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Upstream BJJ
5 ★★★★★ 151 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Richmond, Virginia
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
- 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 upstreambjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 804-314-4472
Hours
| Monday | 11:30 am–12:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 11:30 am–12:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am–12:30 pm, 6–9 pm |
| Thursday | 11:30 am–12:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm |
| Friday | 6–7 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“As a Black Belt and Instructor now myself, I’ve come to realize just how much of my foundational knowledge is due to Seph.”
“If I woulda known what I know now this is the place my kids and I would’ve started our bjj journey.”
“As a woman, i’ve always felt comfortable and respected here, which is really important in this sport.”
“Although I spent a lot of time fixing bad habits I learned at my old gym, everything I learned here helped me go on to become a Nogi PANS and Nogi Worlds champion in 2024.”
“They inspired me to do my very first tournament as a white belt; I never thought I’d do one, but everyone at Upstream is motivating and encouraging…really positive experience.”
“Dropped in for an open mat while in town with some friends.”
“I was brand new to jiu-jitsu and a friend of mine who trains in Norfolk said that the word on the street was that Upstream was the best place to train in Richmond.”
Other martial arts here
“I’m an MMA fighter I joined in 2022 in the hopes of improving my jiu jitsu.”
What members say
“Having a black belt coach who’s been a black belt for over 12 years and has taught a wide age group over that time period makes all the difference.”
“While there are certainly gyms with more members in the area I personally enjoy that the Upstream community is very close knit and welcoming to new comers.”
“While there are certainly gyms with more members in the area I personally enjoy that the Upstream community is very close knit and welcoming to new comers.”
“He is also very patient with me (a brand new white belt), understanding, encouraging, attentive to detail, and you can tell he cares about the study da in his gym.”
“I’ve been training here over a year and it’s a great gym with people whose skill match their friendliness.”
“Not only do they charge a very reasonable price for unlimited classes but the quality of both the instructors and the training partners are as good as you will find anywhere else.”
From the reviews
I have trained at three different places in the greater Richmond area and in my opinion Upstream is definitely the best value BJJ gym in town. Not only do they charge a very reasonable price for unlimited classes but the quality of both the instructors and the training partners are as good as you will find anywhere…
Upsteam BJJ is an incredible space for both experts and newcomers. I joined out of pure curiousity with no background and had a blast through the intro course. All levels is an absolute treat as you can participate with people who are equally learning at your speed, or above who can help you get to their level.
I started training BJJ at a school in Short Pump in 2022 because it was close to my house. While the gym looked great aesthetically, the coaches and training partners there couldn’t help me improve the way my teammates at Upstream have. In 2024, I made the switch to Upstream, and it was a game-changer.
If I woulda known what I know now this is the place my kids and I would’ve started our bjj journey. The coaching is top notch. The ratio of upper belt experienced coaches to kids is high meaning only a few kids per coach which allows for maximum learning and safety, more attention to detail, and high level skill being…
New to BJJ? Start at Upstream BJJ
Upstream BJJ 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 Upstream BJJ
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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