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Richmond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense Academy
4.8 ★★★★★ 46 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Richmond, Virginia
Plan your first class
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule richmondbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 804-249-6509
Hours
| Monday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Friday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Saturday | 9:30 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“The instructors are clearly very experienced teaching beginners and do a great job of introducing you to the sport, and my classmates were supportive and offered tips regularly.”
“Liz occasionally hosts women's classes that are great for building relationships with other women in jiu jitsu.”
“They make sure you have a good understanding of fundamentals before you start sparring.”
“From my very first class there I could tell that they had very constructed curriculum to help beginners and even people with experience learn the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu.”
“I came in for a self-defense class, and he was incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and patient throughout the entire session.”
Other martial arts here
“I have been training at Richmond BJJ for almost ten years now and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
“Instructor Trey brings years of experience with Judo and Wrestling into his BJJ teaching, which was great for someone smaller like me.”
“Instructor Trey brings years of experience with Judo and Wrestling into his BJJ teaching, which was great for someone smaller like me.”
What members say
“All the coaches there are amazing and very knowledgeable.”
“From my very first class there I could tell that they had very constructed curriculum to help beginners and even people with experience learn the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu.”
“I've been training here for maybe 3 years now and have seen my jiu jitsu grown significantly thanks to Eric and Liz and the welcoming community of Richmond BJJ.”
“From my very first class there I could tell that they had very constructed curriculum to help beginners and even people with experience learn the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu.”
“Richmond BJJ is extremely female friendly.”
“The atmosphere in the studio was very supportive and positive, and you can tell that he truly cares about helping people build confidence and learn practical skills.”
From the reviews
I had the opportunity to stop by this past week. I haven’t trained or exercised in about 2-3 years and made the choice to start getting back in good health due to having three grandkids wearing me down. The academy and experienced staff are nothing less than awesome.
Richmond BJJ has been one of the most rewarding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms I have trained at since I started training. The instructors put in the effort to make sure that people who come to learn are leaving the gym satisfied. Since I've came down to Richmond I wanted to continue training while still in college.
Dropped in to train while traveling for work. The people were immediately friendly and welcoming, and made me feel right at home! Head instructor Eric Burdo was great and also went out of his way make me feel welcome. The intermediate BJJ class was well paced and I enjoyed the training partners.
I love my gym! The instructors and training buddies are great. I've been training Muay Thai here for almost a year and it's been a good experience. They make sure you have a good understanding of fundamentals before you start sparring. Which is great because I was pretty intimated by the sport when I first started.
New to muay thai? Start at Richmond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense Academy
Richmond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense Academy comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first muay thai class at Richmond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self-Defense Academy
Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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🥊 Free trial class — check their site