Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — Local services in Lawrence

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...

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...

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...