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Reviews from Jiu-Jitsu Blog members who have trained at Upstream BJJ. Member recommendations raise an academy's Jiu-Jitsu Blog Score.
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Reviews
RL Bradshaw
Upstream is a great place to train if you are serious about improving your jiu-jitsu but also want to train with fun, relaxed people.
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. Although it’s 20 minutes further from my house, it has absolutely been worth it.
The atmosphere here is truly unique and everyone is dedicated to helping each other succeed.
As a woman, i’ve always felt comfortable and respected here, which is really important in this sport.
Under the guidance of Coach Seph and the team, my skills have improved exponentially. 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.
The upper belts at Upstream are always eager to share their knowledge and offer guidance, creating an environment where you’re constantly pushed to be your best.
If you’re looking for a place where you’ll grow and improve in BJJ, Upstream is absolutely the spot. Highly recommend!
I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but when I finally decided to start training jiu jitsu in my mid-thirties with zero martial arts experience, I wasn’t sure what to expect. From day one, I never felt intimidated coming here. Everyone is incredibly welcoming and supportive, no matter your skill level.
Seph and all the instructors are extremely knowledgeable, patient, and break things down in a way that’s easy to understand, making learning both effective and enjoyable. A year in, I can confidently say this gym has been an amazing place to train, grow, and challenge myself. Whether you’re completely new to jiu jitsu or looking to sharpen your skills, I can’t recommend Upstream enough!
*I’m a 41 year old woman, white belt, about 140 lbs* Love it at Upstream! Helpful instructors and extremely welcoming environment for women. Awesome place to learn and grow! They also have an intro program if you are brand new, not new to BJJ but it’s been awhile, or you want to brush up on your skills. 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.
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. So I decided to check it out.
I had no martial arts background whatsoever, and Seph was and has been an incredible coach. He breaks things down into easy-to-understand concepts to help you progress. 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.
Seph is awesome, but the people in the gym are awesome as well. Everyone who trains there has been super nice, helpful, and supportive, which means a lot when you’re totally brand new to the sport. It’s an awesome atmosphere that I appreciate very much as a new white belt.
100% recommend!
I’m an MMA fighter I joined in 2022 in the hopes of improving my jiu jitsu. The gym ended up surpassing my expectations from what I got out of it. Ive built strong friendships from my teammates. Seph is a legend of the game and gave me an understanding of jiu jitsu that I never envisioned having! I consider it a sanctuary and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else
Y’all won’t regret it. If you’re looking for to ease yourself in, there’s a fundamentals class where you’re able to learn at your own pace, no rush
Fast forward I’m going on year 3 being here and I love it!
I’ve been training here over a year and it’s a great gym with people whose skill match their friendliness. Seph is an awesome guy and incredibly knowledgeable.
There’s a woman’s only class as well as a fundamental class for new people to try in a controlled environment
The membership is affordable which is great for me being in college
Couldn’t recommend this place enough
Upstream BJJ was an amazing place to train. I'm so happy I decided to "drop-in" while in town for work. Seph was really welcoming and taught an amazing class showing a technique and details I have never seen before. All of his students were friendly and really courteous. I cannot recommend Upstream BJJ enough. Thanks Seph and I can't wait to get back in there!
An amazing place to begin your jiu jitsu journey. I started about 3 months ago and I have been hooked every since. Seph fosters a great community and multiple talented instructors along with himself. So happy I started coming here to begin my life long journey.
Update: have now been here for over a year, still loving it and it has become a big part of my life! Love the community! Love the gym!
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Posted 2 years ago
Jeremy West
Seph and his team of coaches are great instructors. Welcoming environment and fun rolls!
Immaculate vibes. Seph was incredibly attentive during the class portion, always ensuring we trained properly and felt welcome. All the other students were super cool. Definitely coming back next time I’m in town.
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Posted 3 years ago
John Park
I was visiting from out of town and this place was great. Very skilled and nice crew. Always good to see people willing to give you advice even as a visitor. Hard, but safe rolls, which I appreciated. Highly recommend.
The best place to train Jiu Jitsu in Richmond! This is the gym for you if you’re seeking to learn high-level bjj from the beginner to experienced level, covering fundamental techniques and positions with understandable instruction. Seph is hospitable to all who visit and train at Upstream!
