Kogaion Academy Takes on Las Vegas: Masters Worlds & Jiu-Jitsu Con 2026
Kogaion Academy went west! More than 10 members of our Arlington, VA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team traveled to Las Vegas for one of the biggest weeks of the year in BJJ: IBJJF Masters Worlds and Jiu-Jitsu Con.
Masters Worlds and Jiu-Jitsu Con bring thousands of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors together from around the world, making Las Vegas one of the centers of the BJJ universe for the week. For our team, it was an opportunity to compete, coach, teach, support teammates, and spend an unreasonable amount of time inside a convention center.
And this year, we had a pretty big Kogaion crew along for the ride.
More Than 10 Kogaion Athletes Head to Las Vegas
We had more than 10 Kogaion Academy members make the trip from the Arlington and Alexandria, VA area to compete and support the team.
We even had one teammate travel quite a bit farther.
Miguel flew all the way from Mauritius to Las Vegas to compete with the team. Jiu-Jitsu has a funny way of creating communities that stretch much farther than the walls of a gym, and having teammates come together from opposite sides of the world made an already memorable week even better.
For several Kogaion students, Vegas was also a major milestone: their first time competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Competition isn't required at Kogaion, but for students who want to test themselves, tournaments are one of the best ways to learn. Your first tournament teaches you a lot about your Jiu-Jitsu—and usually gives you a very clear list of things you want to work on when you get home.
We're proud of everyone who stepped onto the competition mats, whether they came home with a medal or simply gained their first competition experience.
Beatrice and Nikki Close Out the Jiu-Jitsu Con No-Gi Lightweight Division
We also had a particularly fun result at Jiu-Jitsu Con.
Beatrice and good friend of the gym Nikki both represented Kogaion and closed out the adult black belt no-gi lightweight division, both winning their semifinals by kneebar.
Then they both entered the open class and finished with bronze medals, each taking 3rd.
Closing out a black belt division together was a pretty special result—and a great representation of the high-level competition training happening right here at Kogaion.
Our competition team includes everyone from first-time competitors to experienced black belts competing on the IBJJF circuit. That mix is a huge part of what makes the room fun: you don't need to be a professional athlete to train seriously, and you don't need competition aspirations to benefit from training alongside people who do.
Beatrice Teaches at Girls in Gis
The trip wasn't only about competing.
Coach Beatrice Jin also taught a Girls in Gis seminar while in Las Vegas, getting the chance to share Jiu-Jitsu with women and girls from outside our academy.
Building women's participation in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has always been an important part of our community. Back home in Arlington, Kogaion hosts regular women's training and open mats in addition to our normal co-ed classes.
Seeing that community extend beyond Virginia—and getting to teach during one of the biggest weeks in Jiu-Jitsu—was another highlight of the trip.
From First-Time Competitors to Black Belts
One of our favorite parts of the Vegas trip was seeing just how wide the range of experience was within the group.
Some athletes were stepping onto the competition mats for the very first time. Others were competing at the black belt level against experienced athletes from around the world.
That's the kind of team we're trying to build at Kogaion.
Our goal isn't to create a room that's only for competitors. It's to create a technically strong environment where a brand-new student can learn next to someone preparing for a major IBJJF tournament—and both can get better.
So whether your goal is to compete at Worlds someday, learn a new skill, get in shape, or just find something considerably more interesting than running on a treadmill, there's a place for you here.
Looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Arlington or Alexandria, VA?
Now that we're back from Vegas, it's back to training.
Kogaion Academy offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Arlington, VA, conveniently located in Shirlington and close to Alexandria, Parkfairfax, Fairlington, Del Ray, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.
Our BJJ program includes structured technical instruction, live training, guard and guard-passing development, and opportunities for students who want to compete. Beginners are always welcome—you do not need to be in shape, know how to grapple, or own 14 rashguards before showing up.
We offer training for both adults and kids, from complete beginners through experienced competitors.
If you've been searching for BJJ near Alexandria, VA, Jiu-Jitsu in Arlington, VA, or a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym in Northern Virginia, come try a class at Kogaion Academy.
Meanwhile, Our Muay Thai Program Is Growing!
One quick update from back home: Muay Thai at Kogaion is growing!
We've been excited to see more people joining the program, and we still have a limited number of Founders spots available.
Our Founders program is a chance to get into the Muay Thai program while it's still growing and lock in special benefits for being one of its earliest members.
Why Try Muay Thai at Kogaion?
Muay Thai is a great option if you want to:
Learn practical striking skills, including punches, kicks, knees, and elbows
Get a serious full-body workout without doing another boring cardio routine
Improve coordination, conditioning, balance, and confidence
Learn in a structured environment with technical coaching
Train recreationally without needing to compete
Add striking to your existing BJJ or Judo training
Become part of a growing program from the beginning
Our Muay Thai program is led by an experienced instructor with more than 16 years of training experience and a national championship background.
If you've been searching for Muay Thai in Arlington, VA, Muay Thai near Alexandria, VA, or a martial arts gym where you can train both grappling and striking, now is a great time to join.
Founders spots are limited, so grab yours while they're still available.
Train BJJ, Judo & Muay Thai in Arlington, VA
Kogaion Academy is a martial arts academy in Arlington, Virginia serving students throughout Arlington, Alexandria, Shirlington, Fairlington, Parkfairfax, Del Ray, and Northern Virginia.
We offer:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for adults and kids
Judo for adults and kids
Muay Thai
Kids Muay Thai
Women's Jiu-Jitsu training and open mats
Beginner-friendly martial arts classes
Competition training for students who want to test their skills
From first-time competitors heading to their first local tournament to black belts competing on some of the biggest stages in Jiu-Jitsu, we're proud of the community we're building at Kogaion.
Want to train with us? Come try Kogaion Academy and see why students from Arlington and Alexandria choose our team for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai.