Short answer: The name One Way comes from a simple idea: when you only have one shot, you commit to it fully. That is how owners Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida opened One Way Martial Arts in Alexandria, VA: with very little money, a lot of work and a shared refusal to quit. It is also how we ask our students to approach training: pick a direction and keep showing up.
Mahamed and Patrick told the full story on episode #001 of the One Way Podcast. This post is a written version of what they discussed.
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From the One Way Martial Arts YouTube channel.
The Story Behind the Name, the Gym, and the Mindset
In the first episode, co-founders Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida tell the story of how One Way Martial Arts was born: a friendship that started when they trained under the same coach as teenagers in Brazil, a serious knee injury that forced Mahamed to rethink his career, and the decision to open an academy in Alexandria with very little money and a shared refusal to quit. They explain what the name One Way means (when you get one shot, you commit fully) and what they want this podcast to give students, gym owners, fathers and business owners.
Watch on YouTube →Two teenagers in Brazil, one coach
The story starts long before the gym. Mahamed and Patrick met as teenagers in Brazil, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the same coach.
From there, their lives went in very different directions for a while. Mahamed went on to become a 4x IBJJF World Champion, a professional MMA fighter and a UFC Contender Series veteran. You can read more about his career on Mahamed's page. Patrick's route back to the mat was a lot less direct.
Patrick's long way around
As Patrick tells it on the podcast, jiu-jitsu was not the original plan. His path looked like this:
- Engineering studies in Brazil. He started out on a conventional track, studying engineering.
- Medical school in Russia. He then changed course completely and moved across the world to study medicine.
- BJJ in Europe. From there, jiu-jitsu took over and he moved on to BJJ in Europe.
- The United States. Eventually jiu-jitsu brought him to the US.
Today Patrick is a BJJ black belt with more than 15 years in the sport and competes in IBJJF Masters divisions. But the point of the story is not the resume. It is that he tried other roads first and still ended up on the mat.
Mahamed's knee injury in Costa Rica
Mahamed's road had its own turning point. As he shares on the podcast, he suffered a serious knee injury in Costa Rica. Anyone who has been injured while training knows what that does to your plans. For Mahamed, it forced him to rethink training, fighting and business, and it is the reason the podcast exists.
Opening a gym with very little money
When the two friends decided to open an academy together, they were not starting from a comfortable position. On the podcast they are open about it: they opened the gym with very little money, a lot of work and a shared refusal to quit.
That is where the name comes from. As they explain it, One Way means that when you have one shot, you commit fully. You pick the direction and you go.
That gym is now a 6,400 sq ft academy at 5416 Eisenhower Ave, right off the Van Dorn Street Metro, with two mats, 70+ classes a week and more than 430 active students. See the space on our gym tour page.
What "One Way" means for students
You do not need to bet your savings on anything to train with us. But the same idea applies on a smaller scale to anyone who walks in for a first class:
- Commit to showing up. Progress in martial arts comes from consistency, not talent. Pick your class times from the schedule and protect them.
- Give the round in front of you your full attention. One drill, one roll, one class at a time.
- Do not wait for perfect conditions. Mahamed and Patrick did not wait until they had money. You do not need to wait until you are in shape.
- Setbacks are part of the road, not the end of it. Mahamed's knee injury did not end his story. It made him rethink it.
"Not his gym but rather our gym"
A gym built by two people who started with very little tends to stay humble, and students notice. Daniel M. wrote in a Google review:
"What sets this one apart is the professors' remarkable humility and their ability to create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home."
He added: "The coach emphasizes that it's not his gym but rather our gym."
That line captures what the owners want One Way to be. The name is about commitment, but the commitment goes both ways: students commit to training, and the coaches commit to every student, whatever the belt rank or age. You can meet the full coaching staff on the our team page.
Come see it for yourself
We teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling and kids programs under one roof, with free on-site parking. Start with a free first class. Come in athletic clothes, and we lend you the gear you need. If you are choosing between academies in Northern Virginia, our guide on how to choose a BJJ academy explains what to look for, here or anywhere else.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name One Way Martial Arts mean?
One Way means that when you have one shot, you commit to it fully. Owners Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida opened the gym with very little money, a lot of work and a shared refusal to quit, and the name reflects that all-in commitment.
Who owns One Way Martial Arts?
One Way Martial Arts is owned by Mahamed Aly, a 4x IBJJF World Champion and professional MMA fighter, and Patrick Almeida, a BJJ black belt with more than 15 years in the sport. They met as teenagers in Brazil training under the same coach.
Where is One Way Martial Arts located?
One Way Martial Arts is at 5416 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304, right off the Van Dorn Street Metro on the Blue Line, with free on-site parking. Start with a free first class.