The best place to train bjj.
Seph and all other coaches are very knowledgeable and kind.
I am only at a beginner level, all the team are always very patient and nice!!
Plus, it's super fun !! =)
I love upstream family. Highly recommend.
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Posted 3 years ago
Damien H
Fun experience! Im from out if town and Professor Seth let me drop in for a class. Had a blast. And it was a massive class of fun people
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Posted 3 years ago
C Y
I’m in town for only 2 weeks, feel itchy and wanna train some Jiu-Jitsu, visited this school because it is affiliated to Ryan Hall’s 50/50, Seph is super knowledgeable, also he is very good at articulating those techniques step by step, so dummies like me can understand totally, I will give a 5 star although the gym itself is compact and feels like it needs an remodel very soon
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Posted 4 years ago
Carl Glenn
Had a great training session with Seph and the crew at Upstream! As an out-of-towner everyone made me feel very welcome and the instruction was top notch.
At the time of this writing immediately following my drop-in roll at upstream in downtown Richmond there were more than a hundred and twenty 5 star reviews so I'm not sure my review helps, but I owe them the redundancy. Following the pandemic, gyms are showing some reluctance to inviting out-of-towners but with a candid discussion ahead of time Seph invited me to drop in while in town for business for a gi session. Over the lunch time roll, as a forty plus year old 4 stripe white belt, I got to drill with a true gentleman named Barry who was a brown belt. Working arm bars and some nifty lapel chokes was very insightful. Got to do some positional drilling with him followed by a roll with a young blue belt named Nick. Also an atrt your own pace guy with this old tourist so overall a great experience. Humbled to have been invited in to their family and would highly recommend this gym to locals or visitors. They do charge a mat fee which is pretty standard for downtown gyms that I've seen and is becoming more common after the pandemic than before. If you drop in like I do, and you find a gym that's free be sure to buy something. Whether they charge you or not bills gotta be paid! Thanks Seph for helping me fill in Virginia on my BJJ world map!
Highly recommend! Dropped in while on a work trip and everyone was fantastic — students were super friendly and had great jiu jitsu. Looking forward to coming back.
A great place to train BJJ in Richmond. All the instructors are incredibly professional and welcoming. Above all, this is a safe place to train for people of all sizes.
Awesome gym, coaches are fantastic. Very welcoming, great communication and explication when showing techniques.
Great mix of belt levels from absolute beginners to amazing BJJ players at higher belt levels.
Very diverse group that is really down to earth.
Highly recommend upstream bjj for any and all skill levels
Fantastic place to train. Very friendly training partners, fantastic instructors, and a great place to work hard and have a lot of fun. I can not recommend this place enough if you desire to learn brazilian jiujitsu.
*Edit: Another year later, and this remains true. Super fun, and great for people of all types! Everybody is super friendly with new folks, so stop putting it off. =)
I started with Upstream's intro to BJJ courses and have moved on to their all levels classes. The intro courses were invaluable in learning basic movements and techniques. The all levels classes are top notch as well. Incredible instruction, great atmosphere, and super nice people. I could not recommend this place more.
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Posted 4 years ago
Gil Enav
Great place to learn jiu jitsu from high quality instructors!
Started my BJJ training here a couple months ago and it has been a great experience. The instructors and students are all very welcoming and passionate about Jiu Jitsu.
What got my attention was the hospitality and openness of the leaders in this gym. Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, Seph , Andron, and Nora went above and beyond to make me and my wife feel welcomed. You leave each class session feeling fulfilled and a part of growing family. These wonderful instructors pay close attention to the progress of each student on an individual level and put in the maximum effort to articulate each technique. If you are on the fence about which BJJ gym to join in RVA, look no further! Upstream BJJ has got what it takes to move your Jiu Jitsu skills to the next level!
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 else. 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. This is a place where I felt at home within the first week of attending classes.
The other really nice thing I like about Upstream is that even though it fosters a very friendly environment for newcomers to the sport they don't just promote people to higher belts to appease their clients and get them to stay. Make no mistake that the people who get promoted to blue belt and up are quality grapplers and they know their stuff. So whether your new to the area and looking for something new to try and make some friends or someone who has been training BJJ for a while, I really think you will find what your looking for here and it won't cost you nearly as much as many of the other gyms in Richmond.
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Posted 4 years ago
Josh Fabian
Upstream is an amazing gym with instructors who are super welcoming and very knowledgeable. If you are looking to train in Richmond this is the place!
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Posted 4 years ago
Diego Soto
This academy is very welcoming to everyone. It great for casual training, self defense, and competition alike.
My time at Upstream has been great. I took the Intro to BJJ classes and moved into the all levels class. Both have been positive and productive experiences. The instructors are top notch and so is the management of the gym. Excellent atmosphere with something for everyone.
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Posted 4 years ago
Samir Nader
Best school in the Richmond Area by far. Come train with us
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Posted 4 years ago
samir nader
Best school near VCU
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Posted 4 years ago
K N
Visited when in the area for work. Very much enjoyed the class and the staff are welcoming. Instruction is top notch. They don’t have a shower though, so be sure to plan ahead.
Seph is a great instructor. He breaks down each move with easy to understand details and puts each move into context of when you’d do it. Classes are small enough that most students can get some individual attention and ask questions. Everyone is super friendly too. It’s a great gym to train at!
Seph is a great instructor and the atmosphere is awesome! Great bjj gym for beginners and those who've been in the game a long time. A ton of classes to choose from weekly make it hard to make excuses for not showing up.
In town for work and was trying to find a good academy to train at. Was very impressed immeadiately with the knowledge of the instructors and how helpful and detailed they were. Been training over 9 years and it's always nice when traveling to find a top notch school. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a good school to train at when in Richmond.
I love training at Upstream! Seph and Nora provide a welcoming atmosphere and the instruction is top notch. The culture of the gym is very laid back and all members have a no ego approach during drilling. I'm a huge believer in this gym and the owners and look forward to many years of progression in my juijitsu journey.
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Posted 7 years ago
Jacob Clark
Fantastic gym for both beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Very welcoming with a good balance between drilling and rolling. Plentiful Daytime and evening classes.
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Posted 7 years ago
2d sastres barcelona
Es un placer muy grande entrenar allí cada día!y eso vale para mi y toda mi familia!!!
Grandes entrenadores, ambiente súper guay!
Lo mejor que me hubiera podido pasar en rva!!!
I love this place and so does my kid. They are awesome instructors, they are able to manage a busy class and focus on every kid. That is a big deal considering due to the size most places would leave some kids out. They split the kids in a pair of twos and monitor them until they get the moves, which I like because it forces my kid to keep on trying. This is our first month and I already see a change in my kid, when doing homework so doesn't quit until she gets it right. This is definitely building character.
My wife and I did the free week trial and signed up within a day of the free week. Seph and Nora are amazing to work with. Everyone else is very friendly and are very patient with beginners who come in. If you want to test the waters of BJJ and meet some amaizing hardworking people, you will not be disappointed at Upstream.
Our child attends Upstream BJJ in Richmond VA and is completely taken. He’s four and a half year old and initially felt nervous and shy in the group environment, however Coaches Seph and Nora were brilliant at easing him in with enthusiasm and space for giggles. As parents, we appreciate the new found interest in listening, focusing, and of course, the quick bedtimes! Beyond that, it’s in a great central location, so when you feel like your kids were especially good in class, you can always walk around the corner to many of Richmond’s best eateries.
i love Seth Smith and his style jiujitsu, he was the first jiujitsu super match i saw when i just started training and at my 3d competition Us grappling, i watched him and Ryan Hall flow drill and roll that was 2012, it was amazing so i always wanted my jiujitsu to look like that, since than we became friends and i have been to his seminar on leg locks it showed me so many details and changed my game completely! also if you are never tried brazilian jiu-jitsu and live in Richmond VA area. that's definitely the place to train at.
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Posted 9 years ago
Jody Morris
Seph is a great instructor with great guys! Came as a guest, and couldn't have had a better experience. Highly recommend Upstream!!!
Seph runs an outstanding program in a family friendly, ego free environment. Can't thank him enough for all of the extra mat time. If you're a beginner all you have to do is SHOW UP!!
I had a privilege to train with Seph for over 5 years when I lived in Northern Virginia and can't recommend Upstream BJJ enough.
Seph is a phenomenal instructor who puts a lot of effort into understanding the techniques: 1) learns variations from multiple sources; 2) understands how to make modifications based on individual's physical abilities and style; 3) knows how to transfer his knowledge to his students.
On top of that he is a well rounded competitor and genuine good guy.
Ive trained at Upstream BJJ on 2 diffrent trips up from Canada. Amazing experiences each time in every way! From the welcoming Atmosphere to the facility and ofcourse the instruction! Its one of the best place ive ever trained at. Your game will reach new heights training there!
I dropped in when in town and was welcomed with open arms. Seph is not only a world class BJJ black belt but a top notch teacher. I would recommend this spot to all locals interested in getting involved in BJJ. Can't wait to get back in town and drop in again. Thanks for the hospitality.
I have known Seph for over10 years and he has helped me tremendously in the past to learn and expand my jiu jitsu. He was always willing to share his time, advice, technique and even a place to crash so I could train. Also if you hang around him and he doesn't make you laugh, you probably don't have a sense of humor!
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Posted 9 years ago
Jason Hardy
I was fortunate to be able to train with Seth at 50/50. His jiujisu is top notch. If I lived in Richmond Id definetly go to Upstream Bjj.
Upstream is legit. If you're new to JiuJitsu, this is a great place to get started. The folks here are respectful and welcoming. If you've been training for awhile, there is a solid team here that regularly competes , and everyone is pushing each other to get better. I have had a chance to train at a bunch of different schools over the years, and I have seen how different each gym can be. Upstream has found a good balance of top notch jiujitsu instruction, paired with an easy going atmosphere. The workouts are tough, but nobody takes themselves too seriously. Good music, bad jokes, helpful training partners, solid instruction from a respected and decorated Black Belt . Come try a class and see for yourself, you'll be glad you did.
Seph is accommodating to everyone's abilities regardless of whatever skills they walk in the door with. Although I'm new to BJJ I've had coaches for various other activities and can easily rank Seph towards the top in terms of creating a great environment to learn, compete, and have fun in. Classes run smoothly, questions are encouraged, and moves are skillfully broken down into easy to understand concepts. Great instruction, great people.
Seph is an outstanding instructor! Upstream is a very welcoming and clean environment! Very high level Jiu-Jitsu is taught here with an instructor that can break down the techniques in a way that beginners and advanced students can always walk away learning something. If you are in the area check them out!
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Posted 9 years ago
Adam Hauch
Seph is an amazing instructor and everyone should be going to train with him.
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Posted 9 years ago
Jason Parks
Awesome place to train and grow your jiu jitsu. Seph is very welcoming and there isn't a better instructor out there
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Posted 9 years ago
Rebecca Cintron
I had an amazing time here!! Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The gym was immaculate and has a warm welcoming vibe. If you ever get the chance, check these guys out you won't be disappointed
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Posted 9 years ago
JRHillJR
Owner Seph Smith is a world class instructor & a class act. Come train with him!!
Some people are good teachers, some people are good competitors, and then you've got guys like Seph who are both. You won't hear him brag, but if your his student you'll constantly hear from other students at other schools how lucky you are to be learning from him, and they're absolutely right.
I first trained with Seph at 50/50. He is an amazing instructor, with some phenomenal knowledge. Super friendly and chill group of people. Awesome place to train. Not the place to go if you'd like to learn from an affliction wearing juice head.
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Posted 9 years ago
Kris Doucette
Amazing instructor. Introduced me to the sport and is patient and knowledgeable. Highly recommend Seph.
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Posted 9 years ago
Charlie Shew
I've been training with Seph at Upstream for a year and just wish I would have started sooner.
I have known Seph for over 10+ years. He is an excellent instructor that makes learning fun, his school "Upstream Bjj" is great for any caliber of ground karate practitioner. The guys and gals at "Upstream" will make you feel at home and you will get top quality no BS training.
