I have trained jujitsu for a couple years now. Balancing a full time job and kids, it’s hard to find time that meets my schedule to train at a gym. Rivers bjj offers multiple classes and times to meet my ever-changing schedule. The instructor’s are friendly and knowledgeable and there is no shortage of high level practitioners to learn from and train with.
I visited Lawrence recently and trained at Rivers for a few days. They were very welcoming, friendly and have a great atmosphere and coaches. Everyone was helping each other with the techniques. I will definitely visit again next time I am in the area! Highly recommend this gym if you're in Lawrence!
Trevor is a great instructor to learn from, he explains the concepts behind techniques and then encourages you to play around with them and see what other things you might come up with. I enjoy his open forum teaching where you get a chance to ask questions if something is confusing to you, this school is full of great people with various skill levels and backgrounds ranging from Wrestling to Judo, They have specialized classes for competition if you're looking for some good hard rolls, They also have fundamentals classes to get your feet wet. This school teaches both Gi and No Gi. If you don't have a Gi but still want to try, Trevor has loaner Gi's you can use. If you're on the fence about joining I'd recommend giving this school a shot
I travel and have the opportunity to visit numerous BJJ gyms and experience countless instructors. As a black belt I have seen the good and sadly I have seen the bad. Professor Rivers is absolutely one of the best. He has created a learning environment that allows students to not only learn techniques but to explore the deeper aspects of this great art. Students are encouraged to not only ask questions but to provide their insight into the teachings so everyone can learn from everyone. This is rare and is one thing that sets this Bjj gym apart.
As an outsider coming in to train I was treated like family and welcomed by everyone. I was encouraged, valued and appreciated.
Professor Rivers has a heart to teach JiuJitsu and to allows his students to grow, explore their limits and to reach their full potential. I am honored to have the chance to train under his guidance. He is an amazing instructor and an even better person.
If you find yourself in the Lawrence area you must stop in. Professor Rivers will welcome you with open arms. You will have the opportunity to see what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is intended to be, a journey of self improvement and enlightenment.
The atmosphere is fantastic – welcoming and motivating. The quality of teaching is top-notch, and the instructors are skilled and patient. The number of students ensures a diverse and vibrant training environment. Been training at Rivers for 7 years and have no plans of stopping. Easy 5 stars.
I have been on my Jiu Jitsu journey for 8 years now (past four with Rivers). Rivers BJJ is my third school in that time and I wish I had started my journey with Trevor. Not only is he a knowledgeable and excellent teacher, he is very good at individualizing and supporting each students journey. He takes time to get to know you as a person and incorporate your expectations/needs into your learning. Whether you are looking for self-defense, competition, or fitness, Rivers is able to help you meet your goals.
The facilitators and students are accepting and work to make sure everyone feels like they belong. There are a wide range of gym cultures within the BJJ community and Rivers is one that will keep you coming back. Stop in and say hi anytime, I hope to see you on the mats.
Rivers Bjj is a great place to train. Trevor is so knowledgeable and great at explaining different techniques and breaking things down so everyone understands. Questions are welcomed and encouraged. Everyone is very welcoming and it's a great environment to learn Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Started training at the end of Dec 22. The Facilitators (Trevor, PJ, and Julie) are very knowledgeable with years of teaching, competing and experience behind them. The atmosphere in the gym daily is always accepting and patient. The smallest details, to help improve technique, are broken down on levels that are easy to understand.
I visited Lawrence Kansas this week and dropped in for a training class at Rivers BJJ. I am very glad that I did, Matt and everyone at Rivers BJJ were awesome. I had a very good time and will always stop back in when visiting Lawrence. Thank you,
Rob
Heidi and Matt are excellent trainers and wonderful people. I have never been to such a great gym before. Everyone there is welcoming, genuine, and eager to learn. I was recommended to this gym I recommend others to come here too! Just a great environment over all.
Excellent instructors and fun atmosphere. At 31 years old, I started going one year ago and my only regret is not starting sooner.
