Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

  1. What is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?
  2. What is LEMAs lineage?
  3. Can anyone learn BJJ?
  4. Do you have Children's classes?
  5. Is it expensive?
  6. How do you advance in rank and how long between belts?

Question 1

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting with the goal of gaining a dominant position and using joint-locks and chokeholds to force an opponent to submit. The art was based on early Kodokan Judo, which is a system founded in 1882, based on multiple schools (or Ryu) of Japanese Jujutsu.

BJJ promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring (commonly referred to as 'rolling') and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance instead of simply demonstrating moves like other arts.

The art began with Mitsuyo Maeda (aka Conde Koma, or Count Combat in English), a Japanese expert judoka and member of the Kodokan. Maeda was one of five of the Kodokan's top experts that Judo's founder Kano Jigoro sent overseas to spread his art to the world. Maeda left Japan in 1904 and visited a number of countries giving demonstrations and accepting challenges from wrestlers, boxers, and various other martial artists before eventually arriving in Brazil on November 14, 1914.

Maeda met an influential businessman named Gastão Gracie who helped him get established. In 1917, his son Carlos Gracie began training with Maeda. Carlos went on to become a great exponent of the art and ultimately, with his younger brother Hélio Gracie became the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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Question 2

Helio Gracie - Royce Gracie - Pat Hardy - Cliff Hargrave.

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Question 3

Yes, anyone can learn BJJ. You do not have to be an athlete. Everyone learns at their own pace. BJJ training can be very beneficial no matter what age or fitness level you are. Your instructor will adapt your training to your needs and you will make physical and mental progress you may have never thought possible.

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Question 4

Yes, we have classes for Children and Adults

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Question 5

It's less expensive than cable TV, junk food, and much better for you!

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Question 6

BJJ belts for kids are white-yellow-orange-green. For adults they are white-blue-purple-brown-black. Only a black belt can promote and you are evaluated on an individual basis against peers close to your own weight and age. Expect at least a year or more for your first belt and two or more years between each promotion after that. Six to ten years to advance to black belt is common and some people take even longer. If you want a martial art that charges a fee and changes your belt color every two months then BJJ is not for you. Click here for an adult belt rank chart.

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