Lose fat and build muscle with a full body workout that improves muscular endurance, balance, and coordination.
Learn how to fight from inferior positions. No matter how small and “weak” you think you are, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will teach you how to control your opponent by using leverage and proper technique.
Knowing how to defend yourself builds confidence which carries over to all areas of your life.
We offer BJJ classes for any skill level, including beginner Jiu-Jitsu classes and Gi and No-Gi classes. Our facility has a large amount of mat space to accommodate any size Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class. We also have plenty of training bags and pads.
The history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) dates back to the early 20th century with a Japanese man by the name of Mitsuyo Maeda (aka Conde Koma). Maeda and his troupe lived a nomadic lifestyle, traveling throughout the Americas and Europe and inviting anyone to challenge them in judo-style matches. Circa 1914, Maeda settled in Brazil and established a school in Belem. There he met a teenage Carlos Gracie, a third-generation descendant of a Scottish immigrant.
Carlos studied and trained with Maeda until the age of nineteen, when he moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family. In 1925 he opened the “Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu.” Carlos shared his knowledge with his brothers, not only his self-defense techniques but also his “Gracie diet,” which emphasized grouping foods together for easier digestion.
Carlos, once a frail young lad, began challenging and defeating much bigger opponents. This would become the founding principle behind BJJ—that a smaller, weaker person can defend themselves against a stronger, bigger assailant by using joint locks, chokes, and other immobilizing techniques. In essence, it teaches one to use an opponent’s power against him.
The legacy and teachings of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was carried on by Carlos’s brother, Hélio, and Carlos’ eldest son, Carlson. Today, the tradition continues with many members of the Gracie extended family, including the coaches at the Carlson Gracie Team MMA training schools and classes. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to evolve as a form of self-defense, and is an integral part of many fighters’ training.