Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Radford, Virginia

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, often called BJJ, is a martial art that delivers exactly what it promises. It teaches you to use leverage and positioning so that a smaller or weaker person can defend against someone larger and stronger. There is no striking or kicking involved. Instead, you learn to control and subdue an opponent through pins and control holds.

Blue Gorilla Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is Radford, Virginia’s premier BJJ academy. Founded in 2024 from the roots of Team Mannon BJJ, we set out to bring the benefits of jiu-jitsu to people who want to build self-confidence, learn real self-defense, and find a practical way to get in shape and stay there. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced grappler, you will find a welcoming home on our mats.

Why Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

People come to BJJ for many different reasons, and the art rewards almost all of them. What keeps members on the mats is that the benefits build on one another. You start training for one reason and stay for three.

Real-World Self-Defense

BJJ was designed so that technique beats size and strength. Rather than trading punches, you learn to control a violent situation, neutralize the threat, and stay safe. These are practical skills you can apply in the real world, taught by instructors who understand what real confrontations actually look like.

Fitness That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore

Most people dread the treadmill. Almost nobody dreads class. BJJ is a full-body workout that builds strength, conditioning, and mobility while your mind is occupied with solving problems on the mat. The result is fitness that happens almost as a side effect of having fun.

Confidence and Community

There is a quiet confidence that comes from knowing you can handle yourself. Beyond that, our academy is built around a genuine sense of family. Members train together, push each other, and celebrate each other’s progress, on and off the mats.

Programs for Every Member

We offer a full range of classes for kids and adults across all skill levels, along with regular open mats for gi and no-gi training. You can view current class times on our schedule page and find the right fit for your week.

Kids Classes

Our kids program is the foundation of the academy, and it grows with your child across three levels. Lil’ Grapplers introduces our youngest beginners to movement, positioning, and self-defense through games and drills, with no live sparring. Junior Gorillas builds on those fundamentals at an intermediate pace, and Future Black Belts prepares more advanced students with live sparring and submissions in a structured, supportive setting.

Adult Fundamentals and Advanced

Adult Fundamentals is built for new students who want to learn the basics in a non-threatening, technique-focused environment. Adult Advanced raises the intensity for experienced practitioners who are ready to spar live and drill at a faster pace, with both gi and no-gi sessions offered during the week.

Law Enforcement Only

On the first Sunday of each month, we host a session open exclusively to current and retired members of law enforcement. It focuses on arrest and control tactics, weapon retention, and survival skills, drawing on the real professional experience of our instructors. Valid credentials may be required for anyone not already known to our staff.

Instruction You Can Trust

At Blue Gorilla BJJ, we take instruction and safety seriously. Our continual instructors are current or former members of law enforcement or the United States military. Every instructor has undergone a thorough background check, has been trained in emergency first aid and CPR, and has been vetted to work with children.

Head coach and founder Coach Adam received his black belt from Professor Tim Mannon, a fourth-degree black belt under Master Renzo Gracie. That lineage connects our academy directly to one of the most respected names in the history of the art. You can learn more about our full coaching staff on our about us page.

What to Expect at Your First Class

The single most important thing to bring is a positive attitude. For your first few classes, comfortable athletic clothing without metal zippers is perfectly fine, along with a water bottle. There is no pressure and no expectation that you already know anything.

If you arrive a little nervous, you are in good company. New members consistently tell us they walked in unsure and left feeling like part of the team. Our coaches are there to guide you through every step, at your pace.

What Our Radford Members Say

Our community is the heart of the academy, and our members describe it better than we can. Valerie shared: “Blue Gorilla is a spacious, safe, and clean facility. Coach Adam’s genuine disposition and kindness set the tone, making his gym an incredibly positive atmosphere. The instructors are extremely knowledgeable, patient, and make learning fun.”

Caleb, who joined recently, pointed to the culture and the community: “I started classes about a month ago and have really enjoyed it! The gym is super clean and the people have been very welcoming. They’re clearly serious about their value for community because they not only have a great time during classes but there’s a lot of ways to hang out with each other for other events like meals or competitions. I like that they clearly take the training seriously but not in an overly intense way.”

You can read many more honest, firsthand experiences on our member reviews page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any experience to start?

No experience is needed at all. Our Adult Fundamentals class and kids beginner classes are built specifically for first-timers, and you will be welcomed regardless of your starting point.

Do I need to buy a gi?

Yes, the gi is foundational to our training, and Blue Gorilla BJJ is heavily focused on gi instruction. You can train no-gi as well, but the gi is central to belt progression. Ask Coach Adam about discounted pricing on quality gear.

How many times a week should I train?

Once a week already puts you ahead of most people. The sweet spot for steady improvement is two to four times a week, which keeps your skills sharp without burning you out.

How do belt promotions work?

Stripes are awarded based on attendance and consistency, while belts are awarded based on skill. There are no testing fees and no formal testing process. If you earn the belt, you get it.

Start Training in Radford Today

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has changed the lives of people of every age, size, and background here in Radford. The hardest part is simply walking through the door for the first time, and our community makes that step easier than you expect.

Ready to begin? Contact us today to schedule your first class and see what training at Blue Gorilla BJJ is all about.