May River BJJ

1 Sherington Dr suite d, Bluffton, SC 29910, USA

5.0 (67 reviews)

Disciplines

Gi Judo Self-Defense Striking

Classes

Adults Classes Open Mat

Facilities

Mat Space

Culture

Welcoming Environment

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Learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self-defense, judo, krav maga, and optimize your fitness at Bluffton and Hilton Head's top martial arts academy.

https://www.mayriverbjj.com/

(843) 815-4222

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Reviews from Jiu-Jitsu Blog members who have trained at May River BJJ. Member recommendations raise an academy's Jiu-Jitsu Blog Score.

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Reviews

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LJ Lowery

Super nice gym and good mat space! Down here on vacation and had a great experience. Very friendly and welcoming gym culture. Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned it’s a great place to grow with great people! Def plan on coming back whenever I’m in the area!
Posted 1 year ago
Mariana Gossett

So glad I found May River BJJ during our get away to Hilton Head. My boyfriend was able to get in some good rolling time during their open mat hours, the staff was very friendly and welcoming. May River BJJ had an all around positive, clean, safe and welcoming rolling environment. We were worried we wouldn’t find a good BJJ place while we were out of state but we are glad we found May River BJJ. I’d highly recommend it if you’re not local like us or unsure of where to go to get in some good, fun and productive training. Thanks again for having us.
Posted 1 year ago
julius zolezzi

Love this school. My daughter started training here over a year ago and the coaches are absolutely amazing with the kids. There is a lot of experience between all the coaches. The community is so amazing that I started training at the age of 49 all because my daughter and the coaches thought I would like it and they were right, I love it. Come and check out MAY RIVER BJJ and learn jiujitsu you and your kids will love it. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Posted 1 year ago
Frank Calise

I've been training at May River BJJ for over 4.5 years now, and it's been an incredible experience from the start. The camaraderie here is something special—you feel welcome right from the start. One of the things I appreciate most is the variety of styles and perspectives the instructors bring. Each one has a unique approach, which keeps the training fresh and helps you grow in different ways. Whether you're brand new or have years of experience, you'll find a welcoming and challenging environment to train in. Highly recommend!
Posted 1 year ago
Brandon Kelly

Dropped in for the No-Gi morning class and was not disappointed!! Great instruction, fun rolls, and awesome people/atmosphere!! 10/10 recommend

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Vladimir Krause (Vladomeer)

My musha shugyo continues. This time I’m in Bluffton, South Carolina at May River BJJ. May River BJJ has a welcoming and friendly culture in their gym. Everyone was all smiles and laughs. Exactly what you need to offset the fact we are all trying to choke each other out. I caught the morning No-Gi classes run by one of their coaches Blnd. I haven't trained at a lot of gyms that utilize an ecological approach to BJJ. I have to say, I love it. It’s incredibly beginner friendly and a lot of fun, especially if you want to work on your stand-up game. I really appreciate that their rolling culture is one that has practitioners start from standing up. (No shame in guard pulling!) Let’s talk about the facilities: Clean and hygienic (as are the people there!) No public shower, so bring wipes. The mat size is spacious and allows multiple groups to wrestle. This gym is perfect if you’re near Hilton Head Island and want to get some training in. They’re (of course) drop-in friendly with a great schedule that provides multiple opportunities to train in a day/week. Stop on by!

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Russell Broere

Such an amazing place to train! Very friendly and inviting environment. I come to visit every couple months and it’s the best place to go around. John is very knowledgeable and humble. Great crew there!!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Stephanie M

Really welcoming gym and kind training partners!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
nickporter25

Dropped in while on vacation. Nice people, clean mats, excellent instruction. Well worth a visit if you're in the area!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Kaden

Respectful and friendly learning environment!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Dan Badia

Fantastic, did a drop in class from out of town. The instructor and the whole team were great. I highly recommend !!

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Ryan W

Great instruction, welcoming environment, and they're concerned about your safety. Shout out to the instructor Adam for going over some of the finer points of inside ashi with me!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Jason Clauson

Dropped in for a Friday noon no-gi class. Adam and other students were very welcoming, patient, and accommodating. I really enjoyed the lesson and would definitely return if in the area again. Thanks for a good workout!

