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Rivers Edge Jiu-Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 64 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Newaygo, Michigan
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 (ages 3–13) — 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 newaygomartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 231-245-5067
Hours
| Monday | 6–7 am, 5–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 5–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–12 pm, 5–8 pm |
| Thursday | 5–8 pm |
| Friday | 5:30–6:30 am, 6–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Anthony and Josh are great coaches and my son has really found his place with Rivers Edge!”
“After a month of watching them in class, I decided to join the women's class, and it's been an awesome experience.”
“I have a background in CrossFit, military combatives, endurance racing & personal training so my list of expectations was kinda high.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of the discipline, respect, self defense, and teamwork my kids have learned from training with him and his assistant coaches.”
“5/5 — River’s Edge Jiu Jitsu & Striking River’s Edge Jiu Jitsu is an incredible place to train, whether you’re a complete beginner or experienced.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The atmosphere is welcoming and positive, training partners are respectful and will push you to get better, and Coach Josh and his instructors are amazing with the kids.”
“The atmosphere is welcoming and positive, training partners are respectful and will push you to get better, and Coach Josh and his instructors are amazing with the kids.”
“The atmosphere is welcoming and positive, training partners are respectful and will push you to get better, and Coach Josh and his instructors are amazing with the kids.”
“I personally train in the striking classes, and Josh and Anthony are exceptional coaches — knowledgeable, patient, and great at breaking down technique for all levels.”
“My daughter fell in love after the first night; going nearly every night that she could.”
“The gym is clean and the staff are always ready to make your class experience informative, fun, and challenging.”
From the reviews
My daughter and I both train here and we love it. The atmosphere is welcoming and positive, training partners are respectful and will push you to get better, and Coach Josh and his instructors are amazing with the kids. Highly recommend dropping in for a class, you will not regret it!
Great coaches and clean facility! Highly recommend for any age and skill level. Our 3 kids are thriving here under Coach Josh and his assistant coaches. They are not only learning self-defense the other life skills such as self-discipline, sportsman, teamwork, and so much more are invaluable! -Angie
I’ve been training at Rivers Edge and it’s been an awesome experience. The coaches are skilled, the atmosphere is welcoming, and everyone helps each other grow. Whether you’re new or experienced, this is a great place to train and get better every day.
5/5 — River’s Edge Jiu Jitsu & Striking River’s Edge Jiu Jitsu is an incredible place to train, whether you’re a complete beginner or experienced. I personally train in the striking classes, and Josh and Anthony are exceptional coaches — knowledgeable, patient, and great at breaking down technique for all levels.
New to BJJ? Start at Rivers Edge Jiu-Jitsu
Rivers Edge 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.
Your first BJJ class at Rivers Edge 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.
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