Trained with Seph years ago, he's an extremely talented instructor and all around cool dude with fantastic Jiu_Jitsu. Consider yourself fortunate to have access to such great teacher and get down to Upstream BJJ!
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Posted 9 years ago
Joseph Cunningham
Seph Smith is not only a fantastic jiu-jitu player and coach but a genuinely great guy.
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Posted 9 years ago
Kyle Webber
I had the privilege of training under Seph and in my view his brilliance as a jiu-jitsu practitioner/instructor is surpassed only by his wonderful sense of humor and good nature. You won't be disappointed!
I've been taking my daughter to the kids class now for the past year and she's loved it. Coach Seph and coach Nora are very knowledgeable and have been outstanding instructors. I've been raving about them to my coworkers. Whether you're a beginner or experienced, or just want to see your kids in a disciplined sport, give these guys a look. Highly recommend!
I was apprehensive about my first bjj class and I couldn't be happier with my experience at upstream. Seph is a great instructor with a lot of patience and metaphors for the techniques he teaches. I have been practicing for a few months and I believe this is a sport where your initial experience makes all the difference. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has boosted my self-confidence and what better way is there for a woman (or anyone!) to feel better about herself than to know she can defend herself. Thank you Seph and Nora!
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Posted 9 years ago
Dennis Reynolds
I'm a guy who trains mostly while traveling. I first met Steph when he was at 50/50 and really liked his style. He runs a good place and he's a very good instructor!
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Posted 9 years ago
Bill Whitlock
Likaleemuwah likasumboodie Seph Smith gurd lebelen Upstream BJJ! --Iyam Indafaith
I've had the privilege to train under Seph Smith and receive a few private lessons. His attention to detail and technical approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is exceptional. A very welcoming instructor and business owner. Can't recommend Upstream enough!
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Posted 9 years ago
Jhenyfeir C
I love this place! It's very clean. The instructors are knowledgable and proficient. Great price, good vibes, nice people. They really made me feel welcome and a part of the team despite my lack of experience and poor physical shape. I learned a lot and hope to be back someday in the near future.
I learned from Seph for a couple years when he taught in Northern Virginia. Seph is a great instructor and a fun person to be around. I loved his classes; always learned and always laughed.
Since Seph moved, I have traveled to Richmond many times specifically to train at Upstream BJJ. I would recommend this place to anyone.
Was visiting from Alaska. Upstream BJJ was extremely accommodating to this avid traveler. The location is great, the training is high level, and overall it was a very fun experience. I know that whenever I I'm in Richmond again, I want to train there.
I would recommend taking at least one class from Seph Smith. You might just get hooked 😜
I started my BJJ journey training under Seph and trained with him up to blue belt before he went down to Richmond to start Upstream. I still try to train at Upstream any time I am in town because he is such an amazing teacher. Seph has a truely world class ability to teach and spends a lot of time connecting the details of specific techniques with high level global concepts. Technique and Art combined. Another thing I think is fantastic about his school is that Seph is really approachable and cool to talk to about pretty much anything. That personality reflects in the school as well as students as well. I've never felt like an outsider at Upstream, even though I am usually rolling with peope for the first time when I drop in. However, the guys I have rolled with are also tough competition and you will get good rolls in. If you get the chance you should train at Upstream.
I dropped in to Upstream to train while on vacation. Seph is as amazing instructor and all around great guy. In addition to the top notch instruction we were treated like part of the team and felt welcome from the moment we walked through the door.
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Posted 9 years ago
Mike Byrd
Great place and great instruction, 10/10 would train there again!
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Posted 9 years ago
Eugene Giv
Great instructor with a great teaching style. He keeps it entertaining as well while doing good hard training
I've been training bjj for 18 years and still look to Seph for his technical expertise. He is a passionate instructor who can help anyone of any experience level reach their jiu-jitsu goals.
When I first started BJJ, I trained under Seph Smith. I gotta say to this day, he is probably the best instructor I have ever trained under. His knowledge of BJJ seems endless and he always made me feel welcomed in class. He was always very easy to talk to and ask questions. Whether you live in the area or are passing through, I highly recommend stopping into Upstream BJJ.
