What is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Certified Training Center?
Certified Gracie Jiu-jitsu Training Centers (CTCs) are martial arts schools that are authorized to teach the proprietary self-defense programs developed by Gracie University Headquarters in Torrance, California. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is one of the fastest growing martial arts on the planet, but the success of your jiu-jitsu journey will rely heavily on the culture of the school you attend and instructional methods utilized by your teachers. Even though all CTCs are independently owned and operated, we are very proud to inform you that all of certified instructors have undergone extensive training directly under the Gracie Family to ensure that you are provided with the best possible learning environment on your path to jiu-jitsu mastery.
Structured Learning
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone, but only if taught correctly. While most BJJ schools have taken a “one-size-fits-all” approach to teaching the art, Gracie University has gone to great lengths to create specific programs for each demographic: Gracie Bullyproof for kids (ages 5-12), Women Empowered for the ladies, Gracie Combatives for beginner adults, and the Master Cycle for advanced practitioners. Each program adheres to a set curriculum, so students know exactly what they will learn before they come to class. Every student is issued an attendance card on which we track daily progress, so they can see how much they’ve accomplished and exactly what it will take to move on to the next level. In a martial art where confusion and frustration are extremely common, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that you will enjoy the highly-structured and encouraging approach only found at Certified Gracie Jiu-jitsu Training Centers.
Safe Training Environment
At our CTCs, safety is the number one priority. In far too many BJJ schools, the classes are structured to meet the needs of the most elite students. If you are a beginner student, you are expected to serve as a “grappling dummy” for those above you. The thought process is, if you avoid injury, and stick around long enough, you will eventually figure it out. At our CTCs we take the opposite approach. Firstly, there is no competitive sparring in our beginner programs. As a result, you’ll have a chance to learn all the beginner techniques in a fully-cooperative environment, with like-minded training partners, for 8-12 months. Once you move on to the advanced program, and you begin sparring, you will have the benefit of working with training partners, of every skill level, who are working with you rather than against you. This culture of collaboration and mutual benefit is extremely rare in jiu-jitsu, and we go to great lengths to make sure it is upheld at all of our CTCs.
Street Readiness
When it was originally founded by Grand Masters Carlos and Helio Gracie in the early 1900’s, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu only had one purpose – effectiveness in real fights. Several decades later, when sportive competition was introduced and popularized throughout Brazil and the US, there was a distinct shift in training objectives at most BJJ schools causing them to neglect the self-defense aspect of jiu-jitsu, such that students could train for many years without ever learning how their grappling skills would apply against a striking opponent in a real fight. At all Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Centers, street self-defense remains the top priority throughout all of our training programs. From your very first class, every technique you learn was specifically chosen due to it’s like likelihood of being used, and proven effectiveness, in real combat. Our belief is that only once a student learns all the necessary skills to stay safe in a real fight, should he or she begin exploring the sportive aspects of jiu-jitsu.
Free Online Access & Satellite Training Privileges
Upon enrolling at this Certified Training Center, you will receive a free subscription to Gracie University Online. Through our interactive online platform, you will have access to detailed video instruction on every technique you’ll be learning so you can study the lessons on any computer or mobile device 24 hours a day! Furthermore, as an active student at this Certified Training Center, you’ll qualify to train for free at any other Certified Training Center on the planet (for up to 30 consecutive days per year). Since the curriculum is the same at all Certified Training Centers, you will receive credit on your attendance card back home for every lesson you complete during your travels!
Meet Our Instructors
Michael Akitoshi Stinson
Gracie Jiu-JItsu Purple Belt
Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Martin Camacho
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt
Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Tony Momon
Gracie Jiu-JItsu Blue Belt
Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor