Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Judo from the Roanoke Valley’s first mixed martial arts gym — taught by the owners, with more than a dozen black belts on the mat.
Every fight happens standing, in the clinch or on the ground. Muay Thai, Judo and Jiu Jitsu each own one of those ranges. Take any of them on their own, or all three as a package.
The art of eight limbs: punches, kicks, knees and elbows, drilled on Thai pads, focus mitts and heavy bags. The valley’s original Muay Thai program, certified through the US Muay Thai Association.
Muay Thai class times →The art of the big throw — for taking a fight to the ground, or keeping it standing. Home of the original Roanoke Judo Club, founded by Gus Carper, and offered through the nationally accredited USJA.
Judo class times →Takedowns, positional control, chokes, arm locks and leg locks. Every black belt here was promoted directly by Pedro Sauer, an 8th-degree red/black belt who earned his own black belt from Rickson and Helio Gracie.
Jiu Jitsu class times →No katas, no impractical weapons. Nothing wrong with those — it’s just not what we do. You come in, learn to genuinely defend yourself, get a serious workout, and get back to your life.
The people who own Hybrid are the people teaching your class. They’ve competed — and won — at every rank up to black belt invitationals.
Classes average 18–20 people with several black belts on the mat, so you get real training partners without becoming a number.
Self-defense, fitness or competition. Instructors have been involved for over 35 years and teaching here for more than 25.
Twelve Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts, six Judo black belts and a Muay Thai program led by an instructor with more than 30 years in martial arts. These are the people running the classes.
3rd-degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Pedro Sauer, and one of the first 30 black belts Pedro ever promoted. 2nd-degree Judo black belt under Gus Carper. Dennis has competed at every belt level in Judo, Jiu Jitsu and submission wrestling, and in MMA. Away from the mat he’s a Lieutenant and Firefighter/Paramedic with Roanoke Fire/EMS.
More than 30 years in martial arts. Tim has trained directly under some of the most respected instructors in the world, including Sirichai Sirisute, Frank Cucci and Pedro Sauer.
More than 25 years in Judo, with both his first- and second-degree black belts awarded directly by Roanoke’s own Gus Carper. Dave also wrestled in high school and college.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and former wrestler from Pennsylvania.
Teaches: Wednesday fundamentalsBJJ black belt and active MMA competitor. 4× lightweight MMA champion, former #1-ranked amateur lightweight in Virginia, Fight of the Night recipient.
Teaches: Muay ThaiJudo black belt and BJJ purple belt. 1st place at the 2019 VA State Games Judo Championships; several local Jiu Jitsu medals.
Teaches: Monday JudoBJJ and Judo black belt, training and competing for well over a decade.
Teaches: Early-morning and Sunday classesEarly-morning Jiu Jitsu three days a week, evening classes Monday to Friday, and open mat on Friday and Saturday.
No long-term contracts. No hidden fees.
Mats are mopped every night, and there are showers on site so you can clean up right after class. Martial arts means close contact, sweat and bare feet, so hygiene is the first thing we take care of — skin infections like ringworm and staph are a real risk at gyms that skip it.
The owners are the primary instructors, backed by a staff of black belts. Every lead instructor holds senior rank in a long-standing art and has a real competition record — and has won.
Jiu Jitsu is through Pedro Sauer: our black belts have been with Pedro since 1995 and received every belt directly from him. Judo is the original Roanoke Judo Club, founded by Gus Carper in the 1950s, offered through the USJA, which requires background checks of facilities and instructors. Muay Thai is through the US Muay Thai Association.
No. Train for self-defense, fitness or competition — you set the goal. If you do want to compete, you’ll be coached by people who have done it at every rank.
Yes. Take Muay Thai, Judo or Jiu Jitsu individually, or all three as a package and cover every range of a fight.
No long-term contracts and no hidden fees.
Yes — your first week is free. Come to any class, meet the instructors and the people you’d be training with, and decide from there.
Yes, for law enforcement, fire/EMS and public safety.
Try every class — Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Judo. Just show up ready to move; we’ll handle the rest.