HomeTexasSan Antonio › Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio

Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio

5 ★★★★★ 32 Google reviews · BJJ gym in San Antonio, Texas

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

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
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule rivabjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 210-286-7675

Hours

Monday 10 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–8 pm
Wednesday 10 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–8 pm
Friday 10 am–8 pm
Saturday 10 am–8 pm
Sunday 12–2 pm

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 14 mentions

“I've been training BJJ under Rivaldo Junior for about 5 years and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made.”

All gyms that run kids bjj →

🩳 No-Gi

“From Gi to Nogi training is always comfortable pace but also competitive driven for those who want to adventure into tournaments.”

All gyms that run no-gi →

🏆 Competition Team 2 mentions

“From Gi to Nogi training is always comfortable pace but also competitive driven for those who want to adventure into tournaments.”

All gyms that run competition team →

🛡️ Self-Defense

“Rivaldo provides an atmosphere that encourages and promotes the art of BJJ as well as other styles of self defense.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“I would recommend his academy to anyone…children and adults… from a first timer to someone who has trained for years and is looking for a new academy.”

All gyms that run beginners →

Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🥊 Muay Thai

“The Rivaldo JR BJJ Academy is the best BJJ/MMA/Muay Thai academy in all of San Antonio!”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🏟️ MMA 2 mentions

“The Rivaldo JR BJJ Academy is the best BJJ/MMA/Muay Thai academy in all of San Antonio!”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 32 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 4 mentions

“Rivaldo is a great instructor who has created an environment that allows his students to learn and develop their skills on the mats.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“I would recommend his academy to anyone…children and adults… from a first timer to someone who has trained for years and is looking for a new academy.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 29 mentions

“Professor Rivaldo and his family are the most down-to-earth people you will ever meet, along with the people that train at the gym.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“Genuine high level jiujitsu taught with patience and an eye to technical detail and safety.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“From Gi to Nogi training is always comfortable pace but also competitive driven for those who want to adventure into tournaments.”

From the reviews

I recently started training at Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy. My daughter has been training with Rivaldo for about 2.5 yrs now and I finally decided to give it a try myself. Every class is great!

★★★★★ — Gary, Dec 2023

I've been training BJJ under Rivaldo Junior for about 5 years and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made. Rivaldo is a great instructor who has created an environment that allows his students to learn and develop their skills on the mats.

★★★★★ — Shamir, May 2023

The members there are welcoming for any level of experience. The professor is amazing at teaching and really cares about his students. I would highly recommend this gym to anyone who wants to take those big first steps into the world of Jiu Jitsu, or for those who are looking for a new gym that provides more than just…

★★★★★ — Andrew, May 2023

My son and I have trained under Professor Rivaldo for 5 years. Starting Bjj has been the best thing for me and my family. Professor Rivaldo and his family are amazing. The atmosphere at the academy is great and you will become family.

★★★★★ — Megan, Dec 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 32 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio

Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio

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.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Rivaldo Junior BJJ Academy | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio

9747 Culebra Rd Ste 101, San Antonio, TX78251

Get directions

More BJJ gyms near San Antonio

Dream Art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy

5 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

8749 Grissom Rd, San Antonio, TX

BJJ gym Kids & teens Competition team expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

1.6 miles away

Pedro Sauer BJJ Academy of San Antonio

4.6 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

9023 Huebner Rd #103, San Antonio, TX

BJJ gym Affiliated no-ego, friendly academystrong technique & fundamentalslegit lineage & affiliation

2.7 miles away

San Antonio Jiu-Jitsu Academy

5 ★★★★★ 32 reviews

6846 Alamo Pkwy Ste 108, San Antonio, TX

🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site

Ages 4–13

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team expert, high-level coachingwelcoming to beginnersno-ego, friendly academy

3.0 miles away

All BJJ gyms in San Antonio, TX →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.