A boutique club built for Black queer women who love to train, shoot, and build real community — in spaces that haven't always belonged to us.
Common Ground is a community-first shooting, fitness, and martial arts club designed specifically for Black queer women in the DC/DMV area. We are building the space that has never existed — where you can train hard, shoot confidently, recover well, and belong completely.
We're starting with a monthly shootaround — a curated, welcoming, expert-led experience every second Saturday at partner facilities in the DMV. And we're building toward something much bigger: a full brick-and-mortar members-only club in Washington, DC with a fitness floor, dojo, co-working space, bar and lounge — all under one roof, all built for this community.
Expert-led shooting meetups, self-defense education, and a safety-first culture designed for women at every experience level.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, and self-defense taught by a UFC veteran and BJJ Black Belt.
Functional fitness floor, strength training, sauna, and recovery — built to support the whole athlete.
A place to stay, connect, work, and belong. The community is the point.
📍 Exact address released after registration & payment
Every second Saturday, Common Ground hosts a curated three-hour range session open to all experience levels. Whether you've never held a firearm or you shoot regularly, this is your space. Our certified instructor leads the session from safety fundamentals through live shooting — in an environment built on respect, patience, and community.
Paquita Wiggins is a certified firearms instructor and active member of DC's Black shooting community. She brings technical expertise, a safety-first mindset, and genuine warmth to every session she leads. Paquita has been building community around responsible gun ownership for years — and she's bringing that experience to Common Ground as our lead range instructor and range safety officer.
Sijara Eubanks is a UFC veteran, BJJ Black Belt, Fight Director, and lifelong martial artist from Springfield, MA, now based in Washington, DC. She has competed at the highest levels of professional MMA and submission grappling, directed fight choreography for major theater productions across the country, and spent her career building community through sport and movement. Common Ground is her next chapter — and her life's work.
Register for the June 13 Second Saturday Shootaround. All experience levels welcome. Space is limited — complete your registration and payment to secure your spot. Exact location in Marriotsville, MD will be released to registered participants only.
Already know you want more? Tell us about your interest in founding membership — and help shape what Common Ground becomes.
We're building something real — a full brick-and-mortar club with shooting lanes, a mat room, fitness floor, sauna, and a bar and lounge, designed for this community. Founding members get locked-in rates, priority access, and a real stake in what we're building. Express your interest below and we'll be in touch when the time comes.
We're in pre-launch and building our schedule. Join the waitlist for any service below and we'll reach out as soon as spots are available.
Shooting fundamentals, BJJ, boxing, and self-defense — taught in a small-group format for focused learning and real community.
Private instruction in shooting, BJJ, or fitness with Sijara or Paquita. Tailored to your goals, your pace, your level.
Team-building experiences that go beyond the ordinary — shooting sessions, self-defense workshops, and group fitness for organizations ready to invest in their people.
Birthdays, celebrations, and milestone moments — hosted in a space that feels like it was made for you, because it was.
A seminar series co-produced with Angelyce Serrano, LCSW — combining mental health tools and self-defense training for whole-person empowerment.
Not ready to commit but don't want to miss anything? Join our newsletter and we'll keep you close as Common Ground grows.
Not at all. Our monthly shootaround is designed to welcome complete beginners alongside experienced shooters. Paquita leads every session with safety fundamentals first — no experience necessary, just curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Just yourself and closed-toe shoes. Eye and ear protection will be provided. If you own a firearm and a valid carry permit or owner's card, you're welcome to bring it — otherwise, rental firearms are available at the range. We'll send you a full details sheet once you're signed up.
Common Ground is built by and centered on Black queer women. That community is our priority, our design principle, and our home base. Allies, partners, and community members who share our values are welcome — the space is for everyone who respects what it stands for.
We're building toward a full brick-and-mortar club — shooting lanes, mat room, fitness floor, sauna, bar and lounge — all for this community. Founding members will receive locked-in membership rates, priority access, and input into what Common Ground becomes. We're collecting interest now and will share details as we get closer to launch.
We're in the planning and capital-building phase. The timeline is capital-dependent — but we're moving with intention. Sign up or express interest in founding membership to stay in the loop as things develop.
Common Ground is an independent community initiative. Our lead instructor Paquita Wiggins is an NRA and USCCA certified instructor and a member of the Black gun club community — but Common Ground itself is its own thing, built specifically for this community and this vision.
Sign up anyway — we'll add you to our list and reach out about future events. We meet every second Saturday of the month, so there will always be another one.