Nexus American Jiu Jitsu

Nexus American Jiu Jitsu in Fredericksburg is built around a teaching team with deep experience in both competition and technical instruction. The curriculum is structured to give students a clear path from fundamentals to advanced skills, with dedicated classes for beginners, all-levels training, leg locks, takedowns, and competition preparation. Gi classes form the core of the weekly schedule, but the program also makes space for wrestling and open mat sessions, reflecting a commitment to grappling as a whole. Drop-ins are welcome, and the facility is wheelchair accessible. Head instructor and founder Gannon Lang earned his black belt under Keenan Cornelius and Andris Brunovskis after years of training at BETA in DC and Legion AJJ in San Diego, where he also produced an instructional for JiuJitsuX and competed on cards like Fight To Win and Arte Suave. His wife and assistant coach, Zanetta Poretti-Lang, brings international experience from New Zealand and a background in both jiu jitsu and K9 training. The coaching roster also includes Jake Lietzan, a lifelong martial artist and wrestler from Fredericksburg, and Amanda Dickson, an active IBJJF competitor who leads the kids program and has earned medals at major events including No-Gi Pans and Master Worlds. Youth instruction is a clear priority, with structured classes led by black belts who compete regularly and have experience coaching children at different developmental stages. The academy’s approach blends the technical lineage of Keenan Cornelius’s American Jiu Jitsu with instructors who have backgrounds in wrestling, judo, and MMA, giving students a chance to cross-train and prepare for both self-defense and tournament settings. The result is a program that supports steady progression, whether a student’s goals are competitive or personal.

Amenities