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York River Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 5 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Gloucester, 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule yorkriverjiujitsu.gymdesk.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (757) 642-3735
Hours
| Monday | 5–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–8 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8 PM |
| Friday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Saturday | 12–8:30 AM, 9–11 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“David Harris is a wonderful coach, very knowledgeable, great with both kids & adults.”
Other martial arts here
“My boys were very lucky to have him as a wrestling coach.”
What members say
“David Harris is a wonderful coach, very knowledgeable, great with both kids & adults.”
From the reviews
Dave is the real deal! He’s a great coach and been in the grappling game for many years. I’ve rolled with him many times, and he’s top notch. York River is a great school to learn jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts.
David Harris is a wonderful coach, very knowledgeable, great with both kids & adults. My boys were very lucky to have him as a wrestling coach.
Awesome place to train, great people. Very welcoming. Will definitely be coming back
New to BJJ? Start at York River Jiu Jitsu
York River 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 York River 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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🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site