No previous experience required, and don’t worry about “getting in shape” first. Just come and have a good time. There are a lot of cool people who are willing to help you learn.
I stopped by as a drop in one Monday morning had a very informative class! Great conversations with the students who were there to learn and bounce ideas off one another to have a better understanding of the moves. If you’re local to Lawrence I recommend you allow these men and women to assist you in becoming the best version of you possible!
If you’re in need of a place to get some training in while on the road of passing by here’s a great place to go! Thanks again! Good luck to you all!
Training here 4 months. Really love here. Highly recommended training jiujitsu in the Rivers. Really nice people in the gym. Love learning new techniques. 🤙👍👍🤙🤙🤙🤙
I highly recommend Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I dropped in for a free trial class a couple months ago to try something new. I had no previous BJJ or wresting experience and was pretty nervous. The instructor Matt and the other students were great! They took the time to ensure I understood what the movements were and made sure I was included in all aspects of the class. I have since signed up for a membership and have been going weekly. Great atmosphere, safe, and welcoming.
We wanted to check this place out and see if it would be a good fit for our family. The staff is very friendly and it has a great vibe. My youngest is 5 and was super shy for his first class. The instructor took his time and was playful making my son feel welcome.
I came in for a drop-in since I live out of state. It was a friendly place, instruction was great, training partners were friendly and not aggro. Mats were clean. Great place to train and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about training there.
I started a few weeks ago and it has been great. The instructors and students have all been very welcoming and encouraging. I highly recommend starting your Jiu Jitsu journey with Rivers BJJ!
Could not ask for a better gym. I had no prior martial arts experience, but every single person has been so welcoming, patient, and instructive. Rivers BJJ is a high-quality, high-level, safe, and clean gym that is more than worth it. If you are on the fence about doing BJJ, don't be - Rivers is the place to go.
I moved to Lawrence a few months ago for school and the first thing I did was search out a gym. I am so happy to have found Rivers BJJ; not only have I found a great place to train, I feel like I have a family here in Lawrence. The academy is one of the most inclusive places I've trained, with people from all walks of life. The instructors are great and actually have a set agenda for their classes each week - rather than just teaching random techniques each day, which is what I've found at many other gyms. The advanced students also have their individual interests which they work to become expert in, such as different guard games, wrestling or judo. All-in-all, I couldn't be happier and would recommend Rivers BJJ to anyone, no matter their level.
My son has been taking classes for over a year and the instructors are amazing! They teach the kids great technique while teaching discipline and honor. I started taking classes 4 weeks ago and Trevor, Matt and Heidi have been amazing. Their school is filled with positivity and atmosphere of learning and perseverance!
My daughter trains at River’s BJJ. She absolutely loves her classes and instructors! It has boosted not only her physical strength, but also her confidence. She feels accepted and encouraged at every class. I have and will continue referring people to train at rivers, and their kids!!
I had no experience with martial arts outside of childhood karate so coming into Rivers BJJ I didn't know what I was getting myself into. EVERYONE I spoke with was warm and welcoming, knowledgeable, friendly, and seem to genuinely care that every person who walks in has a good time. You learn a lot each class and partners are happy to take it easy on the new person so that everybody gets an opportunity to learn. I would highly suggest this school to anyone who is interested in fitness, self defense, or looking for a new social group.
