Rice Brothers Jiu-Jitsu Review: Our Kids’ Drop-In Experience in Redding, California
Finding places for our children to train is a regular part of full-time RV travel.
Our girls compete in both jiu-jitsu and wrestling, so when we spend time in a new area, we often look for local gyms that allow traveling athletes to drop into a class. These visits give our children new training partners, expose them to different coaching styles and allow us to learn more about the grappling communities around the country.
While staying near Lassen Volcanic National Park, we had to drive into Redding to replace all four rear tires on our truck. Since we were already spending the day in town, we called Rice Brothers Jiu-Jitsu and asked whether our nine- and eleven-year-old daughters could attend a kids’ class.
The gym welcomed us over the phone and told us both girls could join the 4:30–5:30 p.m. intermediate-to-advanced kids class. We were quoted a drop-in rate of $20 per child.
The actual training was good, and the room was full of talented children. Unfortunately, the lack of communication, cleanliness concerns and overall drop-in experience left us with very mixed feelings.
Quick Links
- Rice Brothers Jiu-Jitsu: Check the gym’s current class schedule, programs and contact information
Why We Visited Rice Brothers Jiu-Jitsu
We were not in Redding specifically to train.
After putting so many miles on our truck, it was time to replace all four rear tires. Full-time RV travel includes incredible national parks, scenic drives and beautiful hikes, but it also includes regular maintenance on the equipment carrying your family and home around the country.
Since we already needed to spend the day in Redding, we tried to make the most of it. We visited Turtle Bay and the Sundial Bridge, got the boys’ haircuts and arranged for the girls to attend a jiu-jitsu class.
When we called Rice Brothers, the person we spoke with was welcoming and made it sound easy for the girls to drop in.
That positive phone conversation made the experience after we arrived even more confusing.
Arriving at the Gym
When we entered the gym, no one greeted us.
We waited near the entrance, expecting someone to ask whether we needed help, confirm that we had called ahead or explain the drop-in process. After standing there for a while, we noticed a sign directing visitors to complete a liability waiver.
I filled out the waiver without anyone speaking to us.
We then entered the room containing the mats and sat down to wait. Again, no one approached us, introduced themselves or asked why we were there.
Eventually, the girls walked onto the mat and introduced themselves directly to the professor. From there, the instructors placed them into appropriate groups and allowed them to participate in class.
We understand that large kids’ classes can be busy. Coaches are preparing to teach, children are arriving and parents may already know the routine. However, we had called ahead and were completely new to the gym. A simple greeting and a brief explanation of where to sit, when the girls could step onto the mat and how to pay the drop-in fee would have made a major difference.
Class Size and Experience Levels
There were approximately 40 children on the mats during the class.
The group included a wide range of ages and experience levels. We saw:
- White belts
- Gray belts
- Yellow belts
- Orange belts
Our nine-year-old was placed with a group made up primarily of white and gray belts.
Our eleven-year-old joined the more advanced group, which included yellow belts and above, although we also noticed some gray belts training in that section.
The size and belt diversity suggested that Rice Brothers has an established kids’ program with a relatively deep pool of training partners.
For families with experienced or competitive children, that can be a major advantage. It is often difficult to find gyms where older or more advanced children have enough appropriately skilled partners to push them.
Instruction and Class Structure
The actual class was the strongest part of our visit.
The advanced group was taught by a brown belt instructor. The children worked through several techniques before moving into live training.
The class included:
- Technical instruction
- Partner drilling
- Live rolling
- King-of-the-hill-style situational rounds
Our older daughter received plenty of opportunities to work with different children and appeared to get meaningful training from the class.
The younger group was taught by the black belt professor. They followed a similar general structure but worked on techniques appropriate for their level.
Both groups appeared organized once class began, and the instructors kept a large number of children actively training.
The gym clearly had talented students. We saw children with good movement, solid technique and substantial mat experience. Based solely on the quality of the training partners and the class itself, it was easy to understand why Rice Brothers may be considered one of the stronger kids’ programs in the Redding area.
Wrestling Opportunities
One feature we appreciated was the gym’s connection to wrestling.
Rice Brothers had a separate mat area used by a wrestling club that trained there weekly.
For our family, access to both jiu-jitsu and wrestling is always a major positive. The sports complement each other, and it can be difficult to find programs that offer meaningful opportunities in both.
Families with children interested in cross-training may find that arrangement especially valuable. Anyone considering the wrestling program should contact the gym directly for its current schedule, age requirements and participation details.
Cleanliness Concerns
Our largest concern was the cleanliness of the training environment.
The mats appeared visibly dirty during our visit.
We also repeatedly saw children step off the mats barefoot and then return directly to the training area. Maintaining a shoes-on-off-the-mat and shoes-off-on-the-mat policy is one of the most basic hygiene expectations in a grappling gym.
Children place their faces, hands and bodies directly against the mat throughout class. When bare feet move through hallways, bathrooms or other non-mat areas and then return to the training surface, whatever is on those floors can be carried back onto the mats.
We also noticed several visible spots or skin irritations on people in the room that concerned us.
We cannot determine what a skin mark is simply by looking at it, and we would not attempt to diagnose anyone. However, grappling families are understandably cautious about suspicious-looking skin conditions because close-contact sports can allow certain infections to spread quickly.
