Richmond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense Academy

**lordbd** · Posted On: 3/15/2013 11:47am

Aliveness: 9

Equipment: 8

Gym Size: 7

Atmosphere/Attitude: 8

Striking Instruction: 7

Grappling Instruction: 8

Weapons Instruction: 1

I just recently started training at this school regularly, but I actually took a few classes several years ago.

Location-wise its in an easily accessible area near VCU campus in Richmond, VA. Parking is street parking. The gym isn't huge and has plenty of students, so it can get crowded at times, but there are several options for classes.

I think that the instructor is superb. His name is Eric Burdo, I don't know his history but I do know that he competes. The business manager of the gym is a woman named Liz Sussan, who is a BJJ purple belt preparing for the Pan-Ams this year. Shes also had the gym involved in some charity work.

http://poweredbyshe.com/2013/03/12/f...-liz-sussan-3/

Teaching in the fundamentals classes is very thorough and step-by-step which is good for me because I am a slow learner. Class are 90mins and involve warm-up; break-fall practice; demonstration of 1-3 techniques; drilling the technique with partners; and ends with 15 mins of rolling. Plenty of blue belts in the gym, lots of white belts; several purple belts. Two of the instructors are black belts.

They also have a Muay Thai program but I don't take those classes. Recently had a student go to the finals at WKA in Richmond. They do seem to train students to compete at various grappling and kick-boxing tourneys, and some students seem to have done well.

http://www.richmondbjj.com/

No weapons training that I've seen.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 3/15/2013 1:52pm

Got a pic to put in the review?

**lordbd** · Posted On: 3/16/2013 1:26am

Originally Posted by Phrost

Got a pic to put in the review?

This pic (if it works) is a pretty good look at what the gym looks like on the inside.

**lordbd** · Posted On: 3/16/2013 1:35am

Lineage is also worth mentioning. The head of the gym and one of the other black belt level instructors are black-belts under Julio 'Foca' Fernandez, who himself is a black belt under Carlson Gracie. They wrote a book together called BJJ For Experts Only or something like that.

**lordbd** · Posted On: 3/18/2013 2:47pm

Below is a youtube video from Richmond BJJ's "Technique of the Month" video series. It is a great example of the detailed, step-by-step instruction that Eric Burdo provides in his classes.