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Riverfront Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 152 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Wilmington, Delaware

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons 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
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • 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 riverfrontbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 302-743-9532

Hours

Monday 6–7:30 am, 12–1:15 pm, 4:30–7:15 pm
Tuesday 7–8 am, 5–8 pm
Wednesday 6–7:30 am, 12–1 pm, 5–8:15 pm
Thursday 7–8 am, 4:30–8 pm
Friday 6–8 am, 12–1 pm, 5:30–6:30 pm
Saturday 8:30–11:30 am
Sunday 10 am–1 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 Riverfront Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 21 mentions

“We absolutely LOVE Riverfront Jiu Jitsu, Coach Billy and Coach Elyse were so welcoming and treated my daughter as one of their own.”

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💪 Women's BJJ 5 mentions

“I’ve made lifelong friends at our gym, and I’ve been a proud member of the Mat Queens Women’s program, lead by Elyse since its inception.”

All gyms that run women's bjj →

🏆 Competition Team

“They’re highly professional, care about each person’s progress, and have flexible teaching styles that support both brand-new learners and experienced competitors.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“They are great with all of the kids, they work one on one and push the kids to work hard and be a good teammate.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

“A great place to learn the art of Bjj and self defense!”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“They’re highly professional, care about each person’s progress, and have flexible teaching styles that support both brand-new learners and experienced competitors.”

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Other martial arts here

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

🤼 Judo

“I’ve trained with nearly all of the instructors and coaches (BJJ, Judo, Wrestling, Mobility), and the training is top notch and always a great time!”

Other gyms that also teach judo →

🤸 Wrestling

“I’ve trained with nearly all of the instructors and coaches (BJJ, Judo, Wrestling, Mobility), and the training is top notch and always a great time!”

Other gyms that also teach wrestling →

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 152 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 6 mentions

“Billy is a very knowledgeable coach and spent time with every group during drilling to help.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 15 mentions

“The environment that Elyse and Billy foster at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu was not only friendly and welcoming, but also a great learning environment.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 21 mentions

“The environment that Elyse and Billy foster at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu was not only friendly and welcoming, but also a great learning environment.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 5 mentions

“They are constantly refining their teaching and incorporating new techniques and concepts, which keeps training both effective and engaging.”

🧒 strong kids program 3 mentions

“I started out looking for an activity for my son to build confidence, self esteem, and to stay active, yet what I found was so much more than we could have imagined.”

💗 welcoming to women 7 mentions

“I’ve made lifelong friends at our gym, and I’ve been a proud member of the Mat Queens Women’s program, lead by Elyse since its inception.”

From the reviews

I started training at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu in February 2021 and after my first class I knew I found my new home. Billy Shaw is a great instructor and cares about his students. I have felt supported and my jiu jitsu has improved.

★★★★★ — Janelle, Jul 2021

Highly recommend Riverfront Jiu Jitsu. Billy and Elyse have created such an incredible welcoming environment where it makes it a pleasure to learn and get better everyday. All instructors are very knowledgeable and members are incredible!

★★★★★ — Randel, Feb 2024

Riverfront Jiu-Jitsu has excellent instructors and an outstanding atmosphere! From the moment on walking into the mats, I was welcomed by a warm welcome from ALL members! I highly recommend anyone who wants to learn the art of jiu-jitsu!

★★★★★ — Alfred, Nov 2023

This is a phenomenal place to train. Professor Billy Shaw is an amazingly patient & knowledgeable instructor. His Jiu Jitsu is practical and works on the mat and on the street. I’ve seen him teach children from all ages and there is no one better or more equipped to teach our little warriors.

★★★★★ — Brian, Jan 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 152 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu

Riverfront Jiu Jitsu 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 Riverfront Jiu Jitsu

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 Riverfront Jiu Jitsu

512 Justison St, Wilmington, DE19801

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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.