Meet the Owners.​
Hi there! We are Tom and Rachel - Wisconsin natives and lifelong athletes in pursuit of physical, emotional and mental health. From competitive soccer to tennis state championships, from qualifying for the Boston Marathon to power and Olympic weightlifting, we have spent decades working on our physical training. Many of these pursuits continued through our adult life while we carried demanding corporate jobs. Yet we often found ourselves unsettled and wanting something more out of both our training lives as well as our personal and professional lives.
It wasn't until we found jiu-jitsu that we felt "at home". Suddenly, we were grounded and truly connected to a community. That connection has only become stronger with each passing day since we began our jiu-jitsu journey in 2018. In July of 2023, we had the opportunity to take over our academy in Delavan, Wisconsin, or face the alternative of it closing. Losing our jiu-jitsu home was not an option for us and certainly not one for the many students who came in on a weekly basis and also felt a profound connection to their jiu-jitsu family. We took the plunge and rebranded to become Cornerstone BJJ, choosing the name Cornerstone because jiu-jitsu had become a critically important and foundational component of our life together.
​Shortly after taking over we affiliated under Rafael Lovato Jr, who now serves as our Professor and black belt. We are part of a network that has grown our BJJ family beyond the 4 walls of our academy to include teammates in Milwaukee, Oklahoma, Oregon and more, reaching as far as Spain!
We strive to build the martial arts community in Delavan and Walworth county by teaching concepts of Timeless Jiu-Jitsu. This means techniques and skills that truly last a lifetime and do not come and go as trends. Timeless Jiu-Jitsu is appropriate for all ages, all skill levels and truly all humans. We intend to practice jiu-jitsu for the rest of our lives and hope that we can instill the same love for the sport and the community it brings to us in as many people as possible, making it a cornerstone for all.
Our Values.
Community.
Confidence.
Compassion.
Competency.
Consistency.
At Cornerstone BJJ, we believe that jiu-jitsu is more than a martial art. These values are the drivers behind our jiu-jitsu program and guide our operation on a daily basis. Our program is suitable for for individuals of all ages and walks of life who strive to become better humans. Join us and experience thee transformative journey of martial arts that goes beyond physical training, instilling valuable lessons and skills that last a lifetime.
Etiquette.
Our training environment is built on mutual respect, discipline, and dedication. We foster a culture where students support and uplift each other, creating a positive and inclusive space for learning and growth. Respect for instructors, fellow practitioners, and the art itself is paramount in our academy.
When Training
DO
Ask people to roll.
Respect when someone declines to roll with you.
Tap before it hurts; loudly and clearly.
Respect the space of those around you.
DON'T
Fell pressure to roll with anyone you don't want to roll with.
Wait until the last minute to tap.
Treat every roll like a competition round.
Be disruptive on the mats if you are not rolling.
Operating Hours
Visit Us
Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM