My 11 year old daughter and I both go to the Ashland location. All of the instructors, staff and…read moreclassmates are very knowledgeable, professional and respectful. If you're looking to compete or just want to get in better shape then I highly suggest checking them out.

I trained Muay Thai for years here and really enjoyed it. The coaches are very skilled and…read morepassionate for teaching their respective martial art. They come into every class motivated and patient with each student no matter your skill level. If you're looking to get into martial arts, this is the place.

My son started training here in early 2022, then my husband started training a month or two…read morelater... and with the encouragement of one of the instructors, I decided to try out one of the intro classes in September. BJJ is not a sport I ever thought I would do, but I am loving it. And I think it is due in large part to the welcoming, family-friendly environment at this gym. I had wanted to do some sort of self-defense class but haven't been able to find anything. The 6-week jiu-jitsu intro class provided me with some basic self-defense fundamentals. I didn't intend to continue beyond the intro class but I love the community I have found here and it's been fun doing a sport alongside my son.

Been training here since 2021 with my son. Instructors are knowledgeable and have great teaching…read moretechniques. Training partners are warm and friendly. Advanced kids class is money. Overall awesome vibe.

I've been attending this academy for a little over two years. In that time, I've been extremely…read morepleased with my experience here. The students and instructors are welcoming and dedicated, and work very hard to make sure everyone feels comfortable. Richmond BJJ covers both self-defense and sport jiu jitsu applications. They also offer muay thai classes which I do not have experience with, but that seem to be well-attended. This gym is extremely female friendly. It can be nerve wracking to come into a male-dominated gym, but not once has any student or instructor made me feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. Liz occasionally hosts women's classes that are great for building relationships with other women in jiu jitsu. Not only that, but it's amazing to be able to consistently train with a woman who is as knowledgeable about jiu jitsu as Liz. She can speak to many questions that women and/or smaller people might have about using technique over strength to defend yourself against a larger opponent. Excellent school all around!

Hot Sweaty and smells like bleach…read more Eric Burdo has run this joint for almost ten years; don't be fooled by his youth or casual demeanor, he is a PROFESSIONAL. He's one of Richmond's longest standing black belts, and instructor to several of the guys that now run their own schools. ROOTS! There are more high ranking guys training here than anywhere else in town. There's also a large student body and plenty of training partners at all times.

Old school training amidst a sea of McDojos. Drive up & down…read moreMidlothian Turnpike, & you'll find that the number of martial arts/ karate schools far outweighs the number of convenience stores. There's practically one on every corner! They range from day care centers to make-believe boot camps. If you put in the time & pay your fees, you can get lots of pretty colored belts to wear & eventually hang on your wall. As for actually learning self defense skills at those places... As long as you have a referee, a padded mat, rules, & protective sparring gear, you might be able to beat your way out of a wet paper bag. That's not the case at FCIM. They don't hand out rank just for showing up. The only belt you can buy, is the white belt that comes with your uniform, when you sign up. The rest of them will be earned thru blood, sweat & tears.-Actual blood, sweat & tears, not the band! Once you sign up for class, one of the first things you'll receive is a stick wrapped in baling twine. You'll be using it to rack your shins & forearms for conditioning purposes. Embrace the pain! Over time, you'll learn to appreciate it. Duck walks, frog hops, break falls, & tumbling are a part of every class. Pace yourself, as you'll probably become frustrated at first.-You'll definitely hurt. You may even think about quitting. Don't. If you'll put in the effort, do the reps & conditioning, over time, you will increase your stamina, pain tolerance, and ability to end a fight quickly & decisively. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

From the owner: full circle integrated martial arts is an eclectic martial arts discipline that focuses on survival…read moreand self defense for real life altercations. Our system has been tested and proven in its effectiveness. In addition to martial arts, We offer civilian conceal carry weapon retention training, stick and blade training and training for private security for all levels. !Discount for first responders! Come experience us free.

Extremely professional and friendly environment!! Incredible classes for all ages. It doesn't…read morematter your skill level, Grandmaster Vazquez has the ability to teach individuals and meet them at their skill level from beginner to expert. Learn self defense, get fit, and have fun all at the same time!