Seph was my very first Brazilians Jiu Jitsu instructor. He is beyond compare when it comes to having an understanding of the techniques he teaches. He is always willing to make sure you understand what is being taught. The environment he fosters in his class is first rate and very inclusive. Honestly, is out any student taught by Seph Smith far ahead of their peers for as highly technical as Seph's instruction is. Not only that, Seph is extremely funny too which helps hold attention during class. If I were living in Richmond, VA, I'd still be training under Seph Smith.
Seph Smith (UpStream BJJ) is definitely a knowledgeable and experienced instructor. Really appreciate the time when he and Ryan Hall (50/50 BJJ) came to Fort Campbell (circa 2011) to offer some BJJ insight to enhance some of the ground fighting portion of our Combatives program. His passion for teaching & training BJJ & Wrestling can truly be appreciated for those who are willing to learn. If you are in Richmond, VA, you should check out UpStream BJJ at 207 N. 3rd Street.
Don B.,
•Retired US Army Green Beret
•BJJ & JUDO Black Belt
•Instructor Bowen on History Channel TV show "The Selection"
I came to Seph and Nora with zero martial arts experience and no athletic background. After my first class I knew I'd be joining the gym! The atmosphere at Upstream is amazing, which helped quiet my anxieties and insecurities. If you're looking for a way to push yourself, mind and body--this is the place to be!
Seph Smith is an exceptional instructor and a valued coach. His ability to break down positions and explain them to anyone, at any level of Jiu jitsu, from beginner white belt all the way up is a skill by itself. This gym comes highly recommended for anyone wishing to learn the gentle art or for anyone whom wishes to continue their Jiu jitsu journey. Come in and train!
If you're in the Richmond area and looking for a BJJ home, you'd be missing out if you did not at least check out Upstream. The first day I walked in I immediately felt welcome despite being an old dude. Seph is a great teacher with a unique balance of patience and expectation for his students. The classes are well planned and there is clearly a long term structure to his planning as there exists a clear flow from week to week tying in various techniques and positions together. There is an atmosphere of teamwork present that I haven't seen an equal to since high school wrestling. I know all the guys I roll with and each one quick to give a word of encouragement or correction helping me to improve at BJJ. Upstream is a place for top shelf instruction with personal attention, great training partners, marathon rolls, open mat, and quality jams during class.
I wish there was a way to give Upstream 10 stars. I've trained at several gyms and this school is by far my favorite. The head instructor, Seph Smith, is a talented and dedicated teacher. After demonstrating a technique, he routinely patrols the mats looking for anyone who is struggling or has any questions. Seph has a real talent for breaking down a technique so that anyone can understand and consistently emphasizes the principles of good technique (posture , balance, using structure rather than strength,etc). He has gone over several techniques that I had learned previously and thought didn't work well (at least for me) and demonstrated a few fine details that make the move much more efficient, so much so that I routinely use them in training now. He also will demonstrate techniques and answer questions after class. In terms of sparring, he routinely rolls with us and will help students who wish to compete get ready for competitions. There are no "meatheads" at this gym and everyone is there is to learn jiu jitsu and have fun. For example, I have had extensive left knee surgery, and tell my training partners about my knee and they are more than respectful and accommodating. In summary, if you want to start or restart training in BJJ and are located in the RVA, look no further!
I have only positive things to say about Upstream BJJ and its owner, Seph Smith, both when it comes to the overall atmosphere and the quality of his teaching skills. In fact, both aspects are at such a high level that I feel that I should break them up into two separate reviews:
Atmosphere/General Feel
UpstreamBJJ has a very family-like atmosphere. Sure, you could label this a cliche, and say that every gym enforces a policy with a family vibe, but I stand behind my claim that it is different here. The members are all very close and Seph is very loved as the coach. It's very informal, yet that does not break the structure of a well planned curriculum. Seph doesn't waste time on pointless warm ups or stuff that has no correlation to your Jiu JItsu improvement, he goes straight into the meat and potatoes and starts the class of with a quick intense warm up and starts the drilling right away. He is very friendly and you always have the feeling that you can ask him anything. Seph has a very analytical mindset and is able to break up complicated chunks of information into basic concepts that you can sort of piece together on your own once he gives them to you. Nora, the assistant coach is also very friendly and knows how to get along with people, which makes for a positive atmosphere where you feel like you are in a group of people working towards a common goal, instead of the military boot camp feel a lot of the other academies have. To further bring my point across, I visited his academy all the way from Serbia, knew absolutely nobody in Richmond, and straight off from day one I felt like I had been training there for years. A lot of people can be polite and friendly, but it takes a special kind of person to get you to feel so at home when everything around you is foreign, in the most literal sense. I had a blast training there and will plan my next trip to America to include a lot of training at UpstreamBJJ. The members are all very cool people and were a blast to hang out with.
