What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

BJJ is a martial art that originated in Japan with close ties to Judo and traditional style Jiu-Jitsu. The techniques; in particular the ground fighting or ‘grappling’ aspects were refined in Brazil under the Gracie family, and spread across the globe as BJJ. Now often simply referred to as ‘Jiu-Jitsu’ due to it’s world wide popularity and constant evolution from athletes across the world.

At Gracie Barra Rugby we use the term ‘BJJ’ as it clarifies that we practice the art pioneered in Brazil, focusing mostly on the grappling aspect, and respecting the strong ties and shared values that we have with our Brazilian Lineage.

Who can train BJJ

Anybody can train BJJ. At Gracie Barra Rugby we welcome ALL. Our age range is from 3+ to any age and we have an inclusive policy and ground floor access to remove as many barriers as possible, so that anyone can benefit from our amazing art.

I don’t have a uniform, can I still come and train?

We will take care of everything for your first session so don’t worry at all. When you experience your first Jiu-Jitsu session with us and want to train regularly then we can organise your uniform through our Pro-Shop located in the School or online though GB-Wear.

I am not very fit, will I be ok in my first session?

All classes start with a moderate level warm up and stretching routine, followed by technique, drills and live training to test your new skills! You can set your own pace and will be surrounded by a supportive team to guide you through. We guarantee your fitness will improve quickly training with us.

Do you teach Self-Defence?

Our GB1 Fundamentals Program always begins with a Self-Defence application. We feel that supporting our local community to feel safer and giving individuals realistic skills to defend themselves is essential.

Do students take part in competitions

Yes! We have students across a variety of ages and experience levels that compete, from young children to experienced adult competitors.

We have the experience to guide students to competition success, but it is the personal choice of a student.

‘Progress in Jiu-Jitsu is not reflected in a students ability to overcome a training partner or competitive opponent, but rather reflected in their capacity to engage in a cooperative training experience, where the winner is whoever learns more.’