GROUNDWORKS Jiu Jitsu Academy

My son has been coming here for over a year now, and it's become his favorite thing to do. Coach Rich has created a great jiu jitsu school for kids. His pricing is beyond fair, and the ability for your child to take as many classes as you want is amazing. He and his coaches are very good with the kids, adjusting their style to each of the kid's needs. Schedule is also very parent friendly, with evening and weekend classes to help fit in your busy schedules. Try it out, it's been great for our son!

Ladies, this review is for you! I found Groundworks when I was googling gyms in the 626 area to pick up a martial art. I enlisted in the Air Force after recently departing an all-female context (monastery), and wanted to pick up some skills for interacting in my new majority male context. Jiu jitsu is a great grappling martial art that gives smaller players a chance in a fight against a larger player, given good technique. I took advantage of Groundworks’ one week trial period to see if it could be a good fit for me. Class typically consists of warm-ups, drills, constraint based games, and live rolling. Coaches Rich and Avi are great at adjusting their teaching to each class and training with students of all levels. I’ve met hobbyists, competitors, former athletes, and complete novices like myself who join for self defense. To me Groundworks isn’t just a gym—it’s a place I found community, self confidence, and a skill set that will accompany me for the rest of my life. The people here take jiu jitsu incredibly seriously, but themselves not at all. I’ve never laughed so hard from getting my calf sliced, having someone else’s sweat drip into my open mouth, being high five’d in the face, and having my hair catch onto an ear guard. BJJ is a pretty male-dominated sport in general, but the culture of this gym and respect for female bodies is top notch. If Groundworks can make an ex-nun-in-training like myself feel comfortable on the mat, I can vouch that it’s a gym that is definitely worth checking out!

Coach Rich is an awesome person. His coaching and attention to detail are second to none. Every kid should be so lucky to have him as a coach. Forever grateful

Update: 1.5 years later and this is still true. It's an amazing community. Coaches are amazingly patient, community is loving.

I've been training no-gi jiujitsu at Groundworks for a few months now, and I can confidently say that my experience with Coach Rich has been nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment I stepped into the academy, I felt welcomed and encouraged to push my limits. Coach Rich brings a unique blend of expertise, passion, and patience to every class. His deep understanding of jiujitsu techniques is evident in the way he breaks down complex moves into manageable steps, ensuring that even beginners like myself can grasp them effectively. He also goes above and beyond to provide personalized guidance and feedback, helping me refine my skills and reach my full potential. I can't recommend Coach Rich and Groundworks JJ Academy highly enough. P.S. I am writing this review as an adult practitioner in the adults program (not youth/kids)