Quality of teaching
As for the second part of my review, I believe that Seph's skills really do not need a purple belt like me to comment them or review them. You can easily find out everything about the level of his jiu jitsu by a simple google search. To put it shortly, I'm not even from America, and I knew that there was nobody even close in Richmond and the immediate vicinity. He has taken part in creating the most impressive Jiu Jitsu DVD's alongside Ryan Hall, which have probably had more influence on a lot of people's games than their academies themselves. Now imagine on of those DVD's which are just a snippet of their knowledge, in live form that can answer any of your questions. Be it passing, guardwork, or simple concepts about Jiu JItsu, the man is an absolute vault, and I felt it first hand when he smashed me over and over again with 0 effort. Trust me, I know enough about grappling to be able to tell when someone is at a wizard like level, and he is one of them, for sure. To be a grappler anywhere near Richmond and not take the opportunity to train at UpstreamBJJ would be at the very least foolish in my opinion.
As you can see, I literally cannot say enough positive things about the academy or its coaches. Training there has been one of the most positive experiences of my life, and I recommend it to everyone passing through Richmond.
PS. The children's program is great as well!
Seph offers the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in the Richmond area in a school with a great vibe. While he is renowned for his broad knowledge of techniques and ability to convey information so well, he is above all else a very caring and kind hearted person - something that cannot be found in every BJJ gym. I believe if you are looking for an academy in Richmond that this should be your first stop!
Richmond, you are so fortunate to have Seph! Seph is a thorough, technical, and dedicated instructor. His wealth of knowledge goes on forever. He is super lay back, funny, but does not wastes your time. When he teaches, you will not just learn a move, but you will be able to comprehend why and how it actually works. It takes a special type of person to be a good instructor, and Seph definitely has that gift. If you are thinking on getting into BJJ, or just want to take your game to a higher level, give the Sloth a shot, you will not regret it.
Upstream BJJ is an excellent gym with one of the most dedicated and thoughtful coaches I have ever met. Seph is a thorough and committed instructor who can seamlessly blend humour in with constructive and serious training. I have been lucky enough to train at top level gyms in other cities and countries and would recommend Upstream to any of my past training partners. If you are in Richmond and want to learn jiu jitsu, Upstream is a place where you can train hard and learn, whatever your goals in jiu jitsu may be. Seph is an incredibly seasoned competitor and experienced coach. Richmond is lucky to have him.
Top notch place to train no matter your Jiu Jitsu goals. Whether for competition, self defense, personal goals etc. This is the place! Good group of people and a highly knowledgable instructor with crudentials to back it. Come in and check it out! Friendly team atmosphere!
Great instruction from one of the coolest and knowledgeable coaches in jiu-jitsu. Seph's sense of humor makes classes fun. But mostly, his understanding of the techniques and willingness to break them down is what makes him a great teacher.
Overall this place seems like a great place to train and I would recommend it to anyone in the area. I stopped by for a drop in class while in Richmond for work and have mostly good things to say about it and a couple nitpicks. They were very welcoming, laid back, had good instruction and seemed to have a very good rapport with the kids class that was going on when I first arrived. However, when I first asked the cost for a drop in class I was told $15 then was charged $20 in person. Not a huge deal. But then during class after the instructor demonstrated a move that was new to me, I asked for some guidance and instead of breaking it down for me I was just told to do whatever we were doing before since it was probably too much for me. I’ve been training for 6 months and understand that I’m pretty low on the totem pole, but I feel like if I’m paying $20 for one class a little guidance isn’t asking too much
