When I started training jiu-jitsu in the late ’90s, if you wanted to roll, you either had to hop on a plane to Brazil or find that one sweaty blue mat in some karate school back room. Now? You can barely throw a stone without hitting a BJJ gym (though I wouldn’t recommend throwing stones near gyms… bad for your belt promotion chances).

But even with the explosion of jiu-jitsu across the U.S., something special is happening in Beachwood, Ohio. Our little corner of the world—once better known for bagels and brisket—is quietly becoming one of the Midwest’s hotspots for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Let me tell you why.

1. A Supportive, Tight-Knit Community

Beachwood has always been about community. It’s where you bump into your neighbor at the grocery store or chat with your kid’s teacher at the coffee shop. That same small-town, supportive vibe carries over to the mats.

When people walk into Burning River BJJ or one of the other growing academies around here, they’re not just joining a gym but becoming part of a family. I always say, no one in this room has tapped more than I, so don’t be afraid to tap and learn. That openness to learning and helping each other grow? That’s Beachwood.

2. Top-Tier Instruction with Real-World Experience

Let’s be honest—there’s a big difference between someone who reads about jiu-jitsu and someone who lives it. Here in Beachwood, we’re fortunate to have black belts and coaches who’ve spent decades on the mats, bleeding, sweating, tapping, and laughing their way through this journey.

From my stubborn early days (when YouTube wasn’t around to save me) to training with some of the sport’s legends, I’ve seen what works and what’s fluff. And the instruction you’ll find here? It’s the real deal. We focus on the fundamentals—because flashy Instagram moves won’t save you when someone’s got your back like a backpack.

3. Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone—Not Just Competitors

You don’t have to be chasing gold medals to train BJJ here. Beachwood is full of everyday people—accountants, teachers, nurses, moms, dads, and yes, even that quiet IT guy with the sneaky triangle choke. Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone

Our academies are built for hobbyists, folks looking to get in shape, blow off stress, learn self-defense, or simply have fun. We respect the competitors (heck, we support them every step of the way), but for most of us, it’s about personal growth—not podiums.

4. Diversity of Styles and Training Partners

Variety is the spice of life—and your jiu-jitsu game. In Beachwood, you’re not stuck rolling with the same person daily. We’ve got a mix of different body types, experience levels, and approaches to the art. Big, strong wrestlers? Check. Long, lanky guard players? Check. Technical assassins in deceptively friendly packages? Oh yeah.

Training with different people forces your game to grow. And like I always remind my students: it’s better to suffer here in training than out there in real life. That suffering? It’s what helps you level up.

5. Access to Seminars and Visiting Professors

Beachwood may not be Rio or New York City, but we’re on the BJJ map. More high-level practitioners are stopping through Northeast Ohio, sharing knowledge and keeping our Beachwood Brazilian jiu-jitsu evolving. Between seminars, visiting black belts, and affiliations, you’re never far from world-class instruction.

It’s beautiful—learning guard retention from one of the legends one weekend, then drilling the details with your crew the next. Growth never stops here.

6. The Midwest Work Ethic

Let me tell you something about folks from Beachwood and Northeast Ohio—we show up, work hard, and don’t complain (well… except maybe about the snow). That blue-collar, no-nonsense mindset fits perfectly with the grind of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

BJJ is humbling. It forces you to be patient, persistent, and okay with being uncomfortable. Around here, we embrace that. We know it’s not supposed to be easy. But when you show up consistently, the results follow. Like I always say before class: “Go suffer on 3… 1, 2, 3!” Clap.

7. Burning River BJJ: A Home for the Curious, the Humble, and the Hungry

I’m slightly biased, but Burning River BJJ has significantly put Beachwood on the BJJ map. Our academy isn’t about egos or Instagram followers. It’s about creating a space where everyone—from first-day white belts to seasoned purple belts and beyond—can feel supported, challenged, and part of something bigger.

We’re here to help people become their best version, both on and off the mats. And hey, if we laugh a little (or groan at my dad jokes) along the way? Even better.

Final Thoughts

Beachwood Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is more than just chokes and arm bars—it’s a lifestyle, a problem-solving art, and a community. Beachwood might not be the first place people think of when they hear “jiu-jitsu hotspot,” but it’s quickly earning that reputation.

Visit if you’re in the area, curious about starting, or just looking for a new place to train. We’ll shake hands, slap and bump, and suffer together. Because here in Beachwood, we don’t lose—we learn. See you on the mats.