that he sincerely cares about his students. There is a strong sense of community within the academy and we as students look out for each other’s safety and development. I cannot recommend Black Cat highly enough, I learn during every class and I enjoy the culture that has been created.

When I relocated to Virginia, I spent a lot of time researching gyms in the area. I found Black Cat and am so happy I made the decision to starting training here last year. Adam is a great coach and will force you to think about what you are working on. I've trained at a lot of different BJJ gyms, and the vibes at Black Cat are immaculate. I am pushed to get better and to try techniques I am not good at every single day. It's awesome. Lots of really tough people to train with and a lot of no-gi classes. Also, there are cats all over the place so I'd give them a 10 star rating if I could.

I’ve been training at black cat for almost a year and there is not enough good that I can say about it. Adam is an excellent coach whether you’re a competitor, a hobbyist, or anyone in between. He genuinely cares about how everyone is progressing and that the product he offers is second to none. The gym itself is immaculate, well laid out, and has a cool vibe. The training partners are the toughest around but also care that everyone is getting what they need. If I could give 10 stars I would. If you’re on the fence about where to train in nova look. I further!

I’ve trained all over the world, and Black Cat is a rare find. The instruction is top notch, but equally important, everyone is incredibly welcoming and fun to train with. Whether you’re here for a class or years, everyone makes you feel like you’re part of the team. Highly highly recommend training here!

Dropped in from out of town for 2 months to train at black cat. To my surprise it’s one of the best gyms I’ve ever attended. The atmosphere is unmatched and the coaching by Adam is outstanding. The gym is very clean and staff is welcoming. Can’t recommend this gym enough! Professor Adam is truly a master at his craft and can teach in such a way it’s easy to understand and apply.

Can’t say enough good things about Black Cat BJJ. Adam, Frank and Emma are incredible coaches super technical, welcoming, and committed to helping you improve. 10/10 vibes, 10/10 training.

Great training environment that is both technical and fun! All the coaches are amazing. Emma tailors her women's classes to focused technical skill development/problem solving, definitely the best women's class I have taken. Frank's wrestling class is perfect for building skills on the feet. Head coach Adam gives world class instruction and is committed to his students developing deep skills in Jiu Jitsu. All around a gem for the DMV BJJ community.

Without a doubt, Black Cat BJJ is Virginia's premier gym, renowned for its supportive community and expert coaching. Whether you're serious about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or simply passionate as a hobbyist, it's the perfect place for you. Huge thanks to Adam, Emma, Frankie, and Ryan for ensuring every session is exceptional!

World class staff who make you feel comfortable. Clean and modern gym. Intimate teaching/training as you are not one of 100 people on the mat training where the instructor doesn't know your name. Adam & the Black Cat team are able to provide high quality BJJ instruction to folks of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a gym in the D.C. area.

Wonderful training space and environment. Adam gives very entertaining and passionate instruction. Every student gets feedback and he asks good tough questions to check for understanding. Wonderful to see another beautiful gym growing in the community. Thanks for your hospitality.

Black cat jiu jitsu is a fantastic jiu jitsu academy. Adam takes a lot of pride in providing a clean, safe, and positive space for everyone to train in. Adam is world class in his jiu jitsu technique, and he does an awesome job of teaching that technique to his students. It is great to see how much he cares about the people that train there, and he constantly strives to give them the best jiu jitsu experience that he can. I would recommend this gym to anyone new to the sport, hobbyist, or serious competitor.

Black cat has a 10/10 vibe for its space and people! The studio feels modern and boutique and the style of instruction is engaging and relaxed. Every class I’ve attended my instructors given me and my partner 1:1 attention. Lastly, I love how many other women attend classes here. All these things have made training much more approachable for me as a new student

Black Cat is a great BJJ gym in the area. I have been learning from Adam for 3 years now. His instruction is top notch. He makes it a point to make sure everyone is progressing in their BJJ journey. The gym itself is modern, extremely clean, and unique. Everyone from the staff to students is friendly and welcoming. Very happy with my experience at Black Cat.

Adam is an incredible instructor who creates an amazing learning environment. He provides intimate and detailed feedback that any level practitioner will benefit immensely from. Every class, you can clearly see how much he cares about his students and the progress they make in their jiu jitsu journey. In addition to the high-level of instruction, Black Cat Jiu Jitsu is a beautiful facility that truly provides an elevated experience. Would highly recommend to anyone in the NOVA area. Even if it’s a little far from you, I promise it’s worth it