We offer a flexible schedule of Gi, No Gi, Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu, Judo for Jiu Jitsu and Mobility classes. Our Kids program is for children age 6-13 and is held 2 times a week. While competing is not required, we have a young competition team that is consistently on the podium. No matter your goals, we have classes and coaches to help get you there.
Whether you are a complete beginner, hobbyist, competitor or professional fighter, Riverfront Jiu Jitsu has classes and coaches that can help you reach your goals. You will be welcomed and supported as a member of the team from your first visit.
What to Expect at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu
Riverfront Jiu Jitsu is focused on a positive first experience on the mats. We know that taking your first Jiu Jitsu class can be intimidating and we are committed to making you our priority. Our diverse coaching staff will teach you jiu jitsu techniques in a controlled environment to increase your confidence in your ability to defend yourself and learn a new and ever evolving sport.
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Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Ricardo De La Riva > Alexey Cruz-Pickerell > Alexandre Quintella > William Shaw
Riverfront Jiu Jitsu is a We Defy approved school and Billy is a mentor for combat veterans who use jiu jitsu to overcome their challenges. Outside of jiu jitsu, Billy enjoys hiking and is a dog rescue advocate and has 4 rescue dogs.
Billy Shaw is the owner and head instructor at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu. He has been training since 2007 and received his black belt in 2019 from Alexandre Quintella. Billy started running the kids class when he was a blue belt and realized his passion and talent for teaching jiu jitsu. Billy is very open about his troubled past and battle with addiction and credits jiu jitsu for helping him get on the right path. Riverfront Jiu Jitsu was opened with the goal to create a more welcoming and non-traditional gym environment. Billy is an ambassador for mental health treatment and recovery and offers sponsorships to children and adult students in need.
Owner and Head Instructor
Billy Shaw
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Ricardo De La Riva > Luíz Vicente da Silva Júnior > Sean Allen
Sean began training jiu jitsu in early 2006. After being introduced to the art by a close family friend, he was immediately drawn to jiu jitsu's ability to neutralize and defeat opponents regardless of size. In 2013, Sean received his black belt from Luíz Vicente da Silva Júnior (Vicente Jr.). In 2021, Sean joined his long-time friend and training partner, Billy Shaw, at Riverfront Jiu Jitsu. Sean's focus now is helping newer jiu jitsu practitioners build their skill sets by sharing his over 15 years of knowledge.
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Sean Allen
Nick is an accomplished jiu jitsu competitor with over 100 matches at all levels. Nick has competed at numerous local tournaments, the IBJJF Pan and World championships, and has been featured on multiple superfight cards for Fight2Win and Finishers Sub Only. Nick is an amateur MMA fighter with a recent win via TKO and is a consistent presence in Grant Bacon's "Striking" class. Nick currently teaches Riverfront Jiujitsu's "Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu" class, where he shows how he has adapted his takedown game to fit jiu jitsu.
Nick is currently a jiu jitsu brown belt and a lifelong wrestler that began training jiu jitsu full time in December 2018. Nick wrestled as a heavyweight through elementary and middle school and stopped growing, forcing him to learn how to wrestle step-by-step as a young adult in high school. In high school, Nick was a 3-year varsity wrestler, captain of his team, and placed 3rd in the state tournament. As a collegiate wrestler, Nick wrestled 5 years at the NCAA Division II level for Millersville University, where he served as a 2-year starter and a team captain.
Wrestling For Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Nick Mancini
Elyse is the co-owner of Riverfront Jiu Jitsu. She started training in January of 2020 when the school opened and is now a competitive purple belt. She competes regularly at local tournaments and has been on super fight cards including Finishers Sub Only, F2W, FURY, Emerald City, Tap Cancer Out, and Sub Out Domestic Violence.
Elyse teaches a mobility class that focuses on functional movements specifically designed to improve your mobility during your jiu jitsu practice.
She is the Delaware State Ambassador Representation for the We Defy Foundation and hosts one of the largest fundraisers for the foundation. Elyse organizes and runs all Riverfront Fights events.
Billy and Elyse are dog rescue advocates and have 4 dogs.
Jiu Jitsu and Mobility Instructor
Elyse Shaw
Brian Grant is a Purple belt who has trained under Professor Billy Shaw for the past 5 years. At Riverfront Jiu Jitsu, he instructs kids classes and beginner Jiu Jitsu. In the military, has been a U.S. Army Combatives Instructor for the past 11 years.
He is the lead instructor at Defender BJJ, a Riverfront affiliated team, on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. As a Police Officer, he has instructed Defensive Tactics in the Academy, and during in-service training. Currently, he is one of the lead control tactics instructors for a large federal agency. He is also a bagpiper with the Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums.
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Brian Grant
Pat walked onto the mats Jan 2020 as a competitive rower looking to cross-train and has been a student of jiu jitsu ever since. Having started with essentially no grappling background before Riverfront, he has made up for lost time and become the first RJJ student to be promoted from fresh white to a proficient purple belt. Pat finds his joy in the technical mastery of the art and the “physical chess match” he often calls jiu jitsu. He is Riverfront’s premier uke for both jiu jitsu and judo classes and can often be found working with everyone in the gym from first-class students to our advanced competitors prepping for tournaments.
Jiu Jitsu Instructor
PAt Mcsharar
Benjamin is a Blue belt who has trained under Professor Billy Shaw since January 2023. At Riverfront Jiu Jitsu, he instructs kids classes. In the military, has been a U.S. Coast Guard Firearms Instructor for the past 4 years. As well as a CPR/AED and First aid instructor for the last 2 years. He is the main Firearms Instructor for Coast Guard Sector National Capital Region.
He has competed in multiple local competitions and his favorite submission is a triangle. He has a wonderful wife who encourages him to train daily and an incredibly well behaved dog who was trained as a service dog.
Kids Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Benjamin SalibA
Janelle is a blue belt who started training jiu jitsu in April 2019 with her child due to bullying and assaults happening at school. She is a huge advocate for and have a passion for children learning jiu jitsu for this reason. Janelle has participated in local jiu jitsu competitions and a charity super fight to raise awareness and finds for victims of domestic violence.
She has a degree in psychology and have specialized in special education with a background being a pre-k teacher and experience with children in schools as a behavioral therapeutic support.
Janelle is currently a law enforcement officer, with experience in defensive tactics training and Gracie Survival Tactics training. She serves in the U.S Army and is a We Defy ambassador and mentor to veteran athletes
Kids Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Janelle Malone
Mike Schiavone is a blue belt who has trained under Professor Billy Shaw since 2020. At Riverfront Jiu Jitsu Mike instructs the kids classes. In the military he has been a US Army Combatives Instructor since August 2023.
Mike has a background, and Masters Degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. He began his professional career as a certified athletic trainer for NCAA Division 1 athletics at: the University of Florida, Army West Point, and Colorado State. Since 2022 Mike has held various full time positions as a lieutenant in the Delaware Army National Guard.
Kids Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Mike Schiavone
Brian has been practicing jiu-jitsu since he was six years old, and now enjoys sharing his passion with others through teaching.
Brian was one of our first students in 2020 and is now a very skilled 14 year old Yellow and Black Belt who is a tough roll for any of our adult members! Brian is an incredibly important part of the Riverfront Jiu Jitsu family and an advocate for Jiu Jitsu.
In addition to being a part of the RJJ family, his real family trains too! You can find his dad and younger brother on the mats right along side him.
Brian is a positive and uplifting presence at the gym and continues to grow as he teaches kids classes.
Kids Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Brian Kline
Meet our coaches
Frequently Asked Questions
