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Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense
5 ★★★★★ 60 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Aurora, Colorado
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule riojiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 720-295-9653
Hours
| Monday | 11:30 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 11:30 am–2 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My child really enjoys going there & getting all the built up energy from the day out & learning new skills & making friends who share in the same interests.”
“Did a drop in class/open mat at Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and loved it!”
“My child attends Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense and I can confidently say that this place is phenomenal.”
“The classes are engaging and well structured, and the curriculum is designed to help students of all levels progress at their own pace.”
Other martial arts here
“We love it here and recommend to anyone looking to get into mixed martial arts.”
“There is always time to wrestle or "roll" , in every class.”
What members say
“The instructor was very knowledgeable and made the experience comfortable, even for newbies like us.”
“The classes are well-structured and the curriculum is designed to help students of all levels progress at their own pace.”
“My son has been going here for a little over two years and all the instructors and coaches are super friendly and great with the kids.”
“Their attention to detail and patience, whether your 6 or 16, is apparent and so appreciated.”
“The facilities are clean, modern and well-equipped, making for a comfortable and enjoyable learning environment.”
“We enrolled our son Miles at Rio with the intention of improving his confidence and to give him an outlet to get his energy out on a regular basis.”
From the reviews
My child attends Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense and I can confidently say that this place is phenomenal. The facilities are clean, modern and well-equipped, making for a comfortable and enjoyable learning environment.
I've had my son involved with this school for about 16 months. In the beginning, my 13 year old son and I went to 5 different schools in the area, including Rio, searching for the right one. We sat in on classes, met instructors and were introduced to students. After a week of searching, we ended up back at Rio.
The entire Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense team is amazing (Duda, Fred, Ryan, Bret & Marlon). Not only do they have all the high caliber teaching skills needed (black belt level masters to the soft skills needed for young students) but they also operate as a community. A family.
So thankful for this jiu-jitsu school and the incredible coaches. Ian loves coming to class and learning discipline, confidence, and respect. Highly recommend!
New to BJJ? Start at Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense
Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, 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 or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. 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, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first BJJ class at Rio Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self Defense
Nervous about walking into a BJJ 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 basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, 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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