This gym has my full trust whether you’re interested in a serious level of competition or starting your kids out or just learning the basics slowly and getting a better workout than the regular gym. As a lifelong competitive gymnast, ballet dancer, and stunter, etc, I am always highly critical of programs that are unsafe or progress too quickly or have shallow instruction (common in circus, cheer or ninja gyms in prior home cities) but that concern is the furthest from my mind here. As a female I have been consistently impressed with the efforts all the instructors make to ensure we ladies are really developing our skills but without anyone ever being pushy. Heidi is an especially strong asset in the nuances of female body physics. I was impressed that not only the instructors but also the students that make up the usual suspects at lessons add to the atmosphere of feeling comfortable and safe and welcome. We span the gamut of backgrounds and ages too, so no one should feel too young or old or different. For reference, my husband and I are mid-thirties and started a year ago with limited past martial arts experience. Also, my exposure to the kids classes has been very positive. Sometimes, being 5’1”, I have rolled with a teen from the program who comes to an adult class, and it shows how outstanding the kids instruction must be. I’ll stick my own kids in these classes as soon as they’re old enough. If you want something more intense, my husband goes also and always seems sufficiently exhausted, challenged, and cheerfully beat up at the end of class.
The place to train in Lawrence. At Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there is high level instruction on the mat at any given class time. But the most significant feature is the inclusive, safe, and clean environment provided by Trevor, Matt, and Heidi. With the most established kids program in town, Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a place for the whole family to learn the wonderful art of Jiu Jitsu.
3 highly skilled Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelts with their own specific teaching styles and strengths. Whether you want introductory lessons or in depth instruction this is the jiu jitsu school for you.... ok ok I love this school, whether it's the highest belt or the newest person everyone is so welcoming all focused on getting better at at the most addicting martial art ever..
Prompt email response for drop in. Matt was very nice and welcoming, he even offered to let me borrow a Gi if I needed one.
Overall great instruction and sparring – friendly group no overly aggressive individuals.
I've trained around in different martial arts for the past 25 years. This awesome place make you family. It's a light hearted environment with all levels of training partners. The highlight of my week is getting to go train with my son and the friends that have accepted us with open arms.... some hugs tighter than others. 🤣😂
Been training here for 2 years now. The gym has grown exponentially in that time due to quality instruction, sense of family, and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're looking for self-defense or to compete, Rivers is an incredible place to begin or continue training jiu jitsu.
I attended my first class at Rivers with no previous BJJ experience. Aside from some high school wrestling, I had minimal knowledge of what I was getting myself into. Naturally, I was a little nervous to attend my first class! Since that point I've been hooked because training at Rivers has been nothing but an incredible experience. Deep knowledge of the sport and the desire to teach are not only present in the instructors, but in the higher level students as well. This atmosphere allows anyone to train and improve regardless of their skill level or background. Whether your goals are to challenge yourself, get in better shape, improve your BJJ, compete, or simply get choked out a few times a week by your friends, Rivers is a great place to train.
I have trained at many gyms, but none of them hold a candle to Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Trevor, Heidi, Matt, and Zak are some of the best folks around and genuinely care about the progress being made by their students as well as our wellbeings on and off the mats. These coaches have created a safe and healthy environment that proves conducive for self improvement. No matter your experience or physical state, come train if you're curious. I bet you'll love it!
I walked onto the mats at Rivers about 2 1/2 years ago. That has by far been one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The instructors are not only amazing at thoroughly teaching proper technique, but they are an amazing group of people as well. As a female, I can say that the Rivers crew has always shown me nothing but respect and has always made me feel comfortable. I moved away about a year ago, but everyone at Rivers has always welcomed me back with open arms during visits. The people at Rivers have made me fall in love with BJJ and I highly encourage any age, gender, and athletic level to give it a try. You can’t find a better group in town to train and grow with.
This gym is a family. They have grown from just a small handful of students to an extended family that is always there for each other on and off the mats. I can not Express enough how much this gym and it's people mean to me. If you are looking for high quality instruction for self defense, conditiong or competing. Come in and take a look at what we have to offer. You wont be disappointed I promise.
Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most professional and friendly environments I've been ever exposed to in my (more than twenty-years) experience with martial arts. I moved to Lawrence 2 years ago from Italy for a PhD position at KU bringing my Gi with me and looking for a place to train. I found Rivers BJJ and before even walking inside the club, I started meeting wonderful and wholesome people that later had become my inseparable training partners and friends. Every student is followed personally by the instructors and the higher ranked students, the quality of the Jiu-Jitsu is superlative, and safety always comes first. Being myself a Judo instructor (and having a Dojo in my hometown in Italy) I know how all of these characteristics are fundamental to creating a healthy and professional school. During the class, the instructors allow you to focus in on all of the aspects pertaining to the art of Jiu-Jitsu: competition, self-defense, and most importantly self-improvement. Recently, 10 people from the club traveled oversea to come in my Dojo in Italy where we had 2 weeks of awesome training in both Judo and BJJ. Ultimately, this opened up a new long-lasting international channel of exchange between schools. Rivers BJJ quickly became my family here in Lawrence and I could not ask for more.
I've moved multiple times since starting bjj, so I've trained at different gyms and I can confidently say RBJJ is top notch. There is a strong sense of community at this gym and I have always felt supported by the coaching staff. I’ve cycled through different training goals here: getting started at a new university, I was training pretty recreationally, but as I got settled I switched back into competition mode; lately I’ve been trying to find ways to keep training around an injury. No matter what I’m aiming for on any given day/week/month, Trevor, Matt and Heidi have been there for me. My teammates have similarly diverse goals, so it’s easy to find drilling and sparring partners to meet my needs. I couldn't ask for a better bjj family than Rivers!
My husband began attending Rivers this past winter and I started more recently in late Spring. He had some wrestling experience and I had zero experience. We have both loved our time at Rivers! The instructors are of the highest caliber and really know how to reach every student in the room no matter the age or ability. From my experience, this is also a great place to attend if you are a woman looking to get into martial arts for self-defense or competition. I cannot speak highly enough about this business.
I was welcomed to this school several months ago. Such an amazing organization and the coaches are always patient with students and making sure everyone progresses. First day I was nervous being new but the atmosphere is so positive that I became apart of this amazing family! Thank you Rivers BJJ!
I'm always suggesting this school to other parents. I believe this school is a great place no matter the person. However, I believe martial arts are great for young people. The kids' classes are run well. Lots of fun and learning. Your child will learn some techniques and gain confidence.
Love Rivers. Everyone there is super supportive. Couldn't ask for a better school. Instructors are very knowledgeable and other students make it a very welcoming to all ages.
Everyone is really helpful and humble. Higher belts come to beginner classes to help out with the new people. It is intimidating to start a martial art if you dont have any experience but they make it really easy to get into the flow. The fact that they are on Mass street makes it super accessible. If you have been thinking about going just go, you wont be disappointed.
I was so pumped when they moved to Mass St and I could start training with them! I had heard jiu jitsu was a really great martial art to learn, so I decided to join and I've loved it! It takes alot of practice and showing up and being humbled, but the instructors are all really helpful at explaining and breaking down certain techniques and helping you towards your goal, whether it's competing or self-defense. I highly recommend Rivers BJJ; they're all nice, helpful and very professional.
I began BJJ with zero martial arts experience. The staff was kind and walked me through the basics at a comfortable pace. Everyone there is kind, and immediately treats you like family. It is a great place to train and grow.
Absolutely the best BJJ gym I've been to. Everyone is super respectful of one another and it really feels like a family atmosphere. The instructors are very knowledgeable and great teachers. I highly recommend this gym to anyone who's interested in training Brazilian Jujitsu.
This is an excellent jiu jitsu gym! I am a beginner so I walked in not knowing anything about it and everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The instructors are also super helpful and knowledgeable. I highly recommend it!
Awesome instructors. Great techniques. If you're thinking about trying out a class don't hesitate. Trevor, Matt, and Heidi are all very welcoming and will help you on your journey!
Rivers BJJ gym is very organized and the classes are structured for all levels of BJJ. The instructors are competent, professional, and extraordinarily encouraging. Furthermore, the students take their example from the stellar staff, and are equally helpful and friendly. I've been taking classes at this gym for a few months now and I look forward to attending class every time.
