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.

This is THE PLACE - THE TRUE combat sport center where you get to be trained by the most…read moreexperienced and dedicated coaches I have had a pleasure working with. There is truly no other place like this and only way to find out is to come and experience it your self. THE DRIVE TO SUCEED AND GET BETTER every day is encouraged by motivation, hard work and a lot of sweat!!!

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'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!

Love this place! Great black belt owners and instructors! The students and coaches are all solid…read morewith good attitudes. Every time I visit the east coast, I make it a priority to train with Andrew and Trey. They have beginners programs as well as tough advanced training- so you will find what you need, no matter your experience level

Rude owner. Wanted to sign up, now I kinda hate the guy, and place…read more Signed up to get more information, he reached out wanting to know more about me, after responding he's since ignored my email(s). This may not be the best business owner or coach for everyone. Or based on the real reviews, a friendly/healthy environment to train in. He's probably selective about who he wants for his gym which is fine. As long as it's you. Annoying since I've been interested for a while now driving past this place. But, maybe it's a bit too run down nowadays?

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.

This place is slightly hidden off of West Broad Street and I was a little lost trying to find it,…read morebut I gave them a call and the staff was super helpful in directing me to the exact location. It is in the same shopping center as Bella Rosa Bridal, but on the other side (not facing Broad St.) Also, there are plenty of parking spots! I attended the Muay Thai Kickboxing class with two of my friends last Thursday from 7-8pm. We came a little early to sign a waiver before class and got a mini tour of the facility. The women's locker room is so nice! It is small compared to most average locker rooms, but it is efficient and I like it. No need to bring your toiletries! There are showers equipped with soap, shampoo & conditioner, bathroom stalls, lockers (they do not have locks, so I suggest leaving valuables at home or hidden in your car), hair dryer, towels, lotion, and of course if you are like me that goes to a gym without a hair tie, they got that covered too. The owner and another staff member showed us how to properly wrap up our hands before class and helped us get our gloves and shin guards on. The class instructor was friendly and detailed-oriented. I did not expect him to give my friends and I one-on-one time, especially being in a class with experienced individuals. However, he split the class up and we were able to learn the basics of kickboxing with the punching bag. He offered great techniques and constantly encouraged us till the very end of class. This class was definitely a great cardio workout and I would recommend this to anyone who is interested! Before I left the facility, I used their InBody 230 scale to get my body composition analysis done. This is definitely really cool to see at a fitness center. When I was an undergraduate studying Exercise Science we had a hand-held body comp analysis that only gave me the basic stats. This was definitely more detailed and I was able to learn about my skeletal muscle mass, percentage of body fat, total body water etc. I look forward to attending more classes in the future and even try new ones!

Robert Brands is my Muay Thai instructor with a strong background in martial arts and an all around…read moregreat coach! I am 71 and Robert has broght me back to life!

If you lack patients, need help with controlling your pride or just stress levels, this is a great…read moreschool to teach you how. If you enjoy watching the seeds you plant in life, slowly develop into immovable objects, this is the place for you. Most people that get promotions here, don't get them because they can harness their strength or abilities better than others, but rather show their growth as humans. It's taken me a while to accept this, but this is the right way to do it. Power should only be given to those that have mastered the art of following. I've never known good leaders to be born, they're always forged under great pressure and heat over an extensive period of time. I'm excited about what the future holds, how I'm growing as a person, and the people in my life that benefit from my changed demeanor. Respect to the people here for making this a sanctuary for me, and for all who seek a better version of ourselves.

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.

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.

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!

Wow!!!!! This was the beesssstttt workout I have ever had in all my years of being an adult. This…read morewas such an intense workout. I've been wanting to attend a class here for yearssss. But I'm not going to lie I was a little intimidated taking a class when I watch their videos on Instagram. But a couple of days ago. I said to myself life is to short. What the heck! Just go for it. I didn't want to go alone. So I bought my little brother along with me. If you want to take a free intro class just go online to their website and sign up. The intro class is so worth it to actually see what it's all about. I've seen kickboxing on lifetime shows. But let me tell you. It's nothing like what you see on TV and how easy actors and actresses make it seem. It was a serious WORKOUT!!! But a great workout! At one point I did feel a little light headed. And thought I was going to pass the hell out. Lol! Smh! I look over at my little brother like helpppp!!! Lol! I couldn't make it to my water. So I just leaned on the wall to take some deep breaths. I couldn't go out like that and pass out on my first day. Everyone motivates each other. No one judges each other. I loved that! You don't find that at most places. Wow those women and men had me all pump up! I'm trying to be fit this winter just like them! The membership prices weren't to bad too. They also have punch cards for a certain amounts of classes too. I'm not going to share all the juice. Cause what you need to do at this very moment. Yes you can do it!!! Go and sign up for their intro class to see what it's all about. Its super worth it! Then you can go from there!!!

Pretty good gym, but i've never see the owners/main trainer not even once in my time thereread more

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.