What can we say about RTMA? Well, it is this simple - if you want to be as good as you can get at…read moremartial arts, if you aren't willing to settle with going to a "belt mill" studio where your earning belts is more a function of the checks you write than the skills you have developed, then this is where you should go. Be warned - it is fun, but you will work for it. And the better you get, the harder you will work and the more will be expected. This is how it should be - and you will feel better about yourself for it. The instruction and facilities are all first rate, prices are very reasonable (especially compared to some of the other studios around Richmond), no contracts, and you will truthfully learn some martial arts stylings (Atemi Ryu Juijitsu) that is not offered anywhere else in the area. So if you want to be the best you can be, want to go to a martial arts stchool that still treats it as a discipline and an art and not a sport, then do yourself a favor and try out RTMA.

If you're searching for a place where you can learn, grow, and laugh while simultaneously being put…read morein both an armbar and a chokehold by someone twice your age and half your size, look no further than Valhalla Academy of Martial Arts. Where Valhalla lacks in a "No Shoes, No Service" policy, it excels in providing a venue for fresh and seasoned martial arts practitioners of all ages to hone their craft in a plethora of styles, including but not limited to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. You'll be hard pressed to find another gym with such a wealth of engaging opportunities under the same roof. What really sets it apart isn't just the exceptional coaching from its founder and resident Black Belt Professor, Coach Andrew; it's the emphasis placed on personal development from all angles. The atmosphere that's been cultivated at Valhalla ensures a healthy and positive environment where everyone involved is engaged and committed to helping each other progress both physically and mentally. Not only that, but the condition of the facility is par-none and always kept clean. As a slight testament to the caliber of Valhalla's curriculum, I've personally garnered a greater sense of confidence, learned countless practical skills, and gained a greater appreciation for cold showers. Although I've only been a student for a relatively short amount of time, I'm certain I'll be here for the long run.

Greetings, As a…read moreretired (medical) soldier from the Army, I looked for a place where I could meditate utilizing martial arts as a meditation class. I looked all over, and I saw the name Valhalla and was immediately attracted to the place based off that. Professor/Instructor Andrew talked with me on the phone, and I tried out for Filipino Martial Arts and Savate / Jeet Kune Do / Muay Thai. Though I was not attracted to Filipino Martial Arts, I wanted to know more about Savate as I could not recall this form of martial arts. Professor / Instructor Andrew is not only an indescribable instructor / educator / teacher / professor, but his historical background on Savate is so profound. Even after training he ceases to not amaze me with his arsenal of knowledge of how Savate originated from as I had no clue, but only knowing about Jeet Kune Do & Muay Thai from training in the military. I have now been training with him about to go on 2 years as my love for the martial arts known as Savate has grown tremendously. I do recommend anyone to train here as well as knowing he also has his older brother, Mr. Jason training students as well. Their combined knowledge of martial arts makes them an undefeatable duo that loves to teach and educate, and I just really could say more about them, but will leave it here by saying, come and see it for yourself, as you will not be disappointed.

My son trained at Enlisted Nine last night and this gym was amazing. We live 1.5 hours away but the…read moretrip was well worth it. We have traveled and trained at approx. 30-40 gyms over the years, Enlisted Nine tops the list. What we liked the best was that each technique was demonstrated and Colton showed what to do if you were doing it for points, self defense or combat basically giving three variations of each technique. No other school we have been to had an instructor break it down this way. So no matter why you were there learning BJJ you could use it for your discipline. The gym was clean and all the staff and students were friendly. The gym had a family feel but let me say they WORK. My son was whooped after class. Will definitely make Enlisted Nine our home. Tim

Great place to learn BJJ and striking. Great team and super-patient coaches. Great, high-level…read moreprofessors. They also have wrestling. Great for both kids and adults. I recommend 110%.

This place is awesome. I have been wanting to try BJJ for a while and I finally decided to, I am so…read moreglad I picked Gracie Charlottesville. The community here is great and very helpful for all skill levels. Their facility is brand new, big, and has really nice amenities (shower, sauna, lockers, changing room, etc). If you want to give it a shot they also offer a completely free 1 week trial. Definitely recommend this gym!

Update! Their newest hire who is currently running the kids classes (including one for 4-6…read moreyear-olds), upcoming women's classes, muay thai, and other things, is Kristen DeBruycker who trained directly under THE Pedro Sauer and has trained in Thailand. Absolutely incredible instructor. Amazing school and soon to be the best!