Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Lineage
Carlos Gracie Jr.
Part of the roots that shaped modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Gustavo Machado Fairfax
We are Gustavo Machado
A real room, a shared practice, and people who keep showing up for one another.
Our Story
More than a place to train.
Gustavo Machado BJJ Fairfax blends Machado-lineage Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a welcoming Fairfax training room where kids, teens, and adults can build real skill without ego.
Whether you are starting for self-defense, fitness, confidence, competition, or a new challenge, Coach Sam and the team meet you where you are and help you keep improving.
Lineage
The path to our mats.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is carried forward through people, practice, and the relationships built on the mat.
Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Roberto “Gordo” Corrêa
A respected figure in the path of the art and its evolution.
Gustavo Machado BJJ Association
Gustavo Machado
The association name and lineage connected to our Fairfax academy.
Meet Your Coach
Samuel Romanzo
Head Instructor
Samuel began his martial arts journey in 1987 with traditional Tae Kwon Do and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. After college, he relocated to Tokyo, Japan, where he was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
His passion for BJJ led him to open his first martial arts school in Chantilly, VA in 1999. Since then, he has dedicated his life to teaching and developing students both on and off the mats.
Samuel has run schools in Virginia and New York and has worked extensively with military and law-enforcement personnel in the United States and the Middle East. His instruction blends technical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with practical, real-world self-defense.
Along with 29 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience under Gustavo Machado, Samuel also holds a 5th dan in Tae Kwon Do and a 2nd dan in Han Guk Mu Sool.
Training Affiliations
Beyond the academy.
Outside our walls, Sam trains and partners with organizations focused on conditioning, tactics, and resilience.
Our Community
The people make the room.
Training partners become familiar faces. Progress is shared, and every class adds another chapter to the team.
Your First Week
Come meet the team.
See the room, meet Coach Sam, and experience a class in person.