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Jeff Eckels

I typically come to the area once a year and I make it a point to visit May River BJJ for some good training. The atmosphere is great and the rolls are awesome! I recommend this gym to anyone looking for a great place to train and learn from amazing instructors!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
JD Patterson

I am a blue belt and have been to some open mats when I’ve been home on break from school. The gym is so clean and everyone is a great training partner. You can tell that the teaching is top-tier, that everyone is a part of a team and wants to keep everyone safe. I highly recommend you check them out when in town.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Latoya Ewert

Definitely would go back and visit and if I lived in the area those would be my permanent BJJ home. Definitely a great place to go whether you are on vacation or not. Great instructor and very welcoming atmosphere.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Tony Monchinski

Was visiting Hilton Head with family and, despite some persistent nagging injuries, needed to train. Got on the mats at May River BJJ. Great place, great people, great facility! Attended a couple of day classes with BJJ instructor Adam Kadela. Class was well structured with warming up through the movements (not the usual run in a circle, stand in staggered lines, etc.), a review of what they'd trained previously, the move(s) of the day that built on what came before, then training from position(s) and open mat. Everyone was very nice and welcoming and I would definitely recommend May River BJJ to anyone who needs their Jiu Jitsu fix when visiting the area or as an academy to train at should one live in the area. Added bonus: Tiago Rocha was visiting from Brazil as he preps for the worlds and taught class one of the days I was there. He passed along some very valuable, practical techniques that I hope to drill back at my home base when we get back. Thanks to Adam and John and the guys for a great academy and experience!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Anthony Leone

I had a private lesson with Blnd Jaf he was extremely helpful, informative and amazing to roll with....he's full of knowledge, goes above and beyond to make you feel comfortable while learning the whole time!

Instructors
Posted 3 years ago
Amber Rodriguez

My son has been going to MayRiver BJJ for almost a year now and it has been an amazing outlet for him! The friends he's made and skills he's learned are worth it all. The caring and patient instructors , Blnd & John ..I believe are key to all of the kiddos success !

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
dylan sikking

Great gym and great people. I visited from the metro Atlanta area and they were very welcoming to me. I also picked up a couple new techniques as well.

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Dylan Tucker

This place is amazing! Coaches are awesome and both kids and adults love it. Highly recommend!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Daniel Allen

Visited with my friend while on a gym hopping road trip. Jon was an awesome instructor and brought tons of great energy to the mat. We really enjoyed our time here and felt super welcomed. Will definitely make it a point to visit again when in the area

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Daniel N

Was visiting Bluffton for a wedding this weekend and wanted somewhere to train, googled BJJ near me and May River was the first to show up. I’m thankful they did, had an amazing open mat session. Everyone in the gym was welcoming from the jump, and coach John was a great guy on and off the mat. Doesn’t matter the experience level, would 100% recommend.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Mason Moore

I just visited May river bjj academy last week from Colorado. It was a great experience! Adam had a great Gi curriculum starting with some Judo details from the feet(which I love) down to a detailed break down on passing an open guard. He did a good up, down and out drill followed by some great controlled rounds. The students were technical and tough with a great welcoming attitude. Highly recommend.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Nick Dobreff

Great gym! Clean, large mats, quality instruction. Dropped in for the day and very welcoming.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Blnd Jaf

Amazing instruction in a welcoming environment. The facility is clean and well maintained, offering plenty of mat space for grappling and a separate area with heavy bags for striking practice. You'll learn how to defend yourself while making friends and bonds that go beyond the mats. I like that there are no contracts or long term commitments. If you're interested in jiujitsu or self defense, look no further. This place is my second home.

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Posted 4 years ago
B Maduri

We signed up for something fun to do and it has now become a family event! John and Blnd are amazing at bringing complex moves to simple people like us. They break everything down step by step and then watche so they can correct the mistakes…somehow for all of us. Their ability to teach all ages is second to none. In our family it’s 50, 16, 14, 10 and 8. We look forward to every class! Lastly, if you are experienced or just looking for exercise or self defense, you will find what you are looking for here. Could not recommend them higher!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
Ryan Greve

Jon was great and very welcoming while I was down there for vacation. Will be stopping in when I’m down there again. If your in the area I 100% strongly urge you to give this school a try. It won’t disappoint. Osss

Instructors Location Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
Brian Lanier

I strongly recommend this business. If you are considering BJJ or are simply looking for a new BJJ "home", May River BJJ is definitely your answer. This is an excellent environment and community regardless of your fitness or skill level. The instructors are exceptional and the students are all very friendly and welcoming. The facility is clean and well equipped/maintained. They also have great mats. They have both day and evening classes as well as an "open mat" scheduled on Saturdays. If you live in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area you have no excuses left...You need to get here now.

