Would you believe you can find a family-friendly school of martial arts with world-class instruction located in the heart of Potomac? Yes, it’s true. Potomac MMAis a hidden gem of martial arts instruction, in a single-family home, from one of the pioneers of the sport.
Todd Margolis founded Potomac MMA in September of 2018. This followed his many years as a top competitor who holds a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He was the first American to make the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s (IBJJF) Pan American Championships at the adult black belt level, as well as the first US athlete to earn a medal in the tournament’s prestigious open weight division.
Potomac MMA is open year-round. Kids from four to thirteen take classes starting at five and six pm. Adults, whose ages range from fourteen on up, compose the evening classes at seven and eight pm. Most youngsters come more than once a week to a 45-minute class, with the adult classes running for up to one hour.
Children are offered the grappling program, which includes Judo, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Four of Coach Todd’s six children also participate in the classes. Only in the adult classes can students learn striking, Thai boxing, which involves punching and kicking. Besides the self-defense training, adults find the classes to be an excellent way to stay fit, flexible and meet new people.
Classes are small and Todd aims to keep them that way. In addition, he feels strongly that “It’s got to be a good fit for the school and the student. There has to be a full buy in to what I’m doing. I’m a tough instructor and I teach the kids the same principles and techniques that I teach the adults, albeit in smaller bits of info. If you bring yourself or your child here, you will see a positive change.”
Potomac MMA’s intent is not to turn out students only looking to win a fight. “Jiu Jitsu is the medium through which I teach, but it’s not only what we’re teaching. The goal is we’re building better human beings … kids/adults with character, discipline, hard work, friendship, kindness and humility.” He adds, “When you know what it feels like to be manhandled or can manhandle somebody yourself, there is humility in that, because you realize that there is somebody potentially better than you are. Knowing this will keep you out of fights by giving you the confidence to walk away knowing you had a choice and you chose peace. That’s powerful!”
“I want them to be proficient in martial arts and it’s hard. This is a hard sport. I tell the parents that if your kid comes home crying because ‘the class was hard’, they are telling you the truth, and your answer should be: “Good!” Life’s not easy and I’d rather see them cry here on the mat than cry in the street, lose here than lose in the street, lose here than lose in life, and they need that adversity. Our classes are not going to be for everybody and that’s ok.”
Students and parents appreciate the studio, which took Coach Todd years to complete, noting it’s clean, well-equipped, and well-maintained. It contains two floors with over 1,000 square feet of mat space. He also designed a driveway which makes it easy to drop off and pick up. Plenty of parking, too.
Potomac MMA is located at 8400 Postoak Road, Potomac, Md. 20854. Their website: www.potomacmma.com. For more information call (301) 367-8500