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.

I came into town for work not expecting to be able to train. I found Upstream BJJ while I was…read morelooking around on yelp. To my surprise it was only a few blocks down from my hotel so I decided to stop by. I was welcomed immediately by Seph and others. Seph was so gracious to not only offer me one of his Gi's to train in but he also loaned me his belt. I took a fundamentals class and I was truly impressed by the level of details explained. I wish I had more time to train there but if I'm in Richmond again I would definitely come back here. I've trained at a lot of different jiu jitsu gyms around the country and I truly appreciate the hospitality here.

I think what I appreciate the most about the short time that I've been at this gym are the people…read more The people are what makes a community, right? I can tell by the interactions that there's an underlying respect for one another. It's not an informal, standoff-ish vibe. Nora has also been patient and very encouraging. I'll probably write again in a few months after I'm used to it more, but best decision I've ever made.

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.

The kindest lead instructor who treats EVERYONE like family!!! Dave Kenworthy should be…read morePresident!!! Regardless of religion, color or class...everyone is loved and received at AEGIS!!! Life changing experience for my kids!!! Clean and neat gym too!!!

I had the privilege of dropping in again at Aegis and wow is it so nice to be in such an incredible…read moreacademy. This is easily the best BJJ academy I've ever trained at. It smells wonderful. 3rd degree black belt Professor Dave is amazing as his black belt Brian. They are the most generous guys in all of BJJ and I'm not exaggerating that. I learn something new and useful every time I'm here. A black belt that I train with in Los Angeles noticed that I wore an Aegis t-shirt and he recognized it as one of his favorite places he's ever trained at and he trained under Roger Gracie. So that's saying a lot.

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.

Great for adults and kids ages 5 and up. Very helpful in…read moremental & physical fitness and of course defending yourself when needed. Good location, all instructors are nice and helpful!

Great place to train! I appreciated the welcome and hospitality when I dropped in for an open mat…read more Smooth, technical opponents in Gi and No-Gi.

I was in Richmond visiting my sister and wanted to get some training in while I was up there. I…read moreusually train in Miami, so I reached out to Mongrel BJJ through their website just to see if I could drop in. Frank actually called me himself and we started texting from there. He made it easy and told me to come by. When I showed up, JB took care of me right away. He gave me a full tour and made me feel like I had been there before. The space really impressed me. Two large mat areas with plenty of room to move, heavy bags set up, and a full strength and conditioning area in the back. They even have a massage therapist right next door. It is honestly one of the nicest setups I have seen. JB ran the class I attended and he stood out immediately. Super personable, remembered my name, and just had that easygoing presence that puts people at ease. You can tell he has a deep well of experience, but he carries it in a grounded way. He represents what you hope to find in the jiu jitsu community. The training environment was great. Everyone was friendly, joking around, and still serious about getting better. I never felt out of place or pressured. The adult gi class had a good mix of skill levels, and the techniques we worked on were practical with smart variations that I can actually use. After the instruction we got some solid rounds in and I left feeling like I had a real session, not just a drop in workout. What really stood out to me was that the day after I trained, Frank texted me to ask how everything went. That meant a lot. It showed me they are not just running classes, they actually care about the people who walk through the door. I will absolutely be back the next time I am in Richmond. Whether you are brand new or have been training for years, this is a place where you can grow and enjoy the process.

If you want a family atmosphere this is the place to be. The kids the kids Brazilian jiu jitsu…read moreclasses are outstanding the coaches take their time to teach your children the right way of doing things. JB the owner and main instructor is a great leader and wants everybody to grow in the sport of Brazilian jiu jitsu and you will do whatever it takes to help you along your journey. What better way to release your negative energy in such a positive place. My daughter and I go there for a few years now and love the vibe that this place presents. Thank you JB, Chris, Nick, Tim, the awesome twins, sorry if I'm forgetting the other and storages names just so many to list. I can't say enough about this place it makes me feel as I'm home.IZZO

great vibe - students were very welcoming and respectful to someone who doesn't train there on a…read moreregular basis Head instructor is very conscientious and very willing to help If you are looking for Gracie Combatives, Gracie Bullyproof or the Master Cycle curriculum , I would endorse this place without hesitation

Family friendly learning environment for the entire family. Self defense class for kids and adults.read more

I stopped in for a week and trained at 804 BJJ and had a great experience. Everyone was very…read morewelcoming, and the gym has a super safe and positive atmosphere with excellent instruction. Heriberto Lopez, the instructor, was incredibly gracious and a genuinely great guy. Faith was another instructor there who was also very skilled, professional, and friendly. I will definitely be back next time I'm in the area. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking to train!

Not worth the time. Head instructor hates to live roll. Will talk bad about you to other students…read moreand schools. Classes are repeated constantly. No respect if you come from another school. Very slow on promotions. Not worth your time!

I highly recommend CSC RVA for martial arts training. I moved here about 3 years ago and absolutely…read moreenjoy training here. The staff is amazing. Everyone is so supportive. I'm in the best shape of my life.

I started my martial arts journey as a kid with TKD (like so many) and returning to it as an adult…read morewas in my mind an uphill battle. Instead of just finding a place to train, I have found a new family on and off the mat. I recommend this facility to anyone because of the vast variety of styles being offered and the expertise from the instructors. We leave our problems at the door and walk out better people.