Every martial art has its own belt ranking system, timeline, and requirements for moving up. The journey of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) student is no different, offering a finite path to advancement. It is common for new BJJ students to focus intently on this system, measuring their personal progress based on stripes and belt colors. […]
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Starting a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice is exciting, a little overwhelming, and certainly one of the best things you can do for your mind, body, and overall well-being. When you train at Gracie Barra, you are building your practice on a solid foundation based on a time-tested curriculum designed for your success. Before you attend your
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Modern living has led to chronic stress and struggles with mental health. In fact, mental health issues like stress, depression, and anxiety disorders affect 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. Now for the good news: There are many great ways to improve mental health, including through Brazilian jiu-jitsu. (BJJ) BJJ has been studied for
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Gracie Barra Self-Defense Techniques Anyone Can Use Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and the Gracie Barra curriculum, are centered on teaching self-defense techniques. From day one, students begin learning the fundamentals and self-defense remains a common thread throughout every student’s journey. In fact, of all the benefits that students get from BJJ, self-defense techniques are among the most
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5 Lifelong Lessons Kids Learn From Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu As parents, we want our kids to develop self-esteem and a strong sense of self as they navigate the complexities of adolescence and beyond. We are always looking for activities to help them develop in these areas, especially if our children struggle physically, emotionally, or socially. And
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5 Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Women and Girls While the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) has traditionally been male-dominated, women and girls make up a growing part of the community. Walk into a BJJ gym these days and you will see females of all ages and ability levels having just as much fun as
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What Makes the Gracie Barra Community Different? From the outside, most martial arts gyms look alike—vast matted floors and students dressed in gis, the traditional martial arts uniform, with various belt colors. What you cannot see from the outside is the community that is being built inside, by every professor and every student no matter
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Rickson Gracie is considered the best fighter the Gracie family has had. Royce Gracie, Rickson’s brother, stated that what he will do to guys in the UFC, Rickson would to him without hesitating. Rickson’s father, Master Helio Gracie, raised him and his brothers in an extremely competitive environment. There are rumors that if one of
Jiu-Jitsu History 101 In order to understand how traditional Jiu-Jitsu has come to be known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, or simply, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, let’s go back to the late 1800s to the country of Japan. Traditional Jiu-Jitsu was strictly used for Self-Defense. Techniques revolved around striking, throwing, pinning, strangling and most importantly, using your opponent’s momentum against
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