I highly recommend Rivers BJJ gym to anyone who is seeking a new challenge, beginners, or for any experienced BJJ practitioner. You will definitely enjoy the training experience and meet some really cool people in the process.
Good place to learn BJJ, coaches are very excepting of anyone. I come from a Boxing/TKD back ground. The ground techniques that I know now have really increased my confidence. Also enrolled my kids and look forward to seeing their confidence grow.
Walked in one day, and signed up the next, student and military discounts to boot. I've only trained one other place, but RBJJ is awesome. The instructors are all top notch, everyone there has been a great help as far as learning and improving. With classes during the day and evening, there really is a class for everyone.
I'm in my 40's and in the best shape of my life thanks to Rivers BJJ . Very friendly and clean environment. Not a meat head gym with egos and drama . Training partners from all different backgrounds that will treat you like family from day one .
Great place to train and learn from some top notch instructors. They teach techniques thoroughly and make sure everyone understands how each one works. Everyone, whether they're a student or instructor, is welcoming and willing to help you improve. Highly recommend RBJJ.
This is a great gym with an amazing atmosphere. The instructors are very knowledgeable and patient. Fellow students are great people. Don't hesitate to start your Jiu Jitsu journey here. I wish I had started mine sooner!
A friend of mine has been telling me to join a Jiu-Jitsu gym for the past few years and I finally decided to pull the trigger and join RBJJ a little over 7 months ago. Glad I did, cause now I'm in way better shape than I was before I started and now I'm also learning a skill that I will continue to enhance for the rest of my life!
In six months of training here I have become healthier, thinner, and stronger. But more, I've gone back to the days of competitive athletics. That rare feeling when you've spent all your energy, and done more than had a work out. You've reached a place of body and soul being exhausted, and fulfilled, at once.
The instructors are great, the facility is clean and inviting. Don't wait to get started, you'll regret not starting sooner.
All of the instructors here are great. I first started going to jiu jitsu as a way to get in shape that seemed fun. It didn't take long to become addicted. If you are a beginner, this is a great place to start. If you are new to the area, but have previously trained, it's a great place to meet fellow jiu jitsu practitioners. If you have been out of it for a while and want to jump back in, it's a great place to come back. Did I mention it's a great place?
Why do I think it's great? The staff and students here are accepting of everyone. They care about your progress and your well being. There are beginner classes that will help with your self defense, there are kids' classes that are growing all the time, and there are advanced classes to help step up your game if you are interested in sport jiu jitsu. (You also get self defense from those classes). All are welcomed no matter age, fitness level, or gender.
I've made some great friends here and consider them family. AND, it's fun.
Classes are really good, i enjoy the structure and the sense of belonging. Instructors are very knowledgeable and welcoming. Probably one of the best gyms I've had the pleasure of training at!
I have trained in a lot of different places but RBJJ is the best! Trevor, Matt and Heidi are great instructors and have a professional school with a safe, fun, and productive training environment. They are able to teach students at all kinds of fitness and experience levels and can help anyone achieve their goals. I would recommend everyone come in and try a class to find out for yourself!
Great atmosphere with great teacher/student and student/student communication. Encouraging and positive experience. Thank you LBJJ, students and teachers.
Great place to practice Brazilian jiu jitsu. Great instructors that show a consistent and committed approach towards teaching the self defense aspect of BJJ.
I have looked into several BJJ/MMA schools, and the overwhelming sense that I got was that most of them were only after my money. They "may" have good instructors but the main focus was on getting my billing info and setting it up on a long expensive, reoccurring payment plan.
Matt and Heidi were just the opposite. They were more concerned with with my current fitness level, what my objectives were, and what they could do to help me reach my goals.
Once on the mat, the main emphasis was on safety (awesome). Both Matt and Heidi really know their stuff, and they are very good at explaining and demonstrating the various BJJ techniques.
I plan on training at this location for the foreseeable future and I would recommend Lawrence BJJ to anyone!
