Upstream BJJ

Upstream BJJ is situated in downtown Richmond, Virginia, located directly off Broad St. near VCU with rapid access to I-64 and I-95. The academy delivers inclusive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction tailored for practitioners of all experience levels. The school was founded by head coach Seph Smith, a Richmond native and third-degree black belt who has been immersed in martial arts since 2001. Smith is an accomplished competitor whose titles include gold medals at the 2018 IBJJF New York Open and 2019 IBJJF Washington DC Open, as well as the 2019 Toro Cup Super Fight Championship. Training options include Intro to BJJ classes designed for beginners, advanced gi and no-gi grappling, and unstructured open mat sessions. The academy also conducts dedicated youth programs and private lessons, with classes structured around positional understanding, leverage, and practical defense.