The combination of visibly dirty-looking mats, barefoot traffic leaving and returning to the training area and the skin spots we observed made us uncomfortable.
Cleanliness is not a minor cosmetic issue in a jiu-jitsu or wrestling gym. It directly affects whether families feel safe allowing their children to train.
Communication and Hospitality
The lack of communication continued after class.
No one asked how the girls enjoyed training, thanked us for visiting or spoke with us about the drop-in fee.
We had been told the cost would be $20 per child, and we arrived fully prepared to pay $40. We waited after class, but no one approached us or provided instructions for payment.
Eventually, we left without paying because we could not identify anyone handling the business side of the drop-in.
We were not trying to avoid the fee. If the gym had contacted us afterward, we would have been happy to pay it. The situation was simply never addressed.
For us, hospitality does not require a dramatic welcome or special treatment. We do not expect a gym to stop operating because traveling children have arrived.
However, we do expect someone to:
- Greet a visiting family
- Confirm that the children have permission to train
- Make sure the waiver is completed
- Explain where the children belong
- Collect the stated drop-in fee
- Briefly check in after class
None of that happened during our visit.
The gym had a large number of children and strong training partners, but it did not feel like anyone was responsible for welcoming or managing visiting families.
What Rice Brothers Did Well
Despite our concerns, there were several positives:
- The gym allowed both girls to attend after we called
- The class had approximately 40 children
- Students represented a wide range of belt levels
- Our girls were divided into appropriate training groups
- Both groups received technical instruction
- The children completed live rounds
- The instructors managed a large class effectively
- There were talented and experienced training partners
- A weekly wrestling opportunity was available
- The advanced class provided meaningful work for our older daughter
These strengths matter.
We have visited gyms where the facility was spotless and everyone was friendly, but the actual training offered little value to experienced children. Rice Brothers had the opposite problem: the training appeared strong, but the experience surrounding it was lacking.
What Could Be Improved
The biggest areas for improvement were:
- Greeting and checking in visiting families
- Providing a clear drop-in process
- Collecting payment
- Enforcing footwear rules
- Improving visible mat cleanliness
- Addressing potentially concerning skin conditions appropriately
- Creating a more welcoming community experience for newcomers
A simple check-in system would solve much of the confusion.
Even a sign instructing visitors exactly where to complete the waiver, who to speak with and how to pay would be better than leaving new families to figure everything out alone.
The hygiene concerns would require more than improved signage. Consistent footwear rules and clear mat-cleaning procedures are essential in any grappling facility.
Was the Class Appropriate for Our Girls?
Yes.
Our girls have enough experience to participate in an intermediate-to-advanced kids class, and the instructors placed them into groups that made sense for their ages and levels.
Our younger daughter trained with the white- and gray-belt group, while our older daughter joined the advanced section.
Neither girl appeared overwhelmed or out of place.
Parents of newer children should still contact the gym before attending because the class we visited contained a broad range of skill levels and a large number of students.
Who Might Like Rice Brothers Jiu-Jitsu?
Based on this single visit, the gym may appeal to:
- Families seeking a large kids’ program
- Children who need a deeper pool of training partners
- Experienced youth grapplers
- Families interested in both jiu-jitsu and wrestling
- Students who enjoy live rounds and competitive drills
- Local families who already understand the gym’s routines and check-in process
It may be a more difficult fit for:
- Families prioritizing a highly personal welcome
- First-time visitors unfamiliar with gym etiquette
- Parents with strict expectations around visible cleanliness
- Children who prefer very small classes
- Traveling families expecting an organized drop-in process
Would We Return?
Based on this visit, we would be hesitant to return.
The quality of the training partners and instruction was good enough that we understand why local families may value the program. The girls got useful work, and the large number of experienced children was impressive.
However, cleanliness and basic mat hygiene are nonnegotiable for our family.
The lack of greeting and communication was disappointing, but the hygiene concerns affected us more. We visit many gyms while traveling, and we have to trust that reasonable precautions are being taken to protect athletes in a close-contact environment.
A strong class does not completely outweigh concerns about dirty-looking mats, barefoot traffic and suspicious skin marks.
Our Overall Verdict
Our experience at Rice Brothers Jiu-Jitsu was genuinely mixed.
The actual class was good. The room was full of skilled children, both girls were placed appropriately and they received technical instruction, live rounds and competitive drills. The connection to a weekly wrestling program was another meaningful advantage.
At the same time, no one greeted us before or after class, no one explained the drop-in process and no one collected the fee we had been prepared to pay.
More importantly, the visible condition of the mats and the repeated barefoot traffic off and back onto the training area made us uncomfortable.
When we review a gym, we consider more than whether the instruction is technically sound. We also look at cleanliness, safety, communication, culture and the way visiting children are treated.
Rice Brothers appeared to offer talented training partners and solid instruction. During our visit, however, the business, hygiene and community aspects did not meet the same standard.
For local families considering the gym, we recommend watching a class, examining the facility and asking direct questions about cleaning and skin-safety procedures before making a decision.
Read More From Rolling Williams
Interested in family travel, youth grappling and training on the road? Continue reading:
- A Week in Mineral, California: Lassen, Redding and Thousands of Butterflies
- Volcano Country RV & Tent Camping Review
- What Full-Time RV Life Looks Like With Three Kids
