Fire destroys martial arts studio at Barcroft Plaza
A fire at Barcroft Plaza at about 9 a.m. today destroyed UMS Martial Arts.
No one was hurt; the buildings were unoccupied when the fire started, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Fire investigators are assessing the damage and determining the cause.
The two businesses on either side, Aqua-Tots and the Benjamin Moore paint store, were damaged and remain closed. Harris Teeter is open.
The head instructor at UMS, Guizen Del Canto, said he was devastated when he saw the taekwondo studio in ruins. He rushed over to the shopping center as soon as he got a call about the fire from Federal Realty, the owner of Barcroft Plaza.
The owner of the business, Master Um, was out of town.
Everything inside the building has been destroyed, including medals, as well as equipment and technology.
Del Canto, of Bailey’s Crossroads, hopes UMS will be able to find a temporary location to continue lessons until the building is restored. “We can’t live in the past. We have to look to the future,” he said.
Del Canto has been at Um’s for 18 years, first as a student, then as an instructor, while holding a full-time job as a teacher at a Catholic school in Annandale.
Another instructor, Nabil Al-Saadawi, 19 of Lincolnia, said he cried when he saw the UMS totally destroyed. “I feel so sorry for my students.” He also feels bad for the staff, who are now basically out of work.
For Al-Saadawi , UMS was more than just a taekwondo studio. “This place was a home; it was a family.”
He first came to UMS as a student when he was 5 years old and started working there when he was 15. “My boss saw something in myself that I didn’t see and offered me a job.”
This is so incredibly sad and awful. Both of my kids went to UMS and so thoroughly enjoyed their time there.
Jeffrey, I did not know you have kids. That is wonderful. Have a happy and blessed new year.
Marie
Ums Martial Arts & it’s caring & loving instructors have been like big brothers to my daughter, who received her black belt under their tutelage in 2025. We are so deeply saddened by this & hope they can find a temporary space while they rebuild.
When i came it was so fun and i like when i made friends and i learn a lot amd i hope it will be fix so i can come there again.
IF someone knows when a go fundme has been set up on this business’ behalf, please post here or update the community. It sounds like this was a staple of the community and I’m sure people will contribute to its rebuild expenses.
Gutting. Master Um is one of the kindest and most patient instructors. He is a gem and pillar of our community. I hope someone can start a GoFundMe to support the rebuilding. Publius will be among the first to help.
Like much of the community, we are devastated and hope they can re-build soon.
We’ve created a gofundme if you’d like to help donate to Grandmaster Um and his team.
https://gofund.me/92807b274
Apparently Zips is temporarily closed as well due to Fire Marshal’s orders.
I was a student at UMS when I was a kid. I’m 29 now and the men who taught me there are still some of the most enthusiastic, kind, and exemplary people I’ve ever known. Not the least of which Master Um himself who is a shining gem of a human being. I hope all is well and they’re able to recover from this disaster into something new and just as worthy of their wonderful selves.
Cobra Kai has gone too far this time.