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
Erik Janke

Great instructors, a great martial art, and a great way to get fit. If you're thinking about giving BJJ a shot, definitely check out May River BJJ.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Herbert Quan

Highly recommended. This hidden gem of a martial arts school is tucked away in the back of a quaint strip mall characteristic of the Hilton Head - Bluffton area. When you first step foot into the school, you will be warmly welcomed by the instructor or one of the students. This is emblematic of the culture that pervades the school and makes it exceptionally beginner-friendly for those who have no or limited experience on the mat. The instruction by the owner/head instructor, John, is nothing short of phenomenal. Focusing on beginner "white-to-blue belt" curriculum during Monday and Tuesday evenings, classes cycle through a set of techniques in a methodical, easy to digest progression over a multi-week period. Each class is also broken down in a structured manner beginning with 20 minutes of warm up consisting of calisthenics and BJJ-specific movements, followed by approximately 40 minutes of lessons, and the remainder of the class ending with positional rolling (i.e. limited sparring, like randori for those familiar with Judo). During class, John displays a superhuman amount of patience guiding all his students, with individual attention, through the growing pains of learning the art. He hones in on the fine details of the techniques and explains the bio-mechanical workings which helps students better understand them. Additionally, John's love of BJJ and teaching really shines through and manifests itself in the quality of his instruction. Although other evening (as well as the daytime) classes are geared towards more advanced techniques, John and the other instructors manage to make them also relatively beginner-friendly as well. Physically, the school occupies a small-to-medium space and is kept immaculate. A unisex dressing room is situated to the right of the entrance (many students come dressed in gi pants and a t-shirt, so the dressing room is only sparsely used). The school has plenty of mat space for its current student body. Unlike traditional or "classical" martial art schools, the atmosphere itself is friendly and casual with little formality in the etiquette. If you are looking for a BJJ school for long-term practice or just to visit, this is a great place to be a student.

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Posted 5 years ago
Kevin Barefoot

Really enjoyed training at this school while on vacation in Hilton Head. Everyone is wonderful to work with and the instruction from Adam, is top notch. The school is also very clean as mats are sanitized immediately after class or open mat. Well done and looking forward to training at May River BJJ next summer when I’m back in town!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
DNA Films

A very professional yet laid-back environment. The instructor is very beginner friendly and displays patience towards his students. If time permitted I would go waaaay more often.

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Posted 6 years ago
Brandon Fowler

I was fortunate enough to join their open mat while visiting Bluffton. Very knowledgeable and welcoming group. Plan to come back the next time I visit.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
Chad Joiner

Great atmosphere. Great Team. John Kirkland has a unique way of explaining what to do and more importantly, Why. I cannot say enough about John and the team. Highly recommend!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Drew Littlejohn

This School is like a second home to me. The instruction is top notch and the people are willing to go the extra mile to make sure everyone in the class is comfortable and learning as much as possible. Whatever you are looking (A good workout, A good roll, Self Defense) you can find it here. If you are on the island for vacation make sure to stop here and support this awesome small business. The facility is of the highest quality. Quality and clean mats, Great atmosphere.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Kevin Charlie Foxtrot

A great place to train, when I'm visiting my folks in Bluffton. Clean, friendly and always helping me address my problem areas . I highly recommend stopping in. Big thanks to Professor Danielle. OSS.

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 8 years ago
Ashley Brubaker

This place is honestly my second home, the people are so kind but brutal at the same time. Today we did 100 push ups total, matt the instructor finished with and before us abd he motivated us and pished us at the same time. I feel its very balenced and knowing Krav Maga makes me feel safe and i knoe i cab defend myself. Thanks!

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Posted 8 years ago
Jonathan Grossman

Came and trained with the folks at Cross Rhodes Academy while vacationing in Hilton Head. Great gym with fantastic people, super welcoming and very high quality instruction. Next time I'm in the area I'm making sure to make it back!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 9 years ago
Derek Beeler

Been training here for nearly 6 years and have learned a lot. Not only have learned the fundamentals of self defense, but have met quite a few extraordinary people who I can call friends.

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Posted 10 years ago