Combat Principles MMA

Top notch MMA gym with everything you need to become an elite martial artist

My family comes here to learn martial arts and exercise. Mr. Josh is very kind and cheerful. He always creates the best conditions for everyone to come here to exchange knowledge and experience. So that everyone can develop their abilities. they skills are better. Thank you, my husband and my children really like him and everyone in the club.

TL;DR It’s an awesome gym with good people and a passionate instructor at the helm. Come join! Full Review: I first came to this gym in the spring of 2019. I was looking for a way to try and stay fit, learn a martial art, and gain self-defense knowledge. If you’ve never done this style of training before, it can definitely be intimidating to show up and be thrown directly into the mix, but that’s also the best way to learn and get a true feeling for whether this is something you want to invest your time and money in. Josh (the head coach) is very welcoming and knowledgeable, and willing to answer any and all questions. He takes the culture of the gym seriously and make sure that it is an inclusive environment for people from all backgrounds and skill levels (though his jokes in the adult class are definitely not PG 🤣) I was most nervous about the fact that I am a hobbyist, and didn’t know if I would feel like I was in the way of the more serious fighters. This is absolutely not the case, in fact the more skilled and senior the gym member, the more welcoming, supportive and considerate I’ve found them to be! I can only assume this is due to the vibe Josh has created, where support and teamwork are valued over any individual. I’ve popped in to other gyms in my travels, as most BJJ gyms welcome visitors. While I’ve enjoyed seeing how other gyms are run, nowhere else has felt like home the way CPMMA does. The classic “Gi”🥋classes offer a more traditional study of Jiujitsu, while the “NoGi” allows you to attend without having to have your own Gi. I’d recommend this for anyone who wants to try it out for a month and then if after that you’re still into it, buy yourself a nice Gi and commit to training! As someone with an average fitness level, I find these classes physically and mentally challenging, which is why I love it! If you’re looking to learn a life skill, make new friends, and improve your overall fitness, this could be a good fit. But it’s definitely not a typical gym class, and the design is to allow you to learn and grow over time. Classes are typically focused on a specific type of movement per week, with a larger idea or concept we’re working on each month. You’ll be definitively in other peoples personal space 🤣 If you’re a first timer, when you arrive you will be joining into this already established rhythm instead of other gyms that run beginners only classes. Generally there are enough people on any given day so that higher belts (blue, brown, black =more experienced) can be matched with lower belts (white=less experienced) to make for a dynamic and fruitful class. However, depending on the day and what people have going on in their own lives, the number of people and levels on the mat fluctuates. After the jujitsu class there is typically a striking class. You can do both, but a lot of people just do one or the other since they are so exhausting. Once you have a membership, you can come to as many classes as you want, or just come to the gym to workout on your own as well. But I think as long as you can commit to twice or three times a week you will be able to make consistent progress. The gym is generally kept clean, but it is pretty bare bones in terms of facilities. Josh is constantly innovating and improving the space, I can say the entrance space definitely has a better flow now than it did when I first arrived. 🙂 The last thing I’ll add is that as a woman I have never once felt uncomfortable here, and in the three years I’ve been training I have never had any inappropriate comments or conduct come my way. Everyone has been very respectful and kind. Those who come in with an ego who are unwilling to humble themselves to learn don’t last long. While the gym is mostly male, we have a strong female representation, and I am very grateful for how much all of my training partners have helped me grow! I hope this review is helpful for anyone considering trying out jujitsu, striking, or trying to decide between gyms. Thank you to my CPMMA family for welcoming me into this community!

Love this gym. Josh drove out to the Baltimore Open and coached me thru my first BJJ competition (I won via RNC). He’s up with the cows Tuesday mornings, dedicated and attentive to his white belts. I’ve only been at CPMMA a couple months but I’ve already learned a Brazilian things

My husband and (2) kids frequent this gym. We are in Rumble Bees at least (2) days per week. Mr Josh is a former elementary school teacher and it shows. My anxious kindergartener is blossoming under his tutelage, and this has been a great way to harness all of his energy. We love that the class is mixed gender and ages! Highly recommend. Thanks Mr. Josh and CPMMA!